Lower Decks

Supernatural
“Lucifer Rising
Originally Broadcast Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Well that was a kick in the pants, wasn’t it? A season finale with twists and turns and a humdinger of an ending. And it was filled with violence from start to finish. The nun massacre was particularly chilling. But there was also a stabbing, drinking blood, writing with blood on a wall and more. As violent as it was, however, “Lucifer Rising” was an episode about betrayal.

It’s hard to say what was the most important part of this episode. The final seal being opened, Lilith being the final seal, Ruby being a double-crossing jerk or the angels wanting to bring forth the apocalypse so they can usher in paradise on Earth. I’m going to take these on one at a time starting with the final seal. It’s open. Lucifer is on his merry way to Earth. Will he bring with him hordes of demons and other evil creatures? Are we really going to see an epic showdown between Good and Evil, Demons and Angels, God and the Devil?

I don’t think so. It seems more likely that Season Five will continue along the lines of Season Four. The apocalypse will be taking place but it will be far more low key than anyone expected. Lucifer & Co. will be working behind the scenes, so to speak, to corrupt humanity while the Brothers Winchester will be fighting the good fight with their buddy Castiel at their side. That’s my prediction, anyway.

Learning that Lilith was the final seal rather than being the only demon/person able to open the final seal wasn’t all that much of a surprise. We knew she was the first demon created by Lucifer and thus incredibly powerful and important. Making her the actual final seal just means she’s a little bit more important than we thought. Knowing that she was the seal, though, made the scene in which she was taunting Sam so much more interesting. He fell for her plan hook, line and sinker.

Sam also fell under Ruby’s “spell” completely and willingly. What a dope. I don’t remember how Ruby (back when she was played by Katie Cassidy) managed to convince Sam she was on his side when she was first introduced. I think it had something to do with killing other demons with her demon-killing knife. But Dean never bought it, did he? He always thought Ruby was up to no good. And she was. Sam, though, bought into everything Ruby said. And she betrayed him.

That brings us to the revelation that the angels, or at least Zachariah’s faction, actually want the final seal to be broken and Lucifer to rise. I’ve never totally understood what is going on with the angels. Are they working directly for God or what? Zachariah stated in this episode that the low angels on the totem pole (the grunts) aren’t privy to the big plan. Does that include Castiel?

Given that before he was pulled back to Heaven and re-educated Castiel was apparently going to spill the beans to Dean about Lilith being the final seal and everything, it seems that he knew from the start what was going on. What about Uriel? He’s the angel who was killing other angels and seemed to be working to hasten Lucifer’s release. Did he know the truth as well and was just trying to make everything go faster? Maybe I’m just over analyzing.

Anyway, we’re now set up for Season Five. As I mentioned earlier I’m expecting it to play out in much the same way this season did. Only now rather than stopping the seals from being broken, Sam and Dean will be trying to stop Lucifer with Castiel along for the ride. Will Dean be able to forgive Sam for everything that has happened? Will Sam be able to forgive himself?

Bobby suggested that Dean, unlike Papa Winchester, is strong enough to reach out to Sam and save him or help him or what have you. After unleashing Lucifer I think Sam is going to need some help. It’s hard to see Dean as the brother in a better place after going to Hell and all that. The brothers need one another now more than ever. Hopefully they’ll be able to put aside their differences because I don’t another season in which Sam and Dean are at odds.

What do you think? Was the season finale a fitting end to Season Four or were you disappointed? Hit the comments with your reactions.