User Reviews

I gotta be honest, I'm shocked by how good "Advanced Thanatology" was. First of all, this episode gave me serious season one vibes. Everything fit perfectly. The writing, editing, music, vfx, the whole cinematography - all of it. I was really surprised, I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen! We haven't had such a good hunting case in a very long time. It was super thrilling to watch, I was on edge most of the time while watching. The comeback of Billie actually made sense and wasn't a low excuse to bring her character back. The dots were connected and that is something that I think we saw rarely these past seasons. The scene between Dean and Billie was absolutely amazing as well, who ever is responsible for it deserves a bonus. And finally - for once Dean didn't lie to Sam about what happened and actually told him. The ending with Cas was really well made as well. I'm impressed with most of the season so far! This is how every episode should look like. Hopefully it stays that way!

That was one of the best episodes I've ever watched! The internal fight they have, the death experience, the story itself, details... Everythin was perfect, like back then. There was emotions and people who watch could feel it. And I have to say it was a pretty good idea to bring back brother relationship on first lines, that was the thing that make this show great on the first place. And you are starting to think - life and death, and everything in between, it's all temporarily. And the end... It couldn't be better end for this episode. Since Cas appeared at season 4 there is no more Sam and Dean, there is Sam, Dean and Cas, Cas is a family. And thanx God he is back. And btw, The Impala is still one of the most important things in this show. ;)

Advanced Thanatology is by far one of the best episodes in over two seasons! I won't give anything away but pay very close attention to the 'THEN' sequences at the beginning. Every single scene will be expanded upon with some real surprises. Two beloved characters make their reappearance. We've known that Cas was coming back since the end of the last episode but I kept asking, "When are the writers going to let Sam and Dean see him?" It's not a surprise when he shows up at the end, but the second character was a pleasant shocker – you won't expect it, but it's perfect! (Hint: The title of the episode alludes to this character.) This episode gets the 'boys' back in the monster fighting saddle where we love watching them. Sam is still coddling Dean to try to get him to snap out of his slump, but Dean catches onto him and reaffirms his stance that he will fight back the best way he knows how: Bacon, bullets, and beer. That seems to indicate that Dean may be finally maturing – it used to be Babes, bullets, and beer! I guess Dean needs to combine his magic formula because after Sam sends Dean off to a 4 star strip joint, he finds him the next morning passed out on the motel floor with a pink bra wrapped around his neck. I love how the writers touched on all the important points of the mythology, including why Sam and Dean are still important to the Cosmos. I would take off half a point if I could because the joke of Dean being a sloppy eater is getting tired and by the way Jensen acted during the scene, he seems to know it too.

I am apparently in the minority here, but, I found this episode to be somewhat poorly acted by my hero Sam and the girl playing the reaper (not Billie). I do hope that horrendous vacancy in acting talent of Jared's wife has not rubbed off on him. He seems different. However, even Dean was off base some. Also, the story-line felt contrived. It's as if they wanted to bring Billie back in so set up a half- baked scenario to get it to happen. So when did Dean get the kill and revive shots? They did not have time for Dean to access the help of the "doctor" so suddenly now they can pop back and forth in death and life? And Dean did all of that just so they could find the body of the deceased boy? I mean it was important to the mother, but risking death??? Maybe everyone (including the writers) were in a slump. I actually found myself already missing Jack. He has the perfect personality for the part. I cannot put my finger on it but it is some sort of sly humor. It is good to have Cass back. Now they are four.