Supernatural - Rock Never Dies & LOTUS - Review

Supernatural returns this week, so it’s time to do a quick check on where we left off. This review will actually take a quick look at the final two episodes this fall. “LOTUS” was written by the team of Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner and was directed by Phil Sgriccia. “Rock Never Dies” was written by Robert Berens and was directed by Eduardo Sanchez.

“Rock Never Dies” is Rick Springfield’s last hurrah as Lucifer, and I have to admit, he turns in quite a good performance in this episode. The episode begins with what feels like a throwback to earlier seasons as we see two guys – Gordy (Jeff Evans Todd) who believes and Adam (John Connolly) – dabbling in the dark arts. Naturally, their summoning does end up working – or at least Lucifer’s feather does – and Lucifer arrives. He uses the feather to power himself back up and kills both boys – but not before he gets the idea from Gordy that he’s “kinda famous” and can maybe make that work for him.

Back at the bunker, Dean (Jensen Ackles) is playing Words with Friends with Mary. They’ve finally found a way to connect – and it’s ridiculously cute to see Dean connecting through playing a game with his mom. Family time is interrupted by a call from Cas (Misha Collins) who is “still living out an 80s buddy comedy with Crowley (Mark Sheppard).” Lucifer – or Vince Vincente – is all over the news.

Crowley suspects that the record deal has to be a demon deal, and of course, Crowley “knows a guy.” Russell (Kadeem Hardison) is excited about relaunching LadyHeart. It’s not quite clear whether Russell is a crossroads demon or just has a deal with Crowley, but he seems unaware that Vince is Lucifer.

Dean and Sam (Jared Padalecki) are on the road to LA, and Dean muses about the last time they were there – that would be season two’s “Hollywood Babylon.” Dean – who loved LA the last time they were there – lists all the things that are wrong with it – except yoga pants – before he realizes that Sam isn’t listening to him. It’s classic brother-banter as Dean discovers Sam is listening to LadyHeart, which Sam defends as “research!”

In the recording studio, it’s clear that Vince doesn’t care about the music at all. He’s only interested in being worshiped. He already has one devotee in Roseleen (Crystal Allen). Did you notice the band in the studio warming up with some great AC/DC guitar riffs? Roseleen is even willing to cut herself badly enough to end up in the hospital to show Vince how much she loves him.

Cas meets up with Dean and Sam. And it’s hilarious how disgusted by the “vegetable water” that Sam is drinking – and you know he’s going to love it once he tries it. When Cas shows up, Dean tells him he’s dressed too stiffly for LA. Sam defends him as dressing as an agent, and Dean snipes a “third tier agent.” I was surprised – and delighted – when Cas wins the argument by saying “At least I don’t look like a lumberjack!” Go Cas!! And actually, with all that flannel, they look like hipsters – but baby hipsters with the stubble rather than a man beard!

Cas is relieved to see them. He’s grown tired of Crowley’s incessant talking. And with Lucifer stuck at the bottom of the ocean, why were they still together? Crowley has the key to Vince’s room, so the four go to check it out. Sam notices that Lucifer is studying rock biographies – to learn how to become famous? I loved Crowley remarking that he’d seen worse riders than the one on Vince’s contract – such an LA/rockstar cliché! Cas finds something more sinister, however – a human tooth pulled out by the roots.

I loved Vince/Lucifer equating religion, celebrity, and twitter – if you aren’t gaining followers, you’re losing them. He doesn’t want the diehard fans, he wants fresh blood. Crowley totally gets it. Once you get people to buy in, you can get them to do anything.

Russell tries to stonewall Crowley, so Cas goes to Tommy (Woody Jeffreys). Tommy wants the band to regain its success and that’s really all he cares about. Tommy has two daughters in college and no more royalties.

Sam and Dean go to Vince’s publicity manager Constance (Sandy Sidhu). It’s hilarious as they pose as the “American Oasis” – but with sense! Anybody notice that Dean is totally wearing the same leather jacket as Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in The Walking Dead? There was an adorable exchange between Ackles and Morgan on Twitter – Ackles asked to borrow Lucille and Morgan asked for his leather jacket back – remember Dean wore his dad’s old jacket for the early seasons (until it was stolen on a publicity tour).

Constance takes the meeting because they looked hot in their pictures – of course they did! – but really isn’t interested. Sam tries to win her over by saying that she must have noticed that Vince is different. I kept wondering why not just say you are FBI and demand the location? They actually tell her that Vince is the Devil – why would she believe them? It’s such an annoying rookie move.

Russell is pissed when Tommy tells him that there’s no new music, and then Russell makes the ultimate mistake by telling Vince that he owns him. Hardison is excellent in the episode, so I was disappointed when Vince makes Russell kill himself – naturally with the present from “Dre.” Tommy and Constance finally get a bit of a wakeup call. Constance quits, but Tommy sends a text to Cas.

Crowley isn’t impressed that all they have to go up against Lucifer is enochian handcuffs. Sam points out that they aren’t just there to get Lucifer – they’re there to save the people inside. Cas is ready to sacrifice himself by engaging Lucifer – even if it only buys them three minutes. He’s clearly carrying all the guilt for Lucifer being on the loose, and Sam telling him it’s not his fault doesn’t dissuade him. Dean also tries to tell him it’s not all on him. All three are surprised when Crowley offers to help Cas keep Lucifer engaged while the boys clear the room.

Vince kills two of the band members and tells Tommy he’s decided to go solo. He’s about to kill Tommy, when Cas stops him. He sends Cas flying and then Crowley shows up – and tosses Lucifer across the room! Crowley tells Lucifer that the audience isn’t going to be interested in what he’s selling. Lucifer tells them that he needs love because he had a terrible childhood.

Sam and Dean try to clear the auditorium, but the music starts up too loudly for Sam to pull the fire alarm. Dean tries to get people to leave only to start a fight and have the bouncers kick both of them out. Sam takes advantage of a lull to pull the fire alarm, but Vince drowns it with music and the crowd rushes back in. Vince leaves off beating up Crowley and Cas to take the stage.

Dean shoots his gun and that finally convinces people to leave. Sam barely keeps the doors open to let everyone out. Cas shows up with a “Hey Assbutt!” and bats Lucifer into the drums with a guitar. Dean manages to get the handcuffs on Lucifer, but he busts them off in seconds. Lucifer’s vessel is looking very much the worse for wear.

Dean and Sam want to know why Lucifer is doing this. He’s made up with God after all. Lucifer is devastated by God having ditched him. He thinks that God just used him to get what he wants. Everything is meaningless – the world no longer means anything. The world is filled with distraction addicts – everyone is just empty. He doesn’t have a plan – he’s just going to keep smashing things. Springfield is actually really, really good in this final scene. But this vessel is completely used up and he smokes – flashes? – out.

Dean is impressed by the beating that Crowley took for them. Dean is ready to call the night a win because they saved the crowd, but Sam isn’t. Vince is dead – he was still a person and meant a lot to a lot of people. Lucifer was bad enough when he had a plan – this is worse. They are just losing slowly. Dean assures them all that they’ll get him. They’ll win in the end, but Sam is clearly very disturbed – and taking responsibility for the people who have already died. They also know that Lucifer plans to go bigger – and we find out just how much bigger in the next episode – which feels a lot like it was ripped from the headlines…

“LOTUS” of course is a play on POTUS with Lucifer standing in for President. Before he gets there, however, he makes a stop in a billionaire philanthropist and then in an Archbishop (Michael Querin). Given Lucifer’s remarks about religion in the last episode, this makes perfect sense. I loved the scene of him walking down the hall of the church and the crucifixes all flipping upside down!

Once again, we are treated to all four regulars working on the case. It’s nice to see the show finally find a common cause for them – Cas and Sam feel guilty, Crowley wants revenge, and Dean is always about killing the monster – motives may be different, but they are all on the same page about the end result for Lucifer. The “Scooby-gang” realize that Lucifer has upped his game and is only going for “blue chip” vessels. I loved how ticked off Dean was at Crowley posing as an FBI agent!

Sam identifies the Archbishop as a likely vessel as he was friends with the latest victim and has suddenly stopped wearing his cross. Dean and Sam go to investigate and find everyone at the church dead – or mostly dead. We get some nice blue flashlight action. The last body they find is the burned out shell of the Archbishop.

The episode then shifts to President Rooney (David Chisum) praying for guidance and accepting Lucifer in. I liked the scene of Lucifer talking to Rooney in his mind – nicely shot, loved the use of two chairs in an otherwise dark space. I think Chisum did a terrific job in this episode. Unfortunately, an Agent overhears the conversation and comes to investigate, resulting in his death. Luckily, the Head Secret Service Agent (Kathleen Duborg) diagnoses a cerebral hemorrhage as the cause of death – no evidence of foul play. As it turns out, of course, she works for Crowley…

President Rooney is super-religious, so Kelly (Courtney Ford) hands him a bible – which burns his hands – and asks him to say a few words. She tells him that he always knows the right thing to say – though he’s clearly winging it. But he also seems to be talking from his own experience – we all struggle to walk tall, with purpose and we need our Father. And fatherhood is going to play a big part in this episode. Kelly immediately knows that something has changed the next time they sleep together.

Loved the use of the fireplace as a backdrop behind LOTUS in his first briefing. Where he “jokes” about nuking some of his adversaries. After the meeting, he finds out about the clandestine affair he’s having with Kelly. Kelly suggests in the afterglow that maybe they can get married and have babies at some point in the future. Her remark that he’d make an amazing father clearly hits home – and gives LOTUS purpose.

Dean removes the wards that keep Crowley out, and Sam is not happy. Once again, Dean is prepared to do whatever it takes – regardless of how dangerous it might be. When Crowley shows up – he can’t go to his own “palace” – Sam wants the news without the drama – and Crowley points out he’d like Sam without the flannel! They are what they are… And Crowley knows about LOTUS.

Rooney tips off Rick (Stephen Lobo) that two cult members are going to try to assassinate him because they think he’s Satan. I loved that Rick immediately thinks they’re nuts because Satan isn’t real – he’s a symbol for the simple-minded! A comic book villain! LOTUS is not pleased. Rick is the head of Rooney’s personal detail, and Rooney wants him to handle it personally.

Sam secretly tries to contact Mick (Adam Fergus) for help from the British Men of Letters. Meanwhile, they try to come up with a way to get to Rooney. He’s got a busy schedule outside of the compound, but he’ll still be well guarded.

Crowley shows up just as Rowena (Ruth Connell) has found out her latest fiancé is a fraud who is dumping her! Crowley does the sweetest thing he’s ever done for her by blowing the guy up! Finally, a touching moment between the two – and Rowena is covered in blood and gore!

Cas is overwhelmed by Angel-radio when a Nephilim has come into being – a baby created by an Angel and a human. Yep. Kelly is pregnant with the Lucifer's baby.

Dean, Sam, and Cas head out only to be pulled over by the Secret Service – Rick. And Rick knows they are the Winchesters and that their FBI badges are fake. Dean and Sam lose a brief fight and Dean keeps Cas from doing anything.

The arrival of Arthur Ketch (David Haydn-Jones) is utterly Bond-worthy. Loved the luxury black car with the super cool Van Morrison playing. And of course, he has a grenade launcher and gets to use it! He immediately takes in the situation. He’s impeccable dressed – and that accent!

Ketch came because Sam called Mick. Ketch came even though Sam hung up – because he correctly surmised that they were in trouble. The British Men of Letters are going International and are still hoping that Dean and Sam will say yes to joining. While Cas was okay with Crowley calling him feathers, when Ketch calls him Halo, he corrects him that his name is Castiel – but he doesn’t sense that Ketch is lying – though the truth can be “situational.”

Ketch makes a good sales pitch. He points out that he’s not an ideologue – he doesn’t care about them, thought they are still interested in collaborating with them. He offers them the resources of the British Men of Letters. Dean can’t help asking if Ketch had been using a grenade launcher – and I loved the look between Dean and Sam – let’s not forget that Sam wouldn’t let Dean use his! Even Sam is impressed by their radiator gun for vampires. But did anyone else think that their hyperbolic pulse generator looked an awful lot like the holy hand grenade from Monty Python’s Holy Grail?

Regardless, Sam and Dean immediately think that the pulse generator might be the very thing to get Lucifer out of the President. Ketch wants to know what they’re working on – but Dean insists that if Ketch wants them to trust him, he has to trust them first.

Crowley has to zap in to zap Kelly to them. Rowena further freaks Kelly out by introducing them, and Sam tries to keep her calm. Cas proves that her baby is unholy by having her touch the bible – which bursts into flames. Kelly tells them that Lucifer was thrilled to learn she was pregnant because it was the first time he’d ever created anything. Naturally, they use her as bait to lure LOTUS to them.

I loved Cas zapping Otto (Jeff Craigen) from the closet – essentially obi-wan-kenobi-ing him! Kelly tells LOTUS she can’t have the baby and he immediately shows his true colors. Sam uses the holy hand grenade to zap LOTUS and Rowena starts the spell to send him back to the cage. Lucifer tells Sam that it isn’t over before smoking out and heading down the vent.

Rooney is still alive and won’t remember anything. Dean is thrilled that they got Lucifer. But did they? The Agents find Dean and Sam over the President’s body and arrest them for the attempted assassination of the President. Cas sneaks Kelly out of the motel while the Agents go after the brothers. Things get worse when Rick shows up – is he their new Agent Henrickson? The two are taken away, handcuffed in an armored truck.

Kelly, of course, has no problem ditching Cas in a diner. She calls him to tell him that she can’t do it – she can feel it inside her and it’s a baby – it’s her child. Surely, it should be easy enough to track a Nephilim, right?

With the brothers off to prison, it feels like more throwbacks – this time to Folsom Prison Blues and maybe a touch of Jus In Bello. What did you think of the final two episodes? Is Lucifer really gone? I really enjoyed Chisum as President Rooney, so wouldn’t it be fun to have him remember something and actually end up on their side? Unlikely, I know. Will Ketch be the one to get them out? Will they have to go underground again now? And what about Baby? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!