Supernatural Episode 300 recap: How did John Winchester return?

Supernatural Episode 300 was everything we could ask for and more. What happened? How did John return? And just what do people in Lebanon think of the Winchesters? Here’s everything that happened in the episode.

Can you believe we’re onto Supernatural Episode 300? With a couple of returning faces, we got a reunion episode that we’ve needed for an extremely long time. Just how did John Winchester return and where did he come from? What caused the time reversal?

It’s time to delve into the episode. Just be aware that this recap is full of Supernatural Episode 300 spoilers.

Getting the pearl

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It starts with the Winchesters showing up at a pawn shop in search for the skull of Sarah Goode, one of the Salem Witch Trials victims. However, they’re not there to buy but to retrieve. It doesn’t take long to get rid of the pawn shop owner (who killed the Winchesters’ hunter friend). That leads to them taking all the items from this odd occult pawn shop.

With that quickly dealt with, it’s only to actual problem. While in a store in Lebanon, new girl to town, Max, decides to steal Baby. Definitely not the thing to do! You have no idea who you’re dealing with!

Is it really that surprising when one of the occult items comes to life? John Wayne Gacy’s ghostly spirit to be exact. Fortunately, Dean has used his charm at the post office to find out where Max lives to get to the group of kids who are bunking off school to take down the ghost.

With a look at how the Winchesters (sorry, the Campbell brothers) are viewed in Lebanon, it’s now over to the pearl. This special pearl can give someone whatever their heart desires and that’s Michael out of Dean’s head. Despite occult items never working out for them before, Dean makes his wish and the Men of Letters bunker lights go off.

Suddenly, the brothers find themselves at the wrong end of the barrel of a shotgun. On the other end? John frickin’ Winchester.

Catching up with Dad

During a quick catch up, John gets the chance to learn about his dad, the Men of Letters, and reunite with Mary. It’s sweet, but Sam makes a point that things have to go back to the way they were. John is here from 2003 and that’s most definitely not a good thing.

Of course, both brothers want a family dinner. It’s something they’ve always wanted but while getting drinks and food, it’s soon clear that they won’t get that. Dean is still hunting and a wanted man, while Sam runs his own law firm, loves kale, and has no hobbies or family. It’s a sad life and it’s clear our Sammy doesn’t want to become that version.

Sam realizes that they’re in a temporal paradox. They need to get out of it by sending John back to his own time before the Winchesters become these alternate versions of themselves.

And they’re not the only two who have alternate versions of themselves…

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Castiel of the past

With John removed from his timeline, everything that was supposed to happen to Sam and Dean didn’t. Castiel never pulled Dean from Hell and the two never had their bond. Castiel never fought on the side of the Winchesters, rebelling against Heaven. And so, with the return on Zachariah, we also get Season 4 Castiel.

When the Winchesters find the two angels, a fight naturally breaks out. Zachariah knows the Winchesters had something to do with it and orders Castiel to kill them. Sam is able to kill Zachariah but, of course, they don’t want to hurt Castiel. So, while Cass attacks Dean, Sam draws out a banishing sigil and gets rid of him.

Sending John back

It’s clear there’s no way that they can keep John back. And John doesn’t want to stay when everything changes so much. After a heart-to-heart with Dean and a dinner with the family, it’s time to send John back to his own time.

Not much time is spent on the how. Destroy the pearl and destroy the magic. It’s perfect that the episode was spent on the family reunion instead of anything else.

After another “I’m proud of you” and “I love you,” Sam destroys the pearl. John is sent back to his own time with Mary and his sons around him. Of course, we’re given some humor to help ease the pain of losing John just after getting him back. Our own Castiel shows up with time now fixed and he wants to know what happened to the Winchesters.

Well, that is a story.

In the final moments, we cut to 2003 and John asleep in Baby. He’s woken by his flip phone ringing — Dean is calling to check in on John. While John doesn’t remember everything as it happened, he does get to remember in a way. It’s all through a dream.

What did you think of Supernatural Episode 300? Which was your favorite moment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Supernatural Episode 300 will be available on The CW App tomorrow. The show is taking a break now until Mar. 7.