'Supernatural' Review/Recap: "Halt & Catch Fire"

Emily Dunbar ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Every season, Supernatural fans who travel faithfully down the road so far hope to see the Winchesters make it back to basics, but it’s much easier said than done. Supernatural has gone through quite the transformation in its ten seasons, but this week’s episode, “Halt & Catch Fire” was the closest we’ve seen in a long time to some of their most classic adventures.
First off, it was scary! That’s right, people: Chills! Thrills! Spills! This episode encompassed what has made Supernatural appealing from the start: bone-chilling spook fests with the potential to grab us before the title card surfaces. “Halt & Catch Fire” had a great, terrifying opening that Supernatural truly hasn’t done the likes of yet this season.
In that vein, though, it must be said that while it was fun to delve back into what makes the Winchesters tick, the reason this episode worked so well was that they’ve essentially done it before. We’ve got the car with a mind of its own, a la Season 1’s “Route 666;” a computer with a one track mind, terrifying its owner, just like the “danashulps” incident (which, honestly, is still one of the most hilarious plot points from a “filler” episode. Sorry not sorry) in Season 2’s “The Usual Suspects;” and the last-standing teen who was coerced into doing the wrong thing, and now someone/something is after her, courtesy of just about every episode, but specifically Season 1’s “Bloody Mary.”

The Winchesters go through their days with been-there-done-that written all over their travel-weary mugs. We’re along for the ride, and it’s no surprise that we’ve started to feel the same. So, nothin’ new here. Is that a problem? You can decide for yourself. We know Sam and Dean (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) are always game for an “easy” case… but that doesn’t always make for good TV.
Throughout the episode, there is mention to the fact that Castiel (Misha Collins) is crisscrossing the country, trying to find a cure for the Mark of Cain that Dean is still carrying. After the case is salted, burned, and thoroughly wrapped, Dean reveals he’d just rather live in peace with the Mark like Cain (Timothy Omundson) had been doing for centuries. Sam is rightfully unconvinced, but he (and we) know(s) better than anyone that Dean is going to do whatever he thinks is right. However, it looks like Castiel is back next week. Along with Crowley. And Cain. It’s going to be a battle of will, and surely only one can scratch out of it, Mark-free.
It’s gonna be a doozy, y’all. Tune in to the CW next Tuesday at 9 pm for “The Executioner’s Song,” the next installment in the Winchester gospel.
Overall Episode Grade: B-/B