Supernatural Recap: The Rising Son

Supernatural — “The Rising Son” — Image Number: SN1302a_0077.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer and Samantha Smith as Mary Winchester — Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW — © 2017 The CW Network, LLC All Rights Reserved.

In the alternate reality, Lucifer and Mary make their way through the wasteland, but when a fireball comes hurtling towards them, Mary takes her chance and ducks away. Too bad there’s still creepy men in that reality, because when she comes across a hunter, he gets real pushy and aggressive with the only human woman he’s seen in years. But like the hero he most definitely is not, Lucifer appears and shoves his hand through the man’s back and rips out his heart, saving Mary. Thanks, I guess, Satan. After making it clear (with a little torture) that Mary has no choice but to work with him, Lucifer leads the way again. Only this time, they’re confronted by a group of super stiff, androit angels. In a disturbingly quick snap of his fingers, Lucifer vaporizes them, and then dodges yet another fireball/meteor thing. But it’s not just an ordinary fireball. The archangel Michael unfurls his wings and after confronting Lucifer, proceed to kick each others’ ass. Mary watches because, let’s be honest, where’s she gonna go? Besides, there are worse things than watching two handsome guys get all sweaty and physical.

Back in our reality, Sam finds Jack and insists he can be good, while Dean drowns his sorrows at a bar and chats with a waitress who turns out to be Asmodeus in disguise. Well, that’s bad luck.

We rejoin our boys at the motel, where Sam and Donatello talk about the chances of molding Jack into someone good. Donatello seems unenthusiastic about it, and leaves to go join Jack in their motel room. Dean arrives and once again, he and Sam argue about Jack. It’s funny, because I really think it’s going to be Dean and Jack that end up forming the strongest bond. Sadly, we tend to crave the love and approval of the person who withholds it most. I think Jack will gravitate towards Dean, seeing past his gruff exterior. And in the end, Dean will be one of Jack’s biggest supporters. Just then Donatello reappears and they realize that he wasn’t there earlier. They rush to find Jack but he’s gone. After fighting off a couple of demons (and getting to witness Dean’s epic angel blade throw right into a demon’s neck), they follow Donatello’s supernatural radar towards Jack.

Asmodeus, still disguised as Donatello, stands in the middle of a field, where he tries to convince Jack that God wants him to free the dark and twisty creatures Lucifer forbade from being freed. Loyal to Lucifer my well-rounded behind. Jack is eager to help, believing the creatures are trapped in a horrible place, and taps into his powers.

Sam and Dean realize there’s a Gate of Hell nearby and arrive just in time to see the scaly arms of the dark and twisties crawling out of the gaping pit of Hell. They call out, stopping Jack. Dean shoots Asmodeus, and his disguise fails. Furious, he begins to Darth Vader choke Sam, Dean, and Donatello. When Jack sees his friends hurt, he turns angry, glowing eyes on Asmodeus, who realizes he needs to skedaddle and fast. As soon as he disappears, the guys can breathe again.

Finally safe in the bunker, Sam tries again to convince Dean that Jack can be saved. Sam is refusing to believe that they can’t come back from the very dark place they’re in with the loss of people they loved. But Dean’s lost hope, disillusioned by all the losses they’ve endured. He insists Jack needs to be taken out. And he’s not the only one. He follows a weird noise to find Jack stabbing himself repeatedly with a huge knife. That hurt my heart. This kid is so lost right now. Dean snatches it away from him, staring in shock as the many knife wounds heal themselves. Jack looks heartbroken and scared as he admits he doesn’t know what he is or what he’s capable of. The only thing he knows is he can’t control it and he’s going to hurt somebody. Dean vows that if the day comes that Jack needs to be taken out, he’ll be the one to do it.

Damn it. I foresee a kind of father/son or big brother/little brother relationship forming between them, and I don’t think it will end well.

What do you guys think? Can Jack be saved? And will Dean come around?