‘Supernatural’ Recap: ‘Raising Hell’

10/24/2019

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

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

Revisit the season fifteen premiere right here.

If you woke up one day to find out everything in your entire life was just part of someone’s story, how would you react? Would you break down? Get angry? Want revenge? Or would you just embrace it and move on with your day? For Team Free Will, the answer to the question appears likely to spread out over the course of the season to give us a little bit of all of the above. But for now, it’s just another day in a hunter’s life… saving people.

Picking up where we left off last week, Raising Hell brings us back to Harlan, KS where our group has a collection of ghosts trapped within a magical perimeter. However, the warding is fading and the gang struggle to find a way to keep it intact. Of course, those pesky townspeople are growing restless with the benzene leak containment cover story and become pawns and fodder throughout the episode.

By and large, in the Supernaturalverse, Raising Hell is a typical “filler” episode – complete with something to fight and lessons to be learned. Ideally, these types of episodes serve the purpose of carrying the story forward with only a small amount in regard to the main story, in order to keep the audience going. However, I suspect that from here until the end of the series, each episode will carry a bit more weight whether it be a filler or a heavy hitter. This episode appears to be a bit both. Hence the return of several characters as well as a few juicy tid bits pertaining to the real threat – God (Rob Benedict) all while surrounded by the inevitably thwarted, yet immediate threat of the day… ghosts. NICE!

First up… Rowena (Ruth Connell), our once foe turned ally has arrived. Yes! The plan is to contain the temporarily trapped spirits in a magically powered crystal similar to the one used to create a soul bomb in 11.23 ‘Alpha and Omega’. Seems legit I conclude. And might I add, Ketch (David Haydn-Jones) and Rowena flirting with each other is the kinky couple I didn’t even know I wanted. Bring it!! Having them each individually ask Dean (Jenson Ackles) about the other was a nice touch as well… LOL. The power of science meets the power of magic and I loved it!! Speaking of Ketch, his appearance seems a bit random until we later find out that he’s actually been hired to kill Belphegor (Alexander Calvert) by another demon named Ardat. She apparently said that Belphegor is a, “monstrous threat to humanity.” Interesting I say – as my mind swims with questions from the previous week, specifically, what does Belphegor really want?

In a separate scene, while Dean and Ketch are facing off with some of the evil ghosts, another figure appears, scaring the spirits off; Kevin Tran (Osric Chau)… OMG, yes!!! But wait, he came from Hell? Aww man, we find out that Chuck lied about that too! And apparently, according to Belphegor, once in Hell, a soul is not allowed in Heaven without the exception of God. *sigh* Poor Kevin. He’s never deserved any of this crap! None the less, Kevin offers to try and spy on the ghosts, but sadly becomes captured instead.

Leading a subset of the ghosts that captures Kevin is Francis Tumblety, AKA: Jack the Ripper (Lane Davies)... Yikes! He and Rowena once dated – the only date he didn’t cut up, he remarks and I think, of course she is, LOL! And now, Francis has discovered the warding is being guarded by Hunters and when his plan fails to use townspeople to force The Winchesters’ hand (Thanks Ketch), he later uses Kevin as bait. I love that he reveals to Kevin that Hell Spawn talk about Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean all the time. Hmm, I wonder again about Belphegor… and Michael (Jake Abel??)! Both have been in Hell a long time, right!? During her encounter with Francis, Rowena is saved by Ketch from Francis’ grasp and in turn is possessed while Rowena runs to safety with The Winchesters’.

A scene change reveals Reno, NV. Another clue, perhaps? A huge one for certain because here comes Amara (Emily Swallow)!! Chuck has interrupted her massage to reunite with his sister for some family time. Funny thing is, Amara isn’t interested in hanging with her little bro. As a matter of fact, we quickly find out that she actually seems annoyed by the intrusion. Not only that, but she realizes that God is injured and needs her help. Holy crap, The Equalizer did injure him too and he’s… afraid!!!! And another juicy tid bit – God’s wound is connected to Sam’s. My brain is overwhelmed with how this is going to play out and I pray that it doesn’t include losing Sam! I can’t stop thinking about Sam’s vision and how there’s something evil festering in his wound. God’s too??? Obviously, even though God’s the creator, it appears that there are some rules even he has to abide by, interesting!

With the Soul Catcher hopefully ready for action the group face off with Francis. They are able to save Kevin while capturing a few ghosts and scaring off the rest. The group then makes their way to the weakest point in the magic perimeter. A possessed Ketch, pretending to help Rowena, gets ahold of the Soul Catcher and just when things look their worst, Dean shoots Ketch in the shoulder. Wait… what!? Oh ya, iron bullets! The Ripper is expelled then sucked into the crystal. Whew!!

Back in Kansas, we see Dean and Ketch have a friendly moment which was odd – because we all know the hate there right? Thereafter, Rowena and Ketch have an “until we meet again” look as he’s wheeled into the ambulance. Amusing yet intriguing this is… LOL!

With the immediate crisis averted, the boys say good-bye to Kevin who decides to walk the earth rather than return to Hell. I can only assume he’ll return at least one more time to help the Winchesters’, right?? I mean, when it’s all said and done, if anyone deserves to get into Heaven, it’s Kevin Tran!! I pause for a moment and wonder if we’ll see his mother Linda Tran (Lauren Tom) one more time. I sure hope so!

In a lovely little twist, Amara leaves God, his “same petulant, narcissistic” self, alone in the hotel giving him a speech on the parallels of him locking her away all those years ago. Now he’s alone and I think… WOW, Chuck, the Almighty God, cannot force Amara to stay and he cannot leave our world without her help!!! More rules, I wonder??

Early in the episode, a soulful conversation between Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean takes place. They exchange feelings about Chuck and what he’s done. Dean says that nothing about their lives is real, but the conclusion from Cas was, “we are real.” By the end of the episode, just like always, saving people and hunting things is all they know. Real or not, our group is still heroes! The remaining ghosts are flying around restless, but still behind the warding… for now. Our gang look on debating and finally, Dean asks, “how?” And so, the story goes… forward! With lots to chew on and less filler!

What did you think of the episode? Any thoughts on God and Amara? What about Sam and Chuck’s link? Or how about Ketch and Rowena? Let us know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter.

Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!

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