The Devil in the Details

The Devil in the Details is the 10th episode of Season 11. It aired on January 20th, 2016.

Summary
LUCIFER MAKES SAM AN OFFER — Now that he has Sam (Jared Padalecki) in the cage with him, Lucifer (guest star Mark Pellegrino) offers Sam a way out but it comes with a steep price. Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel (Misha Collins) look into the angel smiting that could have killed Amara (Emily Swallow).

Plot
Crowley is in his onesie, opening his presents on Christmas night. Rowena, with a glowing red nose, comes down and stares at him, and someone bangs at the door. Santa Claus kicks in the door and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. He impales Crowley with a spiked candy cane and Crowley collapses dead at Rowena's feet. Santa then asks Rowena if that's what she really dreams about. She says that it's a nightmare she can't wake up from. Santa removes his mustache and Rowena realizes that it is Lucifer.

In the cage in Hell, Sam takes in the fact Lucifer sent him the visions. As for Rowena, she did what she was told. Sam tells Lucifer that he wasted his time because he'll just say no, no matter what Lucifer does to him. Sam is confident that Dean will arrive and beat Lucifer. Lucifer laughs and says that he's not there to torture him. He wants to make him an offer he can't refuse, and touches Sam's forehead.

Sam finds himself in one of his childhood memories. Lucifer is there and points out a young Sam nearby sitting with a girl.

Crowley admonishes Rowena for betraying him, and Rowena insists that Hell is Lucifer's kingdom, not Crowley's. Crowley doesn't believe that Lucifer will escape the cage, and Rowena points out that Sam not saying Yes is the only thing holding him back. He lets go of her throat and Rowena explains that Lucifer communicated to her in a dream. She let Crowley's demons find her and bring her to Hell. Crowley warns that Lucifer is much worse than him, and he wants death for every human and demon. Rowena insists that Lucifer has changed but Crowley doesn't believe it. Crowley wants to know why she's helping Lucifer, and Rowena says that once he stops the Darkness, then he'll attend to Heaven and she'll be Lucifer's queen. She's tells Crowley to sit down, shut up, and let Lucifer work.

As Dean drives back, he leaves a message for Sam to call him. As he calls Crowley, Dean's vision wavers. He pulls over and throws up, and Castiel walks down the road to him and asks if he's all right. The angel checks Dean and asks how far he is away from the angel smiting's location. Castiel explains that Dean is suffering from Smiting Sickness and the whole area is poisoned. He can't heal Dean and his sickness will get worse as he gets closer to the blast site. Dean insists that he has to see if Amara is dead, and Castiel says that he'll go because he's immune. Still ill, Dean reluctantly agrees and says that he'll check on Sam. He asks Castiel to bring Amara's body out if she's dead or to run if she's still alive.

Young Sam is telling the girl about a trip his family took to Mexico. Sam and Lucifer watch, and the girl tells Young Sam that she didn't bring him there to study. They make out and Lucifer says this young Sam is the bold decisive Sam that he remembers and that the present Sam is an insecure mess.

Dean returns to the bunker and calls to Sam. Crowley calls and explains that Sam is in Hell with Lucifer. Lucifer takes Sam to the Stull Cemetery where Sam and Dean defeated Lucifer and Michael. The Devil points out that he respected Sam when he stood up to him and won, and was willing to do the hard thing to save the world. They watch as Sam/Lucifer and Adam/Michael plunge into Hell, and Lucifer tells Sam that he's gone soft.

It is totally dark when Castiel arrives at the blast crater. An angel, Ambriel, arrives and explains that she works in birth and death statistics in Heaven. She realizes who Castiel is and admits that she's there to confirm that Amara has been destroyed. Ambriel suggests that they work together and Castiel reluctantly agrees. He points out that it's too dark in the middle of the afternoon.

Dean calls Castiel and leaves a message to meet him in Nebraska because he's going to Hell. He then knocks on a door. Billie, the reaper, demands the password, and Dean is forced to sing. She lets him in and introduces herself, and explains that she's the Reaper that Sam met. She assures Dean that she's going to make sure that the next time the Winchesters die, they stay dead, and explains that she's allied with Crowley so he'll owe her a favor. Billie gives Dean a case and tells him to deliver it to Crowley, and then opens a portal to Hell. Dean steps through and the doors close behind him.

Lucifer shows Sam a memory of his time with Amelia when Dean was trapped in Purgatory. He says that Sam would never have let Dean talk him out of closing the gates to Hell. Now Sam is so overcome by guilt that he can't let Dean die again, no matter how many innocent people die. Lucifer says that Sam has to be ready to die and watch the people he loves die to beat the Darkness.

In Hell, Rowena and Crowley have tea and wait. Crowley excuses himself to vomit, because he shares his mother's liking to a kind of tea.

Castiel tells Ambriel that he never wanted his own kind to hate him. She assures him that they have a lot in common: their names rhyme, they both look good in trench coats, and they're both expendable. Castiel does not believe that he is expendable. Ambriel says that from what she's heard, although Castiel does help, Sam and Dean are the real heroes. Castiel tells her to go on ahead and he'll catch up.

Dean descends into Hell and Crowley finally welcomes him. He assures Dean that Lucifer probably won't kill Sam because he needs him. Dean wants to atleast kill Rowena, but Crowley admits that they need her to send Lucifer back to his Cage. Crowley opens the case, revealing a witchcatcher.

Ambriel goes on ahead and sees Amara on the ground. She kneels and pokes the body, and Amara suddenly grabs her throat. Castiel hears Ambriel's shout and runs over, and sees Amara draining Ambriel's grace. Amara pulls the darkness back into herself. They both confront each other with Castiel telling her that he isn't afraid to die. Amara says that she can smell the fear and self-loathing on him. He tries to stab her but she easily catches his wrist and shoves him away. Amara tells Castiel that he's weak and wonders why God took a special interest in him. Castiel tells her to kill him, but Amara says that he's not worth the effort... and she has a job for him. She touches his chest and Castiel screams before disappearing in a burst of light. Weakened, Amara staggers back.

Billie is reading when Castiel appears at her place. Rowena is sipping tea when Crowley comes in. She asks how Dean is, and says that she put a hex bag on him. Rowena heard everything, as Dean comes in with the witchcatcher. Rowena starts choking and Crowley advises her to never take tea from someone who loathes her. Dean puts the witchcatcher around Rowena's neck, giving Crowley complete control over her.

Lucifer tells Sam to consider his offer, but to do it quickly before the world ends. All Sam has to do is say "yes." When Sam hesitates, Lucifer points out that he's the only game in town. Amara is the end of everything, but they can beat her together. Sam considers and then says, "No."

Crowley has Rowena prepare the spell to seal Lucifer back in the cage. However, if Lucifer finds a vessel, he will be grounded to Earth and then the incantation won't work. Castiel arrives to tell them that Amara is alive, and reveals the words that Amara burned into his chest: "I Am Coming."

Lucifer tells Sam that he's being selfish, but Sam says that it's over. He reminds Lucifer that it took Lucifer, three archangels, and God to beat Amara the last time. Even if Lucifer does win, Lucifer will just start the Apocalypse all over again. Sam figures that everyone else loses, no matter which of them win. He says that it's about him having faith in his friends and family, and is sure that they'll find a way to defeat Amara. Lucifer gives up and starts beating him.

Dean hears Sam grunting in pain and goes to his brother. He and Castiel get to the cage and Lucifer apports them in. When the angel lunges at him, Lucifer catches his arm and insists that he's the only one who can beat Amara.

Dean goes to Sam and says that they don't have to win: they only have to last a few minutes. Rowena begins the spell as Crowley look on. Sam and Dean attack Lucifer, who easily knocks them aside. Castiel returns to the fight and Lucifer beats him as well as the Winchesters. He starts choking Dean and tells Sam that if he doesn't agree then Dean dies.

Rowena cuts herself with a sacrificial knife. Castiel charges Lucifer, who drops Sam and beats the angel. He prepares to strike the death blow... and disappears as Rowena finishes the spell. She and Crowley join the other sat the cage, Crowley admits that the whole plan was a horrible mess, so their team up is over. As for Rowena, Crowley says that she'll stay and orders the others out.

Dean, Sam, and Castiel return through the portal. Castiel says that he'll be okay and tells the brothers to go on ahead. As they prepare to drive away, Sam wonders if Castiel is okay. He doesn't know if he is, and wonders if Lucifer was telling the truth. Dean says that Lucifer and Amara both on the loose would be a nightmare.

Crowley has Rowena massage his temples, and asks why she hates him. Compelled by the witchcatcher, Rowena says that when she sees Crowley, she sees the woman she used to be, when she was nothing but a tanner's daughter. When Crowley was born, his father told Rowena that he loved him and then went back to his wealthy wife. If she didn't hate Crowley then she'd love him, but for her, love is a weakness and she can never be weak again.

Castiel comes in, smiling, and Crowley realizes that Castiel agreed to let Lucifer possess him so that he can defeat Amara. Lucifer slams Crowley across the room and tells Rowena that he'll never forget what she did for him. He removes the witchcatcher and asks if anyone but her can open the cage. When Rowena says that she's the only one who can, Lucifer twists her neck. Lucifer then turns to Crowley and says that they need to chat.

Main Cast

 * Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester
 * Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester
 * Misha Collins as Castiel and Lucifer
 * Mark Sheppard as Crowley

Guest Cast

 * Emily Swallow as Amara
 * Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer
 * Ruth Connell as Rowena
 * Lisa Berry as Billie
 * Colin Ford as Young Sam
 * Valerie Tian as Ambriel

Music

 * Changing Tracks by Wishbone Ash
 * Has Anybody Seen Kris Kringle by Hal David & John Cacavas
 * Gwine to Run All Night, or De Camptown Races
 * Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel by Tavares

Featured Supernatural Beings

 * Angels
 * Seraphim (Castiel)
 * Demons
 * Archangels (Lucifer)
 * Witch (Rowena)
 * Reapers (Billie)
 * The Darkness

Continuity

 * Billie the Reaper was last seen in Form and Void.
 * Castiel has reclaimed his car which was stolen by Metatron.
 * Lucifer escapes the cage in this episode. He was imprisoned in it by Sam at the conclusion of Swan Song.
 * Castiel meets The Darkness for the first time in this episode.

Trivia

 * Antagonists: Lucifer and Rowena.
 * Collin Ford last played a young Sam Winchester in season 7 episode The Girl Next Door.
 * Lucifer makes a joke about moving to L.A. and solving crimes. This is a reference to the DC Comics series Lucifer and its television adaptation of the same name which features Lucifer moving to L.A. and solving crimes with the LAPD.
 * Billie refers to Crowley as Limey, which is a slang term for a British person. Dean also used this word in the episode Devil May Care.
 * This is the first episode to introduce a witchcatcher.
 * The gift Crowley unwraps in Rowena's dream is a Funko POP! doll of Sam Winchester.

Quotes
Sam: What? Lucifer: Oh, don't me wrong, I don't like you. I never liked you. You're...you're sort of prissy.
 * Lucifer: Sam have I ever told you how much I respect you?
 * Lucifer: Okay, you don't like me. I get it, sometimes I don't like me either, but Gabriel and Raphael are dead. God, went out for a pack of smokes and never came back and Michael...well, let's just say prison life hasn't really agreed with Michael. These days he's usually sitting in a corner singing show tunes and...touching himself.