The mid-season finale of The Winchesters has just arrived, and things are heating up more than ever before. After seven weeks of pining and flirting, John finally mustered up the courage to show Mary how he feels by going in for a kiss, officially kicking off the beginning of what Supernatural fans know to be a tumultuous romance.
John and Mary also received some closure on the family front this week and the final scene of episode 7 included a shocking twist that sets the stage for the epic Akrida showdown that’s been brewing since the pilot episode premiered. Overall, it was a pretty decent episode, though it wasn’t without its flaws.
For starters, knowing what happens to Samuel Campbell in Supernatural lowers the stakes of the mid-season finale a bit for those who have seen the original series. Mary’s anger, at both the Akrida and herself for not convincing Samuel to leave hunting, falls a bit flat when she finds his bag covered in blood at the beginning of the episode.
If Supernatural viewers didn’t already know that Samuel dies in 1973, when the yellow-eyed demon possesses and stabs him while using his body as a meatsuit, whether or not he’ll survive would likely carry more significance. The Winchesters is currently only in the year 1972, so unless there’s another canon discrepancy, Supernatural fans don’t have much to wonder about when it comes to Samuel’s fate.
With that being said, Samuel finally reunites with his daughter in episode 7’s final moments, although the timing was a bit awkward since she and John were caught up in a heated lip-lock when he made his entrance. Alas, his return wraps up one of the major storylines that’s been driving the first seven episodes and makes room for more drama to ensue in the latter half of the season.
John and Millie being able to summon Henry from the dead and talk to him also offered them some much-needed closure about Henry’s decision to leave his family behind. If there’s anything Supernatural has taught audiences, it’s that Winchesters don’t show emotion often, but when they do, a tidal wave of pent-up sadness and man-tears are sure to come out.
Much like Sam and Dean, John’s daddy issues are at the heart of his character. But John’s conversation with Henry will hopefully allow him to let go of some residual anger and create more character development in the final episodes of the season.If it wasn’t already clear before, Millie Winchester is definitely the gold-star-winning parent in John’s life. Her conversation with Ada was one of the most noteworthy scenes in the entire episode, because it’s rare that a parent sticks around to do right by their kid in the Supernatural universe.
To see Ada and Millie bond over the fact that they’re both mothers to sons who have been forced to shoulder otherworldly burdens was definitely something fans don’t get nearly enough of when it comes to the world of monster hunting. Not to mention, Supernatural didn’t put much focus on its female characters, so it’s a huge refresher to see the foundations being laid for these two women to start a genuine friendship because of their shared, yet unique, life experiences.
The last time Millie and Ada had a conversation, Ada asked if she could take pieces of the vines growing outside the Winchesters’ mechanic shop, which turned out to be foreshadowing for an important event in the seventh episode. Henry reveals he stored emergency power that could be used to charge the magic monster-eating box the gang plans to use to stop the Akrida.
Although these are small details from the series, it goes to show that Jensen Ackles and his fellow Winchesters creators are giving every scene purpose and know how to tie even the most seemingly insignificant of moments into the overarching storylines. Ackles has consistently proven week after week that he has an incredibly clear vision for the characters and the series as a whole, and this tiny revelation in the mid-season finale should continue to give fans faith that he’s guiding The Winchesters in a positive direction, which will hopefully connect to SPN canon as the series progresses.
While on the topic of well-thought-out storylines, the twist that Roxy isn't the Akrida’s leader definitely scored the series some bonus points. The realization that John, Mary and the rest of the gang spent the entire first half of the season accomplishing very little in terms of saving the world helps reiterate the idea that the otherworldly species are a massive threat.
The Akrida didn't carry much of a spook factor in the earlier episodes, coming across much more like a ghost story than an actual threat. The revelation that there’s a true queen, who's supposedly been locked up underground and waiting for her worker bees to feed her dead monster essence before destroying the world, is much more intimidating than an Akrida possessing a radio host. With an upgraded big bad, the return of Samuel Campbell and an evolving romance between the show’s titular characters, the final seven episodes are bound to take viewers on a chaotic, bloody ride.