Recap / Supernatural S 09 E 02 Devil May Care

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Recap of Supernatural
Season 9, Episode 02:

Devil May Care

So, what brings you to my boudoir, handsome?

Dean: Check the net for anything angely.

Sam: Or demony.

Dean: Or monstery, or ghosty, or...it's going to be a busy year.

Written by Andrew Dabb.

Directed by Guy Bee.

Airdate: October 15, 2013.

Sam and Dean bring Crowley back to the Men of Letters' bunker in Lebanon, Kansas, to Kevin's discomfiture. Abaddon returns and enlists help at the Naval base in Coronado, California to take over Hell. Abaddon then lures Sam and Dean to Eugene, Oregon.

---

The Road So Far plays. THEN Henry Winchester says, "Abaddon. She's a demon..." Sam completes the statement by saying, "who, it turns out, is a Knight of Hell." Henry explains that Knights of Hell are hand-picked by Lucifer himself. Crowley says, "I am your King". Abaddon challenges, "About that..." She punches Crowley again and again until he topples over and then says,"right now you and I are gonna talk about regime change." Sam covers Abaddon in holy water and ignites her, but she smokes out of the burnt body of Josie Sands. Sam asks Dean, "How do I stop?" Dean answers, "Just let it go. We will figure it out." Sam collapses. Dean explains, "Sammy's hurt--he's hurt real bad." Then Dean prays, "This one goes out to any angel with their ears on. This is Dean Winchester, and I need your help." Ezekiel says, "Easy there, brother" after stopping an angel who was beating Dean up. After Dean ends up saving Ezekiel, Ezekiel says, "I heard your prayer, and I am here to help." Dean surrounds Ezekiel in a ring of burning holy oil and says, "You want to help? Start with a name." Dean banishes the other angels at the hospital. Back in Sam's hospital room, Dean says, "No. We had a deal. I fight. You save." Ezekiel says, "There is a chance I can fix your brother from the inside." Ezekiel explains he will heal Sam as he heals himself, and he will leave once Sam is healed. Ezekiel possesses Sam, and in Sam's body Ezekiel says, "There is no reason for Sam to know I'm in here at all. Without his acceptance, Sam can eject me at any time. And if Sam does eject me, he will die." Dean answers, "Then we keep it a secret for now."

NOW a man drags a black body bag across the floor of a rundown candlelit house, and opens the bag to reveal a badly charred body. Meanwhile in a sunlit park, Sam and Dean discuss Castiel's loss of grace and the fallen angels while sitting on a picnic table. Sam asks Dean what happened to Crowley, and is surprised to find Dean still has Crowley in the trunk of the Impala. Back in the bathroom of the rundown house, the man who is wearing mechanic coveralls takes a switchblade from his pocket, his eyes flash black after he cracks his neck, and he cuts his forearm while a cloud of black smoke swirls above his head. He drips his blood into the bath tub and a bright light bursts from the tub. The cloud of dark smoke descends into the tub. A hand with red fingernails grabs the side of the tub, and then Abaddon stands up in the tub inhabiting the naked restored body of Josie Sands. Abaddon smiles.

The Teaser ends with a burst, and the Title Sequence plays with burning wings and high-pitched whine.

Deans walks into the Men of Letters' bunker, and an arrow is shot through the air and lodges in the railing in front of the door. Dean looks down and sees Kevin cowering behind an upturned table. Kevin explains that the last couple of days have been rough because the bunker went into lockdown after the sensors went crazy, and he thought the world was ending. Sam enters, guiding Crowley, who has a bag over his head and a pair of earphones over the bag. Crowley is taken to the dungeon where he is chained to a chair. Dean removes the duct tape over Crowley's mouth, but before Crowley can say more than "hello", Dean punches Crowley in the face. Crowley expects to be tortured, but instead Sam and Dean leave him alone. Kevin is very upset to have Crowley, who claimed he murdered Kevin's mother, Linda Tran, staying in the bunker with them. Sam and Dean explain that they need Crowley to give them the names of all the demons on earth, and then they kill Crowley. Sam warns Kevin to stay away from Crowley. Dean tells Kevin to check the angel tablet for information on the spell Metatron used to empty Heaven of angels and tells Sam to check the internet for supernatural activity. Dean starts calling other hunters to fill them in on the fallen angels.

Abaddon, now dressed in black with a leather jacket, is addressing four demons in the abandoned house where she was resurrected. These demons include the demon who restored her vessel (who we find out is named Jason), a blonde woman in a beige suit and pearl earrings, a man in a suit with a receding hairline, and an elderly woman in a sweater. Abaddon tells them that Crowley is dead and she will be Hell's new leader. She promises to conquer not only Hell, but earth and the fallen angels, instead of making deals like Crowley. The eyes of the demon in the elderly woman flash red, revealing she is a crossroads demon, when Abaddon insults her choice of meatsuit. The crossroads demon challenges Abaddon, saying she needs to prove that Crowley is dead, and goes on to add that she never thought much of the Knights of Hell. Abaddon grabs her by the neck, and the crossroads demon smokes out of the elderly woman. Abaddon tells the disappearing crossroads demon to go to Hell and tell them Abaddon is coming.

Dean is on the phone with Irv Franklin, a hunter and acquaintance of Bobby Singer. Dean warns Irv about the fallen angels and tells him how to use burning holy oil against them. Irv seems to take the news of Heaven's exiles in stride and reminds Dean that weird is nothing new, starting to tell Dean about hunting werewolf conjoined twins in Canada with Bobby.

Three Navy petty officers at the Navy Base in Coronado, California, are on a weekend pass and get on to a public bus. The other passengers already on the bus are Jason and the two other demons Abaddon addressed. Their eyes flash black, and the bus fills with black smoke that exits their mouths and enters the mouths of the soldiers. The soldiers' eyes now flash black while the demons' previous meat suits are slumped over in their seats. The bus driver looks back at the passengers and is revealed to be Abaddon. She says, "Now that is more like it."

A young woman is bent over the motor of an old Volkswagen Beetle on the side of a road when a man in a white van pulls up beside her. The man offers her a lift, and, as the woman grabs her backpack out of her car, the viewers see the man in the van expose the fangs of a vampire. After the woman gets into the van, the van starts to rock from side to side and sounds of a struggle are heard. Blood splatters on the windshield. The door to the van opens, and the beheaded body of the vampire falls out. The woman gets out of the van holding a knife covered in blood. Jason appears beside the van and tells the woman, "Nice hunting". Another demon, possessing a blond soldier, sneaks up behind the woman and puts a bag over her head.

Sam and Dean detect odd weather patterns and cattle deaths surrounding Coronado, California. They arrive as the military police are investigating the abandoned bus with three bodies inside in front of the Navy base. Sam and Dean claim to be Agents Stark and Banner from the FBI. However, Sergeant Miranda Bates is unimpressed, as the FBI has no jurisdiction in a crime committed on a military base. When she insists on talking to their supervisor, Dean takes out his cell phone and dials Kevin. Kevin tries to pose as am FBI supervisor, but when he can tell it's not working, he starts typing on his computer. He find some embarrassing photos of the sergeant in Cabo last June and threatens to send them to her supervising officer if she does not cooperate with the agents. A chagrined Sergeant Bates relents. Sam and Dean examine the bodies on the bus and realize these are ex-meatsuits, who have two or three old fatal wounds each, received while they were possessed. Sergeant Bates shows them the security footage of the soldiers leaving the bus. Sam pauses the video and zooms in on a figure whom they recognize as Abaddon.

On the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon, in a neighborhood evacuated after a chemical company spill, Jason is punching a hunter named Pete while he asks Pete where the Winchesters are. Abaddon realizes this is getting them nowhere, so she places a noose around Pete's neck and continues the interrogation while he is dangling in the air. Back in the bunker, one of Dean's phones in a box of cell phones starts to ring. Kevin answers the phone. Abaddon asks that he deliver a message to the Winchesters. A frantic Kevin calls Sam with the message, a set of coordinates (44.053051 by -123.127860) and two names (Irv Franklin and Tracy Bell). Dean says Irv is a friend, but does not know who Tracy is. Sam finds the coordinates correspond to a spot on the outskirts of Eugene, Oregon. Kevin says that the lady told him that they were hunters and if Sam and Dean did not save them, she would kill them. Kevin asks who the lady was, and Dean says she is the bad guy. Dean then asks Kevin to start researching a way to kill a Knight of Hell. Sam and Dean realize this is a trap, but agree they have no choice but to try to rescue Irv and Tracy.

Crowley, sitting alone in the dungeon, starts to replay events from his attempted cure over and over in his mind until he starts hyperventilating. Crowley hears Kevin getting some files from the archives in room 7B. He calls out to Kevin, taunting Kevin until Kevin enters the dungeon. Kevin asks Crowley how to kill a Knight of Hell. Crowley offers to kill Abaddon if Kevin lets him go. Kevin doesn't fall for this, but then Crowley asks Kevin why he really came to the dungeon. Crowley goes on to ask Kevin how he knows his mother is really dead, and Kevin punches Crowley. When Crowley continues to mock Kevin, Kevin looks at the wall of the dungeon covered in blades and other weapons.

Sam and Dean find Irv and Tracy gagged and tied to chairs in a diner in the abandoned neighborhood in Eugene, Oregon. After making Irv and Tracy drink a shot of holy water, Sam and Dean untie them. Dean assesses the weapons they have while Sam notes that the demons are approaching the diner, carrying assault rifles. Irv asks Dean what the next play is. The scene switches to show Jason and one of the other soldier demons walking up to the diner. They hear Dean's voice from inside the diner shout, "Come and get it, you dicks!". The demons burst into the diner with their guns ready and find a recording of Dean's voice playing on a smartphone propped against a napkin holder on a table littered with empty cans and beer bottles in the middle of the empty diner. Outside the diner, Dean says they need to flank the demons. He directs Sam and Tracy to go right, and Irv and he will go left. However, Tracy wants nothing to do with Sam because her parents were killed by a demon who was celebrating after Sam released Lucifer from the Cage. Sam ends up going with Irv, and Dean is with Tracy.

In the dungeon of the bunker, Kevin drops a large, bloodied hammer on the floor. Crowley has fresh blood running down his hands, but continues to bait Kevin by saying that Kevin's mother is still alive and is being horribly tortured. Crowley says that if Kevin lets him go, he'll give Kevin his mother back. When Kevin seems unmoved, Crowley tries to convince Kevin that the Winchesters are only using Kevin and do not really care about him, just what he's doing for them.

As Irv and Sam approach the diner, Irv asks Sam to give him Ruby's knife so that Irv can take on the demons alone while the others escape. Sam points out that this plan is suicidal, but Irv says it is what he deserves. Irv explains that Abaddon captured him when he was sloppy in a bar, and he gave up Tracy and Pete when she tortured him. While a tearful Irv vows to take on the demons, a sniper on the roof of the diner shoots Irv through the heart. The sniper continues to fire on Sam, who runs into the diner, where Jason and one of the other demons overpower him. The demon who was firing from the roof comes down and also joins in the fight.

Tracy and Dean's approach to the diner is halted when Abaddon appears and punches Dean in the face. Tracy shoots Abaddon in the chest six times, but an unfazed Abaddon lifts her shirt to reveal a Kevlar vest protecting her from the devil's trap-engraved bullets. Dean takes a flask from an inner pocket in his jacket and flings holy water in Abaddon's face. While Abaddon is distracted, Dean gives Tracy his keys and tells her to go to the Impala for more supplies. Dean tries to stab Abaddon with an angel blade, but Abaddon knocks the blade away and forces Dean to his knees. Abaddon explains that she wants Crowley, or whatever is left of him. She promises to kill Dean quickly if he tells her where Crowley is, but says that if Dean does not tell her, she will possess Dean after peeling off his anti-possession tattoo.

Inside the diner, Jason slams Sam against the wall and knocks him out. Sam's eyes open, glowing blue as Ezekiel reveals himself. Ezekiel in Sam's body glows with a white light, and the shadows of his somewhat straggly wings are seen. The light fills the diner along with a buzzing noise until it builds to an explosion that blows out the windows of the diner. Abaddon sees the explosion and is surprised to see an angel is present. She lifts Dean by his neck and throws him through the window of a department store before disappearing. Dean picks himself up and goes into the diner, where he finds Ezekiel in Sam's body cutting the throat of an unconscious demon with Ruby's knife. Ezekiel explains that he was protecting Sam, and that Sam was knocked unconscious and would not remember what happened. He used the knife on the demons so Sam would not know an angel was involved. Dean admits the guilt he feels for the deaths caused by the demons who remain on earth because he talked Sam out of closing the gates of Hell. Ezekiel tries to assure Dean that his actions were to protect his brother and were done out of love. Sam wakes up against the wall of the diner as Dean is packing up the duffel bag of demon-hunting supplies. Dean lets Sam believe Dean killed all the demons himself. Tracy pulls up in the Impala, and the three of them drive off.

Sam and Dean get back to the bunker with a bucket of chicken and a bottle of prune juice. When Kevin doesn't answer their calls, Sam and Dean rush to the dungeon, where they find Crowley with new wounds and more blood covering him. Crowley gives Sam and Dean the name of two demons, Martin Hayward and Brandon Favors, which he says is payment for the entertainment Kevin provided while they were gone. Dean finds Kevin leaving the bunker with a backpack. Kevin says Crowley told him that his mother is alive. Dean says Kevin can't trust Crowley and that it's too dangerous for Kevin outside the bunker. Kevin says Dean just wants him to stay because he is useful, but Dean tells Kevin that he wants him to stay because he is family and they would die for him. This convinces Kevin to stay. After Kevin goes to sleep in a back room, Dean joins Sam in the library as Sam is researching the two names. Dean pours Sam and himself a drink of whiskey. When Sam mentions that Tracy was not wrong in her assessment of him, Dean tells him that he has helped more people than he has hurt. Dean says the past is gone, and toasts the present. He then asks Sam how he is feeling. Sam says he feels good and goes on to say he does not remember when he was as happy as he is now. Dean looks uncomfortably away from Sam as he agrees that things have never been better.

Non-trope items:

• Fridge Items
• YMMV Items
• Trivia Items

Body Count:

For this episode = 8 humans, 3 demons, and 1 vampire.

For the series so far = At least 1064 angels, 918 humans (of which 7 were witches), 135 demons, 51 vampires, 48 ghosts, 36 Jefferson Starships, 20 gods, 19 zombies, 10 hellhounds, 7 skinwalkers, 6 changelings, 5 djinn, 5 shapeshifters, 5 werewolves, 4 ghouls, 4 Leviathan, 3 dogs, 2 Amazons, 2 arachnes, 2 kitsunes, 2 reapers, 2 rugarus, 2 Thule, 2 vetalas, 1 crocotta, 1 dragon, 1 fairy, 1 familiar, 1 Khan worm, 1 lamia, the Mother of All, 1 okami, 1 phoenix, 1 Purgatory creature, 1 rakshasa, 1 rawhead, 1 shojo, 1 shtriga, 1 siren, 1 Titan, 1 wendigo, 1 whore of Babylon, and 1 wraith.

Tropes:

• Action Girl: Tracy may be young, but she is already a badass hunter in cowboy boots.
• Ambiguous Syntax: While Dean seems to understand what Ezekiel means, there are multiple interpretations of the line "But it is why I said yes." Ezekiel may mean that it was the brothers' love that made Ezekiel say yes to helping to heal Sam. However, Ezekiel may have meant that Dean's love is why Sam said yes to ending the trials or why Sam said yes to allowing Dean help Sam when he was dying, which resulted in Ezekiel possessing Sam. If Ezekiel uses "I" when discussing Sam's motivations, it also suggests there may be some interconnection which is forming between Ezekiel and Sam that goes beyond the healing and Ezekiel's access to Sam's memories.
• And I Must Scream: Abaddon tells Dean what it will be like when she takes him as a meatsuit.
  Abaddon: It can get worse. Trust me. 'Cause once I'm on top, I'll make you watch. And I'll use your body. Have you ever felt an infant's blood drip down your chin? Or listened to a girl scream as you rip her guts out? Because you will. You and me, lover. We'll have a grand old time.
• And Your Little Dog, Too!: Abaddon lures Sam and Dean to Oregon by threatening to kill two hunters.
• Arson, Murder, and Admiration: While Abaddon may not be impressed by the state of Hell or the emphasis on deals, she still appreciates some of the traits of the demons walking the world.
  Abaddon: But enough about me, let's talk you. Jason tells me you're all violent, power-hungry opportunists.
• Artistic License – Military: The officers investigating the bus crime scene are wearing the Army Combat Uniforms (ACU), US Army patches, and Military Police (MP) armbands. There is also a black van at the scene with a label saying "Coroner" that says "US Navy Military Police" on the door. The Navy does not have Military Police. Law enforcement on a Navy base is handled by masters-at-arms (MAs).
• Ask a Stupid Question...: Sam's response after Irv tells him Abaddon has been torturing hunters to get intel on the Winchesters.
  Sam: Do you know why?
  Irv: I seriously doubt she wants to add you to her Christmas-card list. Now, d'you wanna make with the rescue or what?
• Ass Shove/Orifice Invasion: Abaddon says that when she possesses Dean she will not enter through his mouth but instead will "blow smoke up [his] ass".
• The Atoner: Irv wants to face the demons alone, which would likely result in his death, because he feels guilty for giving Abaddon the names of other hunters.
• Awesome Anachronistic Apparel: Abaddon changes into a dark blue, vintage, well-fitted bus driver outfit, complete with a brimmed cap and a shoulder patch that says "South Cal Public Transit".
• Back from the Dead: Sam and Dean are surprised to see Abaddon in her old meatsuit.
  Dean: I'm gonna chop her freaking head off. Again.
• Bag of Kidnapping: The demon possessing the soldier with a blond crew cut sneaks up behind Tracy and throws a bag over her head.
• Beard of Evil: Jason, the demon wearing mechanic coveralls, could use a shave. The vampire in the van has a goatee.
• Berserk Button: Crowley uses Kevin's mother to manipulate Kevin.
  Crowley: He's my new favorite toy. Wind him up, watch him go.
• Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Dean's cuts and bruises from his confrontation with the angels are all healed.
• Big Brother Instinct: Ezekiel knows that Dean talked Sam out of closing the gates to Hell because of love.
  Ezekiel: You were protecting your brother. I am in Sam's head. Everything he knows, I know. And I know that what you did, you did out of love.
• Black Eyes of Evil: The demons are back for Season 9. Jason's eyes flash in the teaser. The eyes of the three demons working with Abaddon flash in the bus in their original meat suits and again when they occupy the Navy soldiers.
• Blackmail: Kevin threatens to send the photos of Sergeant Bates from last June in Cabo to her commanding officer if she does not give Sam and Dean everything they want.
• Blah, Blah, Blah: Crowley's response when Sam discusses the humanity he saw in Crowley while trying to cure him.
  Crowley: Blah, blah. Boohoo. Done?
• Bland-Name Product:
  • On the bus, there is an advertisement for Bing Bongs, the "chocolate cupcake with vanilla filling". This is a Running Gag, with Sam previously buying a box of Bing Bongs for Dean in "Slash Fiction" (S07, E06).
  • There is another ad on the bus for Biggerson's Restaurant and Bar. Biggerson's was previously seen in "Bad Day At Black Rock" (S03, E03), "My Bloody Valentine" (S05, E14), "You Can't Handle The Truth" (S06, E06), "The Girl Next Door" (S07, E03), "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters" (S07, E09), "Taxi Driver" (S08, E19), and "The Great Escapist" (S08, E21).
• Blatant Lies: When Dean is confronted by Sergeant Bates' demand to talk to his supervisor, Dean hesitates for a second, pulls out his cell phone, and dials Kevin, hoping Kevin will pick up on what he needs to do. This almost doesn't work when the Sergeant realizes Kevin is Just a Kid.
• Blindfolded Trip: Sam and Dean put a black bag over Crowley's head and a pair of headphones over the bag before bringing him into the bunker.
• Blood Magic: Jason cuts his forearm and uses his blood to restore Abaddon's vessel.
• Body Surf: The demons following Abaddon upgrade from their previous meat suits to Navy soldiers.
• Bound and Gagged:
  • Crowley has duct tape over his mouth, a locked collar with engraved hex work, and handcuffs on in the Impala's trunk, which has a devil's trap drawn on the lid. Once inside the dungeon in the bunker, the duct tape was removed, but he is shackled to a chair with chains between cuffs on his hands and his feet in the middle of a Devil's Trap.
  • Tracy and Irv are gagged with their hands tied behind their backs.
• Brand X: Dean brings in a bucket of chicken from Sandy's Chicken. Bobby brought Dean a bucket of Sandy's Chicken in "All Hell Breaks Loose, Part Two" (S02, E22), and Sam, Dean, and Bobby got Sandy's Chicken whilst staying at Rufus' cabin in "The Girl Next Door" (S07, E03)
• Break Them by Talking: Crowley tries this with Kevin.
• Brick Joke: When Dean arrives at the bunker, Kevin tells Dean he is "pretty backed up". When Dean returns to the bunker at the end of the episode, he has a bottle of prune juice.
• Broken Angel: Ezekiel's wings are not as full and majestic as Castiel's were, and there seem to be patches of missing feathers. This may be a consequence of Ezekiel's injury during the fall.
• Brought Down to Normal: Dean explains Castiel's new state to Sam.
  Sam: So, what, Cas is human?
  Dean: Ish. I mean he's got no Grace, no wings, no...harp, no whatever the hell else he had.
• Bulletproof Vest: Once the demons possessing soldiers are inside the evacuated city, they wear bulletproof vests over their uniforms, which seems odd, since demons can only be killed by bullets from the Colt^note and possibly bullets made from melted down angel blades. Abaddon must have warned them about the devil's trap bullets.
  Abaddon: [after being shot in the chest six times] Nice grouping. [lifts shirt to reveal bulletproof vest] Kevlar. Beats magic bullets. I love the future.
• But Liquor Is Quicker: The Navy soldiers who get on the bus are planning to utilize this strategy on Jamie, a person they are meeting on their weekend pass.
  Soldier: So, you just start buying shots, then you can thank me in the morning.
• Carry a Big Stick: Kevin attacks Crowley with a large hammer.
• Catchphrase Interruptus: After Crowley says "Hello", Dean punches him in the face before he can say "boys".
  Dean: Never get tired of doing that.
• The Confidant: Dean cannot tell Sam about Ezekiel, and so instead he ends up confessing his doubts about his decision to Ezekiel.
  Dean: This is nuts. I mean, you're Sam, but you're not Sam, and normally he's the one I'm talking to about all this stuff.
• Conjoined Twins/Creepy Twins: One werewolf is bad, but werewolf Siamese twins is just weird.
• The Conqueror: Abaddon's ideal for the Ruler of Hell, as opposed to Crowley, who was a crossroads demon.
  Abaddon: He's a salesman. A king fights. A king conquers. A king does more than sit around reading contracts.
• Continuity Nod:
  • Sam and Dean discuss Castiel's loss of Grace and the fallen angels from "Sacrifice" (S08, E23). They also discuss Castiel's phone call from a payphone in Colorado and Dean keeping Crowley in the trunk of the Impala in "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" (S09, E01).
  • Sam discusses Crowley breaking down during the cure in "Sacrifice" (S08, E23). Crowley tries to blow this off, but seems to have been affected by these events and has flashbacks of the cure.
  • Dean recalls Sam lighting Abaddon's meat suit on fire in "Sacrifice" (S08, E23). Dean also recalls beheading Abaddon in "As Time Goes By" (S08, E12).
  • Abaddon sends coordinates in her message to Sam and Dean. John Winchester often communicated to his sons using coordinates, and Bobby's numbers that he wrote on Sam's hand while he was dying were a set of coordinates.
  • Dean has bullets with devil's traps carved into them to paralyze the demons. Henry Winchester showed his grandsons this technique in "As Time Goes By" (S08, E12).
  • We see Dean's anti-possession tattoo, which was first shown in "Jus In Bello" (S03, E12) and is based on the symbol on the anti-possession amulets Bobby gave the brothers in "Born Under a Bad Sign" (S02, E14).
• Cool Sword: Dean tries to stab Abaddon with an angel blade.
• Cosy Catastrophe: Despite the fallen angels and chaos in Hell, Sam and Dean are more settled than we have ever seen them. Sam says he is happier than he has been for a long time, but Dean is uncomfortable with the situation.
  Sam: Honestly, um, I feel better than I have in a long time. I mean, I realize it's crazy out there, and we have trouble coming for us, but I look around and I see friends, and family. I am happy with my life, for the first time in...forever. I—I am, I really am. It's just, things are...things are good.
  Dean: Never better.
• Crazy-Prepared: Dean came ready to fight demons. He has holy water, bullets with devil's traps carved into them, angel blades, and even an angel who can smite the demons.
  Dean: Alright, we got Jesus juice, guns loaded with devil's trapped bullets—shoot a demon, you put 'em on lockdown. The angel blade works...
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Ezekiel utterly obliterates three demons singlehandedly.
• Cynicism Catalyst: Tracy watched a demon kill her parents.
• Deal with the Devil: While Crowley was King of Hell, the emphasis was put on making deals.
  Abaddon: And that's the problem. Deals. We're paying for what we should be taking.
• Death Seeker/Redemption Equals Death: Irv wants to die so the other hunters can escape, as he feels guilty about breaking and giving Abaddon information, but he does not get the chance.
  Irv: I'm going in there alone. I'll buy you as much time as I can.
  Sam: Irv, that's death.
  Irv: Yeah, well, it's what I've got coming. It's my fault, Sam. I was...in some dive, and I was sloppy, and lonely, and I met some girl. And next thing I know, I'm strapped to some bed, and she's twisting things that ain't supposed to be twisted.
• Decoy Damsel: Tracy pretends to be helpless, with her car broken down by the side of the road, so that the vampire would offer her a ride.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Tracy is cold to Sam when he helps rescue her because of Sam's role in freeing Lucifer. Over the course of the episode, she seems to gain some respect for him as a fellow hunter.
• Destination Defenestration: Abaddon throws Dean through the window of a department store containing two mannequins.
• Divided We Fall: Dean makes sure that Tracy does not let her feelings about Sam get in the way of their mission.
  Dean: Look, you wanna be pissed off at Sam, that's fine, I get it. But if you wanna go after somebody, you make sure that they got black eyes. Gotta know who the real monsters are in this world, kid.
• Doing Research: Kevin initially was studying the angel tablet to find out how to undo Metatron's spell, but then Dean asks him to find out what he can about the Knights of Hell. While Kevin is going through the files in the archives, he hears Crowley and can't resist going into the dungeon.
• Don't Come A-Knockin': Once Tracy gets into the van, the camera zooms in on a Bumper Sticker that reads "If this van's rockin', don't bother knockin". The van starts to rock on squeaking wheels as grunts and moans are heard. Subverted, however, as she is beheading the vampire instead of being sexually assaulted.
• Dramatic Deadpan: When Dean tells Irv about the fallen angels, Irv responds with a flat "Huh. That's a wrinkle." When Dean tells him to torch the angels with holy oil, Irv says, "Okay. Criminy."
• Dramatic Shattering: When Ezekiel reveals his wings, light fills the diner and a buzzing builds up to an explosion which blows out the windows and mangles the blinds.
• Drill Sergeant Nasty: Abaddon lines up the four demons and paces in front of them, tearing them apart like new military recruits.
• Elaborate Underground Base: Dean and Sam take Crowley back to the Men of Letters' bunker.
• Embarrassing Old Photo: Kevin uncovers photos of Sergeant Bates from Cabo last June, which includes a photo of her in a sombrero doing a body shot off some naked guy in a Luchador mask.
• Enhance Button: While viewing the security footage of the demons leaving the bus, Sam pauses the video and zooms in on a grainy figure to clearly reveal an image of Abaddon.
• Everybody Owns a Ford: Once again an Averted Trope in Supernatural. Irv has his lunch and drink sitting on the hood of his Dodge station wagon with wood paneling and Nevada plates. Tracy was under the hood of an old blue Volkswagen Beetle. The vampire is driving a white van with a camper top.
• Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry: Tracy is wearing a golden letter "T" with a star on a chain around her neck.
• Evil Brit: Crowley.
  Dean: I would have liked nothing better than to ice that limey bitch.
• Evil Old Folks: One of the crossroad demons took an elderly woman as a meatsuit.
  Old woman demon: I closed 72 deals last year. Kids love Grandma.
• Evil Smells Bad: When they get to the Naval base, Sam says, "Oh, God. This place reeks of sulfur."
• Evil Wears Black: Abaddon is wearing a black leather jacket and black pants. She no longer has the black "the devil made me do it" T-shirt, instead wearing a plain black shirt. Presumably her devil shirt burned when Sam torched her meatsuit.
• Face Framed in Shadow: Crowley after Sam and Dean leave him alone in the dungeon.
• Failsafe Failure: When the sensors in the bunker detected the falling angels, the bunker went into lockdown mode, and Kevin was trapped inside, unable to contact anyone.
• Fair Cop: Sergeant Bates calls Sam and Dean, whom she believes work for the FBI, "pretty-boy agents".
• Fallen Angel: Sam hopes they can reverse Metatron's spell "before the God Squad does too much damage", and Dean advises other hunters to consider the angels monsters.
  Dean: [to Irv] Well, trust me, they're just monsters with good PR.
• Fangs Are Evil: The driver of the white van reveals himself when he exposes his fangs.
• Fate Worse than Death: Crowley claims that Kevin's mother is suffering in this manner.
  Kevin: She's dead.
  Crowley: Oh, she wishes she was. After what I had my heavies do to her, she's begging for it. But when have you ever known me to let anyone off easy?
• FBI Agent: Sergeant Bates refers to the FBI as "feeb", which is derogatory term used for the FBI by other law enforcement agencies and is short for "feeble-minded".
• Femme Fatalons: Abaddon's long red fingernails.
• Fictional Counterpart:
  • The bus is 502 of the Coronado--San Diego County Municipal Transit.
  • The bus has a sign on the side for "Sea Exhibitions, Coronado's most amazing ocean extravaganza. Special family passes available now."
• Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Tracy wasn't quite right about where Dean was going, but she still tries.
  Dean: That's just part of being—
  Tracy: Being a hunter.
  Dean: Being human.
• Foreshadowing: Possibly, as Dean and Sam are keeping Crowley since he might turn out to be useful later on.
• Freudian Excuse: Crowley tries this to gain Kevin's trust.
  Crowley: What's on your mind, Kevin? You can tell me. We're friends!
  Kevin: You tortured me.
  Crowley: I torture all my friends. It's how I show love. I was raised in a dysfunctional home environment.
• Friend or Foe?: Kevin shoots an arrow at Dean before he realizes who he is.
  Kevin: Dean? You're alive.
  Dean: Yeah, 'cause you're a crappy shot, Katniss.
• Generic Graffiti: Covers the abandoned buildings in Oregon.
• Geometric Magic:
  • A devil's trap is drawn in white paint on the Impala's trunk lid.
  • Dripping red symbols are drawn on the walls of the bathroom where Abaddon is reunited with her restored vessel.
  • There is also a large devil's trap on the floor of the dungeon, and another one in red paint on the floor of Ozzy O's Diner.
• Ghost Town: Abaddon tortures the hunters and lures Sam and Dean to an area that was evacuated after a leak from a chemical plant.
• Glowing Eyes: When Ezekiel reveals himself after Sam is knocked out, his eyes glow blue.
• Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: It takes Ezekiel a moment to realize why Dean may not just take his word.
  Dean: I'm trusting you, Zeke. I just gotta hope that you're one of the good guys.
  Ezekiel: I am. [pause] But I suppose that is what a bad guy would say.
• Good News, Bad News: Sam delivers this.
  Sam: They're coming.
  Dean: Good.
  Sam: And they've got assault rifles.
  Dean: Okay, less good.
• Go Mad from the Isolation: Sam and Dean leave Crowley alone.
  Crowley: Please. Your little plan to have me stew in my own...delicious juices...pathetic.
• Good-Looking Privates: The soldiers who get on the bus at the Naval base lampshade this. They are wearing the Navy Working Uniform with a gold service unit patch over their right pocket and are carrying black duffel bags, but walk by two officers in Summer White Service Uniforms carrying white briefcases. According to the collar insignia, Jason possesses a petty officer, second class. The other two possessed soldiers were a petty officer, first class and a petty officer, third class.
  Soldier: So, this is your first weekend pass into town, right? So, I set it all up. Jamie's waiting at the bar and has a thing for men in uniform.
• Good Ol' Boy: Irv seems to have a sense of duty and responsibility for his actions, but also may have traditional views of women's roles, saying Tracy has "a mouth on her".
• Gory Discretion Shot: The blood splatter on the windshield of the van.
• Grease Monkey: Jason, the demon in the teaser, is wearing coveralls with a patch that says "Jack's Auto Repairs Mechanics".
• Hand Off: When Sam puts a hand on Tracy's shoulder, she shoves him away and asks him not to touch her.
• Hand Signals:
  • When Sam asks Dean what happened to Crowley, Sam says, "You, uh..." He then draws his finger across his neck and clicks his tongue to indicate killing Crowley.
  • Later when Dean is on the phone with Kevin, Sam points at Dean then himself and then gives a thumbs up, silently asking Dean if they are good to go.
• Hearing Voices: The flashback to the events in "Sacrifice" (S08, E23) starts with Crowley hearing the voices of Sam, Dean, and himself, but the dialogue runs over each other and may be whispered or have an echo effect. This is accompanied by dramatic music and screeching strings.
• Hell-Bent for Leather: Abaddon is wearing a black leather jacket.
• Hidden Supplies: Tracy must have had her large knife in her backpack, which she grabbed out of the car before getting into the van.
• High-Altitude Interrogation: Abaddon hangs Pete by the neck from a rope to get information.
• Holy Hand Grenade: Dean compares the fallen angels to nuclear warheads.
  Dean: I mean, thanks to Metatron, we now have a couple thousand confused loose nukes walking around down here.
• Hollywood CB: Instead of saying goodbye, Irv says Roger Dodger to Dean over his cell phone.
• Hollywood Hacking: While on the phone with Sergeant Bates, Kevin manages to pull up private photos of her and the name of her commanding officer. Kevin explains this to Dean by saying all military computers are linked to the same network, and he hacked it.
• The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: Tracy hunts the vampire, who thought he was hunting her. But then Tracy and Irv are hunted by the demons. Sam, Dean, and Ezekiel end up hunting these demons.
• Impersonating an Officer: Sam and Dean impersonate FBI agents and make Kevin pretend to be their supervisor.
  Sergeant: How old are you?
  Kevin: Old enough. And I'm with the FBI, so you have to do what I say, or...
• Impostor-Exposing Test: A shot of holy water.
• Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain: Crowley is starting to be more pathetic than truly frightening, although he is still extremely manipulative, as Kevin finds out.
• Infodump: Sam asks Dean about recent events as they sit on a picnic table in the teaser.
• In-Series Nickname:
  • In Crowley's flashback to his cure in "Sacrifice" (S08, E23), he calls Sam "Moose".
  • Crowley also calls Kevin "Kev".
  • Ezekiel did not look pleased with Dean's new handle for him.
    Dean: Yeah, uh, look, Zeke—I'm gonna call you Zeke.
• I Shall Taunt You: Crowley goads Kevin into coming into the dungeon.
  Crowley: That's right, run. It's what you do. I understand, I do. You're, what's the word?—weak.[pause] Hiya, Kev.
• It's All My Fault: Dean blames himself for the evil perpetuated by the demons on earth because he talked Sam out of closing the gates to Hell.
  Dean: Yeah, it's just that, uh...this is on me. I was the one who talked Sam out of boarding up Hell. Okay? So every demon deal, every kill that they make...well, you're looking at the person who let it happen.
• It's What I Do: Irv says weird is what hunters do.
  Irv: Hell, Deano, weird's what we do.
• Jurisdiction Friction: Dean and Sam run into trouble at the bus crime scene because even real FBI agents wouldn't have any sway in a military case unless the military requested their help. Kevin gets around this by blatantly blackmailing the military police officer Dean calls a "local badge".
  Sergeant Miranda Bates: Listen, kid, I don't have to do anything. And I don't take orders from the feeb. So unless you can give me one good reason you got a couple of pretty-boy agents poking around my crime scene, I'm gonna put them in cuffs and spank your ass raw, understand?
• Keeping the Enemy Close: Dean and Sam bring Crowley inside their elaborately-warded bunker, which, given Abaddon's plans, may turn out being really lucky for Crowley.
• Keeping Secrets Sucks: Dean has trouble agreeing with Sam when Sam tells him he is happy. Dean looks away from Sam. The camera pulls away to show Dean and Sam on different sides of the table with a column in the background dividing the shot of the two brothers, which emphasizes how Dean's deception has isolated him from his brother.
• Killed Mid-Sentence: Irv.
  Irv: I gave 'em up. Pete, Tracy, I gave 'em all up. So you hand me that blade, and you let me do what I gotta do, or so help me—ughh.
• Killed Off for Real: Dean asks Kevin to stop working on Metatron's spell and start trying to find a way to permanently kill a Knight of Hell.
• Kill It with Fire: Dean advises Irv that if he meets an angel, he should "torch his ass with holy oil". Holy oil is a rare oil that Castiel brought from Jerusalem, and the brothers stored the oil in bottles in the Impala's trunk. The Winchesters first learned about it from Castiel in "Free To Be You And Me" (S05, E03). Since then, it seems that holy oil has become less rare and more well-known in the hunter community, which is fortunate, considering the current situation.
• Kill It with Water: After Abaddon punches Dean to the ground, Dean takes a flask of holy water out of the inner pocket of his coat and flings it at Abaddon's face.
• Kinky Spanking: Sergeant Bates threatens to put Sam and Dean in cuffs and spank Kevin's ass raw.
• Kryptonite Factor: Dean advises Irv to use burning holy oil to defeat the angels and, if possible, to get a hold of an angel's sword.
  Dean: So, if you run into one, torch his ass with holy oil. Oh, and if they drop, uh, like, a silver sword, grab it. Those pig-stickers come in handy.
• Kung-Foley: The squeaking tires of the van sound like the standard squeaky-spring sound effect used to indicate vigorous activity on a mattress. There are also the punching noises when the demon is torturing Pete and later when Dean and Sam fight Abaddon and the other demons.
• Kung-Shui: Sam's fight with the demons in the diner breaks a lot of dishes and Sam's head splinters the wall. And that's before Ezekiel blows out all the windows.
• Let's Split Up, Gang!:
  Dean: Alright. We gotta flank SEAL team douche in there, so, uh, Irv, you and me will go left, and, Sam, you and Tracy go right.
• Lockdown: Kevin had a bad couple of days after the falling angels activated a lockdown of the bunker.
  Kevin: After we talked, this place went nuts, all right? Th—there was some alarm, and all the machines were freaking out. And the bunker just locked down. I couldn't open the door. My cellphone stopped working. I thought the world was ending.
• Locked in the Dungeon: Crowley is chained to a chair in the dungeon in the bunker.
  Crowley: Homey. Where did you get this fantastic little treehouse?
• Made of Plasticine: It seemed easy for Tracy to behead the vampire with a knife in the closed space of the van.
• Male Gaze: Tracy first appears in short shorts bending over. There are also a few camera shots down her shirt when she talks to the vampire and is shot from above, and later when she bends over to get her bag out of the car.
• Manipulative Bastard: After Kevin does not buy Crowley's offer to help kill Abaddon, Crowley starts to create doubt about whether Kevin's mother is dead and whether the Winchesters care about Kevin.
  Kevin: You killed my mom!
  Crowley: Did I?—I mean, are you sure? Did you ever see her body? I mean, how can you be sure she's dead?
• Manly Tears: Irv becomes tearful as he tells Sam about how he gave Abaddon the names of other hunters. Kevin has tears streaming down his face when Dean tells him he is family.
• Meat Puppet: Whether Josie Sands' consciousness was restored along with her body is not addressed. Abaddon may have possessed an Empty Shell, like Ruby did, or Josie may still be trapped helplessly in her body, unable to stop Abaddon.
  • According to Bobby in Season 1, Meg Masters, the human, died as soon as Meg, the demon, fell off of a tall building. It's safe to say Josie is gone.
• Metallicar Syndrome: The Impala is parked right in front of the entrance to the secret underground bunker.
• Metaphorically True: Dean may not have outright lied, but he certainly misrepresented his role in killing the demons to Sam.
  Sam: You killed three demons? Alone?
  Dean: I took 'em by surprise. Got a little messy, I got a little lucky. Oh, and, uh, I'm awesome, so there's that.
  Sam: Jeez. You are pretty damn awesome.
• Militaries Are Useless: The Navy soldiers saw the demons' eyes flash, but were helpless and easily possessed. Granted, there's not much you can do to stop a demon that wants to possess you unless you're wearing anti-possession charms in some way, shape, or form.
• Missing Mission Control: Dean does not call Garth and ask him to pass on the information about the fallen angels to the other hunters. Dean also does not call Garth when they need someone to impersonate their supervisor at the FBI. Garth was said to be missing in "The Great Escapist" (S08, E21) and has not been heard of since.
• Monochrome Past: When Crowley sees himself yelling during the flashback to "Sacrifice" (S08, E23), the scenes are shown in black and white.
• More Teeth than the Osmond Family: When Tracy is getting into the van, the vampire exposes his fangs.
• Mundane Solution: Abaddon, a Knight of Hell, overcomes the devil's trapped bullets with a bulletproof vest.
• My Greatest Failure: Sam still has not forgiven himself for releasing Lucifer, but Dean tells him he has done more good than bad.
  Sam: It's just...what Tracy said about me, she wasn't wrong.
  Dean: Sam, listen to me. You have helped a hell of a lot more people than you have hurt.
• Naked on Revival: Abaddon emerges from the tub nude. There are a few smudges of dirt on her hand and face but her makeup, nail polish, and hair are perfect.
• Neck Lift: Abaddon grabs the crossroads demon who possessed an old woman by the neck, but the crossroads demon smoked out of that meat suit. Later, Abaddon lifts Dean by his neck and throws him through a window.
• Never Found the Body: The Winchesters thought that Abaddon's vessel, Josie Sands' body, was done for when it was burnt in holy oil and Abaddon smoked out. But they didn't keep track of what happened to the body. The Grandma crossroads demon also points out to Abaddon that they are not sure Crowley is dead, and Crowley asks Kevin if he saw his mother's body.
• Never Heard That One Before: Dean interrupts Irv when he starts to talk about a case he worked with Bobby in Saskatoon. Evidently, Bobby told the same story every time he drank Labatt's.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Tracy blames Sam for her parents' deaths, as the demon who killed them was celebrating Lucifer's freedom.
• The Nicknamer: Irv refers to the elder Winchester as "Deano". This nickname was also used by Meg in "Abandon All Hope..." (S05, E10).
• Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: Bobby and Irv worked a case involving werewolf Siamese twins.
• Nominal Importance: When Dean addresses the hunter on the phone as Irv, viewers may have realized Irv had a greater role to play.
• Noodle Incident: Bobby and Irv hunted werewolf Siamese twins in Saskatoon. Irv met Tracy hunting a shifter in Sacramento, California. Sergeant Bates did a body shot while wearing a sombrero off a a guy wearing nothing but a Luchador mask in Cabo, Mexico.
• No Peripheral Vision: When Tracy gets out of the van, she turns and walks right into one demon and does not notice the other demon behind her.
• The Nth Doctor: Subverted Trope. Even though Abaddon's previous vessel was assumed to be destroyed when she was doused in burning holy oil, Abaddon does not return in a new body.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: Tracy uses this to hunt the vampire.
  Vampire: Need some help?
  Tracy: Um, yeah, I—I don't know, I think the thingy broke.
• Oh, Crap!: Abbadon when she realizes there's an angel nearby.
• Old, Dark House: Abaddon is resurrected in a old house surrounded by a broken, ivy-covered, ornamental wrought-iron fence. The house has holes in the roof and stained-glass windows. Inside there is vintage furniture, large marble fireplaces, and plenty of candles. The floor is covered in leaves and debris. The toilet paper roll is empty.
• Orgasmic Combat: While Tracy is fighting and beheading the vampire in the van, we hear her grunting and moaning.
• Override Command: Kevin proposes that opening the door to the bunker from the outside reset the system.
  Kevin: It's back online. Maybe when you opened the door from the outside door, it reset the system.
  Dean: Yeah, okay. Let's go with that.
• Party Scattering: Sam and Dean discuss the fact that Castiel landed in Colorado while they were in New York.
  Sam: Where'd he crash-land?
  Dean: Called me from a payphone in Longmont, Colorado. I told him just to make for the bunker.
• Peek-a-Boo Corpse: When Tracy opens the van's door, the body of the beheaded vampire falls out.
• Percussive Therapy:
  • Dean lets out some of his frustration by punching Crowley in the face.
    Dean: [after punching Crowley] Ah. Never get tired of doing that.
  • Kevin also strikes Crowley with his fist, but moves on to using a large hammer on Crowley. However, Kevin does not seem to get as much relief as Dean.
    Crowley: There. Now that you've felt your feels, maybe we can talk.
• Portent of Doom: Sam and Dean follow the signs of demon activity to the Naval base.
  Dean: Between the stink, the freak thunderstorms, and every cow dead within three miles, I'll take demons for $1000, Alex.
• Possession Burn Out: The three meatsuits left on the bus die. They had received fatal wounds long ago while possessed by the demons.
  Sam: Every one of these bodies has a fatal wound, or two, or three, but they're all old.
  Dean: So, we're looking at meatsuits? The bodies took a licking, and the demons inside kept them ticking.
• Power Gives You Wings: When Ezekiel reveals himself to take on the demons, the shadows of his wings are visible.
• Power Glows:
  • When Abaddon's vessel is restored there is a burst of light that fills the bathroom.
  • As Ezekiel reveals himself, a white lights bursts forth from Sam's body and fills the diner, shattering the windows.
• Power Tattoo/Protective Charm: Abaddon opens up Dean's shirt to show his anti-possession tattoo and threatens to peel the tattoo off of him.
• P.O.V. Cam:
  • When the soldiers get on the bus, a camera shot is used from the viewpoint of the bus driver watching them in the mirror.
  • While in the diner, a view is shot out of the window between the blinds from Sam's perspective.
  • After Irv is shot, his body and then Sam are seen though the crosshairs of the sight on the sniper's rifle.
  • When Dean stands up after being thrown through a window, views of the abandoned neighborhood are shown from his viewpoint, with the edges of the department store window framing the shot.
• Primal Fear: When Dean finds out that the neighborhood they are in was contaminated by a chemical spill, he covers his crotch with his hand.
• Product Placement: There is prolonged close up on Dean's smartphone in a gray Otterbox Defender case. The phone appears to be a white iPhone 4, and the screen during the recording is a variation on the screen for recording voice memos.
• Punk in the Trunk: Crowley is in the trunk of the Impala.
  Dean: He's the junk in my trunk.
• Real Men Hate Affection: Ezekiel does not understand this aspect of the brothers' relationship.
  Dean: I'm not really with the whole, uh, love, and...love.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: The eyes of the crossroads demon who possessed an old woman flash red when she is talking to Abaddon.
• Removing the Head or Destroying the Brain: Tracy beheads the vampire in the van.
• The Rest Shall Pass: Irv tries to do this, wanting to take on the demons alone so the others can escape.
  Irv: Sam, you copacetic?
  Sam: Yeah.
  Irv: Good. Now, hand me that toothpick and you and Dean and Tracy, you beat feet outta here.
• The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: Abaddon seems to promise a vicious battle to take over Hell.
• Rousseau Was Right: Even the King of Hell may be capable of redemption.
  Sam: I saw you break down, Crowley. When I was trying to cure you, I know a part of you was human again, maybe still is.
• Running Gag: The menu for Ozzy O's Diner has both apple pie and pecan pie, but the diner is abandoned. Once again, Dean does not get his pie.
• Schmuck Bait:
  • Tracy in short shorts under the hood of her broken-down car, which the vampire falls for.
  • Crowley's offer to destroy Abaddon, which Kevin does not fall for.
    Crowley: Abaddon giving you trouble, eh? Tell you what, you let me go, and I'll spit-roast the little whore for you. Sound good?
  • Dean's recording saying, "Come and get it, you dicks!"
  • Crowley's attempt to get Kevin to let him go so he can tell Kevin where his mother is.
    Crowley: Gonna make this simple, Kevin. Let me go, and I'll give you back your mother.
• Scope Snipe: Sam fires two shots at the sniper on the roof with his handgun, managing to shatter the scope of the sniper's rifle.
• Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: The crossroads demon who possessed an old woman is smart enough to know that if you Never Found the Body you can't assume they are dead, and she decides to tell Abaddon what she really thinks of her and the Knights of Hell.
  Old Woman Demon: Uh-huh. Well, no offense, honey, but we all thought you were dead until, like, a week ago. And what if Crowley does come back? Look, a lot of us were scared of him, a lot of us still are. Prove that Crowley's really gone, and then maybe this scheme of yours will work. Or not. Honestly, I always thought you Knights were overrated.
• See You in Hell: Abaddon expresses this sentiment in a literal manner after the crossroads demon smokes out of the old woman.
  Abaddon: You go to Hell. And you tell them...I'm coming.
• Shadow Discretion Shot: Most humans are incapable of safely viewing an angel's true form. As Ezekiel manifests, only the shadows of his wings are seen.
• Shapeshifting: Tracy and Irv met hunting a shapeshifter in Sacramento.
• Shout-Out:
  • Dean references Breaking Bad when telling Sam about Castiel's plan.
  Dean: Cas is a big boy. Things go Breaking Bad, he knows our number.
  • Dean explains that he thought the King of Hell might have some useful information by saying "why not Zero Dark Thirty his ass."
  • When the Winchesters return to the bunker, Kevin shoots at Dean with a crossbow (and misses); Dean calls him "Katniss".
  • Abaddon recalls a quote of Vice President Dick Cheney when she says, "We will be greeted as liberators". Cheney said, "We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators" on Meet the Press four days before the invasion of Iraq.
  • Bobby told the story of hunting werewolf Siamese twins in Saskatoon every time he drank a Labatt's beer.
  • After listing all the signs of demon activity surrounding the Naval base, Dean says, "I'll take demons for $1000, Alex."
  • Dean introduces himself and Sam as Agents Stark and Banner.
  • Kevin uses the last name "Solo".
  • Dean says the meatsuits on the bus took a licking, and the demons inside kept them ticking.
  • Dean says he thought Sam Kentucky-Fried Abaddon's meat suit.
  • Dean asks why Abaddon is playing G.I. Joe.
  • When Abaddon asks Kevin "Who are you?", he answers, "I'm nobody."
  • Crowley's flashback to his cure in "Sacrifice" (S08, E23) includes a Shout-Out to Girls when he calls Sam his Marnie and says Hannah just needs to be loved.
  • The restaurant was named Ozzy O's Diner. There is a flyer on the wall of the diner selling electric guitars.
  • The menu on the wall of Ozzy O's Diner includes "War Pigs in a Blanket" and "Sweet Leaf Granola" which are shout outs to the songs "War Pigs" and "Sweet Leaf" by Black Sabbath. Another item on the menu is "Crazy Train Scrambler", which is a reference to "Crazy Train", the first single of Ozzy Osbourne.
  • One of the items on the menu on the wall at Ozzy O's Diner is a "Geezer Burrito", as in Geezer Butler, the bassist of Black Sabbath. Another item on the menu is "Rhoads Healthy Stew" as in Randy Rhoads, who died in a plane crash while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
  • When they leave the neighborhood contaminated by a chemical spill, Dean makes a reference to the decontamination showers in the movie Silkwood, which is about the nuclear energy industry.
  Dean: Let's blow this toxic waste dump. Burgers and Silkwood showers on me.
• Slashed Throat: Ezekiel used Ruby's knife to cut the throats of the demons so Sam wouldn't know an angel was responsible.
• Sniper Rifle: The demon on the roof uses a sniper rifle to shoot Irv through the heart and then shoot at Sam.
• So Proud of You: Dean lets Kevin know they appreciate him, saying "Good job, buddy" when Kevin blackmails Sergeant Bates. Dean later gives Kevin another speech to let him know how much he means to them when Kevin is leaving the bunker.
  Dean: Because you're family. After all the crap we've been through, after all the good that you've done...man, if you don't think that we would die for you...I don't know what to tell you.
• Standard Bleeding Spots: Crowley has dried blood above his eye, on his cheek, and along the side of his mouth. Irv is bleeding from a cut above his eye and from another cut on his cheek.
• The Stool Pigeon: Sam and Dean expect Crowley to give them the names of demons. Crowley does tell them two names, but says the demons are "underachievers" and the Winchesters would be doing him a favor if they took them out, and then says that they're payment for the entertainment Kevin provided, rather than a gift.
  Sam: All right, here's how it's going to go. You're giving us the name of every demon on earth and the people they're possessing.
  Crowley: Am I? Doesn't sound like me.
• The Straight and Arrow Path: A frightened Kevin shoots an arrow using a crossbow while cowering behind a table turned on its side and a pile of books. Dean lampshades the use of the archaic weapon.
  Dean: Listen, next time the world's ending, grab a gun.
• Succession Crisis: Abaddon plans to take Crowley's place, but not all of the demons are ready to assume Crowley is dead and follow Abaddon.
  Abaddon: But the King's dead. Long live the Queen.
• Supernaturally Delicious and Nutritious: Abaddon wants Dean to be her meatsuit. It appears that angels aren't the only ones who want the Winchesters as vessels.
• Super Smoke: Abaddon is in this form in the bathroom of the abandoned house before her vessel is restored. The crossroads demon smokes out of the old woman when Abaddon grabs her by the neck. The bus is filled with black smoke before the Navy soldiers are possessed.
• Take Over the World: Abaddon does not only want to rule Hell. She also wants to rule Earth and the fallen angels.
  Abaddon: We will march into Hell, where we will be greeted as liberators. And demonkind will rise up and sweep over the earth. And all the humans, and all the angels with their clipped wings, will bow to me! Or they will burn.
• Terms of Endangerment:
  • Crowley calls Sam and Dean "darlings" and Kevin "handsome". He refers to them both in an overly-familiar manner.
    Crowley: Kevin, I know it's you. I'd recognize the pitter-patter of those little feet anywhere.
  • Abaddon calls Dean "lover".
• Themed Aliases:
  • When Dean and Sam encounter the military police, they flash their badges and Dean says "Agents Stark and Banner, FBI." This scene was filmed the day after the cast returned from the San Diego Comic-Con and the aliases may be a Shout-Out to Comic-Con.
  • Kevin identifies himself as Kevin Solo. Star Wars themed aliases are a Running Gag in Supernatural and were seen in "Dead In The Water" (S01, E03), "Nightshifter" (S02, E12), and "Lazarus Rising" (S04, E01).
  Kevin: 'Cause I'm Kevin freaking Solo.
• They Don't Make Them Like They Used To: Abaddon is nostalgic for the Hell and demons of the 1950s.
  Abaddon: So, maybe you can tell me what the hell happened to Hell. And demons. I mean, you call that a meatsuit?
• This Is Reality: Dean compares their lives to a Sitcom. While Sam and Dean may not be in a Fantastic Comedy, they are in a Supernatural Soap Opera.
  Sam: The fallen angels? Abaddon? Cas losing his halo, Crowley in our basement?
  Dean: Crap. We're living in a freaking sitcom.
• This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: Irv wants to take on the demons all by himself, but does not get the chance.
• Too Kinky to Torture: Crowley.
  Crowley: Torture? Brilliant. Can't wait to see Sam in stilettos and a leather bustier, really putting the S-A-M into S and M. Honestly, boys, what are you going to do to me that I don't do to myself just for kicks every Friday night?
• Too Much Information: Kevin is guilty of this.
  Kevin: It's been a bad couple of days, I haven't slept, I haven't eaten...I'm pretty backed up.
  Dean: Okay, overshare.
• Torture Always Works:
  • The Winchesters hope they can break the King of Hell.
    Sam: If we can get Crowley to give us the name of every demon he's got topside, we can hunt them down. All of them.
  • Pete gives up the Winchesters' cell phone number after Abaddon hangs him by the neck.
  • Irv gave up the names of other hunters after Abaddon started "twisting things that ain't supposed to be twisted".
• To the Pain: Abaddon tells Dean that if he gives her Crowley, she will kill him quickly. She then describes what it would be like for him if she possesses him because he does not give her Crowley.
  Abadddon: You give me Crowley's head, and I will snap your neck, quick and clean. You won't feel a thing, trust me.
  Dean: And if I tell you to get bent?
  Abadddon: Oh. Well...you know, I've loved this body since the moment I first saw it. You're the perfect vessel, Dean. You give a girl all sorts of nasty ideas. So, go ahead and play hard to get, and I'll peel off this "no demons allowed" tattoo and blow smoke up your ass.
  Dean: Oh, well, I gotta tell you, between you and me, it is a horror show up there.
• Trap Is the Only Option: The coordinates Abaddon sends to the Winchesters.
  Sam: You know this is a trap, right?
  Dean: Yep.
  Sam: And we're just gonna walk right into it?
  Dean: Guns blazing. You with me?
  Sam: You know it.
• Traveling at the Speed of Plot: Sam and Dean take off from Lebanon, Kansas, and arrive at Coronado, California, just in time to investigate the abandoned bus.
• True Companions: Dean says Kevin and Castiel are family.
  Dean: [to Kevin] Because you, me, Sam, and Cas, we are all we've got.
• Trunk Shot: Sam and Dean are shown from Crowley's viewpoint after Dean opens the trunk.
• Tuckerization:
  • According to a tweet by Chad Kennedy, the hunter Tracy Bell is named after Traci Blackwell, the VP of current programming at The CW.
  • The last name of Sergeant Miranda Bates may be a Shout-Out to Psycho or Kathy Bates.
  • Sergeant Bate's commanding officer is Major Vasquez, which may be a Shout-Out to Private Vasquez in Aliens.
  • Crowley's description of the demons Hayward and Favors as under performers may be a jab at the Utah Jazz's performance this season.
• Unfit for Greatness: Abaddon's view of Crowley.
  Abaddon: Who put Crowley in charge? What's the matter? Hellhound got your tongue? You took orders from him!
• Unintentional Backup Plan: Ezekiel's appearance.
  Dean: What, you think we'd roll up to this mouse trap without some backup?
• Unspoken Plan Guarantee: After Irv asks "So, what's the play?", the scene cuts to show the approaching demons before Dean answers.
• Unwitting Pawn: Dean defends Sam to Tracy.
  Dean: Listen, for the record, Sam's not the only guy who thought he was doing right and watched it all go to crap, okay?
• Van Helsing Hate Crimes: While Dean seems to have accepted that Ezekiel is actually trying to help, he still calls other hunters and tells them the fallen angels are monsters, advising the use of burning holy oil and, if possible, their own swords against them.
• Villainesses Want Heroes: Abaddon appreciates Dean and wants him as a vessel. Once she has forced him down on his knees, she runs her finger through his hair and then opens up his coat and shirt.
  Abaddon: So appreciate you boys coming when I call. I think that's what I like most about you Winchesters. You're so obedient. And suicidally stupid. I like that, too.
  Dean: Are we gonna fight or make out? 'Cause I'm getting some real mixed signals here.
• Villain: Exit, Stage Left: As soon as Abaddon realizes there is an angel present, she flees. The Knights of Hell were thought to be wiped out by the archangels, but Abaddon survived.
• Wall of Weapons: The dungeon has a wall displaying numerous weapons including axes of various sizes with simple and ornate blades, different hammers, swords with decorated handles or blades, various clamps, and knives which range from a simple butcher's cleaver to a long wavy blade with one serrated edge and a pair of wings and claws sprouting from the handle.
• Wanderlust Song: "Rockin' Down the Highway" by the Doobie Brothers plays as the van starts rocking while Tracy and the vampire are inside.
• Weakness Turns Her On: Crowley thinks Abaddon would like Kevin.
  Crowley: For example, I know she'd love you. Skinny, submissive...you're just her type.
• Weapon of X-Slaying: While fighting the demons, Sam is carrying Ruby's knife, an ancient demon-killing knife of the Kurds. Most demons die if they are stabbed by this knife, but Knights of Hell, such as Abaddon, are only injured and can survive being stabbed by the knife.
• Weapon Stomp: Sam goes running into the diner as the sniper fires at him and trips, falling to the floor. Jason stomps on the wrist of Sam's gun hand. Jason then looks down at Sam and says, "Boo".
• We Have Reserves: Crowley argues that the Winchesters do not care about Kevin because of the replaceable nature of Prophets.
  Crowley: When the Winchesters are done with you, they'll toss you aside without a second thought, because they can. Because they think they're special. And because, well, there's always another Prophet waiting in the wings.
• We Have Ways of Making You Talk: When Dean says they have some ideas about how to make Crowley talk, Crowley assumes they mean to torture him, but instead they just leave him alone.
• What Measure Is a Non-Human?: While Castiel wants to save his fallen brothers and believes many are just frightened and can learn from their time on earth, Dean calls other hunters and tells them to treat the fallen angels as any other monster and, if they see one, to "torch his ass with holy oil".
• What Would X Do?: Dean says he considered what Sam would do when dealing with Crowley, but Dean seems surprised by what Sam says he would have done.
  Dean: But then I thought to myself "What Would Sam Winchester Do?"
  Sam: I'd have—stabbed him in the brain.
  Dean: Oh.
• Who Are You?: Abaddon is surprised when someone else answers Dean's phone, but Kevin is more than happy to remain anonymous.
  Abaddon: This is Dean's number, but you're not a Winchester. Who are you?
  Kevin: I'm...nobody.
  Abaddon: Well, nobody, I need you to give those boys a message for me.
• The World Is Always Doomed: Kevin hasn't learned this lesson yet.
  Kevin: I thought the world was ending.
  Dean: Close. The angels fell.
  Kevin: What does that mean?
  Dean: Nothing good.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: The Winchester's plans for Crowley.
  Dean: He will break. When he does, we'll hold him down while you knife him and then we all go out for ice cream and strippers.
  • In order to egg Kevin on, Crowley convinces Kevin that this trope will apply to him. Dean convinces him otherwise, saying that the two of them, Sam, and Castiel are "the only family [they] have".
    Dean: We need you.
    Kevin: Because I'm useful?
    Dean: Because you're family.
• You Killed My Father:
  • Kevin wants revenge on Crowley for killing his mother (though Crowley claims she isn't dead).
    Kevin: [shouting] What's Crowley doing here? Why isn't he dead? Why aren't you stabbing him right now?
  • Tracy wants nothing to do with Sam because she blames him for the death of her parents.
    Tracy: I watched a demon slaughter my parents. And the whole time it talked about how it was celebrating. Some dumb kid let Lucifer out of his cage.
• You Wouldn't Shoot Me: Crowley knows the Winchesters do not intend to cure or kill him.
  Crowley: I'm not giving you anything. Why would I? You have no leverage, darlings. Your not gonna close the gates of Hell because you didn't. You're not gonna kill me because you haven't. So, what's left?

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