Supernatural: Jus in Bello
July 8, 2021 2:48 AM - Season 3, Episode 12 - Subscribe

Sam and Dean are arrested by Agent Henriksen and thrown into a jail cell in Colorado just as an army of demons makes their first move under a new leader who wants Sam dead.

Quotes:

Henricksen: You know what I'm trying to decide?
Dean: I don't know, what, whether Cialis will help you with your little condition?

Henricksen: I got a lot to celebrate. I mean, after all, seein' you two in chains?
Dean: You kinky son of a bitch. We don't swing that way.

Henricksen: I, uh... I shot the sheriff.
Dean: But you didn't shoot the deputy.

Henricksen: Five minutes ago I was fine, and then...
Dean: Let me guess. Some nasty black smoke jammed itself down your throat?
Sam: You were possessed.
Henricksen: Possessed, like... possessed?
Sam: That's what it feels like. Now you know.
Dean: I owe you the biggest I-told-you-so ever.

Dean: This is pretty wild, right? I mean it's like they're coming straight for us. They've never done that before. Like we've got a contract on us. You think it's 'cause we're so awesome? I think it's 'cause we're so awesome.

Dean: Nobody kill any virgins!

Dean: I'm not going to let the demon kill some sweet innocent girl that hasn't even been laid yet.

Nancy: When this is over, I'm gonna have so much sex.
Phil: [looks at her inquiringly]
Nancy: Not with you.

Dean: if it makes you feel any better, Big Foot's a hoax.
Henricksen: It doesn't.

Henricksen: I better call in. Hell of a story I won't be telling.
Sam: So what are you gonna tell 'em?
Henricksen: The least ridiculous lie I can come up with in the next five minutes.
Dean: Good luck with that. Not to pressure you or anything, but... what are you planning to do about us?
Henricksen: I'm gonna kill you. Sam and Dean Winchester were in the chopper when it caught on fire. Nothing's left. Can't even identify 'em with dental records. Rest in peace, guys.

Ruby: [after being told that they lost the Colt] I'm sorry, I must have blood in my ear. I thought I just heard you say that you were stupid enough to let the Colt get grabbed out of your thick, clumsy, idiotic hands.

Trivia:

The title is a direct reference to a plot element. Jus in bello means "justice in war" and refers to the guidelines for "fighting well" once war has begun.

The aliases listed on Dean's wanted poster are: J. Mahoggoff, Jerry Garcia, John Smith, Donald Strump.
posted by orange swan (7 comments total)
 
Bela outwits the Winchesters once again, although this time her power play seemed uncharacteristically vindictive. Did she really want them to get locked up in supermax forever?

The contrast between Bela's hotel room and the kind of lodgings Sam and Dean usually have was really something.

Poor Nancy. I can't help wishing she'd been more carpe diem in the time she had.

Good thing Sam has the exorcism spell memorized. Pre-recording it and playing it over the PA was pretty brilliant. And then there was the holy water in the cell toilet.

It was Charles Malik Whitfield's last episode, and he gets his head dunked in a toilet.

I thought Ruby was too hard on Sam and Dean. They saved a lot of lives that day. It was their bad luck that one demon-possessed person got away.

It's helpful for Sam and Dean that they're believed dead, of course, but the thing is it wouldn't take long for the authorities to figure out they aren't dead, because they'd be leaving fingerprints/DNA behind them every time they kill a monster. And Henricksen won't be around to discreetly explain to any other FBI agents who try to catch them that they're actually not the murderous psychos they seem to be.
posted by orange swan at 2:54 AM on July 8, 2021


I don't know it it says more about Hollywood and how it casts people (and makes assumptions about ethnicity and religion) or the vibe that the actress gives off, but the Aimee Garcia who plays the devout sheriff's secretary in this one also plays a devout (although not virginal) police-adjacent (forensic scientist) character in Lucifer.
posted by sardonyx at 8:48 AM on July 8, 2021


This feels like a real turning point of an episode- wraps up the Henrikson plot while debuting one of the most seriously evil characters in the series. Next one's a fun one, and the tonal shift is a bit of a relief.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:54 PM on July 8, 2021


The virgin blood thing - it's not really about the sexual experience of the person, it traditionally meant that the blood hadn't been used in a ritual already (and thus depleted of whatever magic it contains).
posted by porpoise at 4:53 PM on July 8, 2021 [1 favorite]


The virgin blood thing - it's not really about the sexual experience of the person, it traditionally meant that the blood hadn't been used in a ritual already (and thus depleted of whatever magic it contains).

Oh, wow! I never knew that but that makes total sense, like virgin hair.

I don't think Bela actively wants Sam and Dean sent up for life so much as she's very VERY invested in keeping her hands on the Colt, and recognizes they're the biggest threat to that plan.

Individual bits of this didn't land or were overdone, but a lot of the action choreography, and little details like the PLOP the demon cloud made when it smacked into a window right in Nancy's face and then engulfed the whole building, were pretty pretty good.

I really wish we got more Henricksen, he was so on top of his shit he even made the soundtrack shut up and calm down, and this show always needs more people who are not that impressed by the Winchesters' antics. And Black recurring characters who don't die.

Ahh I forgot this was the first appearance of the surprise matching chest tattoos, hello and bonjour surprise matching chest tattoos.

The recorded PA exorcism is pretty slick. "One's really tall, and one's really cute" maybe a little harsh, but I feel like they would allow it.

I think I was wrong about my favorite Ruby, season 3 is still just okay but Katie Cassidy is enjoyable every time she is on my screen (and maybe more rewarding having seen her whole plot play out?) "Damn straight, cherry pie" RUBY
posted by jameaterblues at 10:39 PM on July 8, 2021 [2 favorites]


"One's really tall, and one's really cute."

Can't believe I forgot to include this one in the quotes, as it has made me snicker both of the times I saw this episode. If Sam had had more of an ordinary life he might have developed Edith Crawley Syndrome -- sure, he's very attractive by any objective standard, but his sibling is off-the-charts gorgeous and gets a disproportionate share of attention while he's just... tall. Ouch.
posted by orange swan at 4:00 AM on July 9, 2021


like virgin hair

Precisely. Like the "new material only" (This tag may not be removed under penalty of law except by the consumer) label on bedding and furniture.
posted by porpoise at 5:19 PM on July 10, 2021


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