1.22 Devil's Trap

Promotional image from Devil's Trap
Title	Devil's Trap
Episode #	Season 1, Episode 22
First aired	May 4, 2006
Directed by	Kim Manners
Written by	Eric Kripke
On IMDB	Devil's Trap
Outline	Sam and Dean rescue John, only to discover he's possessed.
Monster	Azazel
Timeline	between June 21 & mid-July, 2006
Location(s)	Salvation, Iowa Lincoln, Nebraska Jefferson City, Missouri Unknown rural locations in South Dakota & Missouri
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Synopsis

Dean is desperate to contact his father, but as he makes another call, Meg answers John's phone. Meg taunts Dean that John is beyond help. Sam responds by saying that they should find the Demon and kill it with the Colt, but Dean counters that they need a plan because John isn't dead.

The boys arrive at the home of another hunter, Bobby, and their shared history is quickly sketched out - Dean seems to know him quite well, and Bobby once ran John off with a shotgun. Sam goes through some of Bobby's books on demon lore, including the Key of Solomon, while Bobby and Dean talk. Suddenly Meg kicks in the door, attacks the boys, and demands the Colt. However, she soon gets caught under a devil's trap that is painted on the ceiling. Bobby explains that Meg is actually a girl possessed by a demon, and that the injuries she previously sustained in Chicago (in the episode Shadow) will kill her if the demon leaves her body. Dean insists on exorcising the demon to save the girl, no matter how broken she is. Sam reluctantly reads the ritual while Dean questions Meg about John; she repeatedly claims that John is dead. Finally, the demon is banished, and human Meg, dying painfully, thanks them and offers the clue "sunrise." The boys leave Bobby to head to Jefferson City.

On their way to rescue John, Sam reiterates the need to kill the Yellow-Eyed Demon, while Dean argues the importance of family. Dean says Sam is like John: eager to die if it means killing the Demon. They arrive at the building where John is being kept (Sunrise Apartments), form a plan to evacuate it that involves dressing up as firemen, and execute it. They manage to overpower the possessed humans guarding John and get him out of the apartment - after Sam insists on testing John with holy water. John is barely coherent, but he manages to ask about the Colt. Once all three are out of the building, they're set upon by Tom, who beats Sam severely. Dean whips out the concealed Colt and shoots him through the head.

File:Crash.jpg

The Impala gets hit by a truck driven by the possessed Trucker.

In a secluded cabin, as the boys salt the doors and windows, Dean confesses that he's scared of the lengths he'll go to in order to protect his family. John enters, claiming that Dean should be proud of what he does for the family. Dean grows suspicious of the kind words and points the Colt at John. Sam allies himself with Dean, and John is revealed to be possessed by the Demon as his eyes glow yellow. The Demon injures both boys and mocks Sam's unreliable special powers, and he also mentions that Sam was about to propose to Jessica. Dean draws the Demon's attention away from Sam, and it reveals that the demons in Meg and Tom were his children. He uses a psychic power to attack Dean, causing him to bleed internally. Dean begs for his life, and John manages to surface long enough for Sam to free himself and grab the Colt. John begs Sam to kill him in order to kill the Demon while Dean pleads for Sam not to shoot. Sam uses the penultimate bullet in the Colt to shoot John in the leg, forcing the Demon to leave John's body.

Sam drives the Impala with John in the passenger seat and Dean, gravely hurt, in the backseat. John expresses disappointment that Sam didn't shoot and end the family's quest, but Sam says that killing the Demon is not the most important thing. Sam promises to get them to the hospital, but a huge truck slams into the Impala, smashing it and rendering all three Winchesters unconscious. The truck driver has the black eyes of the possessed.

Characters

• Dean Winchester
• Sam Winchester
• John Winchester
• Bobby Singer
• Meg Masters
• Meg
• Tom
• The Demon
• Trucker

Definitions

• Key of Solomon ^PoD
• Exorcism ^PoD
• Devil's trap
• Singer Salvage Yard
• Salt
• The Colt
• Animals sensing the paranormal

Music

• "Fight the Good Fight" by Triumph

(plays during "The Road So Far" recap of events)

• "Won't Fall Down" by Steve Fister

(plays during "The Road So Far" recap of events - Netflix Streaming version)

• "Turn to Stone" by Joe Walsh

(plays when Sam and Dean are on their way to see Bobby)

• "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

(plays at the end of the episode, when they are hit by the truck)

Quotes

Bobby:...The storm’s coming, and you boys, your Daddy – you are smack in the middle of it.

Dean: Well, I’ve got a Yorkie upstairs and he pees when he’s nervous....

Dean: For your sake, I hope you’re lying. Cause if it’s true, I swear to God, I will march into hell myself and I will slaughter each and every one of you evil sons of bitches, so help me God!

Dean: You know that guy I shot? There was a person in there.

Sam: You didn’t have a choice, Dean.
Dean: Yeah, I know, that’s not what bothers me.
Sam: Then what does?

Dean: Killing that guy, killing Meg. I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t even flinch. For you or Dad, the things I’m willing to do or kill, it’s just, uh .... it scares me sometimes.

Dean: Listen, you mind just getting this over with, huh? Cause I really can’t stand the monologuing.

John: Funny, but that’s all part of your M.O., isn’t it? Masks all that nasty pain, masks the truth.
Dean: Oh, yeah? What’s that?

John: You know, you fight and you fight for this family, but the truth is they don’t need you. Not like you need them. Sam – he’s clearly John’s favorite. Even when they fight, it’s more concern than he’s ever shown you.

Trivia & References

The book flipping pages seemingly of its own accord during Meg's exorcism is a visual reference to a similar occurrence (in similar circumstances) in the Evil Dead films.

The name of Bobby Singer's dog, Rumsfeld, is a reference to the US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.

Meg's exorcism/interrogation scene could be considered a visual reference to the interrogation scene of Sharon Stone's character in Basic Instinct, considering the similarities in styling (the short blonde hair), posing, and cinematography in certain shots:

Meg in Devil's TrapSharon Stone in Basic Instinct

Minutiae

John is being held by demons at the Sunrise Apartments, in Jefferson City.

Sides, Scripts & Transcripts

• 1.22 Devil's Trap (transcript)

Promotion

• Episode Stills
• Episode Promo: 1.22 Devil's Trap
• Episode Promo: Last Episodes of the Season 1.20-1.22 Devil's Trap