Preview and Episode Discussion: “Mommy Dearest” (6.19)

This episode is one that ties up some of the loose ends for the plots and subplots this season.  It also is the third in the four part tale of Castiel and the downward slide of his relationship with the boys and Bobby.  What steps we see toward the deterioration of this friendship has not been told, but we do know more about the mythology and Eve’s part in it.  
 
Since Eve’s creation in “Like a Virgin”, fans have been waiting for Dean and Sam to finally confront her.  Not only do we get to see that, but we get to hear her point of view.   I hope we also get to see the boys, with Bobby and Castiel, defeat her once and for all.   I don’t think any of us want to see her around for the remaining episodes, especially since there is only one more new show before the two hour season finale on May 20. (Smile)

This episode is one that ties up some of the loose ends for the plots and subplots this season.  It also is the third in the four part tale of Castiel and the downward slide of his relationship with the boys and Bobby.  What steps we see toward the deterioration of this friendship has not been told, but we do know more about the mythology and Eve’s part in it.  
 
Since Eve’s creation in “Like a Virgin”, fans have been waiting for Dean and Sam to finally confront her.  Not only do we get to see that, but we get to hear her point of view.   I hope we also get to see the boys, with Bobby and Castiel, defeat her once and for all.   I don’t think any of us want to see her around for the remaining episodes, especially since there is only one more new show before the two hour season finale on May 20. (Smile)
 

 
This is also shaping up to be an episode of strong woman characters both good and bad…something the series can use more of.  Three actresses reprise their recurring roles in this episode, Samantha Smith (Mary Winchester), Julia Maxwell (Eve), Amber Benson (Lenore).
 

First, of course, is Eve always up to no good.  This episode she returns with newly created monsters galore, but now she isn’t after the boys, they are after her.  Armed with the ashes of the Phoenix, Dean, Sam, Bobby and Cass go on the offensive and take the battle to Eve.
 
First objective is to fine Eve though, and it seems she is hidden from any of Cass’ angelic magic.  So they have to find another way of locating her.  Enter Lenore, the second strong female character in the episode.
 
We first met “good” vampire Lenore in Season two “Bloodlust,” where we also first met one of our favorite villains, Gordon. Lenore proved that she could resist the temptation of human blood, and lead a group of vampires who lived peacefully among humans, feeding on cattle blood to keep hunters like Gordon and the Winchesters away.
 
One of the promos shows Cass summoning Lenore to Bobby’s, and I’m guessing at the suggestion of Sam.  Once there, Lenore tells Sam she has been hiding from the Mother of All.  Eve has been using some powerful psychic power to call all vamps back to evil.  The strong willed Lenore has stayed true to her beliefs, which greatly impresses Sam, but even she is cracking under the relentless onslaught of Eve’s evil voice.  Her nest though couldn’t hold out and have returned to killing, maybe are even with Eve in Grants Pass, Oregon, the location Lenore gives them as Eve’s location.
 
Her information has a price though, she requests the boys take her life to stop the torment. Hopefully the boys graciously decline, and instead give her Grandpa Winchester’s cure for the disease which worked very well on Dean. She apparently hasn’t been drinking human blood, one of the requirements for the cure.  I personally would like to see them cure her and take her with them to face Eve, but the promos and spoilers don’t seem to support that idea.  First, killing Lenore is just another victory for Eve, in my opinion, and second, as a ‘cured’ vampire, Lenore would make a great hunter.   It would also be fun to see her side with the boys occasional in season 7.  Like I said, the series could do with some strong female characters, especially now that Ellen and Jo are gone.  
 
Lenore also tells the group that Eve ‘sees’ through monsters, and now, through Lenore, she knows the boys are coming…something that doesn’t bother Bobby at all.  
 
“So we don’t have the element of surprise,” say Bobby.  “We’re still going in.” Bobby has a personal dislike for Eve…she killed his friend and partner, Rufus, and Bobby wants her to answer for that.
 
And go they do, but according to executive producer Sera Gamble, our four intrepid heroes travel to a town of Bobby’s choice.  Doing the research he has been ‘saddled with’ on the show, Gamble says, “He [Bobby] assesses out a pattern, so he is able to predict where she is going to be, and Sam and Dean and Bobby and Castiel all load up and go to this town.”   

When they arrive all appears normal and tranquil. Dean expected more “Zombie land, less Pleasantville”.  Bobby warns that just because it looks quiet ‘doesn’t mean it is.’

And Bobby is so right!  They soon learn that Eve has been experimenting with the townspeople, turning them into new monsters and causing a lot of residents to die.  They come face to face with some of Eve’s new creations, and some of her failed attempts. 
 
In the trailer for the episode, and one of the promos, we see Eve walking into a bar, and locking all the patrons inside with her.  Her attitude and facial expression are basically one of a hungry predator sizing up her prey.

She starts to befriend them, sort of…

  

…and then sends them all into panic mode as she attempts to turn them into some of her newest creations.  
 
And of course from the promos, we know that not all make it.  
 
When Bobby, Dean and Sam eventually get there, they find bodies…

…and some of Eve’s failures, much to their confusion!
 
Dean: “What has teeth and a spike?”  
Bobby: “I’ve never seen that in my life!”
Dean: “So, Eve’s making hybrids now?”
 
The group missed that fight, but we do get to see the boys and Cass meet some of Eve creations in the local sheriff’s office.  Apparently the Winchester’s seems to get on the wrong side of the cops again, but when those cops are all demons, all bets are off.
 
No idea what he is supposed to be, but… 

Sam takes this him out with a huge Sasquatch kick, even with his hands tied behind his back.  

When one of the creatures pins Cass up against a wall, Dean comes to the rescue. 

And now we know how Cass gets covered in blood.  Lots of blood spills with a beheading.
 
Yeah, Dean in vampire killing mode is back!  This looks like it will warm the hearts of any “Live Free or Twi-hard” fans.  Who could forget Dean taking out that vamp nest!  This looks like it will be a bloody episode again, and who doesn’t love that! 
 
But all the fun doesn’t stop there.  We still get to see the third strong willed female in the episode Mary Winchester, or at least the facade of her, when the boys confront Eve in the local diner.
 

(I love the guard standing in the background. Hope the boys don’t have to go up against him!) 
 
When the boys don’t seem to take Eve seriously, Eve turns the tables, and their mom appears, which does get the boys attention. 
 

This however, is not the sweet demure Mary Winchester we all know and love.  Eve brings her back as a demon just to torment the boys a little bit more.
 
And you know whenever Dean sees his mom; it is never a happy occasion.  Dean has always been the brother with the strongest emotional connection to Mary, not only because of his time travels, but because he was old enough to have childhood memories of her before she died. He has always had deep issues of missing his mother, and even though he knows she isn’t real, his emotions are plainly etched on his face. Each time he sees her, he remembers what he lost, and this time is no different, a fact that Eve seems to be fully aware of, as Mary takes a special interest in Dean.

Her apperence maybe a treat for the fans but Jensen Ackles hinted that her return may not be a welcome one.  “She comes back under some different circumstances.  And whenever she shows her face, especially for Dean, it’s very difficult and very emotional…… “Especially when she comes back different and is trying to trick them or a demon is using her to lure them into something.”  
 
And tricking them seems to be her goal.  We hear Mary say, “You understand a mother’s love,” right before we see a very disturbing frame.

Quite clearly Dean didn’t see this coming.  Is Eve trying to turn Dean into one of her many new creatures or just trying to kill him outright?  And where are those ashes?    Now would be a good time to use them.  
 
However Sam gets his time with Mom too.  Ackles also stated about Smith’s return, “We just shot a scene with Sam, who’s fantastic, and we love it when she comes back for any reason. Evil or not.”  I just hope neither Dean nor Sam have to kill their mom, even if she isn’t really Mary.  I’m hoping either Bobby or Castiel comes to the rescue.
 
All is not bad in this episode though.  There does seem to be a bright spot of sorts, seems Dean and Sam “find a soft spot for two young men who greatly resemble themselves at a younger, simpler time.” Hope that is a positive development and not a negative one.  It should definitely be an  interesting one as the whole town is supposed to have been converted to demons. 
  
The official synopsis: SAM AND DEAN MEET EVE – Sam, Dean, Bobby and Castiel track Eve to a small town in Oregon. The guys discover the townspeople have been converted to demons, but surprisingly, they all appear to be dying. When they finally do meet Eve, she decides to torture the brothers by bringing back their mother, Mary Winchester, as a demon.
 
Cast (IMDb): Misha Collins, Jim Beaver, Samantha Smith (Mary Winchester), Julia Maxwell (Eve), Amber Benson (Lenore), Chad Rook (Marshall Todd), Nathan Witte (Ed Bright), Jason Cermak (George)
 
John Showalter is the director this time around and another veteran to the series. He has directed three other episodes of Supernatural, the humorous “Clap You Hands If You Believe”, “Two and a Half Men” and one of my favorites from season five, “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid”.     
 
Adam Glass wrote the episode and is also not new to Supernatural.  He has worked with John Showalter before as the writer of “Two and a Half Men”.  He has also penned two season 6 episodes “All Dogs Go To Heaven” and “Like a Virgin.”
 
Photos for the episode are in our Photo Gallery.
 
The CW promo videos for the episode are below:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoMCTG4BmK4
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipv94nxSNTU
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA34pSxTpsI
 
Most of the spoilers released are based on the Eve and her monsters.  All that should be fun and cool to see, but I’m more interested in Eve’s point of view, how Castiel’s relation with the boys continues to decay  and the two young men the boys seem to take a liking too.
 
I’m also very curious about the twists and turns this episode is supposed to take.  Bob Singer stated in a recent interview, “There is a nice little twist when they zero in on where she [Eve] is and when we find out what she has been up to. I don’t think [fans] will be disappointed with that [episode]; it has a lot of twists and turns. And one really cool twist at the end.”
 
Happy episode all!  Come back and tell us what you think!
 
As for the season seven renewal, this says it best!