Good God, Y'all

Ordinary citizens of a small town fall under a spell that makes them believe that they are demons and causes them to commit murder. Sam and Dean search for a way to end the violence.

Plot
Bobby is still wheelchair-bound and in the hospital - he hasn't spoken in days. Castiel calls Sam's cell phone to find out where the boys are - the Enochian Sigils he etched into their ribs hides them from all angels, including Castiel. He is angry that after he rebelled to help them Sam and Dean failed to stop the Apocalypse, that he has killed his brethren, and that he is cut off from Heaven. He tells Bobby this means he can't heal him. He then says in order to defeat Lucifer he plans to find God. He says he needs Dean's Amulet which he says will burn hot in God's presence.

Rufus heads to a town he thinks is under attack from demons, based on omens of a polluted river and a falling star. He calls Ellen and Jo and Bobby for help. When Sam and Dean arrive he and Jo have been separated from Ellen - who has gathered with her some of the surviving townsfolk. Dean and Sam go for supplies, and while Sam is getting salt from a store, two teenagers with black eyes enter. Sam kills them with Ruby's knife, but appears drawn to the blood.

When Sam and Ellen go to find Jo and Rufus, they are attacked. Ellen escapes but Sam is captured by Jo and Rufus - who seem to think Sam is possessed. While he is held captive, one of the townspeople reveals that he is War - one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and has tricked the people into thinking everyone is possessed, leading them to attack each other.

Returning, Ellen tells Dean that Jo thought she was possessed because she called her a "black-eyed bitch", and Dean starts to suspect all is not what it seems. Checking the Bible he works out that these signs and the conflict herald the arrival of War. Shortly after, War, in the guise of a townsman, arrives and insists that they all need to attack the demons. As Dean and Ellen try to calm the panic, War turns the ring on his finger and the townspeople start seeing them as demons and attack. Dean and Ellen flee.

The townspeople form a force. They equip themselves with real bullets because they believe Dean had been a demon all along and lied about the effectiveness of salt. Dean and Ellen reach Jo and Rufus shortly before the townspeople arrive and manage to convince the two there are no demons and it's all the work of War. Dean frees Sam and they rush to catch up with War and cut off the ring that was helping him deceive the townspeople.

After the battle is over, Sam tells Dean that he can't trust himself, and that he needs to take a break from hunting - and Dean. Dean agrees - he can't focus on the job because he is worrying about Sam. He offers Sam the Impala but Sam declines, and hitches a ride out of town.

Major Characters

 * Sam Winchester
 * Dean Winchester
 * Rufus Turner
 * Jo Harvelle
 * Ellen Harvelle

Minor Characters

 * Castiel
 * War
 * Bobby Singer

Featured Supernatural Being

 * Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (War)
 * Angel

Featured Music
"Spirit in the Sky" - Norman Greenbaum "Long, Long Way From Home" by Foreigner

Continuity

 * The first of the Four Horsemen is revealed and defeated, to be followed by Famine, Pestilence and Death.
 * This is the first episode since the second season in which the characters Ellen Harvelle and Jo Harvelle have appeared on Supernatural.

Trivia and References

 * The title of this episode refers to the lyrics to the song, War by Edwin Starr.
 * At the end when Dean is looking at War's ring, he says, "Pit stop at Mount Doom." a reference to Lord of the Rings where the main character, Frodo, must destroy a ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor

Quotes

 * Castiel: There is someone besides Michael strong enough to take on Lucifer. Strong enough to stop the Apocalypse.


 * Castiel: He isn't in Heaven. He has to be somewhere.
 * Dean Winchester: Try New Mexico. I hear he's on a tortilla.
 * Castiel: No, He's not on any flatbread.