‘Supernatural’ season 12 episode 15 recap and spoilers: It’s Crowley Appreciation Day in ‘Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell’

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester and Mark Sheppard as Crowley in "Supernatural" season 12 episode 15 "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell" The CW Television Network

“Supernatural” season 12 episode 15 started with a reference to “The Walking Dead” villain Negan’s favourite weapon, Lucille. Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) also got to wear special eyeglasses again to see a recalcitrant hellhound in “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.”

Spoilers are ahead for ‘Supernatural’ season 12 episode 15 ‘Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.’ The episode aired Thursday on The CW in the US. The show airs on Eleven on Monday in Australia.

Dean, who appeared out of character of his usual germaphobe self, returned to the bunker with Sam after a gruelling hunt. He was filthy and bloody and had been wearing his underwear for four straight days, according to Sam. He didn’t seem to care, even seemed to relish his sullied state. He was also carrying a wire-wrapped baseball bat similar to what Jeffrey Dean Morgan sported as Negan in “The Walking Dead.”

“Dad loved this thing,” he said, referring to the weapon. It was of course a reference to Lucille, Morgan’s weapon in the zombie series. Morgan played the Winchesters’ dad, John, in earlier seasons.

Thanks to Sam’s intel from the British Men of Letters, they found another case. This time it’s about hellhound victims. Hellhounds are canines of hell that collect the souls of humans who had made a deal with demons. The surviving human, Gwen (Angelique Rivera), never made a deal with a crossroad demon, nor did her now-dead boyfriend, so it was perplexing why they were targeted in the first place.

Sam and Dean then questioned Crowley, who learnt that the hellhound, named Ramsey, escaped. It was later on revealed that two demons released her as a distraction to find out what Crowley was hiding. As it turned out, Ramsey was the mother of all hellhounds who only heeded to Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino). No one, not even Crowley, could control her.

The brothers, wearing special glasses to see the invisible dog, joined Crowley in looking for the hellhound and saving the girl. Sam, who was entrusted the Impala, drove away with Gwen in the hopes of running away from the hellhound. Ramsey attacked them nonetheless, and Sam was able to overpower and kill it with Gwen’s help.

It’s Crowley Appreciation Day

While looking for Ramsey with Crowley, Dean was able to finally thank the former King of the Crossroads for saving Castiel’s life. Crowley almost never get appreciated in the show, but his most recent heroic stunt allowed the Winchesters’ personal angel to live another day, and Dean couldn’t be more thankful for that.

Sam also verbally thanked the King of Hell, while Gwen gave her a hug and called her a nice guy. For once, it appeared they were ready to treat Crowley better.

And the current King of Hell has again proved that he is still the smartest (living) character in the show. He has once again bested Lucifer, who managed to escape his manacles with the help of two traitor demons, by being “10 steps ahead” of the devil. He revealed to God’s favourite son that his vessel is his true prison because it is warded with the same spells from the cage.

“I own you,” Crowley told Lucifer. “I’m just getting started. So I’m going to put you back in your whole and then I’m going to find your spawn and I’m going to rip him apart while you watch. I’m still just getting started.”

Castiel enters heaven again

Castiel (Misha Collins), meanwhile, is still searching for Kelly Kline, who is carrying Lucifer’s spawn. He got a good lead from a conspiracy theorist, who showed him a tape of Kelly being rescued by Prince of Hell Dagon.

Later, another angel, Kelvin (Nathan Mitchell), convinced him to return to heaven and help them find Lucifer’s soon-to-be born nephilim. The angel told Cas that Joshua is now in charge of heaven and that Joshua and the rest of the angels would welcome him back if he helped them find the nephilim. In the end, Castiel was seen entering heaven with Kelvin after he got off the phone with Dean. He did not mention to his friend that he intended to return to heaven.

‘Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell’ review

Sam, who has been working with the BMoL since last week’s episode, decided to tell Dean the truth. Dean was surprisingly calm about it, accepting his brother’s decision though he made it clear that he still doesn’t trust them. He warned that the moment something feels off, “we bail,” which probably meant Dean is also now joining BMoL.

It’s refreshing to see honesty between the brothers. They usually work behind each other’s back, believing that what they were doing would be for the other’s benefit. So this whole open communication thing between Sam and Dean is a welcome change.

If viewers are counting, Ramsey is Sam’s third major kill for the season. He first killed Ramiel, then the Alpha Vampire.

Season 12 is a big throwback to previous seasons, and it’s evident in the monsters, lore, cases and other supernatural beings they face. Cas getting better at being a fake FBI agent (Hello Agent Solange!) but still holding his badge upside down is adorable. It’s great to see Castiel is still being his dorky self. He should learn from Sam and tell Dean truthfully that he was going back to heaven, though. Honesty among Team Free Will would get them far.