SUPERNATURAL: Hey, Idjits, Bobby is Back for an Episode

Bobby Singer, played by Jim Beaver, has been missed dreadfully since he was last seen on Supernatural in season 10 in the episode “Inside Man”, in which he helped Sam and Dean from Heaven.  A fan favorite, he was the honorary uncle, replacement father figure and a great help to the Winchesters until his death in season seven.

However, in every hero’s journey there comes a time when the mentor has to bow out so that the heroes can face evil on their own.

He will be returning in episode seventeen of season eleven, via flashbacks,  according to TVLine. He won’t be alone: Bobby will be working with his old pal and hunting partner Rufus Turner, played by Steven Williams. Sam and Dean are going to be working on an old case from the time period of season five. It could hardly be more recent than that, since Rufus was killed by a worm-possessed Bobby in season six.

During season five, Sam and Dean were dealing with a coming apocalypse and Lucifer and the Archangel Michael’s need to use them as vessels to perpetuate their eternal battle. The boys may have to deal with unresolved issues from that time period. Other hunters and characters, like Ellen and Jo, were still alive during the first part of that season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some other familiar faces in the flashbacks.

From executive producer Jeremy Carver, “There’s a lot of great throwbacks to things that happened [including] the wonderful relationship between Bobby and Rufus. That’s going to be a really neat episode.”

Whether it’s a flashback — as it is in this case, a time travel episode — or a special ghost appearance, it’s always great to see Bobby again. I’m hoping for some homespun hunter wisdom or at least a great quote or two.

Supernatural returns from the death of winter break on January 20.