Supernatural Recap: “Torn and Frayed”

by Kimmie Chameleon:

Supernatural Recap: “Torn and Frayed”
Original Air Date (CW): Wednesday January 16, 2013
Season 8, Episode 10

SPNFamily!!!

After a six week long hiatus, the Winchester boys are back! A hearty congratulations goes to Supernatural for winning the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show” on January 9th 2013. An even bigger tribute to the show was when the SPNFamily won the award for “Favorite TV Fan Following.” That’s right folks! We are award-winning fans!!!

Ultimatum

Sam remains dazed in his motel room in Kermit, Texas. He had found out that Dean tricked him into leaving town so that he could save Benny by faking an urgent message from Amelia. By the time Sam figured out that the whole thing was a hoax, it was too late. Amelia spotted Sam. Now Sam sits in his room dealing with a ton of emotions. A knock at the door jolts him up, but it is Dean. After high-tailing his way across the country to see Sam, Dean eventually offers Sam a less than heartfelt apology. Dean snaps back that Sam would’ve harmed Benny, and Sam presents Dean with an ultimatum: Break ties with Benny, or lose Sam. Dean abruptly leaves.

The next day, Amelia knocks on Sam’s door. She admits that she still cares for him, and Sam admits he still cares for her. They end up putting the motel bed to some good use, but inevitably start to discuss where they are headed. Amelia proposes that they give themselves two days to decide if they should stay together. They will show up at the room at 7:30 and if they both want to be together, then they both will be there. Amelia stresses that it is all or nothing. Sam can’t leave her again on a whim due to his mysterious 2nd life.

Factory Settings

The angel Samandriel, aka Alfie, is in an abandoned warehouse being tortured by a doctor demon named Viggo. Viggo is trying to extract information from him in a most cruel manner. His torture becomes more intense after he overhears Alfie crying out to Naomi, (headmistress of Heaven) for help. Viggo employs the use of a halo traction device and proceeds to do a lobotomy on Alfie. The pain and suffering is horrendous enough that Alfie’s cries are heard in Heaven. Viggo is perplexed when Alfie begin to chant Enochian words, the ancient language of the Angels. Crowley enters the room, pleased with Alfie’s current state. “Sal Voch-Tay” roughly translates to “You, celestial being, have been created to be an angel of the Lord” according to Crowley. It is only a matter of time until Alfie reveals more of these “factory settings” engrained in his mind and all of the secrets of Heaven. Unknown to Crowley, is that the painful chanting has caused a nearby bush to speak the words and catch on fire. Unfortunately, a man walking past the bush was blasted by the flames and lands himself in the hospital.

Castiel appears to Dean out of nowhere. He convinces Dean to join him in finding Alfie. Castiel is unaware that Naomi has given him direct orders to help Alfie. Dean flat out refuses to have Sam join their case, but gives Castiel no explanation as to why. Castiel is able to locate a general vicinity of Alfie’s whereabouts, so they head in that direction. After hearing about the “burning bush” incident, Castiel is able to pin-point an even smaller area where Alfie is being held captive. Of course Dean and Castiel spot an abandoned warehouse, and begin to devise a plan to break through the highly guarded walls.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Dean and Castiel want to be prepared to break Alfie out of Crowley’s grip, so they visit Kevin. Kevin is a disheveled mess. Obsessed with cracking the code of the partial Demon Tablet in his possession. Kevin arms Dean and Castiel with some demon bombs and sends them on their merry way. Castiel and Dean return to the warehouse, but Dean is surprised that Castiel has brought Sam with him. Castiel tells the boys to knock their crap off and just focus on freeing Alfie.

While Sam and Dean kick demon butt, Castiel is rendered nearly motionless when he sees Alfie being tortured. Flashes of nearly the same type of brain manipulation comes to his memory of Naomi doing the same thing to him in Heaven. Somehow Dean and Sam manage to stir Castiel out of his shock, and Castiel successfully frees Alfie. Naomi orders Castiel to kill Alfie because he has revealed too many secrets to Crowley and has become compromised. Against his own will, and although he does not know he is being manipulated by Naomi, Castiel kills Alfie. Sam and Dean are stunned, but Castiel explains that Alfie has been compromised. With all of Alfie’s chanting, Crowley has discovered that there is an Angel Tablet somewhere out in this world.

The Winchester boys have made up their minds. Blood will always be thicker than water. Dean breaks off his friendship with Benny and Sam never shows back up for Amelia. In the end, family comes first. Hopefully now the two feuding brothers can work it out because humanity rests entirely in their hands.

Quotable Quotes:

Mr. Hinkley to Castiel: “I’d laugh too if it didn’t feel like the sun just ate my face.”
Castiel to Dean: “It’s a metaphor.”

Crowley to Viggo: “What on Earth could you possibly need now, Viggo? I’ve given you every torture instrument known to man, short of a Neil Diamond album.”

Dean to Kevin: “Your mom’s hot. I’m serious. Your mom is one sexy….”

Castiel to Sam and Dean: “We need everything, Dean. And I need both of you, as you say, to stow your crap. Can you do that?”

Dean to Sam: “Whatever you decide, decide. Both feet in or both feet out. Anything in between is what gets you dead.”

Alfie chanting: “Sal-Voch-Tay”

Sam to Amelia: “Words will never cover what you mean to me.”

DarkMedia contributing writer Kimmie Chameleon was born and raised with a healthy appreciation for horror and science fiction. She currently covers Supernatural, Ghost Adventures, BBC’s Being Human, Syfy’s Being Human, and Sherlock. When she’s not out ghost hunting with her kids, you can find her stealing a moment to add to her own pieces of fiction. Follow her on Twitter @dvsduo and “friend” her on Facebook.