Supernatural S05E01 - Sympathy for the Devil (2009)

Sex :    Violence :     Scary Movie Rating:  

Director Robert Singer
Writers Eric Kripke
Starring Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Jim Beaver
Genre Angels & Demons
Tagline Lucifer Unbound
Country
Supernatural Sympathy for the Devil

Review

"If Lucifer goes unchecked, you know how many die? All of them. He'll roast the planet alive." - Zachariah

With the portal to Lucifer's cage opening the Winchester Bros are caught in a hellish maelstrom and look to be done for. In the nick of time someone or something pluck the boys out of the church where the portal is opening and plonks them on an inbound flight. Seeking answers the Boys head to Chuck's place where they learn that Castiel has been smote righteously by an arch Angel. And if that wasn't bad enough Zachariah and his posse show up wanting Dean to make good on his promise to aid the heavenly host. Naturally Dean has other ideas and zaps Zach and crew to parts unknown.

The Boys go into hiding and seek help from Bobby, who can inform them that Lucifer is circling his "vessel", leaving the Winchesters one option, retrieve the lost sword of the Angel Michael and deal with his satanic majesty before the evil one can take corporate form. Unfortunately Bobby has been possessed by a demon and none other than Meg is out to find the sword. Eventually the Bros overcome Meg's team and head to a lock up, where the sword is apparently in storage, except it's a ruse by Zachariah. Meanwhile over in Pike Creek, Delaware a Dude is grieving the murder of his wife and baby by a home invader. Lucifer has found his "vessel" and uses some psychology to get an invite to take up residency. Oh and the Winchesters are saved by an unlikely source, season five underway folks.

Okay I agree last season's cliff hanger turned out to be something of a tease, it wasn't nearly as engrossing as we all thought it would be at the start of season five. About the only interesting note was Castiel confirming the Winchesters were not plucked out of the claws of Satan by the Angels, and clearly not demonic elements, hence their can only be one being with the gas to do this, hello God! I'm not entirely sure If the stage is right for Christianity's ultimate pin up overlord to make an appearance, but intriguing none the less considering the Angelic horde are of the firm belief that God has left the building, leaving them to their own insane devices.

I was actually pleased this episode saw the reprise of the Chuck Shurley character, y'all remember, prophet of the lord etc. For sure I think this character is worth including from time to time, and it adds a bit of spice to certain episodes when the Bros can get some intel, though Zachariah might have spilt the beans about certain visions being planted rather than occurring naturally. Speaking of recurrent characters, new one this episode in the fanatic Becky Rosen, played by genre fave Emily Perkins (Brigitte Ginger Snaps franchise). Becky writes Supernatural fan fiction, has always believed that Chuck Shurley's universe is based on reality, and as it develops has a thing for Sam. Okay small role in this episode, but I can see it being expanded in the future. Oh in case you're wondering Becky passes on Chuck's cryptic clue as to the sword of Michael's location, which surprisingly Dean deciphers, uhmm spoilers.

Right so we now know the Angels' interest in Dean and moreover that at least one faction of them is dedicated to bringing the final battle between heaven and hell forward. Clearly Castiel is of the belief that Zachariah's mob are not acting in God's will and has set himself up in opposition to them, and equally of interest Zachariah concedes to Castiel's demand without much in the way of a fight. Has Cass developed some abilities during his resurrection, or was he always latently more powerful than we had supposed. Clearly the heavenly host are fractured into different groups, which poises some interesting scenarios for the rest of the season. Naturally this means that the Winchesters and their allies will not only be battling Lucifer and his demonic forces, but also elements of heaven. There was also for mine at least a subtle inference that the demonic hordes might be split on the return of Lucifer, clearly some elements are going to aid the Winchesters, enemy of my enemy, in their battle to put Lucifer back in his prison.

So Castiel was blasted and is then brought back to life, is God about to make an entrance!?!

Guess as season openers go Sympathy for the Devil sure did serve up the requirements. Let's face facts here you don't get a bigger bad than Satan to be squaring off against with the apocalypse now firmly on the agenda. Dean no longer trusts Sam, anyone else think yet another split between the brothers is coming, and Castiel is now firmly on the side of the Winchesters having seemingly gone rogue with the help of the big fella. What I'm left wondering is can the Bros stop the inevitable and if so how are they going to achieve that? Looks to be one heck of a season headed our way folks; get in the popcorn it feels like a bumpy road ahead.

Naturally a couple of the franchise's heavy hitters were brought in as the first episode hit our screens. Robert Singer showed a sure hand behind the camera, was really digging the tension he added as Lucifer went to work on his proposed meat suit Nick, some creepy concepts going down there. Singer simply nails it and had me engrossed from first frame to last frame. Eric Kripke took over the writing duties, and darned if he didn't keep everything on level pegging with the show mythology thus far established, for example Lucifer needs Nick to invite him in as Lucifer is an Angel and "them's the rules". In one of those weird, not explained was it important, Bobby is possessed - now I thought that could only happen if there was deep psychological stress, but guess all the hunters are damaged goods to one degree or other. Minor point, Kripke knocks up a ripper of a script that delivered the plot development, punch lines, and got season five out of the harbour and onto the high seas without any issues.

Mullet rock time folks and got to say we are still being short changed. If you catch the So Far recap, which I tend to do, you'll groove to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", and that's all she wrote folks. Somehow I expected a tad more from the first episode of a new season, disappointed over here.

Good start to the new season, though the Winchester Bros being pulled out of their predicament at the end of last season was a tad trite. We get the return of some show regulars, appreciated, and the possibility of new recurrent characters. The season is setup nicely and I'm grabbing shotgun for the ride, recommended kids, this show just keeps delivering the goods.

ScaryMinds Rates this episode as ...

While a tad disappointed I rocked to the episode.