Supernatural Review: Damaged Goods (Season 14 Episode 11)
As the show inches ever closer to the ultimate 300th episode, Supernatural Season 14 Episode 11, “Damaged Goods,” brings everything back to family. The element of familial love and faith has always been at the core of this show.
In recent seasons, Supernatural has veered away from that deeper theme in order to tell elaborate stories of archangel domination and the world ending. The return of Mary Winchester as a central character brought a hope of family becoming a forefront once more, but to no avail.
Now, in the 14th season, the show has started to come full circle once more. Dean’s constant fight with Michael for control over his body and mind is very reminiscent of the humble beginnings of the show, back when the biggest problems these boys had to face were demon possessions and saving each other.
Now, Dean’s life is on the line in exchange for the status quo to remain intact. It’s a tale as old as time, but for some reason this season’s take on it seems new and refreshing. Once again it is a battle between Dean and his pride as the older brother.
He knows that he can’t tell his entire plan to Sam because through everything they’ve seen, Sam is his true north. Sam is the one person who can talk him out of just about anything. This brotherly bond is a comeback every fan is rooting for.
Much like the very first season of the show, Sam and Dean are facing this one big foe (Michael) together and yet apart. Unlike Season 1, it is Dean in the hot seat, not Sam. This reversal in roles is very circular and nostalgic.
In all honesty, the nostalgic feel of it all makes the imminent danger of Dean’s sacrifice that much more real. There is always this underlying optimal hope to every dire situation the Winchesters are put into.
However, this time Dean is clearly not going to be talked out of it and there doesn’t appear to be any alternative solution. It all seems permanent and real, even if there is no logical way that it is.
Most of the time when the brothers come up against a problem that seems “end of the world” worthy, I roll my eyes and huff because it’s obvious there’s a loophole. This time, there is no eye rolling.
We have to give credit to Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles for their performances in the last five minutes of “Damaged Goods.” It is emotional levels on par with any previous finale performances of note. One that particularly comes to mind is the Season 5 finale.
These guys have been acting alongside each other as brothers for 14 years now. However, over time their scenes became mundane and not as heartfelt as they once were. Trust the prospect of Dean burying himself in a box in the ocean to avoid Michael getting free to bring back the essential brotherhood.
Another performance of note is Samantha Smith, or Mary Winchester. As mentioned before, her return to Supernatural a few seasons again was met with the hope of more family bonding time. Unfortunately, the end of the world takes precedence and we don’t really get to see many opportunities for mother/son bonding.
That is what makes “Damaged Goods” so great. It centers on Sam and Mary voicing concern for Dean and ultimately Mary stepping up to play the mother card she so infrequently gets to brandish.
Smith knocks her scenes out of the park so spectacularly we are left wishing we could get an alternate reality where Mary got to see her boys grow up. Despite never getting the chance to mother her boys, Mary hasn’t forgotten how to be a mother when they need it the most.
Her dinner scene with Dean really drives that home. From her body language and facial expressions alone, Mary tells us that she sees right through Dean’s bullshit and knows there is a problem. In all actuality, that is a moment where her mothering and hunting combine to create the perfect level of caution and curiosity.
Finally, the other unsung hero is Mark Pellegrino. He has been absent quite a bit since the demise of Lucifer, however he still manages to command the screen when he graces it.
Even though Nick is no longer Lucifer’s meat suit, Pellegrino plays him as if he still is. A fact that is equal parts menacing and unsettling. It really drives home the belief, for this fan, that Pellegrino could play a rock and still manage to make everyone feel threatened.
It’s going to be interesting to see how each of these stories are going to play out on the big stage. And how it will all lead to the highly anticipated return of John Winchester on Supernatural 300th episode.
For the first time in a long while I am excited to see how it will all work out. I’m emotionally invested.
Stray Thoughts
- Donna deserves way more credit than she is usually given. She is a badass in her own right.
- While Dean was building the box the background song kind of made me chuckle. Who doesn’t love a good No Time by The Guess Who when the threat of Michael is imminent
- I really missed Cas this episode. I’m sure he won’t be staying silent once he realizes what Dean has planned.
- The only thing that would’ve made the female power move even more solid is if Jodi had shown up and completed the trifecta.
What did you think of this episode of Supernatural? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Be sure to catch up on our review of Supernatural Season 14 Episode 10, “Nihilism” right here.
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Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.