Soul Survivor (Supernatural)
"Soul Survivor" | |
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Supernatural episode | |
Episode no. | Season 10 Episode 3 |
Directed by | Jensen Ackles |
Written by | Brad Buckner Eugenie Ross-Leming |
Production code | 4X5801 |
Original air date | October 21, 2014 |
Running time | 41 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Soul Survivor" is the third episode of the
The episode received generally positive reviews, but most mixed, with critics criticizing Dean's return to human too soon.
Plot
Castiel and Hannah continue their journey towards the bunker with Castiel growing weaker all the time. At a gas station, they are attacked by a vengeful Adina and a weakened Castiel is left near-death. Before Adina can kill the two angels, Crowley, having problems with ruling Hell due to his time with Dean, kills Adina and steals her grace. Crowley gives a reluctant Castiel Adina's grace, restoring him to full strength. In return, Crowley asks Castiel to deal with Dean. Having captured Dean, Sam begins the process of curing him using the ritual they discovered a year and a half before. As the ritual goes on, Dean taunts Sam over his desperate attempts to find him, including tricking a man into selling his soul so he could interrogate a crossroads demon. Unknown to Sam, the ritual makes Dean human enough that he is able to escape and he stalks Sam throughout the bunker. However, Castiel finally arrives and subdues Dean. They are able to successfully complete the ritual and Dean is returned to being human, but retains the Mark of Cain. Castiel suggests that a guilty-feeling Dean take some time off as things are quiet, however, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a mysterious red-haired woman sits in a hotel room under two men staked to the ceiling.
Reception
Viewers
The episode was watched by 2.08 million viewers with a 0.9/3 share among adults aged 18 to 49.[1] This was a 3% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 2.13 million viewers.[2] This means that 0.9 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 3 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. Supernatural ranked as the second most watched program on The CW in the day, behind The Flash.
Critical reviews
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
IGN | 6.5[3] |
TV Fanatic | [4] |
Den of Geek | [5] |
"Soul Survivor" received generally positive reviews. Amy Ratcliffe of IGN gave the episode an "okay" 6.5 out of 10 and wrote in her verdict, "Tonight's episode of Supernatural sent conflicting messages. It showed the fantastic possibilities of the Dean vs. Sam dynamic only to take it all away without any hint of it being a trick. The anticlimactic curing of Demon Dean is incredibly disappointing."[3]
Chris King of
Samantha Highfill of EW stated: "The moment Dean became a demon in last season's finale, my first thought was: What is it going to be like when he comes face-to-face with Sam? That thought was then quickly followed by: How are they going to cure him? Will it be their brotherly love that finally pulls Dean back from the other side? Will Sam's tear-filled plea be the thing to save his big brother? The answer, as we now know, is no, but the bottom line is that this episode finally gave us the Demon Dean moments we've been imagining. There was the confrontation with Sam where harsh words were said and a hurt Sam refused to give up, followed by Dean's return to the human world. It might not have been as dramatic as it was in my head, but that's probably for the best."[7]
Sean McKenna from TV Fanatic, gave a 4.4 star rating out of 5, stating: "If anything, the hour seemed to re-align things for all the characters and set them on a new course. But like Castiel said to Dean, things seem pretty much back to normal in Heaven and Hell for now. That can only mean it won't take long before some new supernatural being, like that mysterious red-haired woman at the end, steps up to cause problems. And of course, after a little rest, drinking and fast food, Sam and Dean should be ready to take up the task. Though I would think they need to talk a bit about the whole demon ordeal... if it's truly all fixed and over."[4]
MaryAnn Sleasman of TV.com wrote, "The allure of endless possibility was strong in this one, like it has been since the very beginning of this season. Dean is cured, but not really. Cas is saved, but not really. We have no idea when those two are going to fall apart again, but we're confident it'll happen. Metatron is locked up, but probably not for long, and Castiel has an awesome, badass, and yet still totally awkward girlfriend whose every surviving week on this show is amazing, given its terrible track record with regard to killing female characters. And finally, our Big Bad has yet to reveal himself (or herself)... though I think that finale scene gave us a pretty good idea of who's going to be terrorizing all these sad little pseudo-monsters for the rest (or at least most) of the season."[8]
Bridget LaMonica from
References
- ^ Baron, Steve (October 22, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice', 'The Flash' & 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Adjusted Up; 'Marry Me' Adjusted Down + Final World Series Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ Baron, Steve (October 15, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Flash', 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.', 'The Voice' & 'The Mindy Project' Adjusted Up; 'About A Boy' & 'Chicago Fire' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ a b Ratcliffe, Amy (October 21, 2014). "Supernatural: "Soul Survivor" Review". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Supernatural Season 10 Episode 3 Review: Soul Survivor". TV Fanatic. 22 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Supernatural: Soul Survivor review". Den of Geek. 22 October 2014.
- TV Overmind. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "'Soul Survivor': Cas finds a temporary solution to his fading grace, and Sam heals Demon Dean". Entertainment Weekly. October 21, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Supernatural "Soul Survivor" Review: The Exorcism". TV.com.
External links
- Official website
- "Soul Survivor" at IMDb