The Devil’s on His Way

Episode Commentary: “The Devil You Know”

It’s a swine flu epidemic that’s sweeping across the west of the country, but why the flu when Pestilence has Croatoa, a virus that would devastate humanity and every living thing? In the meantime the demon Crowley (Mark Sheppard) returns to give the Winchesters information on how to retrieve the two remaining rings from the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The plight of Crowley brings about several humorous moments – his tale of woe will have you laughing out loud.

Just how Crowley finds Sam and Dean is one mystery that will have devastating effects that will reverberate throughout the “Supernatural” universe. Then there’s the horsemen’s lackey, who needs to do “the best of someone else” in order to spread Pestilence’s master plan. But it’s the plan of Crowley’s which causes Dean considerable pain. We must take note that if it wasn’t for the long-winded villainy of Brady (Eric Johnson) more hysterical moments would not have taken place.

Brady has a long history with Sam. It seems that there has been “a devil on his shoulder the whole time” – since college. In deciding to play for the winning team Brady doesn’t help Crowley who he informs that Lucifer will never allow him to die. The rest of eternity in a pain amplifier is no picnic; particularly when tortuous ideas are inflicted on you by the devil himself.

Once again Crowley uses his demon-scheming technique to save himself and brings back reinforcements. Needless to say no great special effects were needed for the scare-fest in this episode. Towards the end Crowley makes an offer that Bobby may not be able to refuse.

Of course we have Sam being left behind on an important mission. It leads him to one of his most profoundly, stupid schemes and causes Bobby to question him on “how can he control Satan when he can’t even control himself?” His being alone with Brady only proves Bobby right. Sam isn’t Satan’s vessel for nothing.

With only two episodes left things have gone from intensely improbable to downright impossible. And, in the midst of new alliances and the inability to trust old ones how will the Winchesters come out of this? Stay tuned to find out as Death rides into town in “Two Minutes to Midnight.”