Okay, was this origin story awesome or what? In terms of plot twists, continuity with previous episodes (ie. tying up loose ends) and guest stars who fit in well with the regular cast … I was pretty impressed with it. This season is shaping up to be a strong one if the past few episodes are any indication.

It could've used a little more Sam but apparently Jared Padalecki had reshoots to do for his upcoming film, Friday the 13^th, so it's understandable that this was a Sam-lite episode.

We do see Sam briefly at the beginning at the episode, however, before he sneaks off with Ruby on some mission that doesn't seem the slightest bit sketchy. Meanwhile Dean's asleep and dreaming of Hell. He's woken up by Castiel, who is as aloof and ineffable as ever. He tells Dean that he has to "stop it" but before Dean can finish asking, exactly what "it" is, he finds himself being woken up by a policeman on some random bench.

Not getting cell reception is the least puzzling part for Dean and he wanders into 'Jaybird's Diner' where a friendly stranger tells him that he's in Lawrence, Kansas. And after a Sonny and Cher-broke-up joke is met with blank stares and un-ironic concern, Dean finally clues in that while he might be in Kansas, he's definitely not in present day Kansas. A quick look at a newspaper shows that it's April 30^th, 1973. And the friendly stranger who bought him a coffee is his father, John Winchester. Trying to wrap his head around that this mild-mannered guy is his dad, Dean discreetly follows him, trying to figure out why he's been sent back thirty years into the past (Castiel appears again, but doesn't offer any answers). Along the way, rather awesomely, Dean convinces John to buy the Impala over a truly hideous VW wagon. 

Sammy, wherever you are, Mom is a babe." [beat] "I'm going to Hell. Again." Hah, oh Dean, never change. Jensen Ackles delivery of that line is perfect, as Dean observes his (future) mom and dad on a date. And then this is where the plot twist comes in. Of the two, it's not John who realizes that they're being tailed, but Mary, who comes outside and promptly starts to kick Dean's ass when she doesn't get answers from him. Yep, Mary is a bad-ass and from a hunting family. How cool is that? It seems like hunting really is the family business. 

Dean is invited inside by Mary after he reveals that he's a hunter too, and he meets her father, the curmudgeonly Samuel (played by X-Files alumni Mitch Pileggi) and her mother, Deanna. Guess we know where the names Sam and Dean came from now! It's also interesting to note the similarities between the boys and their namesakes.

It turns out that Samuel and Dean might be hunting the same thing but Samuel doesn't trust other hunters so he turns down Dean's offer of help. Mary's helping out on the case too, and despite first tackling the case separately, in the end they meet up and Dean and Mary find out that a yellow eyed demon is making deals around town. Oh, this can't be good ... Azazel has proved to be nothing but trouble for the Winchester family.

A heartbreaking conversation follows between Mary and Dean. It starts out innocent enough, with Dean just asking what John is like, and Mary telling him that John is everything a hunter isn't, and that's part of the reason why she loves him and is going to say yes when he asks her to marry him. She wants out of the hunting life, and she tells Dean that the worst thing she could think of is for her children to be raised in the same lifestyle as she was. Ouch, oh, this scene hurts to watch. Dean's obviously affected by her words too, and he asks her to make a promise -- that in ten years time, on November 2, 1983, she won't get out of bed, no matter what she hears or sees.

Following this, there's a fantastic short scene between Dean and Castiel (who is popping in and out of this episode kind of randomly) where Castiel reminds Dean that if he does manage to kill the yellow-eyed demon and Mary lives, John will never become a hunter and neither will Sam and Dean and all the people that they save will die. Dean has to weigh this against saving his parents and keeping his family together.

Dean 'borrows' the Colt from a younger Daniel Elkins (last seen in Season One, "Dead Man's Blood") and races back to Lawrence, hoping to stop Azazel during his next visit. When he gets there, Samuel and Mary are trying to stop the demon as well, and even though they do manage to prevail in this encounter, Azazel has now taken a shine to Mary ...

Dean decides it's time to tell the truth and he lets Samuel in on the fact that he's actually a grandson from the future and that they have to stop Azazel before he kills Mary. Too bad Samuel has been possessed -- and from here on it out, it's just tragic to watch. Mitch Pileggi does a great job imitating the role of Azazel, adopting the same mannerisms that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Fredric Lehne brought to the role.

Poor Dean: even though he gets the satisfaction of telling Azazel he'll be the one to kill him, he has to see his grandfather stab himself, his grandmother's neck get snapped and he's too late to stop Azazel from getting to Mary.

Azazel, still in the body of Samuel, tracks down Mary and John, and he kills John. (!!) Again, this part is so hard to watch, as Mary doesn't have any choice but to accept the deal Azazel offers if she wants John brought back to life again ... and also have a chance to leave the hunting life altogether. It's not only hunting that runs in the family it seems, but also self-sacrifice.

Mary's made the deal and Dean's future as he knows it has been set in motion. There's nothing more he can do. Castiel brings Dean back to the present where he tells Dean that now he knows everything the angels do. But they still need to find out what Azazel's end game is/was ... and it involves Sam in some way. Castiel tells Dean that his brother is headed down a dark path and he needs to stop him. "Stop him, or we will."

To be continued ...

Eeek. Sounds ominous! Can't wait to see what next week brings, although right now I'm also just absorbing all this new canon we've been handed. So much more of the Supernatural 'verse has been explained and filled in after this episode and it all fits together so well.

Well done, show. Well done.

Episode 4x03, "In the Beginning"
Writer: Jeremy Carver
Director: Steve Boyum
Guest stars: Mitch Pileggi, Amy Gumenick, Misha Collins, Matthew Cohen, Allison Hossack