Warning: This post contains spoilers for the Supernatural season 12 episode, “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.” If you haven’t watched it yet, jump into the Impala and drive away.
Crowley’s carved out an interesting niche in the world of Supernatural. He’s one of the most intelligent characters in the show, and though he’s aligned with the side of evil–at least on paper, because he is the King of Hell–he chooses to aid Dean and Sam Winchester again and again. He and Dean had a cute talk about Crowley’s save-the-day tendencies in “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.” The conversation made a meta nod to Crowley helping rescue the “girl of the week” and Crowley wanting to avoid “Winchester man pain.” Gold. Stars.
It’s a weird relationship for both parties. Befriending and assisting the two most renowned hunters in the U.S., maybe the world, doesn’t seem like good business for Crowley. We’ve seen him take knocks from his minions for his association with the Winchesters time and time again. And on the flip side, the brothers who hunt monsters for a living have the King of Hell on speed dial. It’s not normal (because I know enough hunters to know what normal is). Plus, as Dean pointed out in this episode, they don’t even trust Crowley.
By the way, watching Dean act like an adult about Sam’s British Men of Letters confession was positively refreshing. Given how they work with Crowley, it would have been on the hypocritical side for Dean to draw the line at teaming with Men of Letters. They at least have the same goal as the Winchesters. However, Sam did not behave maturely about his newly forged connection with the group. I swear, if I had a dollar for every time a Winchester lied to another Winchester. Ugh. Where’s the Pinocchio-inspired episode where their noses grow any time they fib?
Back to Crowley and the boys. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Plus, a tiny part of Crowley appears to like being the hero. He didn’t welcome Gwen’s hug with open arms, but he didn’t have to stop his hellhound. Of course, a hellhound out of control reflects negatively on Crowley and his grip on Hell. It always comes back to him at the end of the day.
I mentioned Crowley’s cleverness earlier, and it’s been coming into play this season, especially with Lucifer. He tricked everyone when Rowena worked the necessary magic to put Lucifer back in the cage. That was quite the win. With Lucifer in his grasp, he’s doing what you’d expect by turning the table and, pardon the pun, making Lucifer’s existence hell. But he went above and beyond.
He’s kept his Lucifer secret from everyone, even going so far as to kill those involved with working on the cage. I did think his set-up for keeping Lucifer imprisoned and docile was on the simple side. This is Lucifer. Side note: I’m pleased as punch to see Mark Pellegrino back as the Devil. He puts such an impish wicked fun into the character.
Crowley’s plan went beyond anything the audience or Lucifer expected. He turned Lucifer’s vessel into the cage, meaning he used wards and everything else on and in the literal cage Lucifer used to call home. Damn. It’s creative and epic–just the kind of combination you want from the King of Hell. I wouldn’t say Crowley’s been off his game in recent memory so I can’t say he’s back. Instead, this is a reminder of how he’s never gone anywhere and doesn’t take a second off, even if he is galavanting around helping the Winchesters.
One more note about the recent episode: did you get the whole Lucille reference? Dean carried a barbed wire-covered bat on the table at the bunker. The bat resembles Negan’s Lucille from The Walking Dead. The character is played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan; he also portrayed John Winchester, a.k.a. Sam and Dean’s dad.
What do you think of Crowley turning Lucifer’s vessel into a cage? Jump to the comments and tell me your thoughts about his smarts and the entire episode.
Images: The CW
