User Reviews

This is a very important episode that sets up a lot of the story arc this season and beyond. It explains how Cross Road's Deals work and establishes how tempted Dean is to do something crazy to put the world "right again." He doesn't think he should be alive, and he REALLY wants to "fix" things somehow. Dean is on the ragged edge of control and "Cross Road's Blues" illustrates how unstable he can be. All in all, you really need to see this episode if you're watching the season on DVD.

"Cross Roads Blues" revolves around people selling their souls to demons for personal gain. Using the legend of Robert Johnson, the episode lays out a back story where people can make pacts with demons at cross roads. In exchange for their souls, they get to live 10 years and have a wish granted. Well, ten years are up for a lot of people in one town and Hell Hounds have arrived to drag them off. Sam & Dean have to try and stop the contracts from being fulfilled. Dean is annoyed, though, because he feels the people brought it all on themselves. The deal John made to save him is still weighing on Dean.

A famous architect and doctor are killed. A talent painter is next, but he refuses to let they boys assist him, saying he brought it all on himself. The other possible victim is an ordinary husband, named Evan, who sold his soul so his wife would live. Even Dean feels bad for him, but not bad enough to NOT yell at him for his selfishness. While Sam protects the guy from Hell Hounds, Dean goes to summon the Cross Roads Demon. He traps her and makes a deal to let her go free if she lets Evan out of his deal. She agrees but she also offers Dean a deal. She'll bring John back if he gives her his soul. Dean refuses, but he's tempted.

There are some good parts to this episode. The melt-y faces that victims see on other people before the Hell Hounds arrive are really creepy. And I like the invisible Hell Hound attack, with the claw marks in the floor. Very cool. Also, it's pretty funny when Dean grumbles that the artist guy's apartment isn't "next on MTV Cribs" material. Dean's annoyance over the Cross Roads deals is very well done this whole episode. He's angry over the selfish deals that other people make. Even as he's tempted to make one himself to get John back. He's bitter about John making the deal for him. He's been acting crazy for awhile now and the idea of John giving up his soul to save his life just eats at Dean. He doesn't think he deserves it. His feelings play right into "All Hell Breaks Loose" and the decision he makes. I also like Dean trapping the Cross Road's Demon. It's pretty clever.

This episode is all about recognition. People doing things so their "lives will mean something." People focused on being famous or rich or talented. Even Sam is annoyed that he's not wanted by the FBI, and getting his recognition. The doctor wanting recognition as the youngest chief of staff. The architect getting recognition in all those magazines. The artist complaining that he he should have asked for fame rather than talent. Even the Cross Roads Demon saying that she wanted to be the one to take John's soul and torture Dean. Evan is the only one who acted without wanting recognition, but his actions -as Dean points out- were also selfish. He'd rather his wife live without him than have to live without HER. Giving your life for someone else is established as wrong in this episode. Selfish and a way to make your own life worth something, without considering the feelings of the person you'll leave behind. That'll come into play again, so it's cool they establish it all here.

On the down side, did the brothers find a way to save the artist guy, too? I hope so, because I felt bad for him.

My favorite part of the episode: Dean's happy assertion that he's now wanted by the FBI. "Dude, I'm like Dillinger!" That's just the perfect criminal for Dean to identify with, since Dillinger was all about being charming and daring in his "work." Plus, Sam pouting that they he's not in the FBI database, too, is just funny.

On "Children shouldn't play with dead things", Dean confesses to Sam that he thinks John made some kind of unknown deal to save Dean's life in exchange of his.

On "Crossroad Blues", The Winchesters are investigating an architect death who has allegedly committed suicide at the prime of his career, only to find out later that he alongside with a famous doctor and a talented painter made a deal with a crossroads daemon for success in exchange of their souls ten years later. Dean is angry with the whole thing and thinks that those people brought it upon themselves, while Sam disagrees and thinks they should be saved. The painter tells them that the daemon made one more deal with a guy called Evan Hudson who sold his soul to save his wife's life. Dean accuses Evan for being selfish since he didn't want to live without his wife but was ready to let her to live without him. However, He asks Sam to protect Evan from the Hell-hounds while he goes to summon the daemon who tells him about John's deal and tempts him to strike one and bring John back. Though strongly thinking about it, He traps her instead and bargains for Evan's life.

This episode shows How much hurt and tortured Dean is over John's deal, How much he blames himself for his death, How angry is he with John for being selfish enough to make that deal, And how much he thinks himself to be unworthy.

It was nice that even though Sam was obviously terrified himself he kept on trying hard to protect Evan from the invisible Hell hounds (I have to say those were fabulous creepy creatures). I also like the part when George the painter explained his desire not to be saved using the word "cause I'm tired", the same words John said right before his death and the same words Dean will use later on "Croatoan".

But the best scene was at the end in the Impala when Sam asked Dean if he considered making the deal to Bring John back but Dean just hit the music louder and you can see the pain and worry in Sam's eyes.

This is a must see episode since it builds up to the season's finale. The acting was more than terrific, Jared and Jensen were at their tops.

someone else said the girl who played the demon played it over the top.

let me ask you a question then... HAVE YOU EVER MET A DEMON AND HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE BEFORE??

doubtful though possible.

demons do tend to be over the top from what i've read and seen.

personally i think this is one of the best episodes yet.

i love how dean totally tricks the demon. way to go writers!! good subterfuge.

apparently i don't have enough lines to make this comment submittable, so.. if you haven't had a chance to listen to any robert johnson songs. you should. it's pretty occultish. someone today should update the classic's.