On the Head of a Pin

I had to do a little dance when it was over, I was so excited. This show has really come into it's own - season 1 was very "monster of the week", but since then, the backplots have been getting better and better. This episode significantly advances the angels' storyline, answering some maddening questions I've had this year. Astute (and obsessed!) fans will note that it answers some older questions as well. We see a side of Dean which many would prefer not to speculate about. The cinematography this season has been amazing, particularly when the angels are around. Some great examples of that this episode. The beautiful and talented Julie McNiven was back this week, kindling hopes that she will be around in the long run - hooray!

"On the Head of a Pin," the sixteenth episode of Supernatural's fourth season, created by Erik Kripke and directed by Mike Rohl, is a gripping installment that masterfully blends suspense, emotional depth, and supernatural intrigue. This episode stands out for its exploration of Dean's (Jensen Ackles) forced interrogation of Alastair, a powerful demon, to uncover the identity of the entity responsible for killing angels.

The narrative begins with a haunting scene where Castiel and Uriel arrive at a motel, compelling Dean to torture Alastair, who is bound within a devil's trap. As Dean grapples with the moral implications of his actions, he is reminded of his time in Hell and the role he played in breaking the first seal. Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) seeks Ruby's help to locate Dean, leading to a pivotal moment where Sam uses his powers to destroy Alastair after discovering that the angel-killer is not a demon but a traitor among the angels.

Mike Rohl's direction skillfully captures both the emotional depth of the characters and the suspenseful elements of the supernatural threats. The cinematography enhances the tension, particularly during scenes where Dean confronts Alastair, creating an atmosphere of desperation and fear. Notable is the use of lighting to highlight the dark nature of the events unfolding, reflecting the twisted reality of Alastair's actions. However, some critics argue that the pacing could be improved, particularly in scenes where the narrative jumps between different plot points.

Jensen Ackles delivers a compelling performance as Dean, showcasing his emotional depth as he grapples with the idea of torturing Alastair and the consequences of his actions in Hell. Jared Padalecki effectively portrays Sam's determination to save Dean and his frustration with Dean's skepticism about his powers. The chemistry between the brothers remains a highlight, adding emotional depth to their interactions as they navigate the complexities of their family legacy and the supernatural threats they face. The guest cast, particularly Castiel and Uriel, adds complexity to the narrative by presenting characters who are both enigmatic and conflicted.

Thematically, "On the Head of a Pin" explores issues of morality and redemption, raising questions about how individuals cope with their darkest experiences and the consequences of their actions. The episode highlights the tension between Dean's reluctance to torture and his eventual participation, mirroring broader cultural debates about the nature of right and wrong. Alastair's character serves as a metaphor for the external forces that can disrupt human lives, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding. The narrative also touches on themes of identity and control, as Castiel struggles with his faith and loyalty amidst supernatural forces that challenge his worldview.

"On the Head of a Pin" stands out as a memorable episode of Supernatural, effectively combining elements of suspense with meaningful character development and thematic depth. Its exploration of family dynamics and the supernatural makes it a compelling watch, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences with morality and redemption. By intertwining these elements with suspenseful storytelling, "On the Head of a Pin" enriches the series' ongoing narrative, setting the stage for future conflicts and character growth. The episode's nuanced portrayal of Dean's emotional journey challenges viewers to question their assumptions about right and wrong, making it a thought-provoking addition to the series. However, some viewers might find the graphic torture scenes to be disturbing and uncomfortable, which could detract from the overall impact of the episode.

I'm late to the Supernatural party, and I am really enjoying the series so far! ... but this episode was just unwatchable. Or to be more specific, Alastair's almost comically absurd Brando impression was unwatchable, and so completely and utterly out of place with the tone of the episode! In previous episodes this actor's bizarre choice to parody The Godfather was merely irritating, but the fact that Alastair features so heavily here completely ruins what could have been one of the best episodes of the season. In the end I chose to watch on mute with subtitles, I recommend that you do the same!

"Then": Lilith is trying to break 66 Seals to free Lucifer. Castiel rescued Dean from Hell, where he had broken under Alastair's torture and taken on the task of torturing other human souls – and he had *liked* it. The guilt has been eating him alive. While Dean was in Hell, Sam started drinking Ruby's blood to increase his demon-controlling powers, at the cost of slowly losing the feeling of his own humanity. Before Dean was returned to Earth, Castiel's superior Anna was cast down from the Heaven for disobedience and expressions of free will. She lost both her Grace and memory in the process, but regained both. After that, she vanished in a flash of light that consumed Alastair's host body. Alastair returned, but was captured by the angels, at the expense of psychic Pamela's life…

This episode grabs you from the first scene and never lets go before the end credits. The opening is a short, but impressive scene that starts the plot of the episode: Castiel finding one of her sisters dead among huge wreckage, without a clue as to how demons could possibly have killed her. And she wasn't the first. The angels' only source of information is Alastair, but they can't break him. Maybe someone else can… Any more info would be spoilers (though I see the plot outline already contains more information). Really, the episode is best experienced with knowledge of only the setup. Besides, to review this with the detail it deserves would exceed the 1,000 word limit.

There is so much going on they couldn't even fit all the scenes in. Some scenes, especially those between Alastair and Dean, are quite long, but they really are worth every single second. The intensity in these scenes is actually insane. We actually need intercut scenes of other characters – and from the opening credits we can see that Genevieve Cortese, Robert Wisdom and Julie McNiven are all here – to be able to catch a breath. And that is before the shocking twists and resulting ferocious action scenes start piling on! Several times, it seems that the episode cannot possibly get any better – and then it just switches to a higher gear. This is as massive a turning point to Supernatural as "Luke, I am your father" was to Star Wars. The script, the acting, the framing of the shots, the editing, the music – TV is rarely this good.

On the first viewing, it may appear that Christopher Heyerdahl at his most demonic best and the shifting Jensen Ackles own this episode, but others do their best as well, just more subtly. Jared Padalecki portraying Sam's inner turmoil, Julie McNiven making you consider Anna's deep theological and philosophical thoughts, Genevieve Cortese making you believe Ruby can be trusted while simultaneously giving you that unnerving feeling the she absolutely cannot be trusted, Misha Collins expressing Castiel's doubt and desire to get rid of it, Robert Wisdom revealing what motivates Uriel – all gripping stuff. This time, the 10/10 is the only possible choice. Utterly unmissable.

This is when we all fell in love with Castiel. When he really became Castiel, the way we know him.

And Jensen also gives an impressive performance, delivering emotion beautifully - we get deapth to Dean here on a whole nother level.

This episode lifts the angels higher than they ever were later on - they are so much more than demons, they are superior. In later seasons that got very flattened, probably because a majestically powerful angel befriending out heroes was a difficult status quo to carry on with constantly.

Misha is so perfect as the feeling, unwillingly compassionate rebel angel (and good looking too!) that Supernatural could never do without him after this. But I also noticed that this episode was written by Ben Edlund, who also introduced Crowley to the show. And actors need good dialogue and story to shine - so cudos to Ben aswell.