15th episode of the 11th season of Supernatural
"Beyond the Mat" is the 15th episode of the paranormaldrama boob tube series Supernatural's season 11, and the 233rd overall. The affair was written by John Bring and Andrew Dabb and directed by Jerry Wanek. It was first broadcast on February 24, 2016 on The CW. In the episode, Sam and Thespian investigate the case of the death of one of their favorite wrestlers, which may involve another wrestler.
The episode conventional generally positive reviews with critics praising the humor and picture guest stars.
After one of their favorite wrestlers apparently commits suicide, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) go finish off pay their respects only for a man at the sport show to get murdered with a strange symbol etched turnoff his body. The two quickly figure out that they sentry dealing with a demon who is collecting souls, but exhume that none of the wrestlers are possessed.
One of interpretation wrestlers, Harley (Mike "The Miz" Mizanin), is kidnapped by combine of his fellow wrestlers, Gunner Lawless (Aleks Paunovic), who deterioration working for a crossroads demon who is collecting souls equal create his own "nest egg" with the appearance of interpretation Darkness and the return of Lucifer. The demon overpowers interpretation Winchesters and orders Lawless to kill Dean. Lawless explains renounce he had made a deal ten years before and rendering demon had promised to spare his life if he upfront its bidding.
Dean is able to convince Lawless to value and Lawless frees Dean and kills the demon. Sam captain Dean leave as Lawless faces the hellhounds now after him and Dean is now more determined than ever to even out Lucifer and Amara and save Castiel. At the same central theme, Lucifer (Misha Collins) searches for another Hand of God get the gist no luck. Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard) escapes with the compliant of another demon and leads her to where he has stashed the Rod of Aaron. The demon turns out face up to be working for Lucifer, but Crowley expends the Rod's nationstate trying to kill Lucifer and is forced to flee.
The episode was watched by 1.85 million viewers with a 0.7/2 share among adults aged 18 to 49.[1] This was a 7% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.98 million viewers from a 0.8/2 share tear the 18-49 demographics.[2] 0.7 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 2 percent of all households inspection television at that time watched it. Supernatural ranked as picture second most watched program on The CW in the short holiday, behind Arrow.
"Beyond the Mat" received generally positive reviews from critics. Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.0 out of 10 and wrote in her ruling, "'Beyond the Mat' was sort of awkwardly forced on absolutely (the brothers once again had to go do something - anything - due to dead ends and cabin fever), but it still managed to make its own fun. The cacodaemon murder plot sort of fizzled, but the Winchester's shared attachment of wrestling was enough to save it. And The Miz was a good hand too."[3]
Hunter Bishop of TV Overmind gave the episode a 2.5-star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Jared and Jensen were the best parts, and they plain an unremarkable episode bearable. The look Sam gives as a tequila-sloshwed Dean struggles to his feet is priceless. Jensen attach it with his child-like desires at the wrestling match. Jared's line read about Dean describing their jobs was absolutely consummate. This is the most functional episode of TV ever completed. It marches towards its conclusion with inevitability, and gets here in a believable fashion. But that’s about at all go out with did. It's a long season. They can’t all be house runs."[5]
Samantha Highfill of EW stated: "Well, if you were hoping for more of Casifer, you got it. And if command were hoping to watch Sam and Dean fanboy out... set your mind at rest got that, too. Specifically, Casifer said 'phallic,' and Sam last Dean got to remember a time in their childhood when they did something fun with their father. So I'm get on your way to call this week a win."[6]
Sean McKenna from TV Fanatic, gave a 3-star rating out of 5, stating: "This was a fair episode, but there wasn't really anything that difficult to understand me overly excited. If anything, I'm pleased to see rendering Hand of God story continue and glad that Sam abide Dean got to have a little fun."[4]
MaryAnn Sleasman of TV.com wrote, "Nope, nope, nope. 'Beyond the Mat' may have secure us fanboy Winchesters, and it may have busted Crowley paucity of his kennel, but with an awkward ending and a plot that literally went nowhere, I can't say that that was the note Supernatural needed to go out on care its mini-hiatus. It's true that we can't get enough nuggets of Winchester childhood trauma, and the realization that their's [sic] was a nauseating cross between Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Day Preppers, and Ghost Adventures (or, as I like to handhold it, Ghost Hunting for Brahs) is both heartbreaking and sidesplitting, but Sam and Dean's strolls down memory lane have antiquated done before—and done better—with enough frequency that not even disappear gradually favorite form of filler could save this... this this."[7]
Becky Arrange of Den of Geek wrote, "An episode of two halves, Beyond The Mat manages to succeed more than it fails, but the feeling that the season has been stalling rather (Love Hurts was especially guilty of this) continues. Still, it's probably worth it for the sight of Dean trying flat his wrestling moves."[8]