Three Shocking Developments from Supernatural’s Mid-Season Finale “Holy Terror” 

The angel factions are at war. Sam is finally voicing the fact he knows something is going on with him. He just doesn’t know what it is. Cas is back…as a hunter…and then something else. Dean…well, we’ll get to Dean. The mid-season finale for Supernatural not only broke our hearts it set up a second half of the season that promises to be brutal.

Hey, guys! Sorry my recap for “Holy Terror” is hella late. Thanks to real life and a busted laptop, this couldn’t be helped. Thanks for being patient. As for the finale, painful is the only word I can come up with to describe the way the latest winter hellatus began. Some of the more shocking moments and developments and a few random thoughts mixed in for good measure:

#1 Dean is duped and my heart breaks

Ugh, I hate writing those three words (Dean is duped). But it’s true. Dean made a big leap of faith and he decided to put his trust in Ezekiel. Well that trust was shattered big time. Cas found out Ezekiel died when he fell. The one really inhabiting Sam’s body right now is an angel named Gadreel. He was God’s most trusted. The one that was supposed to protect the Garden of Eden. He wasn’t supposed to let any evil in. But he did. He let “the serpent” in. And for that, he was locked up in “heaven’s darkest dungeon.” That is, until Metatron cleared out heaven and expelled the angels from their homes and prisons causing them to fall to earth. I so wanted Dean to not regret the choices that he made. But I knew better. It all backfired on him spectacularly and Dean had to scramble and scramble big. Which meant he had to put his trust in Kevin. And Kevin paid the price.

Random Thought:

Dean was working overtime to sell his lies as the truth. In this episode alone he said the following words and phrases:

“Would I lie?”

“Damn straight…”

“Honestly…”

Maybe in using these particular terms he really wanted to get caught? He wanted this burden lifted off his shoulders? I know I would have if I were in his situation. It was difficult for me to watch Dean continue to lie.

#2 Kevin dies and my heart breaks

Kevin (to Dean): “I always trust you. And I always end up screwed.”

Who knows. We can come back from winter break and Cas could have healed Kevin. But until then, I’m just saying the powers that be ripped my heart out when Gadreel killed Kevin on Metatron’s orders. That Meta has a massive ego, doesn’t he? You know he’s thinking that he’s the new God. But he’s faux humble when he tells Gadreel he’ll go by “X” instead. He’s so smug about it. And that’s so upsetting. But I digress.

Gadreel duped Dean again when they had their conversation in the storeroom. He had altered the sigils thereby rendering Kevin’s work as null and void. Gadreel pretended to act like Sam. In reality, Sam had left the building. Gadreel had taken over and that’s how he found himself in Kevin’s vicinity. He was close enough to the prophet to kill him (and steal the angel tablets). And Dean had to watch. I can’t even fathom the Dean we’re going to get when the hellatus ends and the drama continues.

Random Thought: I love how Kevin was worried about Sam and Dean. He really was part of the family. I hate talking about him in past tense but I will until I hear of anything different. I so don’t trust this show because so many characters have died and then been resurrected. Just know that while I didn’t instantly love Kevin, I quickly grew to love and adore him and the actor who played him, Osric Chau.

#3 Cas gets his mojo back and my heart…is still processing

The leader of one of the fallen angel factions — Malachi — captured Cas and tortured him for information on Metatron. When Malachi left the pain inflicting to one of his henchman, said henchman turned on Malachi and wanted Cas to help him out with Metatron. Cas was pretty awesome in this scene. He let the idiot think he still had an in with heaven’s lone resident. In reality, Cas played the guy and then he stole his grace. And now Cas has his mojo back. When I said my heart is still processing I meant I don’t know what to think about the angel being an angel again. I kind of loved him as a human. I liked him struggling with his humanity and I loved him working at the Gas-n-Sip. But, you know, I missed the Cas that had all his powers, too. So I’m torn. Human Cas vs. Angel Cas. Which version do you guys prefer? I will say this about him being an angel again. At least he won’t have to take days to get back to the Men of Letters bunker. He can be there in a flash any time he wants to…or wherever the Winchesters are.

Random Thought: How adorable was Human Cas demon hunter in “Holy Terror?”  He was so happy to be working alongside Dean and Sam again. He had his first beer and, let me tell you, Buzzed Cas may be my favorite Cas ever. Well, next to Orgy Cas from “The End” and maybe the Hamburgler Cas we got in “My Bloody Valentine” when he was jonesing for meat.

Something else I’m processing about “Holy Terror?” What I ultimately think about this episode. On one hand, there were some really great moments. Some good payoffs. And Jensen’s one perfect tear over Kevin to end the entire hour was simply, painfully beautiful. And it wrecked me. But, on the other hand, I was also hoping Sam would be Sam again by now. I miss him. I’m tired of seeing other versions of him. I want Sam back. And I’m sorry to see Dean get so played. But, I will say, I’m looking forward to seeing the Dean we’re going to get when the show returns in 2014. He’ll probably do whatever it takes to get his brother back and then there will be an epic brother vs. brother battle, don’t you think?

What are your thoughts on this mid-season finale? Did everybody really do what they had to do? Did Kevin have to die? What do you think of Cas getting his mojo back? How dark is Dean going to get?

Supernatural returns Tuesday Jan. 14, 2014 at 9/8c on the CW.