Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox

Some people have considered this a slow/boring episode, but I felt that this episode wasn't about the monster of the week but the characters. As someone who loves the characters in this show, I loved this episode as it added a lot of depth to the characters. I've re-watched this episode multiple times and I'm marking it down as one of my favorite episodes of the series.

I think the show put too much stress on Mary not adjusting to returning. This episode goes a long way to wrapping up that less than compelling storyline. Moreover, Mary's interaction with Billy really nails that she is a Winchester. Add in some nice Jody moments and a look at hunter culture (not seen in this way since season 2) and this is a fairly entertaining episode. If this was the worst season 12 got the season I could live with it. Alas it is the best season 12 gets more or less.

In this episode, there isn't a single new character who isn't annoying : from the mother who plays the diva to the two magician-nympho kids. And... Asa Fox, couldn't be more unlikable when we've only seen him in three scenes, but talking about him every 2 seconds to say he was awesome... it's annoying. Looks like a series from the 80s where we talk about Thomas Magnum's best friend from the distant past during the Vietnam war. Asa Fox : never seen, not interested !

It reminds me of when my friends would tell me about one of their "awesome" buddy and in reality he was a... jerk ! Asa Fox was a jerk, If he wasn't fictional, I would have killed him myself !

All the clichés that can be piled up while telling a story... in this episode: we can list them all ! I won't list them, because if you watch Supernatural, you're old enough to know them all.

Sorry for my lousy English, I'm not an English speaker, I tried my best, I tried not to be as offensive as I would be in my native language.

Episodes like "Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox" annoy me. It's like the late-season writers haven't even seen the entire show and have glaring gaps in their knowledge of the in-show mythology. We know that anti-possession tattoos are a thing. We know they work. Sam and Dean have them. Several other characters have them. So why, in a house full of hunters, does nobody have a tattoo? Why is a demon able to hop from host to host with ease? It seems like a pretty fundamental warding that every hunter should have. Still a good episode, if you approach it with some cognitive dissonance.

"Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox," the sixth episode of Supernatural's twelfth season, directed by John Badham and written by Steve Yockey, stands out as a heartfelt and atmospheric tribute to the wider world of hunters that the series has only occasionally explored in depth. The episode opens with a flashback to 1980 in Emerson, Manitoba, where a young Mary Winchester saves a boy named Asa Fox from a werewolf. This formative encounter sets Asa on the path to becoming a legendary hunter, and the cold open not only establishes Mary's enduring influence but also thematically foreshadows the episode's meditation on legacy, choice, and the costs of the hunting life.

The narrative then shifts to the present, where news of Asa's death brings together an unusually large gathering of hunters at his mother Lorraine's home for a wake that quickly becomes both a celebration and a reckoning. The episode skillfully uses this setting to introduce a vibrant cross-section of the hunter community, with familiar faces like Sheriff Jody Mills joining Sam, Dean, and Mary. The wake itself is a rare, almost festive glimpse into hunter culture: there's drinking, storytelling, and camaraderie, but also palpable tension as old wounds and secrets simmer beneath the surface.

Mary's arrival at the wake is fraught with emotional complexity. Her presence is a shock to many, especially Lorraine, who blames Mary for inspiring Asa to become a hunter-a path that, in her view, led to his lonely and violent death. The box of unsent postcards Asa wrote to Mary, never mailed, becomes a powerful symbol of the longing, regret, and unresolved ties that haunt both the living and the dead. Samantha Smith's performance as Mary is a highlight, capturing the character's guilt, confusion, and sense of responsibility for the ripple effects of her actions decades earlier.

As the wake unfolds, the episode pivots from character-driven drama to supernatural thriller. When a hunter is found murdered and the group realizes a demon is among them, the house is supernaturally sealed, trapping everyone inside. The demon, Jael, is revealed to be an old enemy of Asa's, seeking revenge for a past exorcism. The ensuing whodunit, with Jael possessing various hunters-including Jody-injects the episode with suspense and paranoia, reminiscent of classic horror films where the threat is both within and among the group.

The demon's possession sequences are particularly effective, allowing for both chilling horror and incisive character revelations. Jael uses the opportunity to air the group's secrets and resentments, exposing the hidden lineage of Asa's children, the sabotage attempts by his mother, and Jody's unspoken feelings for Asa. In a climactic confrontation, Jael forces Bucky, Asa's supposed best friend, to confess that he accidentally killed Asa during a hunt and covered up the crime by blaming the demon. This twist recontextualizes the entire gathering, shifting the focus from supernatural vengeance to the all-too-human failings of pride, fear, and guilt.

Throughout the episode, the direction by John Badham is assured, balancing the claustrophobic tension of the locked house with moments of levity and warmth among the hunters. The cinematography makes excellent use of the house's shadowy interiors and the wintry Canadian setting, while the editing maintains a brisk pace, ensuring that the ensemble cast and multiple plot threads remain coherent and engaging. The script's dialogue is sharp, alternating between dark humor and genuine pathos, especially in the exchanges between Sam, Dean, Mary, and Jody.

Performance-wise, the ensemble cast delivers across the board. Kim Rhodes shines as Jody, her grief and resilience adding depth to the episode's emotional stakes. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki bring their usual chemistry and nuance to Dean and Sam, with Dean's struggle to process Mary's return and Sam's growing empathy for his mother's predicament providing the episode's emotional backbone. The supporting cast-especially those playing the assembled hunters-add color and authenticity, fleshing out a world that often exists only on the periphery of the Winchesters' story.

"Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox" is a meditation on legacy, community, and the burdens of the hunting life. The episode refuses to romanticize the hunter's existence, instead portraying it as a path marked by sacrifice, loneliness, and unresolved trauma. Yet, it also finds space for hope and connection: the hunters' collective exorcism of Jael is a rare moment of solidarity, and Mary's decision to remain in her sons' lives-despite her uncertainty-suggests the possibility of healing, however imperfect.

In its conclusion, the episode is both somber and uplifting. The burning of the hunters' bodies is handled with reverence, and Billie the reaper's offer to Mary-to return to death if she feels she doesn't belong-serves as a stark reminder of the costs of resurrection and the difficulty of finding one's place after trauma. Mary's refusal, and her tentative step toward reconnecting with Sam and Dean, is a quietly powerful moment that encapsulates the episode's central message: that family, chosen or blood, is both a source of pain and the only real refuge in a dangerous world.

Ultimately, "Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox" is a standout episode that enriches Supernatural's mythology by expanding its focus beyond the Winchesters and giving voice to the wider hunter community. Through its deft blend of horror, humor, and heartfelt drama, the episode honors the sacrifices of those who fight in the shadows while acknowledging the scars they carry. It is a reminder that every hunter's story matters, and that the bonds forged in struggle-however fraught-are worth celebrating.