‘Supernatural’ Season 15, Episode 11 ‘The Gamblers’ Review: Lucky Shot

The last episode of Supernatural was a blast! Normal Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) was just epic. But, as Dean would say, they’ve got work to do. And as sad as it is to say goodbye to lactose-intolerant Dean and clumsy as hell Sam, they’ve got saving to do. This week, the Winchesters are gambling for luck. I mean, don’t we all. But, of course, with the Winchesters, it’s an all for nothing game. Interestingly enough though, it’s not the Winchesters doing the slashing and stabbing this week on Supernatural. Remember that little scene from the Empty on “The Trap” episode? Well, before it goes on another short hiatus, the show is actually leaving us with another treat! So, without further ado, here’s what went down in this week’s episode of Supernatural.

Pool of Luck

After the monster fight club, it’s to Alaska for the Winchesters. And well, their lucklessness is really kicking them in the ass. They’re going broke and Dean’s precious baby keeps breaking down. But, that doesn’t mean it’s all bad. Stopping for whatever food their last four dollars and 60 cents could get them, Sam and Dean finally find get some information about the magic place the Garth told them about from a friendly waitress. And apparently, it’s a pool hall where you can turn your luck. But, usually, no one ever comes back from the place alive. In Supernatural, that already codes for witch lairs, djin lairs, and the like but well, they’re desperate.

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Once they get there, they’re directed to the manager of the place, Pax (Stephen Huszar). And he shows them how the game is played. First, he lays down a coin. As soon as Dean touches it, it glows and shows Pax the amount of luck Dean has at the moment. And well, the odds aren’t that great. However, as Pax explains, Dean can turn that luck around by playing pool against somebody. If he wins, he gains luck and vice versa. However, once the coin goes blank, it’s game over.

After a brief discussion, the pair agree that Dean’s going to play because apparently, it’s one of the only things he can do better than Sam. His first contender is a woman, Moira (Lynda Boyd). And according to Evie (Hanneke Talbot), the bartender, she’s playing in hopes of waking up her sister from a coma. As it turns out, everybody who is in that place is playing for something whether it be money, health, or anything else. However, Evie warns Sam not to push their luck and get out when they can before the tables turn on them.

All or Nothing

After warning Dean, Sam and his brother both agree to play one last game before calling it quits. So, Dean picks out his Jackie Gleason. He settles for the old man in a cowboy hat called Joey Six (Lalo Espejo), one of the best players in the house. And you know what he says when the guy asks for his name? “My name’s Dean Winchester and I’m gonna kick your ass.” Only Dean Winchester can say that without actually being wrong.

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Unfortunately, after that little show, Dean misses. Joey misses next as well. But, he manages to put the ball in a tight spot. Seeing that Dean’s going to attempt a risky move, Joey proposes an all or nothing for that shot. And since Dean’s not one to back down, he goes for it and actually kicks Joey’s ass. The luck transfers to Dean’s coin and Joey’s coin goes blank.

Joey leaves without a word. And as Sam and Dean follow him, they discover that the guy’s actually dying. He managed to win himself an extra year. But, now that his luck’s run out, his cancer finally kicks him down. Back inside, Dean proposes they call it quits. But, of course, Sam can’t leave with other people still stuck in the same place as Joey was. So, Sam decides to ask around more while Dean tries out his newly increased luck with baby.

Distraction is Key in Supernatural

After a drive, Dean finds that the coin is a bust. And after a bit of digging, Sam realizes that there might be a third party skimming off all the luck exchange. After all, they just cleaned out Joey, a man who has beaten at least 30 or more people. But, their luck has barely improved. Connecting everything to the image in the coins, Sam thinks they’re dealing with the goddess of fortune, Fortuna.

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To prove that theory, Sam and Dean corner Evie. And they find out that Pax is actually Fortuna’s son. They then use him to draw out Fortuna who was actually disguising herself as Moira. Unfortunately, the goddess could care less about Pax. As she said, she could always make more sons. However, Sam has caught her interest. And she’d be willing to play a game with him. Sam tries to bargain for the freedom of everyone stuck there. But, Fortuna is only interested in handing out luck or taking their lives.

While playing, Fortuna gets to telling a tale about the almighty. According to her, Chuck created them, the different deities, to take the blame for everything wrong that goes with the human race. But since the different major religions have started sprouting up, Chuck left them all to rot and feed on scraps in the wilderness. While she was babbling along, Sam was busy winning the game. As it turns out, even though Sam’s not as good as his brother, distraction is key.

Gambling Against Fortune

Refusing to lose that easily, Fortuna makes another very tempting offer: one more game for the luck of heroes ala Hercules. She figures that since they’d be fighting God like something out of a hero’s tale, they’d need hero’s luck as well. Sam agrees. But, instead of luck, he bargains for the freedom of Fortuna’s prisoners again as well as her closing up shop. This time, she agrees. But, of course, no one gets that lucky in Supernatural.

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Fortuna dominates the game not even giving Sam a chance to redeem himself. They’ve challenged the goddess of luck in her own joint. And these deities could only be so gracious once in a while. Interestingly enough though, Sam and Dean leave the place without shedding a drop of blood. Outside, while planning how to save everybody trapped inside though, the prisoners start trickling out the doors one by one.

As it turns out, Fortuna had a little bit more grace to give. Apparently, Sam and Dean’s hero act worked on her like a charm. So, she closes up, set her prisoners free, and grants Sam and Dean the luck she swiped from them. In addition to that, she also leaves them with one great piece of advice. “Don’t play his game. Make him play yours.” Unfortunately, Fortuna’s gift of hero’s luck doesn’t go as far as winning the lottery. Sorry, Dean.

The Son is Back

On the other hand, while Sam and Dean were off hunting for luck, Cas (Misha Collins) happens upon a heartwarming surprise. His dear Jack (Alexander Calvert) is back! Oh, how long I’ve waited for this all season. Supernatural really kept us waiting. Unfortunately, Jack’s not exactly back at home. He’s actually in Oklahoma, murdering people.

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See, after Cas comes home to discover the bunker to be empty, he receives a call from Sheriff Evans of Oklahoma in regards to a certain Jack Kline. Just the mention of the name knocks the air out of Cas. But,  he keeps it cool enough until Sheriff Evans sends him quite a disturbing video. In the clip, Jack enters a clinic. And when the doctor opens the door to greet him, Jack strangles the man and reappears in the frame again with the man’s heart in his hand. The most disturbing part is when he starts munching on it like it’s pudding.

Later on, when Cas inspects the clinic, he finds a Grigori sword. And he realizes that the man Jack killed was one of the remaining rogue elite angels who were said to feed on human souls. Meanwhile, Jack was off hunting another Grigori. But, this time, the Grigori gets the better of him and whisks him off to an abandoned church.

Jack vs God

The Grigori bounds Jack and demands to know why he’s killing off the Grigori kind. But, Jack wouldn’t give him an answer. Even when the Grigori starts cutting into his skin, Jack refuses to bite. The strange thing is he also refuses to use his powers to simply blast the Grigori away or even heal himself. Thankfully, just as the Grigori runs out of patience and grabs at his sword to deal the final blow to Jack, Cas sneaks up behind him and finishes him off.

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The look on Cas’s face as he looks at Jack can’t be explained in words. It’s disbelief, love, pain, and relief all molded in one. After untying the boy, Cas hauls him up and holds him tight in his arms like a father would do his son. Later on, when Sam and Dean return to the bunker, they’re met with the same surprise as Cas brings out Jack. And just like Cas, it takes them a moment to believe it’s really him before they swoop in and pull the boy into their arms. Somehow, their family is complete again.

Later on, Jack explains that he didn’t immediately come home because he was afraid his grandfather would discover him. Then, God would come and smite him again, of course. Because for some reason, God is afraid of Jack. That’s why Billie kept him hidden in the Empty until God went off the radar.

In addition to hiding him, Billie has also been cooking up her own plan for Jack. Eating the Grigori hearts was just the first step. Her plan is to strengthen Jack. And when the time comes that he’s strong enough, he’ll be able to kill God. The question is, what will it take?

Supernatural continues on Monday, March 16th, with “Galaxy Brain” at 8/7c on the CW.