Before we check out the upcoming episode of Supernatural, “I’m No Angel,” let’s talk about the previous episode, “Devil May Care.”

“Devil May Care” brings some major returns – all happy ones — and only with Supernatural can you say you are happy to see the return of not only a prophet, but a couple of demons as well.

After catching Sam up on all things post ‘falling angels,’ including the fact that our favorite angel, Cas, has lost his mojo, Dean informs Sam that he also decided to keep Crowley (Mark Sheppard) alive, “Oh yeah, he’s the junk in my trunk!”  (Supernatural cool quote #1) and reveals a bound and gagged King of Hell in the Impala’s rear.

Supernatural — “Devil May Care” — Image SN901a_ 0060 — Pictured: Mark Sheppard as Crowley — Credit: Liane Hentscher/The CW — © 2013 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved

Yay, Crowley’s back!

Next, after some mysterious demon bloodletting and fire and brimstone, we see a more surprising return — Abaddon (played once again by the rather scary Alaina Huffman)!  She’s a little singed around the edges and a lot of naked, but that fiery red hair, red fingernail polish and blood red lipstick are still perfectly in place and clothed or not, she is creepy as hell.

Finally, and we saved the best for last, we have the return of our resident prophet, Kevin (Osric Chau).  Kevin has been holed up in the Men of Letters secret bunker and it is having some negative side effects on his psyche, his archery skills (luckily for Dean, “Yeah,’cause you’re a crappy shot, Katniss!” Supernatural cool quote #2) and his digestive system. Kevin is mortified to see that Dean and Sam are bringing in a familiar-looking lump of hooded captive. Crowley is in the building.

Do Demons Dream of Evil Sheep?

Dean and Sam interrogate Crowley for the names and locations of demons possessing people but Crowley scoffs at their attempt.  What are they going to do that hasn’t been done already? Torture him? Crowley is intrigued, “Torture?  Brilliant.  Can’t wait to see Sam in stilettos and a leather bustier really putting the S-A-M into S-and-M.”  (Supernatural cool quote #3).  Pause a moment for imagery — OK, continue.  Sam reminds Crowley that he saw him break down and that part of him was human and may still be.  The boys opt to torture Crowley the only way they know — by leaving him alone with himself and no audience.  Effective.

Supernatural — “Devil May Care” — Image SN901a_ 0361 Pictured (L-R): Mark Sheppard as Crowley and Osric Chau as Kevin — Credit: Liane Hentscher/The CW — © 2013 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved

Later, Crowley breaks out in a cold sweat after ‘daydreaming’ of his anguished plea for love while being de-demonized (or humanized) by Sam in the church.  He does have nightmares and there may be some truth to what Sam says — there is a bit of human still in Crowley.  He hears Kevin’s footstep nearby and taunts him into a confrontation.  Perhaps a little tune-up from an angry prophet is what Crowley needs to keep his demons (feelings) at bay.  When the Winchesters return, Crowley is right as rain and giving up names (they were slacker demons anyway).  He has found a new toy in Kevin, but that’s not really the whole story, is it?  Time will tell.

But before all that, we get a glimpse of Abaddon’s dream — which is a nightmare of a different kind — for humans and a few demons, too.  She gathers some demons to share her thoughts on the state of hell and her dream of a world where humans bow to demonkind.  She is looking to build an army of badass demons in badass meatsuits.  Cue “grandma demon” to defend her choice in humanwear, “I closed 72 deals last year.  Kids love Grandma.”  Unfortunately, Grandma also defends their choice in King of Hell Crowley as leader.  Abaddon is not impressed and dispatches Nana back to hell.

She puts into action her plan to build her army starting with replacing old meatsuits with military wear.  When Sam and Dean (or rather Agents Stark and Banner) investigate (with a little help from ‘Kevin friggin Solo’ at the home office) the discarded bodies Abbadon is leaving in her wake, they realize their old foe is no longer a crispy carcass and their trouble is on just beginning.  And they are correct because next on Abbadon’s list is tracking down the Winchesters.  She kidnaps a couple of hunters (Irv, an old friend, and Tracy) and leaves a message with Kevin (who is keeping all of Dean’s various cellphones) to have the brothers meet her of she will kill the hunters.

Army of Darkness

The Winchesters head to the meeting place even though they know it is a set-up, ’cause that is what Winchesters do.  They find Irv and Tracy right away and after making sure they are human, they devise a plan.  But Tracy is rather prickly about being paired up with Sam — it turns out she blames Sam for her parents’ deaths at the hands of a demon celebrating the rise of Lucifer — so it’s Irv with Sam and Tracy with Dean.

Meanwhile, back at the bunker, Kevin is having the aforementioned confrontation with Crowley.  Crowley wants to make nice, but Kevin’s response is a punch to the face and Crowley is fine with that and just eggs him on.  Crowley is hinting that Mama Tran is still alive and that she is the real family that Kevin should be thinking about, not Sam and Dean who are only using him.  He wants to make a pact to reunite Kevin with his mother and kill Abbadon.  All Kevin has to do is let him go.

Back in the ghost town searching for Abaddon and her demon soldiers, Dean shares a bit of wisdom with Tracy about making choices that you think are right and things go wrong.  Tracy thinks he is saying it is all part of being a hunter, but Dean counters, “being human.”  He reminds her that being angry is one thing, but make sure you fight the real enemy.  “You gotta know who the real monsters are in this world, kid.”  (Supernatural cool quote #4)  Enough said.

Supernatural — “Devil May Care” — Image SN901b_0304 — Pictured: Jared Padalecki as Sam — Credit: Liane Hentscher/The CW — © 2013 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved

In another part of the abandoned town, Irv confesses to Sam that their capture is all his fault.  He fell prey to Abaddon’s womanly charms and ended up giving up the other hunters, Tracy included.  But before he can redeem himself by confronting them alone, he is shot and Sam is left to face two of the demons on his own.  The odds are not in his favor.

Dean is confronting Abaddon and not doing much better. He sends Tracy for more weapons and faces off against Abaddon alone.  She taunts him with stories of what she like to do with him as a meatsuit.

The soldiers have Sam cornered in an old diner and when the third one shows up for the fun, Sam is just too outnumbered. They send him flying across the room (again) and the impact knocks him out.  Done deal, right?  Wrong, because Sam Winchester has an angel in his pocket, or errr, somewhere in there.  Ezekiel emerges, blue eyes blazing, and even though the shadow of his angel wings is a little light on feathers, he’s still strong enough to kick the tar out of a few demons.  When Abaddon sees the unmistakable flash of an angel’s appearance, she decides to make haste — but not before tossing Dean into the window of an old dress shop.

Dean finds Sam/Ezekiel amidst the bodies of the demon soldiers.  He realizes that the Sam-Zeke (he’s gonna call him Zeke now) situation is getting stickier by the minute. Zeke says Sam will not remember anything about the end of the fight — he was knocked unconscious — but that doesn’t make Dean feel any better. Not only is he carrying the burden of the secret of Zeke residing inside of Sam, but he is the one who convinced Sam not to seal off Hell, so all of the demon’s mayhem is on his shoulders as well. He usually talks these things out with Sam, but he is at a loss right now.  Zeke counters that Sam knows that Dean did what he did out of love which leads into emotional territory that Dean Winchester just doesn’t do.  He wonders if Zeke is even a good guy. Zeke assure him he is, but acknowledges that there is no true way for Dean to know.

Supernatural — “Devil May Care” — Image SN901b_0244 — Pictured: Jensen Ackles as Dean — Credit: Liane Hentscher/The CW — © 2013 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved

When Sam returns as Sam, Dean says he saved Sam’s bacon by killing the demons. Tracy drives up with the Impala and they leave the town behind.

Back at the bunker, the boys find a beaten up Crowley and Kevin, ready to bolt. Dean talks him down, but Crowley’s manipulation has done some damage. Crowley is giving up names, but what else does he have up his sleeve.

Dean finds Sam doing some work in the library. Sam confides that he feels Tracy was right but Dean counters that the past is the past and that Sam has saved a lot more people than he hurt. Sam admits to feeling better than he has in a long time — even with the trouble coming for them, he looks around and sees family and friends and he is happy for the first time in his life. Dean downs the rest of his drink in one gulp. He looks everywhere but at his unwitting brother.  Yep, things are “never better.”