Supernatural Review: Proverbs 17:3 (Season 15 Episode 5)
Proverbs 17:3 reads: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (NIV)
Supernatural Season 15 Episode 5, “Proverbs 17:3,” translates this actual bible verse in two ways that apply to Sam and Dean Winchester.
For one, there is literal melting of silver. The main weapon Sam and Dean possess in their eventual battle against God (the Equalizer) is melted in front of their eyes.
This melting of silver is two-fold, as it also represents a significant test of the heart. When Sam and Dean lose much more than they’re expecting on what they believe is a basic werewolf hunt, it tests their resolve.
The story of Sam and Dean’s hunt starts relatively normally at first. They find a case and they pursue it as they’ve been doing for the last 15 years. But something seems off or unusual about it.
Twist after twist unfolds, though, leaving the Winchesters and viewers stunned as the episode continues. By far the craziest twist, though, is the return of long dead villain, Lilith.
Most long-time Supernatural fans remember Lilith as the catalyst for releasing Lucifer from his cage. She was a thorn in the side of the Winchesters for a couple of seasons, but then gave way to Lucifer. Now, though, she’s back, and seems to be far more powerful than her previous iteration.
Lilith’s reintroduction clues viewers (and eventually, the Winchesters) into the fact that God has been pulling the strings of this particular case. Then, all of the pieces start to fall together.
Sam’s recurring nightmares, a brief reference to Lilith a few episodes back, and the hunt that seems to easy all allude to God writing one final story to end the Winchesters once and for all.
“Proverbs 17:3” is one of the better executed episodes Supernatural has done in some time. There are small, nuanced moments that clue into bigger ones. There are stories that carry just for the episode and that feed into the larger season arc.
It’s shocking, too. The monsters killing each other halfway through the episode, and the victim “dying” and then revealing herself as Lilith is a twist no-one sees coming, which speaks volumes about the episode.
It’s also especially meta. God creates the werewolf story that unfolds in front of the brothers as “foreshadowing” and then Lilith spills the beans on it. Dean cracks jokes about Chuck’s dialogue.
But most of all, bringing back Lilith is a suggestion that Supernatural fans should be ready for anything in the back 15. If viewers thought the first 5 were wild, I’d be willing to bet they haven’t seen anything yet.
A few stray thoughts:
- I wonder if the more recent heroes like Ketch and Rowena were dispatched early on to make room for the boys’ greatest hits, starting with Lilith.
- Director Richard Speight Jr. does an exceptional job with “Proverbs 17:3” and the only thing it’s missing is Gabriel.
- These boys need to pray to the angel Castiel to get his feathery @$$ down here, ASAP.
- Dean feels backed into a corner by God and it breaks my heart.
- Anna Grace Barlow, the actress who plays the new Lilith vessel, is a promising young actress with serious range. Color me impressed and hoping to see more!
What did you think of this episode of Supernatural? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.