After learning that Sam has been drinking demon blood in an effort to boost his own demonic powers, Dean locks his brother in Bobby's panic room, hoping his brother will be able to rid himself of his new addiction in time to help stop the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Lilith has been breaking seals and the angels are fighting a losing battle against her army of demons. This is the second-to-last episode of the season.
Supernatural - "When The Levvee Breaks" Starring Jared Padalecki
The episode starts out strong, with Dean resolute in getting his brother off his addiction to demon blood, even if it means not having his brother at his side when the apocalypse comes. Bobby continues to suggest that letting Sam become more powerful may be their only shot at stopping the demon Lilith before she can break the final seals needed to set Lucifer free from Hell.
Down in the panic room, Sam begins to hallucinate, and over the course of the episode sees visions of the demon Alistair (who tortures him), his mother, his younger self, and his brother Dean. Each one gives insight into Sam's mind: Alistair dishes out the punishment, his mother forgives him and tells him he's only doing what he must, his younger self begs him to try and return to the normal life he always wanted, and his brother accuses him of being an unforgivable monster.
Despite his cries for help, Dean and Bobby stand their ground, and Bobby warns that Sam might not live through the ordeal. Dean stares down his friend and tells him that at least Sam will die human.
Looking for help, Dean cries out to the angel Castiel, and is told that Bobby may be right and Sam might be their only hope, even though the amount of demon blood he would have to ingest would change him forever. Dean says he'll do anything to stop that, and swears allegiance to the angels, saying he'll do whatever is asked of him.
Castiel, under higher orders, secretly releases Sam, who goes straight for Ruby, the demon who believes Sam should head their army and who has been feeding Sam her blood. Castiel's actions are questioned by the rogue angel Anna, who is then captured and taken away.
Dean catches up with his brother, and argues that the angels had picked him from the beginning to stop the apocalypse, not Sam. They argue, and Dean pleads with his brother to stop, and says they can kill Lilith together so long as Sam leaves Ruby and her blood behind. When Dean says that knowingly drinking blood to change means Sam's a monster, his brother snaps and the two fight.
Sam wins and leaves Dean after being told that if he leaves he should never return.
The Last Word On the Supernatural Episode "When The Levvee Breaks" On the CW
The episode does a great job of setting up the season finale, but has a few issues. While the story is terrific and continues to move, Jared Padalecki seems to lack the ability to look genuinely furious, which hurt the emotional impact of his scenes with Jensen Ackles.
Also, the use of a curved lense to show how things have changed between the two is too obvious, and clashes with the way the rest of the episode (and the show) is shot.
Ignoring those elements, "When The Levvee Breaks" should leave fans looking for what's to come.
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