‘Supernatural’ Recap: ‘Proverbs 17:3’

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

In my previous review of 15.04: ‘Atomic Monsters’, I discussed a running theme in the Supernaturalverse – egos and lies. The lies, I argued, a part of the entire series, center round Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jenson Ackles). Heck, Even Castiel (Misha Collins) has told his share of lies under the guise of doing what he thought was right. Often stretched across several episodes, pointing out this M.O. would normally be a safe bet. However, the writers may be counting on fans like me to think this exact thing. To expect the standard formula. Or even point it out, with heavy emphasis, in their recap (LOL). Now, it seems, they’ve agreed that with this final season, a complete 180 is order to keep us guessing. Whatever their take, thus far, it’s amazing and I’m so here for it!! Is there a standard formula anymore? Because each episode has presented the new and old in shocking and entertaining ways. Formula or not, the fun keeps coming and I say BRING IT!! And with a test of the heart by the Lord, both literally and figuratively, the aptly named ‘Proverbs 17:3’, is no different. So before you can say ghost pepper jerky (*wink*), let’s dive in…  

Opening in the woods in Black Forest, Colorado, three young girls are camping and celebrating. We’ve seen these scenarios before. Over and over actually. A noise outside. One investigates. Screams!! Do you still jump at these parts? I do… even if it is just a little. By the time the opening credits appear, we’re not sure who’s survived, but we all have ideas on the monster. Woods + campers = hmmm, Wendigo? Werewolf? A new one perhaps?

Following the hilarious ghost pepper scene, the boys head to Colorado were we get our first cameo. Sheriff Dignan, played by Rachael Hayward, who also played Tara, the pawn shop owner in 9.11: ‘First Born’ – NICE! Presently, since the killings were brutal and the hearts ripped out, the Sheriff doesn’t believe the deaths were caused by an animal attack - Duh!! Upon visiting the only remaining victim Ashley Monroe (Anna Grace Barlow), she details a man with claws and fangs named Andy May (Markian Tarasiuk). Missing hearts and Ashley’s description - ding, ding, ding, I was right – werewolf!! What a nice metaphoric tie in to the episode title and the proverb itself – Hearts!!
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The boys seek out Andy at a cabin in the woods where he lives with his brother, our second cameo, Josh May (Luke Camilleri). He was also Jeb Dexter in 4.12: ‘Chris Angel is a Douche Bag’ – LOVING THIS!! It’s obvious to Sam and Dean that these boys are as guilty as the day is long, but after receiving a call from a scared Ashley, the boys take her to their motel. She asks that someone stay with her until she falls asleep. For a second I questioned her motives, but the acting and tears put forth by Barlow detoured me rather quickly. Sam returns with food to find Dean fast asleep. Ashley’s been taken and on Dean’s watch!! Whaaat??? The Winchesters race to the brothers’ cabin and, as stunned as I am, Dean remarks that there’s no way they could’ve taken Ashely without him waking up. I know, right?? Screams from the cabin, proving Dean and I wrong, send Sam and Dean rushing in. By the time the weirdly won murder/suicide battle is over, turns out my instincts about Ashley were right. Fracking Lilith – are you serious?!? Holy cow!! And brought back by Chuck (Rob Benedict), to do HIS BIDDING, no less!! Whoa!! Now this I definitely didn’t see coming. Dammit, I knew Ashely’s statement, “Wouldn’t it be great if everything was just planned out for you?” back in the motel was odd!! A dig at the Winchesters’ from God’s mind to Ashley’s lips!! Damn! Exactly when Lilith slipped into Ashley isn’t completely clear, but considering she later makes a comment about choosing Ashley because she had the best hair (such a Lilith thing to say BTW), it’s likely she was there from the get-go – in the tent. Oh, and not only is she back, but she’s more powerful and wants The Equalizer!! Ah ha!! God IS scared of that thing! Plus, it was Lilith who put Dean to sleep earlier. I knew something was up, on both accounts! After a very short battle, upgrades be damned (*sigh*), Lilith has knocked out Sam and demands The Equalizer! Dean tricks her away from Sam and back to the motel while a knocked out Sam has another vision. This time, it’s Dean doing the killing! He has The Mark of Cain back (WOW!) and slides The First Blade into Sam without hesitation. Whoa!! Is it just me or have they really upped their game on the fight scenes?? 

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On the drive, Lilith spills some juicy information about Chuck and his STORY! Turns out, it always ends in the same way – one brother kills the other. And the werewolf murder/suicide was “foreshadowing.” Seriously, this is too awesome!! Once they reach the hotel, Dean plays coy regarding The Equalizer and Lilith proceeds to torture him using Ling Chi describing its meaning as “death by a thousand cuts.” Yep, that sounds like Lilith!!  Sam bursts in firing a single devil’s trap bullet into Lilith’s forehead. “We upgraded,” Sam says. YES!! He also says he killed her once and can do it again but wait… Lilith wanted to die to free Lucifer the first time around, so she let Sam kill her. Now she’s pissed! YIKES!! Sam and Dean bolt out, but Lilith traps them outside in the motel parking lot. She gets The Equalizer and in a huge surprise, melts it!! Yep, this weapon definitely scared Chuck. With her task complete, Lilith leaves. Whew!! I’m so glad she wasn’t there to kill to the Winchesters.
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In the final scene, the boys return to the bunker. Not able to reach Cas, Dean says at least they gave him the heads up on the current Big Bad situation. Defeated and dazed from all that’s happened, Dean can’t shake the fact that God is still out there. Different from ‘The Rupture’ where he can’t wait to kick Chuck’s “low rent Dean Koontz” ass, Dean’s at a loss. Same dude… SAME! I mean, Chuck is still here and he’s truly considering all kinds of mayhem for the Winchesters’ demise and the Earth, too!! Dean tells Sam about the only ending Chuck truly wants - brother on brother death. This leads to the aforementioned 180 as Sam comes clean about his visions. When Dean says, “You’re just telling me this now,” I think yep… egos and lies. Sam would still be holding this in had it not been an actual clue about God! He explains to Dean that he thought it was just “some form of messed up PTSD,” but maybe somehow the bullet from the now melted Equalizer is connecting him to God. Well, it’s a start and heck, at least all my predictions haven’t been wrong. LOL.

Directed by Richard Speight Jr. (AKA: our friendly Casa Erotica loving Gabriel) and written by Steve Yockey, this episode has several funny spots and seems to be picking on Dean throughout. The ghost pepper jerky scene is fantastic, but the fun doesn’t stop there. We see several references to Dean getting older when he uses a younger picture for his Fish and Wildlife ID (LOL – loved all of it!!). And besides picking on Dean and the awesome cameos, Yockey takes a dig at the gun’s name by having Lilith say she won’t call it The Equalizer. Dean’s face is hilarious in this scene AND when Lilith admits she planned to seduce Dean earlier in the motel. NICE!!

In five episodes, we’ve seen a mixture of throwbacks, new rules, excellent comedy and plenty of surprises. In this episode and previous, there are cameos galore, the kind that move us since Kevin Tran (Osric Chau) and Becky Rosen (Emily Perkins) had us laughing and crying while one shots, like Jovanna Burke who played Bloody Mary in seasons 1 and 15 made us cringe. All of which show just how much care this wonderful team of writers have given to the end of an era. Not to mention, despite knowing that Rowena’s (Ruth Connell) death was coming, it was still filled with several unexpected moments. Epic from the get!! Except for Ketch (David Haydn-Jones). His death, at the time and the way it happened, was completely unnecessary and I do hope he returns somehow giving us another unexpected surprise down the road. Maybe there is a theme. Maybe the writers want us to revel in the past by way of cameos and comedy while they work on coming full circle with the epic Sam (Lucifer) and Dean (Michael) battle. Considering the startling 180 and the fact we have 15 episodes to go, I’d say we’re still a ways away from a full 360. Wouldn’t you agree?? Let me know in the comments below or catch up with me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!

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