By John Keegan

Fans of "Supernatural" got a boost before this episode with the announcement of an impending eighth season. Not that this turn of events is particularly shocking at this point, but who ever thought that the show fans had to fight to keep on the air in the early days would make it eight seasons?

With the previous episode kicking off the final portion of the Leviathan arc (assuming that they are, in fact, dispatched this season), it's only fitting that all of the major players return to the game. The retrieval of the item that Dick Roman needed to complete his plans is in the hands of the Winchesters, and it turns out to be the answer to the question of how to kill their enemy. And, like so many season ending arcs of previous seasons, one fetch quest turns into another. Beating the Leviathans amounts to finding and using a Very Special Weapon.

Recalling that there is, in fact, a God in the "Supernatural" universe, and that he tends to like getting others to act out his plans rather than intervening directly, the clay tablet is one of the actual Words of God, as inscribed by Metatron himself. (The source of a truly hilarious moment between Sam and Dean, I must add.) No doubt, Dick wanted the tablet to ensure to keep it safely out of anyone else's hands, as it has the ingredients for how to take down his new empire right there in the cuneiform text. There also has to be more that the Winchesters haven't figured out, because the Leviathans are still intent on getting the tablet and the Prophet attached to it.

As Prophets go, Kevin provides a good bit of comedy, but the main point is that he's not super-powerful or prepared for the task. It makes him vulnerable, and therefore someone that the good guys would want to protect. Hence the return of the angels, who have been keeping a low profile. It also means the revival of Castiel, who has been rendered a bit damaged, thanks to taking on Sam's fight with Head Lucifer.

Much like Bobby, Castiel returns, but he is not himself. Misha Collins does a pitch-perfect job of delivering lines that are meant to be funny in a tragic way. Castiel's fractured psyche is hard to watch. On the other hand, it does set him up to play a part in the big finish, similar to Bobby's role. And just like Bobby, a big question will be whether or not the Brothers Winchester will be able to restore or save their old friends, once the cost of the battle is fully revealed. This is very similar to the end of the fifth season, which this season has been very reminiscent of in good and bad ways. I'm not so sure that the end result will be as favorable for them.

Meg's presence was, as always, greatly appreciated, and served to remind the audience that Crowley has been waiting in the wings to see how everything would play out, but it won't last forever. He was a major played in previous seasons, and should the Leviathans be defeated, one would expect him to make a move at the worst possible moment. In fact, if the writers could find a way to make Crowley the Big Bad for the eighth season, it would be a great way to bring his presence as an adversary on the show to a crescendo.

John Keegan is Editor-in-Chief for Critical Myth, a partner site of SciFi Vision.