The CW’s Supernatural left off on quite the cliffhanger. Not only was Castiel (Misha Collins) taken out of rotation for a little while, choosing to stay behind and keep an eye on an old hunter friend while Dean (Jensen Ackles) went after Benny (Ty Olsson), but Sam (Jared Padalecki) chased a goose named Amelia (Liane Balaban).

Though Dean was faking Sam out for the majority of the episode, in the end, Amelia actually did show up in front of Sam, forcing him to finally face his feelings for her. And Dean had to accept that his “blood brother” Benny disappointed him like so many before him. There was certainly a lot left unsaid between the brothers, and series executive producer Jeremy Carver reminded us the back half of the season still has to see the  boys “having it out” regarding their different states of mind.

“It will happen in typical Supernatural fashion, though. It’s not like they’re sitting down and talking over tea!” Carver said when we caught up with him before hell-atus.

But before they can do that, they each have to deal with the weight of what’s been left hanging since “Citizen Fang.”

On “Torn and Frayed,” Sam meets with Amelia, who asks him to make a choice: stay with him or leave and never contact her again. Considering he walked out on her while she slept to rejoin his brother, it’s nice to see that they will both be getting closure — even if the particular kind might not make them both happy.

And of course, Castiel is back — within the first few minutes, too!

When Naomi (guest star Amanda Tapping) tells Castiel that Crowley (Mark Sheppard) is holding an angel captive, Castiel turns to Dean for help in rescuing the angel before Crowley learns all of their secrets. But Naomi has secrets of her own — and we can’t help but wonder how in line her motives might be with someone like Crowley.

Personally, we find Naomi and what she represents much scarier. These guys have gone up against Crowley before; they know how to handle him. But Naomi is new and unknown, and a question mark in a world like Supernaturalis something to be feared. After all, step one is to identify the thing you’re supposed to be hunting and then figure out how to take it down. But Naomi is using the Winchesters’ ally to give her information without them– or even really him– knowing. It’s the kind of sneak attack that seems like it will spell bad news.

Supernatural returns Wednesday at 9PM on The CW.

What are you most excited to see in the winter return? Let us know in the comments below!

– Danielle Turchiano

Watch a sneak peek from “Torn and Frayed” below.

The CW’s Supernatural has paved the road to its holiday hell-atus with family obligations, flashes from the past (both in the form of returning characters and literal showcasing of memories), a new kind of brotherhood, and even a glimpse into the surreal world of cartoon deaths.

The show has somehow managed to keep its sense of humor, even amidst the most arguably dark situation thus far. Dean (Jensen Ackles) returned from Purgatory a more hardened warrior than even when he emerged from Hell with PTSD and a bond with a vampire that puts him on the outs with his brother Sam (Jared Padalecki). But Sam hasn’t been having a picnic either, pining for a girl and the life that could have been had he been able to give up hunting for good.

Or, is that just what the show wants you to believe? Supernatural‘s eighth season is toying with, and therefore challenging, our idea of reality in the Winchesters’ world. Dean and Castiel (Misha Collins) each remember Dean’s exit from Purgatory differently, after all; one very important angel has already admitted to manipulating Castiel; and Sam’s last recollection of his last year was so soft in style, we can’t help but question its truth.

So naturally, we didn’t want to go into the last episode before the new year, “Citizen Fang,” with a bunch of question marks. To clear things up and get all the goods, Celebuzz caught up with Supernatural showrunner Jeremy Carver. 

“Speaking to this episode, there’s no question that where we started in the season…we’re very much at the moment here where certain things have to be dealt with, and how specifically Dean deals with this is really the heart of Episode 9,” Carver said.

“The episode is very jam-packed, and it’s very up and down as to how the boys are reacting to each other. Just when you think they may come together, there’s conflict. It’s very, very emotional.”

Sam has put an older hunter acquaintance, Martin Creaser (guest star Jon Gries), on the case of tailing Benny (Ty Olsson) to make sure he keeps his nose clean, as he promised Dean he would. When Sam gets wind from Martin that there was, in fact, a vamp kill, he implores his brother to head down there and check it out, despite Dean’s reservations of the source. Remember, last we saw Martin, he was locked up in a mental institution (In 2010′s “Sam, Interrupted”). So it certainly looks like Supernatural will be delivering answers on the “what’s reality” and “who’s sanity can and can’t be trusted” sooner, rather than later.

“Fans who have that question, that’s going to be addressed in Episode 9, as well,” Carver said of whether or not we could trust the memories we’ve seen unfold through flashback.

“Whether or not Martin’s better now is open to interpretation when you meet him [but] with what the boys are dealing with, they get to a certain point where crazy guy in the episode might be the most sane guy in the episode.”

Benny being in the middle once again could be enough to tear at the progress Dean and Sam were making in their relationship, but throwing Martin is an added complication, as Dean may be about to feel betrayed by two people now.

“Dean is very conflicted about what he learns, and how Dean deals with that—I really don’t want to get to into where we end up with Dean and Benny, but from Benny’s own back story, how that’s affected Dean, to Sam, to Martin’s own involvement, it’s all very fraught. What happens is fairly significant!” Carver said.

“I can’t promise you that the episode doesn’t end on an emotional point, but I think I can tell you there will be—in the future, to be non-specific—a coming together, where the boys really have to decide once and for all what’s most important to them in their lives, and where they each fit into that.”

Basically, prepare yourselves for one hell of a cliffhanger in “Citizen Fang,” Supernatural fans!

Supernatural airs on Wednesday nights at 9 PM on The CW.

What is your biggest question about Supernatural right now? Sound off in the comments below!

– Danielle Turchiano