Sam and Cas try to contain Dean after he attacks Gadreel. They lock him up because he is not acting as his usual self and then go back to check on Gadreel who has disappeared.
Metatron has himself a intercom system reminiscent of the one’s principals use, except this one allows Metatron to block out all angel radio so that the angels can hear him and him alone. What does he tell the angels? Just that he’s going on a trip and the door to Heaven will be closed for a little while. Meanwhile, Cas and Sam find Gadreel in a field, and even though Gadreel objects, Cas heals the angel, therefore weakening himself. Gadreel believes Metatron is going after humans.
Still locked away, Dean summons Crowley, wanting answers as to why he’s changed so much. Apparently the mark is causing Dean to have the urge to kill, and if he doesn’t do it he could die, because he is a human, not a demon. Dean decides it’s time to go after, and finally kill, Metatron, and gets Crowley to help him escape.
Gadreel, Sam, and Cas arrive back at the bunker and Gadreel tells the others that Dean is probably their best chance of getting rid of Metatron. Sam isn’t happy about the prospect of sending Dean into battle so Gadreel also suggest that they try to sever the bond Metatron has with the Angel Tablet. That way they can ensure that Metatron only has his normal angel powers and not his supercharged one. Sam then smells sulfur in the bunker and they realize Dean has escaped with Crowley’s help.
A girl is hit by a truck and Metatron appears and heals the woman. After healing her, he whispers something into her ear and the whole things is caught on video. Dean and Crowley are talking in a diner when Crowley is tipped off on the video and the pair go to talk to the woman. When they get there, Sam is waiting.
The brothers get into another argument about Gadreel, but they come to an understanding that Dean is going to do what he can to take down Metatron. Sam won’t let Dean do it alone though and shares what Metatron whispered in the woman’s ear, which was his next location.
While the boys go track down Metatron, Gadreel and Cas head to the secret door to Heaven under the guise that Gadreel has captured Cas. Once inside Heaven, jail cells spring up around them. The two try to convince the angel Hannah of Metatron’s misdeeds but she won’t listen without proof. This leads to Gadreel becoming a suicide bomber and blows himself up, taking out most of the jail cell as well. Cas and Hannah go to Metatron’s office to look for the tablet and find it under the typewriter.
Metatron is at a homeless encampment, Sam and Dean share a moment before Dean knocks him unconscious, deciding that he’ll take Metatron on on his own.
Dean meets with Metatron in an old building. He admits that selling himself as God is more strategy than anything. Dean gets sick of talking and goes to strike Metatron, but Metatron uses his strength to fling Dean across the room. Sam arrives to the scene just in time to see Metatron stab Dean with an angel blade.
Back in Metatron’s office, Cas smashes the Angel Tablet which brings Metatron back to Heaven for a chat with the angel. Metatron tells Cas that Dean is dead, infuriating the angel. Metatron then goes on to bad mouth and bash the angels, and Cas was smart enough to turn on Metatron’s angel intercom. The angels come and throw Metatron in jail.
Dean is barely holding on to life as he tells Sam that it’s better that he dies, since the Blade has turned him into a monster. Dean says he’s proud of the work he and and Sam have down and then collapses in his brother’s arms. Sam lays Dean on the bed back at the bunker and in a very Dean-esque moment, turns to drinking. Then, overcome with anger, he goes to summon Crowley to bring Dean back.
While Sam is summoning the King of Hell, Crowley is already in Dean’s room talking to the dead body. He admits to him that he didn’t think it would ever turn out this way. He also admits that Cain also died and was brought back to life. The episode ends with Crowley putting the First Blade in Dean’s hand and Dean opening his eyes, revealing black demon eyes.
What does this mean for the next season? Will Dean remain a demon or will the boys find a way, as they always do, to bring Dean back to a human state?