My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine is the 14th episode of Season 5. It aired on February 11th, 2010. 

Synopsis
Castiel helps Sam and Dean hunt down Cupid on Valentine's Day, after townspeople start to kill each other for love. However, after Cupid tells them he's innocent, they discover Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, has arrived in town.

Plot
In a small town, Russell and Alice are finishing their first date. They've had a good time, and Russell asks her on another date on Valentine's Day. They kiss, tentatively at first, then more seriously. Then Alice backs away for a moment. They end up inside, undress and start kissing each other. They become increasingly frenzied and Alice bites him on the neck. She panics for a moment but Russell tells her it's okay. They start biting each other as the blood sprays across the room.

Dean and Sam arrive to investigate and the roommate says that she found them, almost dead, but Russell was still chewing. She explains that Alice was a nice girl, and was a virgin with a promise ring. However, it was Alice's first date in months and she was excited.

Sam returns to the motel and tells Dean that there are no signs of ghosts or possessions. Dean has come back from the coroner and explains that both of the victims had full stomachs. Sam tells Dean that he can go out to celebrate Valentine's Day, his favorite holiday, but Dean doesn't feel into it. Sam figures something is wrong but Dean insists that everything's okay and goes back to work.

At an office, Jim is checking his cell phone for his girlfriend Janice and his friend Brad figures that Jim is whipped. Brad tells him to focus on their project. However, Janice comes in and insists he can't choose work over her. When Brad makes a snide comment, Janice shoots him. They realize that something will always keep them apart, including prison. Jim has an idea to stay together forever, and the two of them shoot themselves.

Sam and Dean go to the hospital to check out the bodies. In the hallway, they pass a tall balding man in a suit carrying a briefcase and Sam very obviously senses something unusual about him. Dean is unaware and Sam says nothing to him about it. They meet with the coroner, Dr. Corman, who leaves them alone to conduct their investigation. They check over the organs and Sam notices that the victims' hearts have identical marks. He realizes the mark is an Enochian brand, like the tagging on their ribs. Dean calls Castiel, who immediately teleports in. He confirms that the marks are angelic, and represent a destined union. The marks are placed there by Cupid, which is actually a lower order of angel, a cherub. Castiel figures that it's gone rogue and they have to kill it before it kills again.

The trio goes to a singles bar and order food. Castiel explains that Cupid will be drawn there by human reproductive urges, but then stares at Dean's plate of food. Dean goes to take a bite, but then suddenly decides he's not hungry after all. Castiel asks if he can have his sandwich Dean says yes, with a look of shock on his face. Castiel notices something and says that Cupid is there. A couple starts kissing and Castiel tells them that Cupid has struck. He tells the brothers to meet him in the back and teleports away. They go out and find Castiel seemingly facing empty air. The angel tells them that he's tethered the cherub, and mutters an incantation to make it appear. A naked Cupid suddenly appears behind Dean, hugs him, and lifts him into the air. Giggling, he runs to embrace Castiel, and then hugs Sam. Castiel explains that a hug is a cherub's handshake.

Once Cupid has settled down, he asks what they want and Castiel explains that they're there to stop him from killing. Cupid breaks into tears and Castiel ends up trying to apologize. Cupid embraces him and says he doesn't know what happens to his targets after he follows his orders. He invites Castiel to read his mind and confirm that he's innocent. Castiel does so, and Dean asks whose orders he was follow. Cupid explains that Heaven gave him his orders, and that some relationships have a very high priority. He notes that John and Mary Winchester was one of his special assignments, and Sam and Dean needed to be born. Dean punches him without effect, and the upset cherub teleports away. Sam and Castiel wonder why he would punch a cherub; Sam asks him what his problem is, but Dean refuses to discuss it.

At the morgue, Corman calls in Sam and shows him another bizarre death: Lester Finch, who ate himself to death on a Twinkie binge and shoved them down his throat with a toilet brush. Outside, Sam calls Dean and tells him that Finch didn't bear the mark. Dean has checked the police blotter and confirmed there have been eight suicides and nineteen ODs in the last few days. They realize there's something more going on than just love. Sam sees the bald man in the suit that he and Dean passed in the hall earlier exit the hospital. Sam is visibly disturbed by his presence, as he was the first time he saw him. He follows the man into an alleyway, jumps him and pins him against the wall. Sam sneers that he knows he's a demon because he could smell him. He cuts him on the cheek with the demon-killing knife to prove it. The man sneers the word "Winchester". After a tussle and another cut of the knife, the demon manages to break free and run away, dropping his briefcase. Sam stands and watches the demon run, panting as though he's trying to pull out of a rage. He stares at the demon blood on the shiny knife and sees the eyes of something else reflecting back at him. He winces and then frantically wipes the blood off.

Sam takes the briefcase to the motel and they carefully open it. A bright light bursts out. When it fades, Castiel arrives and explains that it was a human soul. They're surprised to see that Castiel is eating White Castle hamburgers. The angel explains that his hunger is a clue, and the entire town is suffering from starvation. Specifically, Famine, as in the Horseman. Famine can apply to anything: love, drugs, and food. Castiel admits his vessel Jimmy's appetite for red meat has been activated by Famine, riding on a black steed.

Demons take Famine, in the form of an elderly man confined to a wheelchair (symbolic of a steed -- a kind of working horse), to a restaurant. Once he enters, everyone begins gorging themselves on food, stealing money, eating drugs, and kissing.

Castiel explains that Famine must devour the souls of his victims. Linch's soul was in the briefcase. Lucifer has sent his demons to care for Famine until he's ready to march across the land.

At the restaurant, flies gather on all of the corpses. Famine looks up as the balding demon that Sam bested comes in and explains that Sam is at the hospital; he managed to grab Sam's motel key. When the demon admits that he lost the briefcase holding the soul to Sam, Famine pulls the demon essence out of the man and consumes it.

At the motel, the brothers wonder how they can stop Famine. Castiel asks how they stopped War, and Dean explains that they took War's ring and forced him to flee. Castiel confirms that Famine has a ring, but can't stop eating. In the bathroom, Sam is trying to get control of himself. He finally tells Dean that he can't go because Famine has got to him, and he's hungry for demon blood. Dean asks Castiel to teleport Sam away, but the angel says that it's too late and the infection will go with him. Sam tells Dean to get the ring, but insists that he lock him down first. Dean sadly obliges and then departs with Castiel.

At the hospital, Dean finds Corman's assistant Marty. Marty gives them the news: Corman, after 20 years of being sober, went home and drank himself to death. Castiel confirms that Corman's soul is still there and Dean figures they can use it as bait. Dean watches the hospital from outside while Castiel continues to eat, giddy with happiness. He wonders where Dean's hunger is, because everyone else in town has fallen prey to Famine. Dean reasons that he gets everything that he wants when he wants it, so he hungers for nothing. They spot the demon coming out with the briefcase and trail it.

At the motel, Sam tries to break free without success. Two demons enter the bathroom where Sam is handcuffed to the sink. The female demon says that they have orders to deliver him alive, but she bets that they can "break off a few pieces." Just as the male demon breaks the handcuffs, Sam sends him flying across the room. Sam pounces on the female demon, stabs her in the neck and then drinks her blood. When the other demon attacks Sam from behind, he uses his demon-fueled powers to send him across the room again, growling at him to wait his turn.

Dean and Castiel follow the demon to the restaurant. The plan is for Castiel to take the knife, teleport in, cut off Famine's ring, and teleport back out. He teleports away but after a minute, Dean realizes it's taking too long. He goes inside and finds Castiel has neglected the plan and is instead devouring a pan of raw meat. The demons find Dean, capture him, drag and hold him before Famine. Castiel is too busy eating to grab the nearby knife. Famine says he's happy to be in America, where everyone wants more, all the time. Dean points out that he's unaffected. Famine rolls close to Dean and presses his hand against Dean's chest, which causes him some pain. Famine notes that there's a deep, dark nothing inside of Dean that he can't fill. He can feel how broken and defeated Dean is, knowing that he can't win. He's not hungry because he's already dead.

Sam arrives, his face still blood-stained, and growls "let him go". Dean is horrified at the sight of him, and screams at him to stop. The demon entourage move foward to acocst him, but Famine tells the demons to stop; no one is to lay a finger on this "sweet little boy". Famine says that he can see that Sam enjoyed the "snack" that he sent. Sam is clearly confused, as he's assumed it was Lucifer that sent the demons to the motel to get him. Famine assures Sam that he'll never die from drinking too much blood; he is just as Satan wants him. Famine invites Sam to cut the demons' throats and drink his fill. The demons look distressed. Sam resists the urge, and instead uses his powers to exorcise all the demons simultaneously while Dean grabs the knife. Famine says "Fine...if you don't want them, then I'll have them." and sucks up their black essence. Sam then tries to use his powers to destroy him, but Famine assures him that his power won't work on a Horseman. Sam acknowledges this, but points out that his power will still work on the souls that Famine's just consumed. Sam applies so much power that his nose bleeds, but he is finally able to rip the demons out of Famine's body. Castiel snaps out of his spell while Dean stares at his brother, in shock.

Later, Dean and Castiel have locked Sam up in Bobby's Panic Room so that he can go through withdrawal, again. Sam is heard wailing, screaming and begging for them to help him. Dean stands nearby, wincing as he  takes gulps out of a liquor bottle and listens  to Sam's anguished cries. Castiel tries to assure Dean that Sam will be okay once he gets "it" out of his system. A forlorn Dean  turns and wanders outside. He looks up to  Heaven and tearfully begs for help.

Major Characters

 * Dean Winchester
 * Sam Winchester
 * Castiel
 * Famine

Minor Characters

 * Cupid
 * Alice
 * Russell

Trivia

 * My Bloody Valentine is a horror/thriller film that was remade into 3D. The remake starred Jensen Ackles.
 * My Bloody Valentine is the title of a song by Tata Young.
 * The boys identify themselves as agents Marley and Cliff, referencing Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.

Continuity

 * Famine is the second Horseman to appear on the show; the first was War.

Featured Supernatural Being

 * Famine
 * Angels
 * Cupid
 * Demons

Quotes
Sam: Dean, it's Valentine Day. Your favorite holiday, remember? I mean, what do you always call it--uh, Unattached Drifter Christmas?
 * Dean: Where am I going?

Castiel: Yeah, they're all over the world. There are dozens of them. Dean: You mean the little flying fat kids in diapers? Castiel: They're not incontinent.
 * Dean: Cherub?

Castiel: Yes, yes. of course. I, uh... I have no idea what you're saying.
 * Cupid: Love is more than a word to me, you know? I love love, I love it! And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right!

Dean: What? Sam: You just punched a Cupid! Dean: I punched a dick! Dean: Yeah, I get that. Castiel: I'm going to hang up...now. *squints* Sam: (pfff) So what do you make of it? Doctor: (takes a sip of a silver liquor flask) I'd say it was a very peculiar thing to do.
 * Sam: Dean, enough!
 * Dean: (Calling Castiel on his cellphone) Cas, it's Dean...Yeah, room 31C basement level, St. James medical center. Castiel: (Appearing before Dean, and on his phone) I'm there now.
 * Doctor: .... Well, after he blew the band around his stomach, he filled it up 'til it burst. When he could no longer swallow, he started jamming the cakes down his gullet with a...... with a toilet brush. (Sam winches) Like he was ram rodding a cannon.
 * (off-screen) Dean: What are you, the Hamburglar? Castiel: I've developed a taste for ground beef. Dean: Well, have you even tried to stop it? Castiel: I'm an angel. I can stop anytime I want.
 * Dean: (questioned about why he's the only one in town unaffected by Famine) Hey, when I want to drink, I drink. When I want sex, I go get it. Same goes for a sandwich, or a fight. Castiel: So... you're saying you're just well-adjusted? Dean: God, no. I'm just...well-fed.