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

Summary[]

Dean Purgatory Blade.png There was something about being there... It felt pure.

This episode summary is an official CW press release. It may contain errors.
DO NOT CHANGE!

Now that he has Sam in the cage with him, Lucifer (guest star Mark Pellegrino) offers Sam a way out but it comes with a steep price. Dean and Castiel look into the angel smiting that could have killed Amara (guest star Emily Swallow).

Plot[]

Crowley is in a onesie, opening up 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 this is what she really dreams about. She says that it's a recurring nightmare that she can't wake up from. Santa then removes his fake beard, and Rowena realizes that it is Lucifer.

Rowena and Crowley in Rowena's nightmare

Rowena and Crowley in Rowena's 'nightmare'.

In the cage in Limbo, Sam takes in the fact that Lucifer was the one sending him the visions that Sam has been experiencing lately. 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 then touches Sam's forehead. Sam finds himself in one of his childhood memories. Lucifer is there and points out a teenage Sam nearby sitting with a teenage 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 in Limbo, and Rowena points out that Sam not saying "yes" is the only thing holding Lucifer back. Crowley 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 her 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 Lucifer stops the Darkness, he'll then attend to Heaven, and she'll be Lucifer's queen. She tells Crowley to sit down, shut up, and let Lucifer work.

As Dean drives back, he leaves a voice message for Sam to call him. As he calls Crowley, Dean's vision wavers. He pulls over and throws up. Castiel parks his car nearby, then walks down the road to him and asks if he's all right. The angel checks Dean and asks how far he is from the location of the angel smiting. 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 the closer he gets to the blast site. Dean insists that he has to see if Amara is dead, and Castiel says that he'll go alone 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 yells for Sam. Crowley then calls him and explains that Sam is in Hell with Lucifer.

Lucifer takes Sam to his memory of the battle at Stull Cemetery, where Sam and Dean defeated Lucifer and Michael.[1] 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 (possessed by Lucifer) and Adam (possessed by Michael) plunge into the portal to Lucifer's Cage, 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 as dark as night despite it being 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 a song. She lets him in and introduces herself, and explains that she's the Reaper that Sam met.[2] 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 the Sam he knows would never have let Dean talk him out of closing the Gates of 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 in order to beat the Darkness, Sam has to "be ready to die" and watch the people he loves die.

In Hell, Rowena and Crowley have tea and wait. Crowley excuses himself "to go vomit," because it turns out that he and his mother take their tea in the same way.

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 at least 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. She then confronts Castiel, with him 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 with an angel blade, 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. Castiel appears at Billie's place, who is reading again.

Rowena is sipping tea when Crowley comes back in. She asks how Dean is, as she put a hex bag in Crowley's pocket for surveillance. Rowena heard everything, so she expects it when Dean comes in with the witchcatcher. However, Rowena starts choking, and Crowley advises her to "never accept a cup of tea from someone who loathes you." Dean then 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" again.

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 others at 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 both Lucifer and Amara 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.

Lucifer reveals his possession of Castiel

Lucifer reveals his possession of Castiel.

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 breaks her neck. Lucifer then turns to Crowley and says that they need to chat.

Characters[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Guest Stars[]

Co-Stars[]

Featured Supernatural Beings[]

Continuity[]

Trivia[]

Featured Music[]

  • "Changing Tracks" by Wishbone Ash
  • "Has Anybody Seen Kris Kringle?" by Hal David and John Cacavas
  • "Gwine to Run All Night, or De Camptown Races" by Stephen Foster
  • "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" by Tavares

Quotes[]

  • Castiel: How far are we from the event?
  • Dean: You mean the angel nuke?
  • Castiel: Yeah.
  • Dean: Ground zero is about a mile down that way.
  • Castiel: That explains it. You’re suffering from smiting sickness.
  • Dean: That... that’s a thing?
  • Castiel: Yeah. The angels... what they did... it released a tremendous amount of energy and there’s fallout, so this whole area is poisoned.
  • Dean: You can heal me, right?
  • Castiel: No, I can’t, and the closer you get to the blast site, the worse your sickness will become.
  • Dean: How worse?
  • Castiel: The last time there was a smiting of this magnitude, Lot’s wife turned to salt.
  • Dean: Awesome.

  • Lucifer: Sam have I ever told you how much I respect you?
  • Sam: What?
  • Lucifer: Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't like you. I never liked you. You're... you're sort of prissy.

  • 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... er- touching himself.

International Titles[]

  • German: Die Auferstehung der Finsternis (The Resurrection/Rising of The Darkness)
  • Hungarian: Az ördög a részletekben lakozik (The Devil in the Details)
  • Portuguese (Brazil): O Diabo Está nos Detalhes (The Devil Is in the Details)

Gallery[]

Promotional Pictures[]

Videos[]

Supernatural_11x10_Promo_"The_Devil_in_the_Details"_(HD)

Supernatural 11x10 Promo "The Devil in the Details" (HD)

Supernatural_11x10_Extended_Promo_"The_Devil_in_the_Details"_(HD)

Supernatural 11x10 Extended Promo "The Devil in the Details" (HD)

External Links[]

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