Season 8 of Supernatural was announced by The CW Television Network on May 3rd, 2012. Showrunner Sera Gamble stepped down, leaving Jeremy Carver as showrunner. This season, like Season 7, had 23 episodes. In addition, Supernatural began to air on Wednesday nights at 9pm on CW. Season 8 premiered on October 3, 2012.
Season Summary
One year after the defeat of the Leviathans, Dean escapes Purgatory, with a vampire-comrade-in-arms named Benny, and reunites with Sam who has retired from hunting much to Dean's anger. Not long after Dean discovers that Kevin had escaped Crowley's abduction months ago which Sam was unaware of. Kevin reveals that he stole another Word of God from Crowley about Demons and discovered the means of closing Hell forever with all demons inside. Now reunited Sam and Dean embark on their monster hunts while Kevin continues to translate the tablet to stop Crowley and his plotting.
Sam and Dean's relationship is challenged as Sam stopped hunting for a year which he claims is because he had no one to force him anymore with Dean and Castiel gone, Bobby dead and Kevin and Meg missing. Dean, however, remains in contact with Benny, who is trying to live without killing but is missing Purgatory but Sam becomes angry that Dean would let a vampire live.
The season also features flashbacks in both Sam and Dean's past year on Earth and Purgatory. For Dean he constantly fought monsters everyday for a year in Purgatory until Benny saved him and told him of a portal which could transport humans out. Dean and Benny find Castiel and the three fight past Leviathans to make it to the portal but Castiel refuses to leave. As for Sam, he retired from hunting and met a woman named Amelia and lived a normal life with her. However, once she discovers that her husband, a soldier presumed KIA, was still alive, Sam left to allow her to reunite with him. Eventually Castiel returns, freed from Purgatory by the mysterious but powerful angel Naomi, who has apparently taken control of Heaven and puts Castiel under her control to spy on the Winchesters for her own motives. Meanwhile, Amelia returns to Sam to re-connect but Sam pushes her away for good while Benny helps Dean by dying and returning to Purgatory to help Sam and Bobby pass through Purgatory to Earth and subsequently chooses to stay there.
Kevin eventually learns the three trials for sealing Hell from the Demon Tablet: kill a Hellhound and bathe in its blood, free a soul from Hell (who turns out to be Bobby) wrongfully imprisoned, and finally cure a demon who they choose to use on Crowley. However, the Winchesters and Castiel learn from Meg, before she is killed by Crowley, of the Angel Tablet which Naomi tries to have Castiel steal for her own uses but he resists and flees from everyone. Additionally, Sam and Dean encounter their grandfather Henry and a powerful demon named Abaddon who is a Knight of Hell, among the oldest and most powerful demons. While Henry is killed and Abaddon is decommissioned, the brothers lean of a bunker belonging to the Men of Letters, the collectors of information on the supernatural who entrust a few hunters to handle the most powerful monsters. In the midst of the trials, Sam and Dean encounter an angel named Metatron, the Scribe of God and the creator of the tablets who then reveals the nature of the angel tablet to Castiel: to seal Heaven and its angels and works with Castiel to fulfill this mission. Meanwhile, after Crowley begins killing Sam and Dean's old friends, they decide to give in.
In the season finale, Sam and Dean manage to capture Crowley to use him as the last trial and cure him while Naomi continues looking for Castiel and captures Metatron, forcing Castiel to work with Dean to finish the angel trials. Meanwhile, Sam is interrupted by Abaddon but fends her off as Crowley begins to show signs of humanity. Naomi realizes that Metatron is not planning to seal Heaven but is planning to break Heaven and cause the angels to fall and that if Sam completes the final trial, he will die as God wanted. Dean returns to Sam and in an emotional breakdown they make up for their years of mistakes but Sam passes out while Metatron betrays Castiel and takes his grace, turning him human. Moments later the angels of Heaven fall all across the Earth as Sam, Dean, Kevin, Castiel, and Crowley are forced to watch helplessly.
Season Cast
Main
- Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester (23/23)
- Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester (23/23)
Supporting
- Misha Collins as Castiel (9/23)
- Mark Sheppard as Crowley (9/23)
- Osric Chau as Kevin Tran (8/23)
- Amanda Tapping as Naomi (7/23)
- Liane Balaban as Amelia Richardson (7/23)
- Ty Olsson as Benny Lafitte (7/23)
- Curtis Armstrong as Metatron (3/23)
- Alaina Huffman as Abaddon (3/23)
- Tyler Johnston as Samandriel/"Alfie" (3/23)
- Felicia Day as Charlie Bradbury (2/23)
- Lauren Tom as Linda Tran (2/23) and Crowley (1/22)
- Jim Beaver as Bobby Singer (1/23)
- Rachel Miner as Meg (1/23)
- DJ Qualls as Garth Fitzgerald IV (1/23)
Episode List: 2012-2013
| Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director(s) | Airdate | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:801new.jpeg | We Need To Talk About Kevin | Writer: Jeremy Carver | Director: Robert Singer | 10/03/12 | #150 801 |
| Dean re-emerges from Purgatory, but he isn’t alone. He heads straight for Sam, but the reunion isn’t exactly what he thought it would be. Sam drops everything to join his brother, but leaving the life he had grown to enjoy turns out to be harder than he imagined. Dean and Sam look for Kevin who has managed to escape Crowley’s grasp, but things come to a head quickly when Kevin tells them what it is that Crowley wants. | |||||
| File:802new.jpg | What's up, Tiger Mommy? | Writer: Andrew Dabb and Daniel Loflin | Director: John F. Showalter | 10/10/12 | #151 802 |
| Kevin talks Sam and Dean into checking in on his mother. When they arrive, they see that Crowley has surrounded her with demons so they rescue her and take her along on their quest to find the tablet. However, they soon discover Kevin wasn’t kidding when he said his mother was a strong-willed woman after she tries to take on Crowley. | |||||
| File:803.jpg | Heartache | Writer: Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming | Director: Jensen Ackles | 10/17/12 | #152 803 |
| Sam and Dean investigate a string of unusual murders where the victims were all recipients of organs from the same donor. The killer is captured, but things become even more complicated when the brothers find their killer in a trance mumbling an ancient prayer. | |||||
| File:804.jpg | Bitten | Writer: Robbie Thompson | Director: Thomas J. Wright | 10/24/12 | #153 804 |
| Sam and Dean investigate a bizarre murder in a college town. Close on the tail of their suspect, they bust into an apartment to find two dead bodies and a laptop cued up to some disturbing video footage. The footage begins with Brian, Mike and Kate hearing about an unusual animal attack in their town and the rest of the story is revealed through their eyes. Sam and Dean become unknowing participants in a unique student film. | |||||
| File:805.jpg | Blood Brother | Writer: Ben Edlund | Director: Guy Bee | 10/31/12 | #154 805 |
| After Benny gets brutally beat up by some vampires, he calls Dean for help. Dean abruptly packs up and tells a confused Sam that he’s taking a “personal day.” Benny confesses that he’s going after his Maker so Dean offers to help, flashing back on the many times Benny helped him and Castiel in Purgatory. Meanwhile, Sam uses his solo time to reflect on the life he left behind with Amelia. However, when things go bad for Dean and Benny, Dean calls Sam for help, which makes everything very complicated. | |||||
| File:806.jpg | Southern Comfort | Writer: Adam Glass | Director: Tim Andrew | 11/07/12 | #155 806 |
| Sam and Dean investigate a murder and find Garth is already on the case. Dean is not happy to learn that Garth has assumed Bobby’s duties, but Garth points out that both Sam and Dean have been missing for the last year and someone needed to do it. The guys discover an “avenging ghost” is responsible for the murders and they need to find the source before the killings starts again. | |||||
|
A Little Slice of Kevin | Writer: Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner | Director: Charlie Carner | 11/14/12 | #156 807 |
| Sam and Dean are stunned when Castiel suddenly appears back on Earth with no memory of how he escaped from Purgatory. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tran enlists a witch to concoct a demon bomb, but the witch double crosses Mrs. Tran and turns her and Kevin over to Crowley. | |||||
| File:808.jpg | Hunteri Heroici | Writer: Andrew Dabb | Director: Paul Edwards | 11/28/12 | #157 808 |
| Castiel tells Sam and Dean that he’s decided to become a hunter like them. Sam and Dean aren’t sold on the idea but agree to investigate a case Cass found where a man’s heart literally burst through his chest. The guys discover there has been more than one odd murder in the small town and all of them resemble cartoon deaths. | |||||
| File:809.jpg | Citizen Fang | Writer: Daniel Loflin | Director: Nick Copus | 12/05/12 | #158 809 |
| Sam asks a hunter named Martin to keep an eye on Benny without telling Dean. However, when Martin tells Sam there was a vampire kill and he thinks Benny is responsible, Dean defends his friend. When Martin decides to take things into his own hands, things get messy, and Dean is forced to make a very hard decision. | |||||
| File:810.jpg | Torn and Frayed | Writer: Jenny Klein | Director: Robert Singer | 01/16/13 | #159 810 |
| Naomi tells Castiel that Crowley is holding an angel captive and Castiel must rescue him before Crowley finds out their secrets. Castiel turns to Dean for help. Meanwhile, Sam meets with Amelia who asks him to make a choice: stay with her or leave and never contact her again. | |||||
| File:Larp2.jpg | LARP and the Real Girl | Writer: Robbie Thompson | Director: Jeannot Szwarc | 01/23/13 | #160 811 |
| Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers (Live Action Role Playing) who were playing a game entitled Moondoor. The guys are thrilled to discover the Queen of Moondoor is none other than Charlie. The three learn that a fairy has been commandeered to harm people and the only way to stop her is to find her master. | |||||
| File:812.jpg | As Time Goes By | Writer: Adam Glass | Director: Serge Ladouceur | 01/30/13 | #161 812 |
| Sam and Dean are stunned when a man who claims to be Henry Winchester, their grandfather, suddenly appears in their hotel room demanding to know where he can find John Winchester. Henry has time-traveled to stop a demon named Abaddon and was looking for John's help. Through Henry, Sam and Dean learn more about their father and the Winchester blood line. | |||||
| File:813.jpg | Everybody Hates Hitler | Writer: Ben Edlund | Director: Phil Sgriccia | 02/06/13 | #162 813 |
| Sam and Dean investigate the death of Rabbi Bass, who spontaneously combusted. The case becomes ever more confusing when they learn that the Rabbi was researching Nazi Necromancers. Sam and Dean are attacked by a Golem who turns out to belong to the Rabbi's grandson, Aaron. The key to the case lies with the Golem but Aaron doesn't know how to control him, which leaves everyone in danger. | |||||
| File:814.jpg | Trial and Error | Writer: Andrew Dabb | Director: Kevin Parks | 02/13/13 | #163 814 |
| Kevin deciphers the tablet and figures out how to close the gates of Hell. He tells Sam and Dean that according to the tablet one person must face a series of three tests designed by God. The first one – kill a hellhound. Sam and Dean argue over who should complete the trials. | |||||
| File:SUPERNATURAL-Season-8-Episode-15-Man’s-Best-Friend-With-Benefits-2.jpg | Man's Best Friend With Benefits | Writer: Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming. | Director: John F. Showalter | 02/20/13 | #164 815 |
| A police officer named James, who turned to witchcraft after working a case with Sam and Dean, is plagued by nightmares in which he murders innocent people. However, when the murders actually happen, Sam and Dean are called in by James’ Familiar to help -- but the brothers aren’t sure they want to save a witch. | |||||
|
Remember the Titans | Writer: Daniel Loflin | Director: Steve Boyum | 02/27/13 | #165 816 |
| Sam and Dean are stumped when they investigate a possible zombie case where an amnesiac man dies and then revives himself once a day. After the guy is attacked by the goddess Artemis, Sam and Dean realize he's not a zombie but instead a god, more specifically, Prometheus. | |||||
|
Goodbye Stranger | Writer: Robbie Thompson | Director: Thomas J. Wright | 03/20/13 | #166 817 |
| Castiel reappears in Sam and Dean’s life and tells them Crowley has unleashed several demons into a small town. The demons are looking for Lucifer’s Crypt, which holds a valuable asset, but Castiel lies to Sam and Dean about what it is. While interrogating a demon, the three discover Crowley has been torturing Meg, who knows the exact location of the crypt. Sam and Meg fight to hold Crowley off while Dean and Castiel go in search of the crypt. | |||||
|
Freaks and Geeks | Writer: Adam Glass | Director: John F. Showalter | 03/27/13 | #167 818 |
| Sam and Dean investigate some recent vampire kills and are surprised to learn who is involved. They find Krissy and learn her father was killed and she's been taken in by a man named Victor, who has taken in a group of orphan kids to teach them how to hunt. Victor is helping the teenagers find the vampires who took their parents so they can get revenge. Sam is intrigued by Victor's method of giving the teenagers a home life as well as a hunting life, but Dean is suspicious of Victor's motives. | |||||
|
Taxi Driver | Writer: Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming | Director: Guy Bee | 04/03/13 | #168 819 |
| Sam and Dean respond to a call from Kevin, who is terrified after hearing Crowley's voice in his head. After hearing Kevin's news, Sam and Dean team up with reaper named Ajay (guest star Assaf Cohen), who helps them deal with the second trial from the Tablet. Meanwhile, Dean receives a visit from Naomi and realizes he must find Benny and ask for a huge favor. | |||||
|
Pac-Man Fever | Writer: Robbie Thompson | Director: Robert Singer | 04/24/13 | #169 820 |
| Concerned about the physical toll the second trial took on Sam, Dean benches his brother from hunting until he heals up. So, when geektastic hacker Charlie stumbles upon a case and finds the boys, Dean decides it’s time to teach Charlie how to be a hunter-in-training. While happy to see “her highness,” the boys suspect Charlie is hiding something: a secret that could get her killed. | |||||
|
The Great Escapist | Writer: Ben Edlund | Director: Robert Duncan McNeill | 05/01/13 | #170 821 |
| When Sam and Dean receive a distressing video message from Kevin Tran, they set about trying to uncover the Third Trial. The boys make a discovery that sends them to a casino in Colorado, to find a mysterious recluse who may be able to fill in the holes in Kevin's research. Meanwhile, Crowley is on a winning streak. Castiel tries to elude Naomi and the angels hunting him. | |||||
|
Clip Show | Writer: Andrew Dabb | Director: Thomas J. Wright | 05/08/13 | #171 822 |
| Sam and Dean reunite with Castiel. Digging through the Men of Letters’ files, they stumble upon an undiscovered film which could be the key to the third trial. Metatron enlists Cass to mull over problems at home. Meanwhile, Crowley digs into Sam and Dean’s past. | |||||
|
Sacrifice | Writer: Jeremy Carver | Director: Phil Sgriccia | 05/15/13 | #172 823 |
| With Crowley poised to undo all the good they’ve ever done as hunters, Sam and Dean find themselves cornered. But with Kevin’s help, the Winchester brothers bound into one last play against The Demon King. Metatron initiates a plan with Castiel to take on Naomi and the bureaucracy of Heaven. | |||||
Notes/Trivia
- Jensen Ackles directed the first episode to be produced for this season, but the third to air.
- Trial and Error was the thirteenth episode to be produced, but was aired as the fourteenth.
- Since their first official appearance in season 4, if one counts Gabriel as the Trickster in season 2, this is the first season to not feature Archangels in any form.
Gallery
See Also
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