Supernatural: “A very Supernatural Christmas”
Billed as one of the “most violent Christmas specials in the history of television”, the episode opens with a typically Christmassy scene, as a jolly grandfather visits his grandson and later, as Santa Claus, is suddenly pulled up the chimney by unseen hands, to the accompaniment of roars and screams, and all that comes back down is a bloodstained boot. This all happens within the originally fascinated and then horrified sight of his grandson. A year later another similar incident occurs, and Sam and Dean investigate, posing as agents from the FBI. After they find a sprig of mistletoe and a bloodied tooth up the chimney, Sam poses the possibility that they could be dealing with a rogue Santa, an evil brother to Jolly Old Saint Nick, who lore tells punishes the wicked. It's not much, but it's all they have to go on at the moment.
Turns out there have been two victims, and they both visited the same place before they died: Santa's Village. But the Santa they stake out seems to be nothing more than a harmless old man, while some distance away an evil figure climbs the stairs in another house and comes down dragging a bundle, a bundle which issues muffled protests as it is hauled down the stairs, again while a child watches. When the brothers investigate this, the second murder, they notice a wreath in the house identical to one they saw in that of the other victim. Bobby tells them that the wreaths smelled of Meadowsweet, which is a herb that was used in human sacrifices to attract the pagan gods. He describes it as “chum for the gods”. It seems that anyone who buys one of these wreaths may as well be asking to be killed. The obvious thing to do is to try to find out who's selling them.
The boys work out that the pagan god being summoned is most likely Hold Nickar, the god of the winter solstice, who rewards his supplicants with mild weather. In December in the middle of Michigan, where they are, there is no snow, which is certainly out of the ordinary. But when they locate a shop that was selling them --- they're all out now --- the shopkeeper tells them that he got them free from some lady who lives locally. As they discuss “doing Christmas” --- Sam is against it --- Dean points out that it is his last year; after this he will be in Hell, thanks to the pact he made with the demon in season two. But Sam says he can't do it for just that reason: Dean wants a last Christmas, but Sam can't just pretend everything is okay and celebrate the holiday season when he knows his brother will be dead the following year.
We see in flashback young Dean tell Sam about what their father
really does, telling him that he is a demon hunter and their mother was taken by demons. Sam is shocked, but probably also angry that he wasn't let in on the secret, even if it is a horrible, scary one. When the boys in the present go to visit the woman purported to make the wreaths, a Madge Kerrigan, and her husband Edward, they are told that she has no more wreaths to sell, as she only made the number that she gave to the shop.
As the boys research the couple, they find that they originally came from Seattle, at the same time as two other mysterious murders took place at Christmas, and they only moved here, to Michigan, in January of this year. When they return to the Kerrigan's house a little exploration reveals a basement filled with blood, human debris, cutting tools and ... one bag that seems to still contain a living being! But as they reach for it the Kerrigans get the drop on them. They come to and find themselves in a sickeningly homely Christmas set. The two Kerrigans reveal themselves not to be the acolytes of pagan gods, but the actual gods themselves, and go on to bleed the two boys, taking their tribute as ancient deities. However a call at the door distracts them and when they return the brothers have got loose.
They break branches off the Kerrigans' Christmas tree to use as stakes, and impale both the monsters. After all they've been through, and remembering how Dean always tried to make Christmas special for him when they were young, Sam decorates the hotel room and they exchange presents. After all, it is going to be their last ever...
QUOTES
Sam: “It's gonna sound crazy...”
Dean: What could you possibly say to me that would sound crazy?”
Sam: “Evil Santa?”
Dean: “You're right: it's crazy.”
Dean: “Did you talk to Bobby? What did he say?”
Sam: “That we're morons.”
Dean: “She didn't charge you?” (for the wreaths)
Shopkeeper: “No.”
Dean: “Bet you didn't sell them for free?”
Shopkeeper: “Hell no! It's Christmas! People pay a buttload for this crap!”
Dean: “That's the spirit.”
Kerrigan: “Suddenly this Jesus character comes along, and he's the next big thing!”