Episode:
Ackles, Padalecki and Sheppard all turn in some very hefty acting performances in this episode. Crowley's confession is Sheppard's crowing moment in the series and the brotherly melodrama is the choicest it has been in years. The final confrontation-acting, writing, directing-is some of the most compelling material the show has done since season 5(!) and goes a long way to fully reviving the show. The episode is still a little clunky-mostly around Metatron -but the final sequence is wonderfully realized; it is one of the grandest images in the show.
Season:
average episode score: 8.3578
Top 3 episodes
1. Everybody Hates Hitler
2. Sacrifice
3. Bitten
Bottom 3
21. Heartache
22. Man's Best Friend With Benefits
23. Freaks and Geeks
Season 8 is a little better overall than season 2. It largely returns the show to the more mythos focus of the first 5 seasons and it extends the Winchester's story in interesting and compelling ways. The back end of the season can stand with the best of Season 3-5 with little difference in quality but the show is still uneven-as it was in season 6-7- and the lows are quite low here. Freaks and Geeks is a *terrible* episode and the filler, monster of the week episodes are getting more silly and strained. Season 8 ends up continuing to improve upon the good work season 7 did after the lull of season 6. But it is not a full restoration and the show has yet to return to the greatness of the golden years.