If I could sum this episode up in one word it would be: foreshadowing.  There is so much foreshadowing in this episode that I had to keep reminding myself this episode was meant as a “Monster of the Week” episode and not a myth arc episode.  The scariest for me was foreshadowing perhaps of how the series could end.

The guest stars this week were outstanding - everyone from Barry Bostwick to Luke Camilleri.  It felt like this episode really belonged to the guest stars. 

This episode reminded me a little of the old Twilight Zone episode “Kick the Can”, where old men chase their youth.  The difference in the Twilight Zone episode is that they catch it, and the men in “Criss Angel” weren’t as fortunate.  The obsession with youth and staying young leads to one of the men turning to dark magic to stay young by means of a deck of tarot cards and sacrificing a life in place of their own.  Cue the Winchesters, and Charlie didn’t stand a chance.  One of the many great things about the writing of Supernatural is the balance of pushing the myth arc forward, but also showing consequences of actions.  We see the consequence of Jay’s choice to save the Winchesters, and it’s not pretty.  We get the clear idea if he had to do it again, he would pick his friend Charlie over the right thing.  In retrospect, Jay would rather sacrifice innocent lives and not be alone than the right thing and be alone.  Geez, I wonder where I have seen this analogy before?

Thus we get to the foreshadowing that was heavy through the entire episode.  With all that’s going on this season, I am not clear what we are meant to understand might be coming.  It seems too repetitive that it is simply Sam going ‘dark side’ and Dean having to kill him.  I have to believe that Kripke and the writers have something else up their sleeves.  Does Dean have something to fear from Sam?  Does Sam having something to fear from Dean?  Will they be pitted against each other? 

I also wonder what role Ruby will play in the coming episodes.  I am beginning to get used to the character, but still think Cortese is not the right actress for the role.  She has a lot of influence over Sam now. Will she use that for good or evil?   No doubt we will have to see the extent of Sam’s abilities in the coming episodes, as well as Dean coming to terms with his time in Hell.  I especially look forward to seeing the reintroduction of Castiel, and the help he can offer Dean, perhaps even emotionally so Dean can begin to heal and forgive himself.

This episode was thoroughly enjoyable for me, and made me more excited for the second half of the season.  I for one did not tire of the term ‘douche bag.’  This episode was the culmination of great writing, directing, and guest stars having great chemistry with the two main characters. The closing scene of this episode was one of the best of the series.

9 out of 10 pentagrams.

It’s interesting to see the evolution of how the Winchesters handle “humans” with their jobs now.  In the past they went to a lot of trouble to keep the truth from civilians.  They didn’t have too much trouble making the decision to tell the Carter’s the truth.  It’s also interesting to see Dean come a little more unhinged with the way he treated the Uncle.  Dean has never been one for patience or tact, his goal was to save people, not coddle.  However, his rough housing with the Uncle demonstrated the state of mind he’s in at the moment.

I also enjoy throwing in an episode where the adversary is of the non-supernatural variety.  I thought that the daughter who was kept a secret for all these years presented an interesting baddie for us to learn more of throughout the episode.  The writers really do love to torture the boys.  It never gets any easier for them when a human loses their life when the Winchesters are involved, however they do seem to be getting better at compartmentalizing.  I am fearful of how the loss of three humans on this job will affect their already fragile states.

My only complaint is, if we are going to have an old fashioned horror movie of the week stand alone, let it be that.  Dean’s soliloquy at the end of the episode was a bit much for me.  We have been over it, we know his pain, we can imagine his guilt, and God help me Jensen Ackles can rip your heart out with those scenes, I just didn’t think it worked with this episode.

Let’s not forget why the boys needed this job.  The Carter’s were struggling, fighting to keep the family together.  The horror that they faced brought them closer, and helped them realize what they have in each other.  No matter heaven or hell, angels or demons, death and resurrection, Family Remains.

8.5 out of 10 Pentagrams. 

Wow.  That’s really all I can say, is wow.  Mary Winchester, Hunter.  Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?  John may have trained the boys, but it’s clear they are the best because it was in their blood.  The fact that Mary was a hunter puts the fans minds at ease that Mary wasn’t in league with the Yellow Eyed Demon.  However, we can see where the heartbreaking sacrifice that the Winchesters make for each other started with Mary Campbell (anyone else think that might be an Homage to Bruce Campbell?).

Castiel provides Dean with some answers to the past that he feels will help Dean uncover and prevent the YED’s “Endgame” (Episode title for 4.22?).  We go in to the past thinking there is something in John & Mary’s past that Dean is to prevent from happening, but in true Supernatural style, the writers do a 180 and we discover that Dean is to prevent the YED’s endgame in the present, and it has something to do with Sam.

I must point out here…how much torture can Dean take this season?  The man went to hell, finds out he is part of some bigger plan of God’s, faces angry spirits from his past, now he has to see his parents and can’t tell them who he is.  He can’t hold them, tell them words unspoken, warn them of their fate.  That’s the operative word isn’t it?  Fate.  I very much enjoyed the handling of that in this episode.  No one can change the past, and it’s a painful revelation for Dean.  Again, for a moment before Castiel told Dean he couldn’t have done anything to change the past, did Dean once again feel like a failure? 

If we take a step back and compare the characters in this season, from the Sam and Dean we saw in season 2, we see just how far they have come.  Dean for the most part is back to his Snarky, confident and brazen self.  The subtleties are brilliant though.  We see before us a boy who has become a man through loss, pain and self-sacrifice  He is not shoot first, ask questions later any more.  Although, it’s because he’s confident and more well rounded, not out of fear or self-pity.  The writers and creators should be so proud.  Sam’s comfort with his abilities is both frightening, and also a sign of maturity in these last few years.  I will look forward to talking more about that in a Sam-centric episode.

I had two issues with this episode - One is the relationship between John and Mary.  We are led to believe that they are so in love that Mary was willing to make a deal with a demon to bring John back from the dead.  Being a hunter, she knew better than 99% of the general population what that meant.  I didn’t feel they knew each well yet, from the interaction between them I got the feeling it was somewhat new.  Another thing that sticks in my mind, did John know what Mary did?  If he did, did John feel obligated to stay with Mary and vice versa?  I wanted to believe they were an everyday couple, so in love and tragedy shattered their innocence and drove John to become a cold hearted hunter.  Now I question their motivation on being married in the first place. 

The second issue is the apparent connection between the YED’s endgame and Sam.  I hope it’s going a different direction because it feels too much like season 2 – been there done that.  How many times will Dean think he needs to stop or kill Sammy?  I am going to trust Kripke and the writers on this one and trust there is a new and different direction this time.  Superior episode, season four is the best so far.

9.5 out of 10 pentagrams

Dear Eric Kripke, you may want to consider the fact that if there are more episodes anywhere near as spectacular as “Lazarus Rising” was, you are going to have a LOT of trouble ending at season five.  The fans of the show will be insatiable.

The episode opens up with Dean coming to six feet under in a pine box, and clawing his way back to the surface.  What wonderful and creative cinematography here with minimal dialogue, yet you hardly noticed there was little dialogue did you?  What a testament to Jensen Ackles’ ability to draw us in with his facial expressions and physical presence.  I loved the grainy feel of the world when Dean comes to the surface and makes his way to the “fill up station”.  We see the world through eyes that have been open to the world for the first time in four months.

The interaction between Dean and Bobby was not only extremely appropriate, but demonstrates how much Singer means to the boys who have lost their father, but how much the boys mean to Singer who has no family but them.  I can’t think of a more appropriate reaction for the seasoned hunter than to assume the person or “thing” before him couldn’t be Dean.  The splash of holy water in the face?  Priceless. 

It seemed like forever (even though it was about 14 minutes) until Dean and Sam are finally reunited.  I can still hear the cheering from the fandom when after 3 seasons we finally get a real, reciprocated Winchester hug.   We can really feel Dean’s joy at being back – from a copy of busty Asian beauties to his “baby” and third cast member, the Impala (Jason Manns fans must have been pleased with the song that was playing on the IPod when Dean starts up the Impala).  What’s troubling is the clear and present danger of the boys divide at being apart for more than four months.  This is more from Sam who has had to live and survive for four months without Dean.  Sam is clearly different, and the awkwardness is extremely well played by Jared Padalecki who has blossomed so much in the role over the last 3 seasons.

There are some certainties -  without Dean’s influence Sam is lost, Although Sam is trying to use his powers for good, they do come from an evil place, how long can he continue without succumbing to the reason why he was originally given these gifts in the first place?  “Lazarus Rising” is one of the most superior episodes of “Supernatural” that I have seen, and will surely be legendary to the series for its integral role in changing the direction of show.  This will not only allow the show to gain new viewers that can enjoy the new myth arc, but also to not become mundane and circle the same themes over and over again. 

My rating:  10 out of 10 pentagrams.