Sympathy for the Devil (Supernatural)

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"Sympathy for the Devil"
Supernatural episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 1
Directed by Robert Singer
Written by Eric Kripke
Production code3X5201
Original air dateSeptember 10, 2009 (2009-09-10)
Running time42 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Lucifer Rising"
Next 
"Good God, Y'All!"
Supernatural season 5
List of episodes

"Sympathy for the Devil" is the first episode of the fifth season of paranormal drama television series Supernatural and the 83rd overall. The episode was written by showrunner and series creator Eric Kripke and directed by executive producer Robert Singer. It was first broadcast on September 10, 2009 on The CW. In the episode, Sam and Dean watch the aftermath of Lucifer being freed from the Cage while the angels plan a new strategy to stop the Apocalypse.

Contents

Plot

Following the release of Lucifer from his Cage, Sam and Dean Winchester are mysteriously transported onto a plane flying overhead. Sam is also clean of the influence of demon blood. Confused by the turn of events, the Winchesters visit Chuck the Prophet who tells them that Castiel was killed by the archangel who had showed up to stop him. At that moment, Zachariah arrives with two angels to force the Winchesters' compliance with Heaven's plans, but Dean uses a blood sigil he saw Castiel use in the 'Green Room' to banish the three angels. Sam later creates hex bags to hide them from the senses of both angels and demons.

As the Winchesters work on finding a way to stop Lucifer, Chuck sends them a message about a vision he received on the location of the Michael Sword, the weapon the archangel Michael used to defeat Lucifer the first time. With the help of Bobby Singer, the Winchesters figure out the weapon is in their father's lock-up, but Bobby is revealed to be possessed by a demon loyal to Meg, the Winchesters old demon enemy. After being ordered to kill Dean, Bobby manages to stab himself and kill the demon possessing him instead, allowing the Winchesters to kill Meg's other demon minions with Meg herself fleeing. After taking Bobby to the hospital, the Winchesters rush to the lock-up to find the Michael Sword.

At the lock-up, the Winchesters are confronted by Zachariah and his angels who reveal the whole thing was a trap for the Winchesters. Dean is the Michael Sword: his one true vessel on Earth to combat Lucifer with. When Dean refuses to give Michael permission to possess him, since it is required, Zachariah begins horrifically torturing the brothers to force Dean's cooperation. Unexpectedly, Castiel appears and kills Zachariah's two angels. Castiel implies that the same being that rescued the Winchesters from the convent resurrected him and forces Zachariah to heal the brothers and leave. Castiel brands the Winchesters with sigils that will protect them from angelic detection and warns them that Lucifer is close to gaining a vessel. Before leaving, Castiel confirms that he was dead, but refuses to tell them how he came back to life.

At the same time, Lucifer visits a man named Nick who recently lost his wife and child. After tormenting him with hallucinations, Lucifer visits Nick in the form of his dead wife and convinces Nick to allow Lucifer to possess him.

After the encounter with Zachariah, the Winchesters visit Bobby who survives his wounds but is left paralyzed from the waist down. Dean gives a rallying speech about fighting both the forces of Heaven and Hell to stop the Apocalypse but privately admits to Sam it was only just for Bobby's benefit. Sam choosing Ruby over Dean has also damaged Dean's trust in his brother and he doesn't know how to get over it.

Reception

Viewers

The episode was watched by 3.40 million viewers. [1] This was a 17% increase in viewership from the fourth season finale, which was watched by 2.89 million viewers [2] but a 15% decrease from the previous season premiere, which was watched by 3.96 million viewers. [3]

Critical reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IGN 9.0 [4]
The A.V. Club B+ [5]

"Sympathy for the Devil" received universal acclaim. Diana Steenbergen of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9.0 out of 10 and wrote, "It is not just the words however, it is the way they are delivered perfectly by each character that makes the script work as well as it does. Supernatural is blessed with great comic timing and deadpan delivery from both Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, but the real scene stealer in that department is Rob Benedict as Chuck Shurley. I love how after picking a bloody molar out of his hair he feels the need to share that he is having a 'really stressful day.' His chagrin at being forced to reach out to one of his fans is classic, and I appreciate the fact that the show is continuing what they started last season with their own special way of acknowledging and lovingly poking fun at their own fans through the fans of Chuck. That girl's reaction to meeting the real Sam and Dean is hilarious." [4]

The A.V. Club's Zack Handlen gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "One of the best parts about last season was that it got complex enough that it wasn't easy anymore to tell white shirts from black. I'm sure Satan will turn out to be a monster, and that Sam and Dean will have to take him down, and it will be awesome. But when Nick says 'Yes,' I felt satisfied, and not just because I want to see Lucifer's next move. Like I said before, the title of the episode was actually a little smarter than I initially thought; because here is a devil it's not that hard to agree with." [5]

Jon Lachonis of TV Overmind, wrote, "Snappy writing, great twists, awesome dialogue. Supernatural continues to be one of the best shows on television. As far as premieres go, this was one of the most fluid setups for a season long arc that I have ever seen, mostly because the body of the episode played as a really good story instead of becoming subtext to the 'grand plan.' Each returning character was given classy and effective treatment I almost jumped out of my seat when Castiel returned and the newest character, Becky, is a terrific gateway character for we obsessed fans, and I hope we see more of her. Score one for Supernatural. Exhilarating, exciting, intense, and hypnotically engrossing – this is how television is done people." [6]

Related Research Articles

Supernatural is an American television series created by Eric Kripke. It was first broadcast on September 13, 2005, on The WB, and subsequently became part of successor network The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the two brothers as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural beings. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Television, in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision. Along with Kripke, executive producers have been McG, Robert Singer, Phil Sgriccia, Sera Gamble, Jeremy Carver, John Shiban, Ben Edlund, and Adam Glass. Former executive producer and director Kim Manners died during production of the fourth season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Winchester</span> Fictional character

Dean Winchester is one of the two protagonists from the American drama television series Supernatural, along with his younger brother Sam. He is portrayed primarily by Jensen Ackles. Other versions of the character having been portrayed by Hunter Brochu (toddler), Ridge Canipe (child), Nicolai Lawton-Giustra (pre-teen), Brock Kelly and Dylan Everett (teen), and Chad Everett (elderly).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Winchester</span> Fictional character

Samuel "Sam" Winchester is a fictional character and one of the two protagonists of the American drama television series Supernatural along with his older brother, Dean. He is portrayed primarily by Jared Padalecki. Other versions of the character have been portrayed by Alex Ferris and Dylan Kingwell (child), Colin Ford (teenager), and Colton James.

Azazel (<i>Supernatural</i>) Fictional demon in Supernatural

Azazel is a fictional character that appears on The CW Television Network's drama and horror television series Supernatural. He serves as the main antagonist during the first two seasons. As a demon Prince of Hell, he feeds his blood to infants so that they will grow up to develop demonic abilities, while also manipulating and deceiving others into carrying out his ambitions, often through self-serving and one-sided deals of his construction. His goal of using one such child to release Lucifer is not revealed until much later in the series. Azazel is referred to by nicknames such as "The Yellow-Eyed Demon," or "Yellow Eyes" throughout the first two seasons, his true name not being revealed until the third season. Due to the character's demonic nature of taking different hosts, Azazel has been played by numerous actors but Fredric Lehne is the main default portrayer. All the incarnations have maintained his sadistic sense of humor and irony. Azazel's popularity and importance towards the franchise even led him to be the main antagonist and the analogue to Lucifer in the anime adaptation, as the "Yellow-Eyed Demon," in reference to the nickname he had in the original first two seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg Masters</span> Fictional demon in the TV series Supernatural

Meg Masters is a fictional character on The CW Television Network's drama and horror television series Supernatural. Created by the series' writers to develop a story arc for the first season, Meg is an unnamed demon who assumes the name of the host she possesses and begins antagonizing the series protagonists Sam and Dean Winchester. Nicki Aycox portrays her in the first season. Meg returns in the second season, possessing Sam and as such, was played by Jared Padalecki. The writers wanted Aycox to reprise the role in later seasons, but ultimately cast Rachel Miner for storyline purposes. Miner's incarnation evolves into an ally of the Winchesters and the angel Castiel over the course of the sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Singer</span> Fictional character in the TV series Supernatural

Robert Steven "Bobby" Singer is a fictional character in The CW Television Network's horror-drama television series Supernatural portrayed by Jim Beaver. Named after the show's executive producer, Bobby first appears in the first season finale "Devil's Trap." Although Beaver believed his role would merely be a "one-shot deal," Bobby has become a recurring character on the series, and is one of three characters who has appeared in every season of the show. The character, a "rough but warmhearted" working-class man who hunts supernatural creatures, has evolved over time into a father figure for series protagonists Sam and Dean Winchester. Critics have responded favorably to the character.

Ruby (<i>Supernatural</i>) Fictional character in Supernatural

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Castiel (<i>Supernatural</i>) Character from American TV series Supernatural

Castiel is a fictional character portrayed by Misha Collins on The CW's American fantasy television series Supernatural. An Angel of the Lord, he first appears in the fourth season and is used to introduce the theme of Christian theology to the series. In the series, Castiel brings Dean Winchester back from Hell and frequently helps him and his brother, Sam, in their battles with various demons and angels along the way. During his travels with the Winchesters, Castiel develops friendships with both men. As an angel, he possesses a number of supernatural abilities, including the ability to kill demons. Initially, the character demonstrates complete devotion to God and little emotion. However, his interactions and experiences with Dean and Sam, as well as certain revelations about God and his fellow angels, have a humanizing effect on him. This, despite the stress and harm it causes his character, allows him to develop an independent will as the series progresses and helps the show address topics related to free will.

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Alastair (<i>Supernatural</i>) Fictional character

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References

  1. Kubicek, John (November 9, 2009). "'The Vampire Diaries' Makes a Killing with Viewers". BuddyTV. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  2. Seidman, Robert (May 19, 2009). "Top CW Primetime Shows, May 11–17, 2009". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  3. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. April 8, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Steenbergen, Diana (September 11, 2009). "Supernatural: "Sympathy for the Devil" Review". IGN . Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  5. 1 2 ""Sympathy for the Devil" · Supernatural · TV Review 'Supernatural': "Sympathy For The Devil" · TV Club · The A.V. Club". avclub.com. 11 September 2009.
  6. Bishop, Hunter (September 10, 2009). "Recap – Supernatural 5.01 – "Sympathy For The Devil"". TV Overmind . Retrieved April 8, 2016.