Supernatural: Folsom Prison Blues

(S02E19)

The bulk of the episode could have been considered another monster of the week story. And really, that would have been just fine, because that story alone was well done. The big bonus came with the return of Special Agent Henricksen (Charles Malik Whitfield). I assumed when we met him back in January, in the "Night Shifter" episode, that he would be popping up again. His was a welcome return.

I really like this character. He's so over-confident and sure of himself that he makes the perfect adversary for the Winchesters. I especially liked that they added in his speech to Dean about how hard it was to track the two of them down. It explained away the fact that it took six episodes to get back to that story and made it all feel more cohesive, rather than just thrown together because it was about time.

Henricksen's conversation with Mara Daniels (Bridget Ann White) implied that he isn't buying any of the stories he is hearing about the good deeds Sam and Dean have done. He's so focused on getting his man, or men, that he can't see the forest for the trees. For now anyway. I'm leaving open the possibility that by the end of the season Henricksen might just come around and join the ranks of those that have come to support the Winchester quest. A list that Mara has proven herself worthy of.

All of those previews made it pretty obvious that the break in at the Arkansas Museum of Anthropology was a ruse to get inside the prison. That was ok though, because once inside, there was a lot to like. Right off the top, some great casting. Jeff Kober, who played Randall, and Garwin Sanford, who played Deacon, are both actors that I would describe as "that guy." Those character actors that are instantly recognizable, but it's hard to place exactly where from. A look at either of their resumes explains why. They've been in tons of stuff, but most of it has been one-off appearances.

I thought they were both very good here, and I'm sure somewhere down the road they'll both be thought of as "that guy" from that Supernatural episode by someone. Kober just has that villainous look about him that makes him perfect to play a life-long con. And while Sanford was equally as good as Deacon, I liked what his character represented for the boys as much as I liked his performance.

It further cements just how committed to all of this they have both become. And on top of that, how even after he is gone, John is still a huge force behind what they do. They got themselves thrown in jail, knowing full well that the full weight of the past that they have been dodging could come crashing down on top of them. All because Deacon was in the corps with John, and it's the right thing to do.

While inside, the contrast between how Sam and Dean adapted was fun to watch. You could see it all in the look on Sam's face the first time they put him in the cell. And he confirmed it as he described his cell mate as "Staring at me in a way that makes me real uneasy." Dean, on the other hand, was the same old Dean, cracking wise and running scams. "It's like picking low hanging fruit."

I was actually caught off guard by the spirit being Nurse Glockner. I got so caught up in the return of Henricksen and trying to figure out the Deacon angle that it didn't occur to me that it might not be Moody. That shot we saw of the eyes through the cell door was a nice bit of misdirection. They were creepy as all get out, but they could have gone either way. It made for a nice twist to the story.

Finally, this episode had one of the best collections of one-liners that we have seen in a while. Dean was in top form. Getting his mugshot taken, "I call this one the blue steel." Trying to antagonize Tiny, "They're just donuts, they're not love." Reassuring Sam about the plan, "Good thing I'm like James Garner from The Great Escape." Sam had his moments too. On how he ended up in jail, "Because my brother is an idiot." His question to Dean, "Does it bother you at all how easily you seem to fit in here?" And his response to going deep, "Deep Dean? We should go to Yemen." Fun stuff all around.

There's really nothing to complain about in this one. The return of Henricksen, a creepy spirit of the week, great guest cast, some jail house fight scenes, and a slew of good one liners. It set the table nicely for what is sure to be an exciting run to the end of the season. And it all adds up to a 6, out of 7.

Oh, and just in case you missed it, there was a commercial tonight for Supernatural: Origins, a comic that will tell John's story from just after the death of his wife. You can read more about it here. Available at fine comic shops everywhere starting May 2nd.