Supernatural S13E14 Review: Good Intentions

Supernatural returned last night after being on hiatus for the Olympics. We finally returned to see Jack and Mary in the Apocalypse World, and learned what happens if you read a demon tablet while having no soul.

Supernatural  is back, and it did not disappoint. A couple weeks ago, when I tried to predict how Donatello would betray the Winchesters to Asmodeus, I left out “has no soul so will be corrupted by the demon tablet.” Who knew?

The episode was split pretty evenly between Donatello’s translation of the demon tablet and Jack and Mary in the Apocalypse World. So instead of chronologically working my way through the episode, I’ll review one storyline and then the other.

More from Supernatural

• Jensen Ackles and The Winchesters cast kick off #SaveTheWinchesters campaign
• Will The Winchesters be saved? (Can Supernatural fans save the prequel?)
• Did The Winchesters get renewed? (Is The Winchesters season 2 happening?)
• Is a new episode of The Winchesters on tonight? (March 14, 2023)
• The Winchesters Season1 finale explained: Did it connect to Supernatural?

“How far until we’re safe?”

The episode opens with Jack having his mind controlled by Zachariah. Zachariah is trying to get Jack to open the portal to the other world. However, Jack’s mind is pretty strong, and he doesn’t fall for the mind tricks. When the tricks don’t work, Michael throws Jack into a cell with Mary Winchester. Mary is shocked to see Jack as not a baby, since she helped deliver him. They begin speculating about the headaches they each have, due to the warding in the building. They find a weak spot, Jack uses his powers, and they escape.

As they are running away, they meet up with Bobby Singer. He recognizes Mary from her counterpart. It almost seems like Apocalypse Bobby was in love with Apocalypse Mary. Bobby tells her that she didn’t make the deal that saved John’s life in this world, so no John, no Sam and Dean. Bobby tells Mary and Jack that he has somewhere safe to take them.

“I have to kill him.”

Bobby takes Mary and Jack to a camp of human survivors. He tells them stories about how the angels are systematically wiping out the humans. Bobby and Mary catch up as Jack creates the most elaborate shadow puppets for the kids. Eventually, Bobby figures out Jack is not completely human, so Mary has to out Jack as a nephilim. Naturally, Bobby is not pleased to have a half angel in their camp.  Just as he’s kicking him out, the camp is under attack by Zachariah and other angels.

As panic grips the camp, Mary and Bobby try to save the children. Zachariah finds Mary, however, which falls into his orders to kill her. Jack doubled back after being told to hide, and ends up destroying Zachariah with his powers. Bobby is shocked. As reinforcement angels come raining down from the sky, Jack destroys them as well. Bobby automatically changes his mind about Jack. And Jack realizes that he’s there for one reason. To end the war. To kill Michael.

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

“Eureka”

Back in the bunker, Donatello has made progress with translating the demon tablet. In fact, he has claimed he knows what they need for the spell. However, he did seem to be hearing lots of voices in his head while he was translating, so his findings seem suspect. What also makes the spell seem suspect is that they don’t need any archangel grace. In fact, all the stuff they need is available right in the bunker, except for the hearts of Gog and Magog.

Dean and Cas have a hilarious interaction with Gog and Magog when they go for their hearts. Dean is fascinated by their loin cloths, Gog and Magog are having a sibling argument in Ancient Caananite. However, after Dean and Castiel kill the ancient beings, they learn that they’re not human. They’re made of sand and rock, they have no hearts. As they figure this out, Donatello knocks a distracted Sam out with a bottle.

“We do whatever it takes.”

When Dean and Cas return to the bunker, they find Sam nursing a headache, and Donatello trapped within a  Devil’s Trap. I don’t know about all of you, I keep forgetting that Amara ate Donatello’s soul. Of course, before the season started I had forgotten about Donatello, so there’s that. The three of them have realized the spell was bogus, and they try to figure out how to get the real spell out of Donatello. Donatello refuses.

Cas suggests killing Donatello to bring in a new prophet, but Sam and Dean are not for that method. Instead, Cas goes into the room and rips the spell out of Donatello’s mind.

It’s a side of Cas we very rarely see. Cas’s method leaves Donatello alive, but brain dead. When Dean confronts Cas about it, he throws back what Dean told him early. That he was just doing what they do: whatever it takes.

The good news is they have the real spell. The bad news is the ingredients don’t seem to things they can easily procure. They will need to track down fruit from the Tree of Life, the blood of an archangel,  blood of a very holy man, and a seal of Solomon.

Performer of the Week

This week I’m naming Keith Szarabajka, aka Donatello, as my performer of the week. He’s amazing in this episode as Donatello’s mind slowly goes crazy as the demon tablet corrupts him. Donatello’s character hasn’t had a lot of screen time. When I was looking things up for my previous article, it was almost impossible to find anything about Donatello. However, after last night, it’s safe to say Donatello has made an impact.

Szarabjaka’s performance was stellar. He can do crazy like I couldn’t believe. As his mind fell apart, he made it seem effortless. Now that Donatello’s brain dead, this performance may be his last as the character, and he owned it. Of course, this is Supernatural, and he isn’t dead, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him again in the future.

Next: Supernatural recap: Why does the demon tablet send Donatello crazy?

What did you think about the episode? Who is your performer of the week? Do you think Jack will kill Michael before or after he crosses worlds? Please let us know in the comments below.

Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW