Supernatural Review: Form and Void (Season 11 Episode 2)

Not since Little Shop of Horrors has the line, “feed me,” seemed so humorous and frightening all at once.

Supernatural has never failed to add doses of humor to its life or death plot lines and “Form and Void,” was no exception.

This season’s big bad, the Darkness, manifested itself into newborn Amara, and didn’t waste any time in alerting the world of her need for souls. From her crib, she used some super psychic energy to pull down a box of toys, and strategically align blocks on the walls to tell her caregivers that she was hungry.

Amara isn’t interested in a breast milk vs. formula debate. She just wants souls.

Souls must do a body good, because baby Amara has quickly grown into a healthy five or six year old girl. I am relieved to see that we aren’t going to deal with a demon baby all season. Though the idea of watching Sam and Dean struggle with diapering a baby seems comical, it would become old very quickly.

Leave it to Papa Crowley to take the reigns, pulling up in a van and offering Amara candy. Human candy. I feel like there could be a Nerds joke worked in here somewhere, but I don’t want to over-think it.

Speaking of Crowley, how nice it is to see the King of Hell back in form! Sam and Dean have been treating him like a sidekick for so long now that it’s easy to forget that he is actually their nemesis and not on their side at all.

Crowley’s declaration to Dean that he’s a Daphne, not Velma, seemed to be his way of saying that he’s done taking orders from the Winchesters, and back to making up his own rules and agendas. This is the Crowley I’ve been sorely missing.

He brings up a good point in his talk with Dean, regarding Dean’s connection to the Darkness. Dean won’t be able to harm Amara, try as he might. The bond between them is strong; Dean took one look at that baby, and seemed to have a sense that she’d have that mark on her shoulder.

Dean’s also never been in the business of harming children, save for those evil ghost children who’ve popped up over the years. Oh, and the Styne kid. (I am wondering when that will come back to haunt him.) Crowley, on the other hand, has no moral compass and no reason to hesitate to harm a child.

Crowley seems to want to train Amara, to keep her as a tool, which will almost certainly be a bad idea. But it will, once again, bring Crowley to a place where he holds the upper hand over the Winchesters, being the access they need in order to get what they want.

In other sidekick news, cursed Castiel is starting to make just a little more sense. Rowena’s spell on him is truly wreaking havoc on his body, and he can’t be cured, not even by another Angel (RIP Hannah, more on that in a few minutes.)

Castiel’s plight reminds us that Metatron is still a thing. He’s a villain that’s long overdue for expulsion from the Supernatural universe. The inner battles among the angels has always been a fascinating aspect of the show.

What do the angels want with the Winchesters this time, and why are they willing to go to such elaborate lengths, using Hannah to trick Castiel, to get to them? Castiel’s almost-love-interest met her demise while trying to stop the torture of her friend, and caused Castiel to go into Hulk mode, and murder his angel brothers.

To be honest, I like Castiel when he’s angry. More of that this season, please.

The real emotional punches came, once again, from Sam this week. Sam’s search for a Darkness Zombie cure came after a meeting with the new Reaper, Billie.

Side note: was anyone else just a little disappointed that Gina Torres was not the actress playing Billie? It seems like such a missed opportunity. I never stop dream-casting.

Billie has a message for Sam. His speech about change was on point, because Death no longer wants to play with the Winchester brothers. There won’t be anymore death that leads to a quick resurrection for the brothers, who have continually evaded the eternal sleep.

The next time one of them dies, it’s for real. No more chances.

It’s yet another message from the writers that the game is different this season, and that they won’t serving us another helping of the same old Supernatural.

Sam decides to visit the chapel of the hospital he’s holed up in while trying to cure himself, and there he prays. Whenever we see a Winchester praying to God, it’s always followed by the most heartfelt admissions, the things they’d never say directly to one another.

Sam begs God to give him a sign of hope, and asks God to, at the very least, spare Dean and give him the life he deserves.

Jared Padalecki for the emotional gut punch again this week! It’s a nice change in writing. The emotional punches are usually saved for Jensen Ackles, and his often looked-over incredible acting skills.

God answers Sam immediately with a vision that brought him to the Holy Fire solution to his problem, a Holy fire cleanse will kill the Darkness infection. Great news for Sam, and the others that can now be saved. Step one in change, complete.

Sam hasn’t had a vision in many seasons, and those visions were linked to the Yellow-Eyed Demon luring him. I’m hoping that this is a return to Sam’s visions, only now with a Holy link, as opposed to the demon link they once held.

His vision by the way? Himself being tortured in the cage with Lucifer. Just another sign that points to the Devil’s (hopeful) return.

The reunited Winchesters arrive back at their Men of Letters headquarters, and find everything just as they left it; a reminder of Deanmon and the Styne family whom he murdered. A reminder of the Styne kid.

And there, behind the books, is cursed Castiel looking to the Winchesters for help. The gang is back in their rightful places.

As you were, Supernatural. As you were.

What did you think of, “Form and Void”? Are you happy that everyone seems to be back in place? Why are the Angels after the Winchester this time? Will Crowley be able to control the Darkness? Hit up the comments and let us know!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Supernatural airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.