Supernatural’s “Dark Dynasty” epically sinks the show’s recent streak of strong episodes. Written by Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner and directed by Robert Singer, this dark disaster walks the line between Monster-of-the-Week and myth arc, much like Robert Berens’s “The Werther Project” (10×19) did, only with little-to-no finesse.
The episode opens with a particularly gory scene: In Omaha, Nebraska, a college student arrives for an interview to take part in a paid clinical study. The “doctor” inspects her eyes and leans forward as if to kiss her; she struggles, and he slits her throat. He scoops out her eyeballs (and we can see the victim still breathing and blinking) even as the janitor, who heard the student’s protests, knocks at the door to see if everything’s okay. By the time the janitor unlocks the door and enters, the doctor is packed up and ready to go; the killer then jumps from the third-story window. At this point, “Dark Dynasty” seems like a fairly routine MOTW.
The post title-card scene consists of Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) and his prisoner Rowena (Ruth Connell) bickering. Their dynamic is one of the few things I can appreciate about this episode, and I especially love the tone Rowena takes when calling him “Samuel.” However, this scene also reveals that “Dark Dynasty” suffers from a terrible case of Dumbing Down The Characters (hereafter referred to as DDTC).
Rowena laments that Nadia’s codex is particularly obscure because the paranoid witch coded the code she’d cracked. Sam, exhibiting the first symptoms of DDTC, looks perplexed and asks, “So now we need to break a code to break a code?.” But in “Book of the Damned” (10×18), Sam and Charlie talk specifically about that book being coded, so this isn’t a new concept. And Sam’s smart, if desperate in his worry to save Dean; he can handle a coded code.
The next scene introduces a new setting: a large yellow house where a roomful of broody looking, southern-accent bearing men are sitting around as Daddy Styne confronts wayward son Eldon (the eyeball scooper from the opening scene) for his arrogance and lack of judgment. Daddy Styne says we “don’t have witnesses. We certainly don’t leave bodies behind when we harvest.” Why are they harvesting? That’s not shared at this time. To redeem himself, Eldon has to clean up his mess and then take care of the Winchesters. A Styne cousin is tasked with finding Charlie Bradbury (Felicia Day), and Daddy Styne sends him along to Kansas, too.
Sam returns to the bunker where older brother Dean (Jensen Ackles) eyes him suspiciously. “Is there a woman you haven’t mentioned?,” Dean asks. Actually, Sam is dealing with a woman, but not in the way Dean suspects. Sam not-so-artfully dodges Dean’s questions and learns that Dean’s been researching the Stynes. Apparently, it’s like “the family just popped up one day.” Oh, really? Sort of like they just popped in Supernatural’s canon? Dean also ran across the story about the college student killed in Omaha and suggests they leave in the morning to take on the case; Sam agrees.
Later that night, Sam meets Charlie away from the bunker. (And where has she been? She’s the one the Stynes were originally after – why isn’t she safe in the bunker?) Sam says that Dean isn’t getting better and shares that he’s found a codex; he also confesses to not burning The Book of the Damned. Charlie’s horrified to find out Dean doesn’t know about any of this: “Geez, the two of you.” (And in that moment, Charlie is fandom.) Sam excuses lying to Dean because his brother’s “not himself,” “would try to stop” Sam, and “has given up.” Charlie is distinctly uncomfortable working behind Dean’s back and with such a dangerous book: “Is there any part of this that doesn’t reek?” Sam tells her they don’t have a choice; if they don’t get the Mark off of Dean, “He’s gone.”
Rowena’s not thrilled at Charlie’s addition and gripes at having to work with an “assistant.” Sam corrects her; Rowena is Charlie’s assistant. Before Rowena can fully react, Castiel (Misha Collins) arrives. (And where has Castiel been since the end of “Angel Heart”? What is the angel doing when he’s off on his own?)
Sam announces that Castiel is there to referee the two women, which Cas resists before quickly acquiescing. Here’s another moment of DDTC: Castiel flat-out told Sam that The Book of the Damned was evil and it was good it was destroyed – yet he says nothing here? He asks no questions, makes no sound of disagreement? Instead, Cas simply asks, “What are the rules?” Now, when Rowena shares that the first rule is “don’t tell [Dean],” Castiel does have a reaction. Like Charlie, Cas is horrified that Dean doesn’t know and reminds, “Sam, this never ends well. “ Charlie smacks Cas on the shoulder and says, “That’s what I said.” Echoing the idea from Bobby’s letter in “Inside Man” (10×17), Sam argues that all of their choices suck right now, but lying to Dean is the choice that sucks the least. He asks them to go along with it, and Charlie and Cas each agree: “Okay, for Dean.” Sam looks at Rowena, and Connell delivers a well-timed, “I barely know the man.”
Awkward segue to Crowley (Mark Sheppard) in hell. He’s playing darts, using a minion’s chest as the dartboard. Other minions show up with the news that Rowena is missing, and Crowley stabs one, sending the other to search for news. I can’t tell what emotions the King of Hell is feeling, except that he buries his remaining darts in his minion’s chest. The minion yells and then comments, “Nice grouping.”
In Omaha, the Winchesters view security footage and see Eldon’s “pretty slick” drop from the third floor. Dean identifies the marking on Eldon’s wrist as the same tattoo Jacob Styne had (10×18). While they’re speaking with the office manager, Sam gets a call from Castiel and steps away. When Dean joins him, Sam awkwardly and obviously lies that it was a “telemarketer.” The Winchesters depart, and Eldon almost immediately arrives and murders the office manager. (Serious question: Why does Eldon get so much time in this episode? He’s not sympathetic or overly engaging, and I don’t see why the audience needs to witness the office manager’s murder.)
Rowena and Charlie’s tension continues, with Rowena using natural means of divining and Charlie technical. In the middle of their bickering, Castiel arrives with groceries, which means – and this is important to note – that Rowena and Charlie were left alone for that time. According to Cas, “It sounds like blood sugar is dipping in here.” He also shares a story about loving pork rinds when he was human. (Let’s not think about the fact that Castiel was homeless for most, if not all, of his time as a human, and pork rinds are among the cheapest snacks, so of course they would be his splurge.)
Charlie asks Rowena about Agnes, the hermit nun who constructed The Book of the Damned, and learns she was “mad as a hatter” and “made it her business to undo curses.” Rowena does point out, “As in any struggle between good and evil, balance is required. To cure one curse, Agnes had to inflict another. They live side by side in the magic world. One cannot be without the other.” This is one bit of dialogue that I’m guessing will prove important in later episodes. Maybe?
Agnes was burned alive because the men of the church “would not abide a rogue nun,” and she was ahead of her time. “Much like you and I,” Rowena adds. Charlie disputes their similarities, but Rowena reads her fairly well, or so it seems. (Also, does Rowena get sort-of-flirtatious with Charlie?) Rowena says that Charlie’s learning that “the line between good and evil is quite flexible, but we part company at blind devotion…” Charlie defends her choices, “Sam and Dean are like my brothers. I love them.” Rowena replies, “I know. That steadfast loyalty will be your undoing, my girl.”
Presumably on the way back from Omaha, Dean and Sam eat and talk about the Stynes. Sam asks how his brother is, and Dean replies, “…dark thoughts, creepy visions, violent urges, same-old, same-old. I’m happy I got a murder to focus on, though.” Dean’s last comment says quite a bit about his state of mind, but the DDTC blunts the Mark of Cain’s edginess, and Dean never even notices that Eldon is following them (all the way from Omaha!)
In the bunker, Sam’s phone vibrates with a call from Castiel. Dean answers, which throws Castiel into a terribly awkward attempt at lying. Dean asks, “What’s up?” And Castiel not-so-suavely replies, “Nothing. I’m just staying in touch, like I do.” Dean’s facial expression is priceless, and he asks, “Something on your mind?” Cas assures, “No. This call is pointless… my ride’s here.” And Castiel hangs up. It’s so obvious that something is going on: Not only is Castiel unable to lie to Dean, but he has his own car. Why would he be waiting on a ride? Dean knows this. (Also, I cannot believe that Castiel wouldn’t recognize Dean’s voice immediately.)
Dean’s clearly suspicious, and when Sam comes in talking about food, he asks, “You talked to Cas recently?” Sam lies and says no, brushing off Dean’s inquiries. He suggests pizza and leaves. Dean knows for sure something’s up now; he just doesn’t know what – and he doesn’t ask. I diagnose this as another instance of DDTC.
Yet another abrupt segue to Crowley finds him engaging in a conversation with hamster!Olivet (10×16). Yes, friends, that’s right: Apparently the King of Hell can speak to animals, or hamsters at least, and he’s using his skills to find dirt on Rowena. Olivet finally gives Crowley a name of some unknown person, and he sends a minion off to find said person. After the minion departs, Crowley bemoans to Olivet, “I’m surrounded by mediocrity. It’s a wonder I stay so buoyant.”
Dean’s leaving the 24-hour pizza place, pie in hand, when cars pull in at opposite ends of the alley and block him in. Eldon gets out of one car, and another Styne gets out of the other. Dean fires a warning shot, but they attack anyway. Dean manages to kill the one and capture Eldon.
Meanwhile, the DDTC is spreading like the plague. Rowena files her nails while Charlie complains to Castiel about how annoying the witch is. “I am going crazy. She is evil.” Castiel explains patiently, “She is a wicked witch.” Folks, Charlie’s been to Oz. She’s a genius. She can handle a snarky witch. And yet. In this episode, Charlie can’t deal with the pressure and her mind “is a wad of gummy worms.” She begs Castiel to get her an hour or two of peace and quiet.
Eldon is now in the bunker’s dungeon; the Winchesters have only chained him with one cuff around his wrist. Dean’s threatening, but Eldon’s not impressed. Sam taunts, “Our family business is putting guys like you out of business.” Eldon smirks, “That’s impressive. Let me tell you about my family business.” According to Eldon, The Book of the Damned facilitates the family’s intelligence and will. They’ve been without it for eighty years, but with it, they’ll be unstoppable. He tells them, “You got to be in it to win it, boys. Chaos breeds fear; fear breeds panic and panic breeds desperation; and there’s always profit to be made from desperation. You make a big enough mess it has to be cleaned up and we’ve been in the fix-it business for a thousand years and business has never been better.” I’m unclear as to whether or not the Stynes take credit for the tragedies that Eldon lists or for taking advantage of chaotic aftermaths, but regardless, this narrative point is problematic for so many reasons.
In the middle of Eldon’s exposition, Castiel calls and Sam steps away. Dean side-eyes his brother but doesn’t stop him. While Sam sneaks away from the dungeon to find out what’s going on with Cas, Dean asks about the girl Eldon killed in Omaha. The man explains, “We normally never leave a body when we harvest.” The use of “harvest” gets Dean’s attention, and Eldon proudly shows his scars: “Every man in the family has had a little something [done].” (So, there are only male Stynes? Or only the males have enhancements?) I was waiting for Eldon to say they were connected to Doc Benton (3×15), but Eldon’s big reveal is that Styne isn’t the family’s real name. They had to change it after some “unwanted notoriety” because they are, in fact, “one of Europe’s oldest families – the House of Frankenstein.”
I can’t even.
The DDTC levels soar with Castiel and Sam’s conversation: Castiel explains what’s going on with Rowena and Charlie, but Sam is unsympathetic. He says (rightly) that Charlie cannot go out alone because people are after her. Though, on that note, where has she been since 10×18? Why hasn’t she been at the bunker in relative safety? Castiel says that he’ll go with her then, but Sam shoots that idea down, saying that Rowena can’t be left alone. This makes no sense because Rowena was being left alone until Sam recruited Charlie and Castiel at the beginning of this episode. In the end, Sam tells Cas, “Do the best you can.” He promises, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Dean scoffs at the Frankenstein reveal, but Eldon explains that Mary Shelley, after a night in Frankenstein Castle, discovered their secrets and wrote a book. “It doesn’t get more public than that,” Eldon says. I’m guessing the Styne’s reach and library doesn’t include the Carver Edlund series? But, luckily, “No one believed it to be true.” Dean insists that he and Sam can deal with the Stynes, but Eldon smirks a bit at their idea of family: “As mighty as I’m sure your little family is, mine is juggernaut. We’re not ordinary men; we’re Spartan.”
Dean’s not impressed because they might be Frankensteins, but they’re not immortal. He adds, “I’m swell at uncovering secrets.” (Stop torturing, Dean!) Eldon offers an exchange: The Book of the Damned for a conversation. Dean confidently informs him that they don’t have the book, but Eldon shares a pertinent bit of information: The book’s protected by a spell. “It’s eternal and cannot be destroyed.” Now, Dean realizes the true scope of this case: It’s not the typical MOTW; this ties into the Mark of Cain mythology.
Dean finds Sam and asks what’s going on. Sam brushes the question off with “Something came up…It’s handled.” He’s saved from further questioning when a loud noise echoes down the hallway, and the brothers run all the way back to the dungeon where they find a blood trail and – cue gratuitously dramatic zoom – Eldon’s cuffed arm. “Oh my god, he ripped it off,” Dean says.
(By the way, this is where the CDC declares the DDTC to be epidemic. Suggestion: Stop. Leaving. The. Villains. Alone.)
Castiel’s solution to the redheads’ bickering is to chain Rowena in a nearby testing room. The witch asserts, “The girl is simply out of her league. Without me, the work grinds to a halt.” Cas chastises her, saying that Charlie needs quiet because “she’s under a lot of pressure and it doesn’t help that she feels like she’s betraying her friend.” I’m guessing this is also how Castiel is feeling right now.
Somehow, Rowena takes the comment about Charlie struggling with betrayal and turns it around to bemoan that it’s worse being betrayed by your children. Castiel inquires disbelievingly, “You have a child?” Rowena proudly answers, “The King of Hell.” Castiel responds, “Crowley is your son? Well, that explains a lot. I’m sure that was quite a challenge.” Castiel then leaves to check on Charlie, only to find that she’s gone.
Meanwhile, Eldon’s bleeding heavily in an alley when another Styne calls him. Charlie’s been traced to Blackbird Motel. Eldon says he’s on his way.
Back at the bunker, instead of going immediately to help Castiel as promised, Sam’s at a research table, looking through materials when Dean returns from tracking Eldon. The trail just vanished. Sam shares that he’s researching the “one thousand years of nasty” that are the Frankensteins. And, here, finally, the truth comes out. Dean works around to it, beginning with sharing how he’d thought “it would really blow if these guys had the book… at least the damned book burned. Right, Sam?” He tells Sam about Eldon’s revelation, adding, “Isn’t that crazy? Because I know I saw something burn.”
The brothers are tense, and even though Sam knows the deception’s over, he still won’t admit to it. (At this point, I may have been yelling at my television, “How old are you people? Five?) Sam’s phone rings again. It’s Castiel, and “Charlie is gone.” Cas can’t find her anywhere.
To reiterate: Charlie Bradbury is a freaking genius. Yet she leaves relative safety for a crappy motel? This makes no sense. Away from Rowena, though, Charlie finally sees success and makes a symbol match. Of course, the Stynes show up just as she makes progress. Eldon in particular is out for Charlie, and he beats on the door with what’s left of his still-bleeding arm in a scene that is beyond ridiculous.
Dean is yelling at Sam when Charlie calls in a panic. Sam tells her to give them whatever they want. Dean takes the phone and repeats the order, “Give whoever that is whatever they want. You understand?” Charlie’s uploading her files, and she responds sadly, “I can’t do that, Dean.” As soon as the file uploads, Charlie shatters her device against the sink. I’m assuming she broke her phone too, or the connection dropped? Otherwise, wouldn’t Dean have stayed on the phone with her?
Dean speeds to Blackbird Motel and angrily yells at Sam for lying: “I made it real clear how I felt. You ever consider that? And then you pulled Cas into it. And Charlie.” Sam responds, “Charlie loves you, Dean. We all love you.” Dean stares ahead and says nothing. You know what? I usually love when the Winchesters have true emotional moments. Here? I really don’t care; the absolute disaster of a plot kills any joy I would usually find in this should’ve-been-a-touching-moment.
At the motel, Eldon’s threatening Charlie, “You’re going to give me what’s mine – mine and my family’s.” Charlie looks terrified and weakly holds up a knife but… BUT… in 10×18, Charlie dealt some kick-ass moves in her fights with the Stynes. And let’s not forget Dark!Charlie in “There’s No Place Like Home’ (10×11). Unfortunately for Charlie, and heartbreakingly for many fans, this is a fatal presentation of DDTC.
When the Winchesters arrive at the Blackbird Motel, Charlie’s door is kicked in, her 
belongings scattered, and there are bloody footprints leaving the scene. Sam races ahead and checks the bathroom. He nearly vomits, and Dean walks in the doorway and also looks sick. “Charlie?,” he asks. And then we see Charlie – in the tub, her neck bent at an awkward angle, covered in blood. It’s a graphic, disturbing image. And the episode cuts to black.
Even in episodes I strongly dislike, I can usually find *something* redeeming. I am completely comfortable saying that I hate this episode of Supernatural. “Dark Dynasty” treats every one of our beloved characters badly and mercilessly inflicts out-of-character portrayals, poor pacing, weak dialogue, and a disjointed narrative upon them (and us).
It also is staggering that Supernatural would choose to kill Charlie Bradbury – Queen of Mondoor and representative of fandom – so brutally. Sure, I suspect that Charlie’s last-minute upload may save the day, and yes, she made the choice to keep that information from the Stynes. In these ways, she’s like other characters who’ve sacrificed themselves for the Winchesters. But Charlie, for many fans, represents so much more than an occasional drop-in character. For many of us, she is us. And to have the narrative discard her so harshly and brutally – and all just to jumpstart Dean “going dark”? In case The Powers That Be haven’t realized it yet, for many, this feels personal.
It may be a surprise to some, but there are other ways to progress a storyline than killing favorite characters badly. Maybe I should be grateful that Ross-Leming and Buckner didn’t gauchely interject references to a ticking time-clock as they did in “Holy Terror” as the episode counted down to Kevin’s senseless death (9×10), but I’m not.
Recent episodes had me really excited for the direction of the season ten finale, but “Dark Dynasty” laid waste to that in one fell swoop. Now, I find myself feeling intense disappointment in a show that I have watched for ten years, one that has so much potential yet continues to squander some of its best assets.
Some hold out hope for Charlie’s resurrection, but the new promo shows Sam and Dean preparing her funeral pyre. And if Charlie’s really dead, then that means that a character beloved by many has (yet again) been sacrificed at the altar of progressing the Winchesters’ narratives. However, will that progress be “real”? Will it be measurable? Or will we be subjected to yet another Supernatural boomerang arc as the characters snap back into their original positions and resume the usual cycle of lies & guilt & anger, etc.
It’s also oddly ironic that Supernatural introduces the Frankenstein family in a episode made up of re-purposed narrative parts re-animated for season ten’s storyline. Is this meta-Frankensteinian parallel intended? I rather doubt it, but there it is.
I am so grateful to Robbie Thompson and Felicia Day for creating Charlie, and I extend my condolences for a character they both love. I do sincerely hope that Charlie does return, albeit in a way that makes sense, whether that’s by heavenly or Ozian intervention or something else. That said, even if Charlie is restored, the gross brutality that this episode employed can never be taken away.
Next week’s “The Prisoner” apparently features Winchester tears and regret along with Mark of Cain infused grief-rage. Supernatural airs on Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on the CW network.