Supernatural Season 3, Episode 9 recap: Ruby’s story revealed

Supernatural Season 3, Episode 9 brought us an episode all about witches. It also included a little more about Ruby, including her saving the day once more.

Supernatural Season 3 returned from its winter hellatus with Episode 9, titled “Malleus Maleficarum.” An episode all about witchcraft, we finally got the backstory about Ruby we’d been waiting for. Of course, that came with her saving the day again, cementing herself as a potential friend.

This was also the first episode to really focus on the witches we view today–the actual first episode was in Season 1, “Something Wicked.” We were introduced to hex bags and the way witches are created and viewed in the world of Supernatural. Here’s a look at the recap of the episode.

The Winchesters figure out their case

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?

It all starts with Janet Dutton arriving home from a party. After losing her teeth while brushing them, he husband finds her dead on the floor. The Winchesters turn up shortly after, claiming to be from the CDC. While Dean chats with Paul, convinced there are lies in the story, Sam finds a hex bag in the bathroom. It’s clear that witches are involved.

Paul is the next potential victim. As Amanda casts a spell that night, Paul starts choking on a burger suddenly infested with maggots. Of course, the Winchesters had an idea something would go wrong and they appear, burning the hex bag in Paul’s car. Tables turn on Amanda, who is suddenly attacked and killed by a mysterious force that slashes her wrists.

It turns out Paul and Amanda were having an affair. Paul had called it off the previous week, which Amanda wasn’t happy about. All this was in revenge.

Meet the witches

The next day, Amanda’s coven meet under the guise of a book club. The Winchesters interview the three women, but they don’t learn anything that can help. Sam makes a suggestion of murdering the women since they’re using dark magic and murdered people. It turns out that Sam believes he needs to be more like Dean, and that means being less concerned about human life.

Ruby stops the Winchesters on the way to their motel. There’s a demon in town controlling the witches, one that will come after Sam. Ruby wants the brothers to leave right away. Just as Dean is about to shoot Ruby, Sam stops him and Ruby disappears. When they get to the motel, Dean starts vomiting blood.

Unable to find the hex bag, Sam goes off to find the women responsible, leaving Dean alone. Fortunately, Ruby gets to Dean with a potion to save him. All Sam is able to do is find out that Tammi is the demon controlling the women. This demon wants to lead all the others and that means eliminating Sam.

Ruby’s past is revealed

A newly-saved Dean gets to the house with Ruby in tow. A fight starts and Tammi reveals that Ruby was once a witch. She’d sold her soul and later became a demon. The group work together to kill Tammi and save Ruby.

That night, Ruby visits Dean and shares a little more. Despite being to Hell and now a demon, she still has some humanity left–she remembers what it was like to feel human. She also reveals that all demons were once human and Dean will become a demon.

When Dean asks, Ruby also confirms that she can’t save him from Hell. All she wants is to make sure Sam is ready for life after. Looking back, this wasn’t a complete lie–she wanted to prepare Sam for what he would need to do at the end.

Next: Supernatural Season 3, Episode 8 recap: A Very Supernatural Christmas

What did you think of Ruby’s story? Were you surprised to learn the truth about demons on Supernatural? Did you like the introduction to witches? Share in the comments below.

Like SPN Hunters on Facebook for more Supernatural Season 3 to get through Hellatus.