The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #9
sweetondean’s #9:
“Jus in Bello”
Why: This episode always feels really claustrophobic to me. Trapped in that cell, in that sheriff’s station. Even before the demons come on the scene it makes me super uncomfortable. The thought of the boys getting sent to and locked up in a maximum security prison, never to see each other again, sends shivers down my spine.
I think this is one of Sera Gamble’s strongest scripts. It’s tight. It’s suspenseful. It’s snappy, with great one-liners and it’s an ensemble piece. It’s not often we get a bunch of non-regular characters all interacting in a “Supernatural” episode. But in this one, we not only get Sam and Dean, we get the wonderful Agent Henriksen, whom we first met in “Nightshifter”, the ill-fated Sheriff Dodd, Deputy Groves, the virgin Nancy (when I saw her in Dexter I literally went,hey it’s the virgin!) and of course, Ruby, and how I love Ruby (both Rubys by the way).
Everyone’s thinking on their feet. Everyone gets down to business. Nancy and the deputy organise the salt, the boys paint the devil’s traps, Dean briefs Henriksen on what’s really out there in the dark ““ even evil clowns that eat people!
I love how Sam scopes out Nancy’s rosary and figures a way to get his hands on it so that they can organise some holy water just in case and we get one of the smartest ways of exorcising a bunch of demons we’ve ever seen,.and it was Dean’s idea! I don’t mean to sound surprised by that, we all know that deep down he’s a smarty pants, he simply likes to hide his light under a bushel. I love their plan and I love that they don’t reveal the plan to us, so as the audience, we find out at the same time as the demons what was in the works. All we hear is “Open the doors, let them all in and we fight.” Of course,in our heads we then hear “like men in tights!” Damn you gag-reel! When the exorcism plays over the intercom system,.shear brilliance.
“Jus in Bello” is also the first time we get to see the anti-possession tattoos. So somewhere between “Born Under a Bad Sign” and this episode, our boys got some ink! Don’t you wish you could see that scene!
Plus, we’re introduced to Lilith. We’d heard about her in “Malleus Maleficarum”, but we meet her in “Jus in Bello”. Not the creepiest Lilith,that has to be “No Rest for the Wicked” Lilith,but I do love how this Lilith describes the brothers: “One’s really tall and one’s really cute.”
Oh and we see the very lovely left-arm-of-Ackles. It is always his left arm,even in the movie My Bloody Valentine,it’s his left arm that cops it! I swear, go look!
Favourite Quote: Oh gosh, this is such a witty script; there are so many great lines. I love how Ruby says some guts splattered into her mouth while she was fighting her way in, Dean’s ill placed joke about not shooting the deputy ““ followed by Sam’s bitchface!
But I think it’s Dean’s bravado that wins me over:
“It’s kind of wild, right? I mean it’s like they’re coming for us. They’ve never done that before. It’s like we got a contract on us. Think it’s because we’re so awesome? I think it’s ’cause we’re so awesome.”
Or maybe:
“Honestly, I think the world’s gonna end bloody. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight. We do have choices. I choose to go down swingin’.”
Special mention has to go to: “Nobody kill any virgins!”
Favourite Scene: I love the moment when Henriksen casts aspersions on how John raised the brothers and they both lean forward and practically growl at him. The look on their faces.
I also love the moment when Sam absent-mindedly checks out Dean’s gunshot wound and then wipes his fingers on the back of Dean’s shirt.
But my favourite has to go to the interaction between Dean and Henriksen when they discuss monsters and how Henriksen feels like he’s wasted his life, now that he knows what’s lurking in the shadows. It’s just such a matter of fact guy conversation. They even manage to chat about their personal lives as they sort through their weapons and pack salt rounds into their guns. Love it. Shame Henriksen died in a flash of white light and pain…..
And there you have our choices for number 9! Tomorrow…it’s 8…which means it’s just over a week until the new episode!
Gosh, you three have a hard job! I have been reading and enjoying all of them, not sure I could pick top 10 or 13, could probably pick the bottom 13 though, just so many good ones.love this show, no other show comes close to matching it’s awesomeness!
Three more good picks. Home makes me tear up every time. I love the new season so I have no problem with them in your top picks.
Jus in Bello was a wild ride. Henriksen would have mad a great hunter
Thanks so much for doing this. I confess that none of your 9s or 10s are on my top 30 list (still working on getting down to 15) but after reading all your tributes, I remember how much I liked them and I want to go back and watch them all – with one exception. Dark Side of the Moon is still too hard for me to watch. It just makes me too angry and sad. I am sure that is a sign of how good it is, but there you go. Also – with the exceptions of the bugs and ghostly truck, I loved all of season 1 – that is when I was hooked. Looking forward to the rest of the countdown. Thanks again.
Great Choices. I’m with you, Grace. I can’t watch Dark Side of the Moon, either. It’s not even just the end either. It’s the whole episode. Just thinking about it makes me tear up and not for a good reason.
Interesting! All three solid episodes – especially “Hunteri Heroici”. Hunter Cas was a humor goldmine, and how great was the detective? I lol’ed when she called Dean “Scully”! This one made my top 25 for sure. “Home” and “Jus In Bello” are good too, but for me they weren’t as engaging as some other dramatic episodes. Maybe they were just too grim for me! But speaking of “Home”, anyone else keep hoping that they bring Missouri back? Loved her.
Coming in at #9 on my list is “The Monster at the End of this Book”. This episode makes me smile a lot, that’s why. It also makes me sad a lot, and that’s also why. Sad, because it underlines how deeply everything is working against them, whether it’s the angels or destiny. But it also introduces Chuck, and has Sam explaining what a slash fan is! (Confession: I actually did not know when I first watched this one.) Also, so proud of Castiel for helping, even though he wasn’t allowed to help – it seemed like a turning point toward his eventual decision to support Sam and Dean against Heaven. Plus, did I mention Chuck?
“I’m sitting in a laundromat reading about myself sitting in a laundromat reading about myself… my head hurts.” – Dean
I’m with you, as someone who hopes they bring Missouri back, I loved her! Nice pick on TMATEOTB-I was laughing so hard the 1st 15 minutes or so, I think I almost missed everything else.
Great choices for # 9, but I put “Home” much higher on my list, like top 5 for sure. It’s just such a great episode. I loves Missouri Mosley, I would love to see her again. And good for you Ardeo that you put episodes from season 8 on your list, they would not make my top 15, but hey, this isn’t my show to run! 😆
Maybe it’s me but I totally don’t get what is meant by the left arm reference .. he cops it? Please enlighten me..
Edited by Alice – Sorry, NO Sam vs. Dean has been a big rule on this site on day one. I give comments like this some latitude on Let’s Discuss threads if it’s relevant to the discussion, but they have no place here when we’re taking time to recognize the best and the brightest times of the show.
Plus, I have picked tons of Sam scenes for favorite. A lot of my episode choices are Sam centric ones. So go pick your fight elsewhere.
I disagree with that statement. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” is one of my favourite episodes and it’s Samcentric to the core. In fact season 4 was very much Samcentric. It’s my favourite season. I know a lot of fans don’t care for it because they thought that Sam acted very unSam like, but to me it really showcased Sam, and Jared’s acting abilities.
These picks are very personal, and yours maybe would include more Sam episodes. These episodes wouldn’t necessarily make it to my top 15 either, but as I’ve stated before, I’m not the one making these lists. And season 8 is not halfway done yet, so let’s see what happens.
Your choices are all great choices!
I love Jus in Bello for all your reasons, sweetondean. It is in my top five bulging list, along with Home and many others. And a lot of them are from season one, which I love beyond saying. Faith (this could very well be number one for me), Dead in the Water (where Sam learns more about his brother than he ever knew before), Scarecrow (a particular favourite and a brotherly fight), Something Wicked (Dean’s lack of self esteem began here with his dad reaming him out), Provenance (really creepy painting, Dean smartassing Sarah’s dad, gutsy Sarah), Hell House (I LOVE Ed and Harry, a fun fun episode), Dead Man’s Blood (dad and vampires and Sam & dad fights), Shadow (dad arrives and leaves again), Devil’s Trap (could be my number one at times) and even Bugs and Route 666 have wonderful brother moments to be cherished. Sorry, it just makes me sad when I see season one being dissed. 🙁
Anyway, to each his own and I’m loving this top 15 from you three. 🙂
We are of a same bind, I love all the episodes you’ve listed. Actually, “Provenance” is my favourite of the ghost stories on SPN, that little girl was the creepiest. I go back to season one the most often, maybe because there was a certain innocence back then. We (and the Winchesters) didn’t really know what was in store for them, all the heartache to come. 😥
Gona go with sweetondean for this pick. There are so many great one liners in this episode. So much action and so many surprises. I think the final scene when Ruby goes to the boys hotel room and tells them what happened is very emotional.
The introduction of Lilith…was priceless, I love this episode.