Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Dean is pulled from his grave and returned from Hell by the angel Castiel, who tells him that a higher conflict is underway. The brothers learn that Lilith is breaking a series of seals to free Lucifer, while angels recruit Dean to oppose her. Sam, meanwhile, works with Ruby and drinks demon blood to strengthen his psychic abilities, keeping his plan from Dean. Their separate approaches strain the brothers' trust as they investigate the seals and discover that angels may have their own reasons for wanting the Apocalypse.
Dean's memories of Hell return, including the revelation that after years of torture he broke the first seal by agreeing to torture souls himself. The brothers also meet Anna, a fallen angel who can hear angelic communications, and the prophet Chuck, whose books describe their lives. Sam's dependence on demon blood deepens, and Dean and Bobby lock him in a panic room to stop him; Sam escapes and returns to Ruby. When Dean learns Lilith is the final seal, he and Castiel race to prevent Sam from killing her.
Sam reaches Lilith at a convent and kills her with his powers, believing her death will stop the Apocalypse. It does the opposite: Lilith is the final seal, and her death opens Lucifer’s cage. Ruby reveals that she has manipulated Sam into bringing about this outcome. Dean breaks into the room, and the brothers kill Ruby together, with Sam restraining her while Dean stabs her. Reunited too late to prevent the catastrophe, they face the light rising from the opening cage as Lucifer’s release begins.