14.8 Byzantium

[Tim]

What a great episode.  It was interesting that they started with Jack actually dying, and Dean, Sam, and Cas dealing with it.  Dean's idea, to get loaded and remember Jack, their fallen friend.

Meanwhile, Jack finds himself in Heaven, where he reunites with his mother, Kelly Kline.  It's nice that he finally got to meet her.   They have some real mother/son bonding.  I loved Kelly's reaction at first seeing Jack, no doubt she was convinced that he was still a baby.

However, The Empty has invaded Heaven, looking for Jack.  In the old days, that wouldn't be a problem, but since there are so few angels left, the Empty got in.

And, to save Jack, Cas offers himself to the Empty and the Empty accepts (after all, Cas had managed to escape it a year ago).  However, it won't take Cas right away, but will come for him at a later date.  The Empty then leaves Heaven.  As a thank you, Naomi tells Cas where Michael might be.

Back on Earth, Dean and Sam recruit Lily Sunder to help them get Jack back.  Lily has one condition, she wants to go to Heaven herself, when she dies, so she can be reunited with her daughter.  However, Anubis says that Lily has done too much evil, so she's going to Hell instead.  At first, Lily refuses to help, but Dean convinces her to do so, saying that Jack is to them what Lily's own daughter was to her.   So Lily does the spell, and Jack is restored.

As a result, Lily dies.  However, her act of saving Jack changes the balance and Anubis tells her that she is going to Heaven after all.

[Melinda Halliwell]

I too enjoyed the episode though disliked it when Jack died as class him as one of the boys along with Sam, Dean, and Cass.

Liked seeing the returning faces of Naomi, Lily, and Kelly.

Wandered what had happened to Lily since last time now we know obviously.

Enjoyed Kelly and Jack's mother/son meeting and bonding.

Felt sad for Cass's sacrifice especially when the Empty said they'd come for him at his happiest though understand why he did it as any father would do for their son even though Jack's not his technically which doesn't matter to Cass of course.

Predict Michael and the Empty will be this season's big bads then.

[Tim]

Angels really got a raw deal, didn't they?  Humans go to Heaven or Hell, monsters go to Purgatory, but Angels go to the Empty?

God really needs to come back and sort this mess out.   And Amara could lend a hand.

[Squad 51]

Great episode, though my TV went on strike just before I wanted to watch it but I managed, just barely.

Jack dying is sad and that the boys celebrate this with drinking?! Typical Dean idea but it worked and got Lily back. Jack's soul meanwhile meets finally his Mom Kelly and her memories in Heaven. Not good that the Empty has invaded in Heaven, looking for Jack. Interesting to see in that case Naomi back. How does she know where Michael is?

When the Empty nearly has Jack, Cas mades a big sacrifice to the Empty, hoping to maybe escape again when he managed it earlier.

Can't wait to see how it goes with Michael and Dean, I assume, next week.

[Tim]

Of course, I know how this story ends.