Supernatural Season 4, Episode 12 recap: Can you cheat death and old age?

The Winchesters have cheated death in the past, but is it possible to cheat old age? Witchcraft plays a part in Supernatural Season 4, Episode 12.

Supernatural Season 4, Episode 12, titled “Criss Angel is a Douchbag,” gave us an episode to really think about. It also gave Sam something to consider, as Lilith got closer to breaking all 66 seals needed to release Lucifer. The big question is can you cheat death and old age?

We’ve watched the Winchesters cheat (and even kill) death on multiple occasions. But they don’t cheat old age. That’s something a magician-turned-witch does but it comes with a price.

Talk of old age

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After being heckled by a younger magician, Patrick Vance, and then watching another flashy youngest, Jeb Dexter, three aging magicians talk about the future. Jay, who is increasingly depressed at the lack of future for the three of them, shares that he’s going to do the “Table of Death” trick.

What he doesn’t tell his friends is that he intends to die during the trick. Just as it looks like he will die, he survives. Instead, Patrick falls to the ground outside. He’s killed with blood oozing from dozens of puncture wounds, just like Jay would have received during the trick.

When the Winchesters get there, Sam learns that Patrick had the Ten of Swords tarot card on him at the time of his death. Dean heads off to investigate “The Chief,” who apparently had a run-in with Patrick. It turns out “The Chief” is an alias and Dean finds himself in a room with a gay leather dom.

Ruby visits Sam

Ruby turns to Sam for help. Lilith has broken 34 of the seals so far. She’s beating the angels and Ruby needs Sam to stop her. The best thing is to kill Lilith before it’s too late.

Of course, Sam isn’t interested. He doesn’t want to be part of this and use his powers.

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Jay continues his magic tricks

The next night, Jay performs the Executioner trick, another death-defying act. It looks like he should die, but during the trick, we watch as Jeb is hung from his ceiling fan in his hotel room. Jay manages to survive the trick. He has the Hanged Man tarot card on him.

Of course, the Winchesters believe that Jay is using black magic and discussion of the glory days and growing old comes up. Dean is sure that their life will end up bloody or sad. When Sam brings up the possibility of ending the demon war altogether, Dean is suspicious but Sam doesn’t go into detail.

When the Winchesters confront Jay, he has them arrested. Jay later admits to Charlie that he doesn’t know how he’s performing the tricks. Charlie urges Jay on and you know there’s a reason for this.

Getting to the truth

Sure enough, Charlie is the one killed when Jay does the “Table of Death” again. After this, Jay gets the Winchesters out of jail, knowing he needs their help. They all head off to Vernon’s room (the third friend) for clues but find nothing. Jay does confront Vernon, though. Vernon knows nothing and it’s then that a young Charlie arrives to the stage.

Charlie had been the one performing the magic tricks with an enchanted pack of tarot cards. He wants Jay and Vernon to join him for eternity. They’ll kill Sam and Dean to do it. Jay pickpockets Charlie’s card, leaving just one. When Jay stabs himself, Charlie dies too.

In the end, Vernon leaves Jay behind. A depressed Jay tells the Winchesters that doing the right thing isn’t a comfort to him. As Dean wants to grab a drink, Sam takes off. He decides it’s time to join Ruby in the fight against Lilith. He doesn’t want to be hunting monsters when he’s old.

What did you think of Supernatural Season 4, Episode 12? Did you see what would happen by the end? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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