Review of Dark Dynasty

I can't talk about this episode without a big spoiler. Charlie gets killed (fridged) in this episode. The show has repeatedly killed off women characters to help move the Winchester storyline along. This death is handled about as well as can be expected-add in Charlie is one of the better drawn woman characters and the plot point works. I am objecting more to the show's reliance on this trope than on this particular use of it. It is really too bad because much of this episode is classic.

Rowena and Charlie bickering? Classic. The Styne Family? Classic. Sam and Dean fighting over a lie? Classic.

But it it is all saddled to rote storytelling.