Supernatural Season 4, Episode 4 recap: Sam and Dean debate controlling urges

Sam and Dean find themselves on opposite sides of a debate in Supernatural Season 4, Episode 4. Is it possible for a human becoming a monster to control his urges?

Supernatural Season 4, Episode 4 starts the idea that the standalone, monster-of-the-week episodes can bring a connection to what the Winchesters are going through. Since coming back from the past, Dean knows that his brother is on a dangerous road and fears that there is no way Sam can control his urges.

Sam, of course, believes the opposite and believes others can too. It all comes up when the Winchesters learn of Jack Montgomery, who is becoming a Rugaru.

Dean learns the truth about Sam and Ruby

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It all starts following the previous episode, with Dean seeing Sam using his powers. In this moment, he learns that Ruby is, well, Ruby and that Sam is able to exorcise demons just with the power of his mind.

Just as Dean goes into stab Ruby with her own knife, Sam stops him. It’s clear they both have different opinions on working with the demon, with Dean being fueled from everything he learned from the past.

Later, the two argue about Sam using his powers, with Dean telling Sam everything Castiel had just told him about the angels having to stop him. They’re cut off by a call from Travis, a hunter, who needs help dealing with a Rugaru.

The drive gives Sam and Dean a chance to talk about the trip to the past, which is when Sam shares another secret he’s hidden: Sam knew about being fed demon’s blood when he was a baby.

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Can a Rugaru control his urges?

As for the case of the week, Travis explains that he’d killed Jack Montgomery’s father in 1978. The father was a Rugaru, but Travis didn’t realize Jack’s mother was pregnant with Jack at the time. When the mother put Jack up for adoption, Travis tried to keep track of the baby to see if the boy would turn into a Rugaru too but lost track with the baby being in the system.

Sam learns through research that Jack may be able to resist the full transformation. Dean knows that Sam is just connecting with Jack and they do initially try to help him but Jack doesn’t want that help. That night, they see Jack almost attack a woman but he stops himself. Maybe there is hope.

However, Travis threatens Jack’s wife, who is pregnant with Jack’s child. It’s history repeating itself and Travis is sure he needs to kill both husband and wife. Jack isn’t going to allow that and bites Travis’ neck, killing Travis and becoming the Rugaru. The wife runs from the home and Jack consumes Travis’ body.

In the end, Sam tries to convince Jack to fight his urges but Jack can’t. As he is about to kill Dean, Sam kills Jack with his powers.

It seems to be the confirmation that Sam needs to stop using his powers. If Jack couldn’t resist then maybe Sam can’t either. However, he’s not made this decision for the angels or for Dean; it’s for himself.

What did you think of Supernatural Season 4, Episode 4? Did you hope Sam was right about Jack? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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