Supernatural recap: [Spoilers] dies and [Spoiler] is trapped in the Apocalypse World

Supernatural Season 13, Episode 22 was always going to be a tense episode. It was the penultimate episode of the season. But did we really expect all of THAT to happen?

Supernatural Season 13, Episode 22 was the penultimate episode of the season, setting up the events for the finale. A lot happened, people died, sacrifices were made, and there’s a huge shift from Apocalypse World to Paradise World.

For those who didn’t see the episode, we’re going to get super spoilery now. This is perfect if you want to look back over the events or if you just can’t watch but need to know–although I would suggest watching first if you can!

They need Lucifer’s help

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It all starts where the last episode left off. The Winchester family is back together and Lucifer is now in Camp Resistance. Of course, nobody wants him there but they do kind of need him. Gabriel still isn’t at full power and Lucifer has gone up against this Michael before.

Before they can go after Michael, though, Dean wants Gabriel to kill Lucifer. Jack isn’t happy with that idea and decides to throw a toddler tantrum (well, he is a toddler, so we can accept that) and takes off for a while. He needs to figure everything out now his father is in the picture.

While Jack deals with Daddy issues, the Winchester brothers deal with Mommy issues. Mary has made it clear that she isn’t leaving the Apocalypse World. Cue all the Supernatural fans getting angry until Sam makes a point that they can’t leave these people behind to deal with this mess. What if they brought everyone to the Paradise World instead? They could get a bunch of information together and send everyone back to the Apocalypse World to take down Michael for good.

Fortunately, the people of the Apocalypse World are fully on-board with that idea. So, they get the 25 people in the resistance together. But first, they need to get Charlie and Ketch, who have gone after the execution squad–oh, and of course it was all a trap.

Meet Apocalypse Castiel

The Winchesters and Castiel get to the execution squad to save both of their captured comrades–and it’s quite sweet that Dean is the one to save Ketch. They don’t just go up against any angels though. If you loved Gabe vs. Loki a few episodes ago, you would likely have loved what came in “Exodus.”

We got the Apocalypse Castiel, who looked like Hitler and spoke with a Russian accent. Nobody can quite figure out how this all came about, since Jimmy Novak would still have been American (yes, it was Misha Collins playing this character), but we were happy to overlook it as Castiel killed Apocalypse Castiel, making it clear that he prefers humans to angels.

With the execution squad gone, the Winchesters and Cass could get Ketch and Charlie back to the camp. It was time to get on with things.

Lucifer and Jack get time alone

During the episode, Lucifer had the chance to talk to Jack. Lucifer played the “I’m a victim” card, which Jack totally bought into. It wasn’t hard to buy into it if you didn’t know the full story since Lucifer really only gave half-truths. Even when Castiel and Gabriel tried to tell the full story–and Gabe certainly pulled Lucifer up on the “woe is me” spiel–but when it all came down to it, Jack decided to listen to blood.

Sam tried to give Jack a speech to avoid Jack staying to fight Michael, but it was Lucifer who helped to convince Jack to go back to the Paradise World with them. Jack has clearly been brainwashed (showing everything Lucifer is capable of and touching on the abilities of an abusive psychopath) already, saying “my father” about Lucifer when telling Sam he will go back to the Paradise World after all.

Who gets left behind?

There’s no time to get upset about things just yet. With Dean fixing a bus, the resistance fighters head off back to the rift, which Rowena has tirelessly kept open all this time. Everyone except for a couple of stragglers, Lucifer, Gabriel, and the Winchester brothers manage to get through when Apocalypse Michael drops in and kills the stragglers.

Lucifer fights against Apocalypse Michael but is overpowered. Gabriel decides that it’s his turn, even though he’s not at full strength. Making a speech about how it’s time for him to stop running from responsibility, he goes up against Michael to give the Winchesters enough time to get through the rift. Dean and Sam can just watch as Michael stabs Gabriel with the archangel blade and it definitely looks like he’s dead for sure this time.

Dean jumps through and Sam is about to before he pushes Lucifer back with Michael. The rift closes, leaving Lucifer and Michael in the Apocalypse World.

As the resistance cheers that they now have the books to help them take down Michael forever, Lucifer manages to convince Apocalypse Michael to work with him. After all, Lucifer knows all the ingredients needed for the spell to open the rift. It can’t be that hard!

Next: Supernatural recap: The Winchesters, Cass, and Gabe go to the Apocalypse World

Were you shocked by Gabriel’s death? Was Lucifer and Michael teaming up at the end really that surprising? What do you think will happen in the Supernatural Season 13 finale? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural Season 13, Episode 23 airs Thursday, May 17 at 8/7c on The CW.