When I watched the last episode of season 4 I though the show might have finally gone to far but it hasn't and if anything its only gotten better. I think this season is going to be one of the best the episode keeps you guessing and not only that allows you to really understand things much better. With Carver "Chuck" Edlund as the prophet returning as the voice of god with his Sam and Dean stories. I can see this season is going to be interesting with him disobeying the angels and attempting to help Sam and Dean fight the Demons. The only thing that might fall apart is that Sam is going to have to do a lot of work to regain the trust he lost at the end of season 4.
10 Reviews
Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name...
Chalice_Of_Evil13 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
It was only a matter of time before the title of this classic song was used in an episode of Supernatural. Personally, I'd been waiting for a long time to actually *hear* 'Sympathy For The Devil' by The Rolling Stones used in an episode. However, the use of AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' in the 'Then'/'Previously On' wasn't too shabby either. It certainly gets you pumped for the episode (if you weren't already). It's great that the Season 5 premiere picked up right where the Season 4 final left off...but it was kind of a cheat - getting the boys out of harm's way by having them magically transported onto a plane (though it allowed for an admittedly neat aerial shot of Lucifer's blindingly bright white glowing light beam shooting up into the sky). Speaking of Lucifer's white light - I liked how it was used in the new Season 5 Supernatural title card (the red swirling blood, combined with the sound of a heartbeat and creepy whispering, I think makes it one of the best title cards the show has had. I'd definitely rank it above Season 4's flapping angel wings title card).
Despite the rather cheap way of getting the boys to safety, I did like their encounter with Chuck and his describing the grisly fate that Castiel apparently had met (after courageously/foolishly taking on the Archangels at the end of last season. Those Archangels certainly pack a mean punch). The molar-in-the-hair bit was morbidly amusing. While the animosity between Dean and Zachariah in the ensuing scene did allow for some amusing banter, their scenes are getting somewhat repetitive ("You threaten me, I threaten you, yadda yadda *yawn*."), but thankfully - going by what happened towards the end there - we shouldn't be hearing from Zachariah again for some time at least. I thought it was a nice bit of continuity for Dean to use the sending-the-angels-to-the-outfield blood symbol that Castiel had taught him.
I admit I'm one of the people who has never been that 'wowed' by the character of Bobby. I mean, he's an alright character, and I don't mind his helping out/aiding the boys occasionally, but I think that, due to his popularity with a lot of people, we kind of got over-saturated with Bobby appearances in Season 4. And, really, given how everyone hates the boys being rescued by female characters all the time, why should it be any different with male characters? His constantly getting the boys out of sticky situations has been feeling like the easy way out for quite some time now. I also don't appreciate the way he talks to Sam or Dean at certain times. Thankfully, his comments towards Sam in this episode turned out to be the words of a demon, and not of Bobby himself (and by the way, you know how you could tell Bobby was possessed right from the start? The fact that we saw him walking into the building *holding* his signature cap, instead of having it already placed on his head. He's rarely scene without it on, I'm sure he even sleeps with it on).
I quite liked how the introduction of Lucifer was handled. Getting to know Lucifer's vessel (Nick) - as well as his tragic family background - was a smart way to go before the possession occurred. It allowed for lots of bad stuff to happen with waking up in bloody beds, creaking gates and bleeding cribs. Mark Pellegrino as Nick and Bellamy Young as his dead wife/Lucifer, Sarah, were both very good in their scenes together. Nick also got the best line of the episode with, "Sure, Satan, can you do me a quick favor and remind me to quit drinking before bed.". I look forward to seeing this actor play the Devil in episodes to come. Sadly, the same can't be said for Nicki Aycox's replacement as the character Meg. Rachel Miner - for all the good word of mouth I've been hearing about her - left me severely unimpressed. What exactly is so great about this actress? She over-acted, barely left an impression (unless you count the sheer annoyance of her acting), and to top it off...she constantly slurred her speech (say what you will about Genevieve Cortese as Ruby last season, but at least she didn't end up sounding sloshed). Poor Nicki Aycox - look what they've done to your Meg character. I'm not looking forward to this new actress returning.
This episode may not have been as impressive as last season's premiere (but at least it was far better than the lacklustre Season 3 premiere). We got some humour, some action, some blood, some really good performances (and only one really 'bad' one), some interesting developments and the groundwork for a potentially excellent season laid out before us. Jared and Jensen, as always, were at the top of their game. I'd rate this episode just below Season 4's 'Lazarus Rising' (but WAY above Season 3's 'The Magnificent Seven'). Good Season 5 premiere, Kripke.
Despite the rather cheap way of getting the boys to safety, I did like their encounter with Chuck and his describing the grisly fate that Castiel apparently had met (after courageously/foolishly taking on the Archangels at the end of last season. Those Archangels certainly pack a mean punch). The molar-in-the-hair bit was morbidly amusing. While the animosity between Dean and Zachariah in the ensuing scene did allow for some amusing banter, their scenes are getting somewhat repetitive ("You threaten me, I threaten you, yadda yadda *yawn*."), but thankfully - going by what happened towards the end there - we shouldn't be hearing from Zachariah again for some time at least. I thought it was a nice bit of continuity for Dean to use the sending-the-angels-to-the-outfield blood symbol that Castiel had taught him.
I admit I'm one of the people who has never been that 'wowed' by the character of Bobby. I mean, he's an alright character, and I don't mind his helping out/aiding the boys occasionally, but I think that, due to his popularity with a lot of people, we kind of got over-saturated with Bobby appearances in Season 4. And, really, given how everyone hates the boys being rescued by female characters all the time, why should it be any different with male characters? His constantly getting the boys out of sticky situations has been feeling like the easy way out for quite some time now. I also don't appreciate the way he talks to Sam or Dean at certain times. Thankfully, his comments towards Sam in this episode turned out to be the words of a demon, and not of Bobby himself (and by the way, you know how you could tell Bobby was possessed right from the start? The fact that we saw him walking into the building *holding* his signature cap, instead of having it already placed on his head. He's rarely scene without it on, I'm sure he even sleeps with it on).
I quite liked how the introduction of Lucifer was handled. Getting to know Lucifer's vessel (Nick) - as well as his tragic family background - was a smart way to go before the possession occurred. It allowed for lots of bad stuff to happen with waking up in bloody beds, creaking gates and bleeding cribs. Mark Pellegrino as Nick and Bellamy Young as his dead wife/Lucifer, Sarah, were both very good in their scenes together. Nick also got the best line of the episode with, "Sure, Satan, can you do me a quick favor and remind me to quit drinking before bed.". I look forward to seeing this actor play the Devil in episodes to come. Sadly, the same can't be said for Nicki Aycox's replacement as the character Meg. Rachel Miner - for all the good word of mouth I've been hearing about her - left me severely unimpressed. What exactly is so great about this actress? She over-acted, barely left an impression (unless you count the sheer annoyance of her acting), and to top it off...she constantly slurred her speech (say what you will about Genevieve Cortese as Ruby last season, but at least she didn't end up sounding sloshed). Poor Nicki Aycox - look what they've done to your Meg character. I'm not looking forward to this new actress returning.
This episode may not have been as impressive as last season's premiere (but at least it was far better than the lacklustre Season 3 premiere). We got some humour, some action, some blood, some really good performances (and only one really 'bad' one), some interesting developments and the groundwork for a potentially excellent season laid out before us. Jared and Jensen, as always, were at the top of their game. I'd rate this episode just below Season 4's 'Lazarus Rising' (but WAY above Season 3's 'The Magnificent Seven'). Good Season 5 premiere, Kripke.
The Michael sword
zombiehigh182 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Starting off with a rather amazing recap, Season five starts where "Lucifer's rising" left off. Sam and Dean are miraculously saved and transported to an airplane (Nice continuity to see Dean freak out on a plane that is falling again). Sam tries to apologize to Dean but the latter shuts him off. (Now I'm hurt, dean I know you have every right to be angry but you know Sam is already feeling bad and he was manipulated, not to mention you are the one who broke the first seal, so each of you was acting of his own weakness and who would have known Lillith would be the final seal?) They head to Chuck's house only to find him terrified and we find out that Castiel is dead. (Oh noooo, but hold your tears it gets worse) The angels arrive (Yes Zachariah, annoying as he can be) and tell Dean he is needed yet he sends them away using the blood sigil. Meanwhile Sam tries to make himself useful so he makes a hex bag to hide themselves from both daemon and angels, however Dean demands to know how he did it, so Sam tells him he learned it from Ruby. (Yes Sam no more lies, he tries to be very careful following his brother's lead all the way through) Chuck contacts his number one fan Becky and asks her to go see the boys with a message from him since he is being watched. She arrives at the motel and tells the boys that the angels have lost the Michael sword. (If anyone is wondering, yes we will unfortunately see Becky again, more than once!!) Bobby comes with the Impala (Now you made my day, I missed you both) but to every one's shock when Sam tells Bobby the truth about the final seal, (Here you can start crying but I warn you it gets worse) heartbreakingly Bobby is more than harsh to Sam telling him there will be no forgiving what he has done. (Daemon possession ALARM, out of character behavior) And indeed Bobby turns to be possessed (Don't trouble your self asking how) just in time when Dean finds out where the sword might be. Possessed Bobby beats the crap out of Dean following the lead of no other than Meg (you do remember her, the first resident daemon girl on Supernatural, but she is wearing a new meat suit, Oh I miss Nicki Aycox) She asks possessed Bobby to kill Dean but When Dean pleads with his surrogate father, Bobby regains control and stabs himself instead. (Bobby is the second person to regain control over the daemon within since John did it on season one) Sam barges in but he has no more powers (What!!!! just in time we need them, he is got no powers? Oh, he shot his load on the boss last season) Dean manages to kill one of the daemons and Meg smokes out of her meat suit. They rush Bobby to the hospital (Yey! he is not dead, gravely injured though but not dead) and go after the sword before the daemons get to it. As they arrive to the place, they find a pile of dead bodies and Zachariah announces to Dean that they manipulated Chuck's visions to find Dean since he is The Michael sword, aka The vessel, but when Dean refuses, Zachariah goes all mean hurting the boys even goes as far as killing Sam, but Dean certainly has learned his lesson. (He is not letting the bad guys use his love for his brother again and most certainly he is not giving up his free will) However, Castiel shows up and kills off the angels and tells Zachariah to put the boys back together and leave since they both know who brought Cas back from the dead. (Happy, happy, happy, Cas is not dead, Bobby is not dead, all seems right in the world). Cas carves a sigil in the boy's ribs hiding them from every angel and creation. They head back to the hospital where Bobby is but the man is paralyzed (sad but at least he is not dead, did I say that before?) and after Dean gives his "I don't give a damn, if I go down I'll do it my way" speech, Bobby tells Sam that it was the daemon speaking earlier and he is forgiven. (Yes, that's my Bobby) Sam is somehow relieved but all he wants more in the world is his brother's forgiveness, but Dean is having a hard time forgiving and forgetting since Sam, the one he relied on the most, chose a daemon over him and the episode closes off with a heartbreaking moment when Dean tells Sam he can't trust him any more and the relation between the boys is never gonna be the same again. (Sobbing, sobbing)
On a side story Lucifer is circling his vessel. Nick is a man who had brutally lost his family, he is having painful hallucinations (Talk about creaking doors, sleeping in bloody sheets, dead bloody wife and a bleeding crib, just a lot of blood). Lucifer comes to Nick in the form of his dead wife, messing with his head by his twisted story about how he fell, convincing Nick he would get justice if he accepted to be his vessel.
Mark Pellegrino and Bellamy Young are a welcome guest stars. I'm looking forward to seeing Mark again. While sadly we won't see Bellamy again she did a great job portraying Lucifer as tender and even sympathetic.
On a side story Lucifer is circling his vessel. Nick is a man who had brutally lost his family, he is having painful hallucinations (Talk about creaking doors, sleeping in bloody sheets, dead bloody wife and a bleeding crib, just a lot of blood). Lucifer comes to Nick in the form of his dead wife, messing with his head by his twisted story about how he fell, convincing Nick he would get justice if he accepted to be his vessel.
Mark Pellegrino and Bellamy Young are a welcome guest stars. I'm looking forward to seeing Mark again. While sadly we won't see Bellamy again she did a great job portraying Lucifer as tender and even sympathetic.
Hey! Some props to Becky, please!
emefay26 May 2013
I agree with most of the other 4 reviews, especially that Mark Pellegrino did get the funniest line when he was speaking to Satan in the form of his dead wife (see other review), and yes it was smart the way he was introduced. And the "new" Meg did speak oddly, which I guess was an acting choice (but a poor one).
However,none of the 4 reviews before this one mentioned the always excellent Emily Perkins as Sam-crazed Becky. Come on, Supernatural fans, Emily Perkins is a hoot every time she shows up! She might not have had as much screen time as in the other two episodes she was in, but she made the most of her time.
The initial scene on computer screens with Chuck was cute, but the best was when she met Sam and kept touching his chest. (Sam: "Becky, could you please stop touching me?" Becky: "No." :-) ) Emily Perkins is in my opinion a much-underused actress. Ever since her days as teen hooker Sue on the best police drama ever, DaVinci's Inquest, she has been a great favourite of mine. And no, I don't know her nor am I related to her! LOL But seriously, she brings a lot to Becky and to every role she takes on. I hope we see more of her on Supernatural and elsewhere.
All in all, this was a very good ep. B+, at least.
However,none of the 4 reviews before this one mentioned the always excellent Emily Perkins as Sam-crazed Becky. Come on, Supernatural fans, Emily Perkins is a hoot every time she shows up! She might not have had as much screen time as in the other two episodes she was in, but she made the most of her time.
The initial scene on computer screens with Chuck was cute, but the best was when she met Sam and kept touching his chest. (Sam: "Becky, could you please stop touching me?" Becky: "No." :-) ) Emily Perkins is in my opinion a much-underused actress. Ever since her days as teen hooker Sue on the best police drama ever, DaVinci's Inquest, she has been a great favourite of mine. And no, I don't know her nor am I related to her! LOL But seriously, she brings a lot to Becky and to every role she takes on. I hope we see more of her on Supernatural and elsewhere.
All in all, this was a very good ep. B+, at least.
Sam got free out of jail card...
tiriake26 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
First of all I started watching Supernatural only few weeks ago, so then I was about 8 years behind rest of the fans. Starting with series so late means, that it is nearly impossible to avoid all spoilers. And I tried. I plan to be on track when 9th seasons airs. Marathon watching changes the way series impacts you, because I didn't need to wait weeks until I see next season. So I watched this episode few hours after finishing season four finale.
Sympathy for the Devil was bit of a disappointment for me. Though there were good parts in it.
I will try to explain why I feel that way. Sympathy for the Devil starts, where 4th season finale ended. Sam and Dean are right next to where Lucifer is rising, I still wonder why Sam hesitated before attempting to run, then suddenly they are in an airplane away from danger. Sam feels OK. Just like that, he breaks the last seal, drank tons of demon blood and he feels no consequences.
When Dean made the deal to save Sam, he faced the consequences, he was sent to hell, where he was tortured for years. He even broke there (with that first seal broke also). But Sam..he drank demon blood, broke the last seal, even had demon eyes and we were shown 4.21 that to detox from demon blood is a brutal business. And 5th season starts with Sam just getting free out of jail card. Like someone just cleansed him of the demon blood.
I know I will probably witness his self pity in large doses during the next season, but still I don't think it is fair to compare those 2 seal breaking's by the brothers. Also I feel that Dean's speech at the end of the episode was justified. Because few seconds before Sam killed Lilith, he heard both Dean and Ruby. And he chose Ruby, further Sam was so far gone, would he have actually not killed Lilith had he known that killing her was the last seal?
So both Dean and Sam in a way chose the road they were going. Dean the deal to save Sam and Sam drinking demon blood and trusting Ruby over Dean. Dean got tortured in hell in return, that is not a slap in the wrist. Sam just walked away, he didn't even get wrist slap for that. Maybe in future, but not now. One thing Sam got right though, that no mere sorry will ever fix that.
I liked how Castiel kicked some ass :) I mean in Lazarus rising, he was awesome and then he was kind of helpless for the rest of the season(no, I cannot interfere, it is gods will....). Now finally he started fighting back :)
It was a nice touch to let us know, why Lucifers new vessel chose that.
Bobby stabbing himself while possessed...pretty impressive.
Sympathy for the Devil was bit of a disappointment for me. Though there were good parts in it.
I will try to explain why I feel that way. Sympathy for the Devil starts, where 4th season finale ended. Sam and Dean are right next to where Lucifer is rising, I still wonder why Sam hesitated before attempting to run, then suddenly they are in an airplane away from danger. Sam feels OK. Just like that, he breaks the last seal, drank tons of demon blood and he feels no consequences.
When Dean made the deal to save Sam, he faced the consequences, he was sent to hell, where he was tortured for years. He even broke there (with that first seal broke also). But Sam..he drank demon blood, broke the last seal, even had demon eyes and we were shown 4.21 that to detox from demon blood is a brutal business. And 5th season starts with Sam just getting free out of jail card. Like someone just cleansed him of the demon blood.
I know I will probably witness his self pity in large doses during the next season, but still I don't think it is fair to compare those 2 seal breaking's by the brothers. Also I feel that Dean's speech at the end of the episode was justified. Because few seconds before Sam killed Lilith, he heard both Dean and Ruby. And he chose Ruby, further Sam was so far gone, would he have actually not killed Lilith had he known that killing her was the last seal?
So both Dean and Sam in a way chose the road they were going. Dean the deal to save Sam and Sam drinking demon blood and trusting Ruby over Dean. Dean got tortured in hell in return, that is not a slap in the wrist. Sam just walked away, he didn't even get wrist slap for that. Maybe in future, but not now. One thing Sam got right though, that no mere sorry will ever fix that.
I liked how Castiel kicked some ass :) I mean in Lazarus rising, he was awesome and then he was kind of helpless for the rest of the season(no, I cannot interfere, it is gods will....). Now finally he started fighting back :)
It was a nice touch to let us know, why Lucifers new vessel chose that.
Bobby stabbing himself while possessed...pretty impressive.
Solid start but a few small annoyances
CubsandCulture14 March 2020
Season 5 feels the most planned out overall and very few things feel ad hoc or included by accident. I think a lot of that has to do with how this episode introduce almost every major story thread in the season. Bobby's story is here. The vessel story is here. Cas' doubts are here. The brothers trying to pull apart despite being stuck together. It is all included or foreshadowed in this opener.
With that being said I wish the episode spent more time with Nick; despite the scenes being effective very little is known about the guy and Satan's plan B is an idea worth exploring. In later seasons Nick becomes something of a character but not effectively and I think that issue date back to here.
Becky is also way too handsy with Sam. It is gross when she refuses to stop touching Sam after he asks her to stop. This would never have occurred with the genders reversed. The writers eventually realized this and finally course correct a bit in season 15 but still yikes.
With that being said I wish the episode spent more time with Nick; despite the scenes being effective very little is known about the guy and Satan's plan B is an idea worth exploring. In later seasons Nick becomes something of a character but not effectively and I think that issue date back to here.
Becky is also way too handsy with Sam. It is gross when she refuses to stop touching Sam after he asks her to stop. This would never have occurred with the genders reversed. The writers eventually realized this and finally course correct a bit in season 15 but still yikes.
The information keep on coming
shwetafabm14 June 2020
Disappointing Sequel of the Last Episode
claudio_carvalho31 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
After breaking the 66th seal and release Lucifer, Sam and Dean awake on board of a plane without any explanation. They head to the house of Chuck Shurley seeking out Castiel and they learn that he is dead. Out of the blue, Zachariah appears and the Winchester brothers learn that Lucifer needs a vessel on Earth since he is a fallen angel, but Dean gets rid off the Zachariah.
Sam and Dean lodge in a low budget hotel and Bobby meets them to help the brothers to find Michael's Sword to destroy Lucifer. But they are attacked by Meg and another demon that have returned from Hell. Meanwhile a desperate man named Nick grieves the death of his wife and daughter and he is visited by Lucifer using the shape of his deceased wife asking him to use his body on Earth.
The Fourth Season ended in the climax of the whole season and the sequel is very disappointing. Maybe I have waited too long to begin to see the Fifth Season, but I found ridiculous the way Sam and Dean appear in a plane without any explanation. The rest of the episode is average, and the need of Dean's consenting for Michael seems also that does not make much sense. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Simpatia para o Diabo" ("Sympathy for the Devil")
Sam and Dean lodge in a low budget hotel and Bobby meets them to help the brothers to find Michael's Sword to destroy Lucifer. But they are attacked by Meg and another demon that have returned from Hell. Meanwhile a desperate man named Nick grieves the death of his wife and daughter and he is visited by Lucifer using the shape of his deceased wife asking him to use his body on Earth.
The Fourth Season ended in the climax of the whole season and the sequel is very disappointing. Maybe I have waited too long to begin to see the Fifth Season, but I found ridiculous the way Sam and Dean appear in a plane without any explanation. The rest of the episode is average, and the need of Dean's consenting for Michael seems also that does not make much sense. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Simpatia para o Diabo" ("Sympathy for the Devil")
Just got sick of the fandom!
Aries_Primal23 August 2023
I'd just say this, Supernatural is a great show, and I consider myself a fan since I watched 15 years and re-watch it recently, but such sloppy moments should not be encouraged, just cut out and silenced from the show. I don't find it cute and fun sloppy fangirls interrupting and involving themselves into actors life, stalking them, twist-loving them, turning real powerful brotherhood into incest sick thing... If you wouldn't screw your own brother then you shouldn't plot about this with other people. Or maybe you should, americans are so twisted in head.
I love the show, I really do. Castiel's appearance was one of the best thing happening. Since that moment they were three brothers, Sam, Dean and Cas. Instead some idiotic little sick things made it disgusting, twisting what it is ti something that never happened, existing only in their messed heads and pants. Well... Why the mental clinics left empty...
I love the show, I really do. Castiel's appearance was one of the best thing happening. Since that moment they were three brothers, Sam, Dean and Cas. Instead some idiotic little sick things made it disgusting, twisting what it is ti something that never happened, existing only in their messed heads and pants. Well... Why the mental clinics left empty...
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
