Detox

After previous episodes of teenagers dabbling in magic and the Winchesters taking a trip into their parents’ past, Sam and Dean face an even bigger problem – love. It appears as if Cupid has run amuck as double entendres abound where people who want to be a part of each other so badly that they wind up devouring each other to death. It’s a special Valentine’s Day episode Supernatural style – also known to Dean as “Unattached drifter’s Christmas.” All this is within the first five minutes of the episode.

Of course this wouldn’t be a job for the Winchesters is some angels aren’t involved. It seems that all the hearts of the victims have Enochian markings from a rogue cherub. It gives a whole new meaning to the term marked for death. However, it goes deeper than that. The horseman Famine has come to this small town to exacerbate the hungers of it residents and feed on them once they have expired. You won’t believe what he looks like.

Meanwhile the hunger has affected our team in various ways. Sam craves demon blood and Castiel the angel with no need for sustenance becomes “the hamburgler.” But what about Dean? Just what is it that he hungers for? What’s more the plan to retrieve Famine’s ring is less than fool-proof. (In a previous episode that guest-starred the horseman War, Sam and Dean worked in tandem to defeat him. Apparently the power is in the ring. This plot within a plot will have a definite impact on the apocalypse. If the Winchester boys have all four rings will the shift in power go to them?)

This episode is in part a commentary on the greed of consumerism. But more than that it’s how Dean never gives up. Ultimately his despair and Sam’s addiction will be their saving grace.

Later on while Sam detoxes, Dean feels the hopelessness that Famine spoke of and finally asks for help. Will it be answered? You’ll have to wait until March 25 to find out.