Supernatural S11E16 - Safe House

In the sixteenth episode of season 11 of Supernatural Sam and Dean work on a case that Bobby and Rufus worked a few years back.
Going in I knew Bobby and Rufus were going to be back, but I figured the episode would explore what happened to Bobby after the last time we saw him. It looked like he got in trouble in Heaven, but this episode ignores that completely and instead gives us a look to what Bobby was doing in season 4 when not helping Sam and Dean. Side note, does this mean we get a Bobby-episode in the future that shows what happened after 'Inside Man'?

So... This was written by Robbie Thompson so obviously I have no complaints about the writing, and the editing of the parallel story-lines is just fantastic. But. This episode is a very straight-forward monster of the week story and the only reason it is interesting is the inclusion of Bobby and Rufus and the exploration of the hunter life through the parallel story-telling. Yes, this episode is very funny and also creepy as fuck. Watching Bobby and Rufus interact is fun and reminds us what great characters they were. Also the Soul Eater as a concept is scary, the fact that it does not even appear until the end of the episode makes it even creepier, and all the souls just wondering in the nest were freaky. Not something I'd wish to watch late at night.

All that said, and I've said this many times before, I always prefer episodes that further the mythology/overall arc of the season. And this episode does not do that at all. I'm not saying episodes like this are bad, far from it. Supernatural has shown time and time again it can deliver fantastic monster of the week episodes. But those episodes need to bring something new to the table and I feel 'Safe House' did not do that. That seems to be Supernatural's problem lately. They are recycling story-lines that they have already explored. Since the show got a season 12, let's hope they change pace and start bringing something new to the show.

But this episode does pack an emotional punch as well. That moment when Dean locks eyes with Bobby in the nest was heartbreaking. The boys miss him so much and you can see it all in Dean's face when he sees Bobby. Also when Dean returns from the nest and Sam just hugs him and says "I got you" was great. I love seeing moments where the brothers are allowed to offer physical and emotional support to each other like that.

I gotta ask though, how is Dean seeing a vision of dead Sam comforting?? Because it's a sign that Dean cares about him? Or something? I don't get it.

But that's all I have to say about this one. It was good, solid episode, but Supernatural needs to start bringing something new to the game.