Sam and Dean Winchester spent fifteen years hunting things that go bump in the night, but let’s be real, some episodes just stick in your brain differently. Take season 8, episode 13. Most fans just call it the "Thule episode," but the actual title, Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural, is such a classic, campy mouthful that perfectly captures the vibe of the early 2010s era of the show. It’s an episode that manages to juggle necromancers, a giant golem, and the heavy emotional weight of the Men of Letters legacy without tripping over its own feet. Honestly, it shouldn't work. On paper, "Nazi necromancers" sounds like a B-movie plot that even the CW might find a bit too cheesy. Yet, here we are, over a decade later, and people are still talking about Aaron and his giant clay protector.
The episode dropped during a weirdly pivotal time for the series. We were deep into the "trial" arc where Sam was trying to close the gates of Hell, and the show had just introduced the concept of the Men of Letters. It was a massive pivot. Suddenly, the Winchesters weren't just "blue-collar hunters" anymore; they were legacies. They had a home. They had a library. Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural served as the formal "welcome home" to the Bunker, while simultaneously introducing one of the most unique guest duos the show ever produced: Aaron Bass and the Golem of Vitsyebsk.
The Thule Society and the Weird History of Nazi Necromancers
Supernatural always excelled at taking real-world mythology and twisting it just enough to fit the Winchester universe. The Thule Society wasn't some writer's room invention; it was a real German occultist group in the early 20th century. Of course, in the real world, they were just a bunch of racist conspiracy theorists who influenced the early Nazi party. In the world of Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural, they were actual sorcerers who figured out how to reanimate the dead and preserve their life force in a creepy, magical "red folder" system.
The episode begins with a pretty brutal hook: Rabbi Isaac Bass, a member of the Initiative (a group of Jewish hunters dedicated to fighting the Thule), gets spontaneously combusted at a university library. It’s a classic Supernatural cold open. Gruesome, mysterious, and sets the stakes immediately. When Sam and Dean investigate, they find Aaron, the Rabbi’s grandson, who has inherited a giant, silent, terrifying Golem but has absolutely no idea how to operate it.
This is where the episode shines. It’s a subversion of the "expert" trope. Usually, when the Winchesters meet a specialist, that person knows everything about their craft. Aaron, played with a perfect mix of neurosis and charm by John DeSantis, is just a guy who would rather be doing literally anything else. He’s a guy who sold his grandfather’s books to buy weed. He’s relatable. He’s a "legacy" who didn't want the job, which mirrors Sam’s own journey in the early seasons.
Why the Golem Worked (And Why We Didn't See Him Again)
The Golem itself is a masterpiece of practical effects and performance. Standing at nearly seven feet tall, he is a physical manifestation of Jewish folklore. The lore here is surprisingly accurate to the traditional stories of the Golem of Prague. He’s made of clay. He’s brought to life by writing "truth" (the Hebrew word Emet) on his forehead. To deactivate him, you change it to "death" (Met).
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There's a really touching, albeit brief, exploration of the burden of history here. The Golem is grumpy. He’s tired. He’s been fighting the Thule for decades and is frustrated that his new "master" is a slacker who didn't bother to learn the instructions. It’s a fun dynamic. It provides a levity that the show desperately needed during the grimness of the Season 8 trials.
Many fans wonder why Aaron and the Golem never became series regulars or at least recurring allies like Jody Mills or Charlie Bradbury. The answer is probably a mix of budget and narrative focus. A giant clay man who can snap Nazi necks like twigs is a bit of a "win button." If the Winchesters had the Golem on speed dial, a lot of their problems—including the later battle with the British Men of Letters—would have been solved in about five minutes. By leaving Aaron and the Golem in Belarus to finish off the Thule remnants, the show gave them a satisfying, off-screen "happily ever after" that kept the power balance of the show intact.
The Men of Letters Connection: Expanding the Lore
We can't talk about Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural without mentioning the Bunker. This was the first episode where Sam and Dean really started to dig into the archives. Before this, they were living out of motels and the Impala. Now, they have a research center that makes the British Library look like a local newsstand.
Sam’s nerdiness finally finds its true home. He discovers that the Men of Letters were actually helping the Initiative back in the day. This connection gave the Winchesters a sense of belonging that they had been missing since Mary died. They weren't just outliers; they were part of a global, historical effort to keep the dark at bay. It changed the DNA of the show. It shifted the focus from "saving people, hunting things" to "curating knowledge and protecting the world."
It’s also where we get some of the best Dean-isms. Seeing Dean Winchester, a man who prides himself on his ruggedness, geeking out over a professional kitchen and a memory-foam mattress is pure gold. It humanized him. It reminded us that for all the leather jackets and classic rock, these are just two guys who really, really wanted a home.
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The Villain Problem: Torvald and the Thule Leadership
If there’s one critique of the episode, it’s that the villains can feel a bit like cartoons. Torvald, the main Thule antagonist in this episode, is your standard-issue "evil German guy." He’s got the slicked-back hair, the cold demeanor, and a penchant for magic that involves spitting out darts.
However, the "cartoonish" nature of the Thule is actually somewhat intentional. Supernatural often leaned into the "pulp" aesthetic. Fighting Nazis is a classic trope for a reason—it’s the ultimate clear-cut battle between good and evil. In a season where the lines were getting blurred with Crowley and Meg and the angels, having a group of villains that you could just unequivocally hate was refreshing.
The episode also sets the stage for a much bigger payoff in Season 12, "The One You've Been Waiting For," where the show actually brings back Hitler (in a way). But the groundwork laid in Season 8 is much more grounded in the actual folklore of the series. The Thule in this episode feel like a legitimate threat to the Men of Letters' legacy because they represent a perversion of knowledge. They use magic for power; the Men of Letters used it for protection.
Impact on the Supernatural Fandom
The reception of Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural was overwhelmingly positive, which is saying something for a show with a fandom as "passionate" (read: picky) as this one. It currently holds a high rating on IMDb, mostly because it hits that sweet spot of lore-heavy storytelling and character-driven humor.
- The Humor: Dean’s reaction to the "gay bar" stakeout.
- The Heart: Aaron accepting his responsibility as the last of the Initiative.
- The Horror: The spontaneous combustion scenes and the Golem’s sheer brutality.
- The Legacy: Sam finally finding a place where he fits in as a scholar.
It’s an episode that reminds us why the show lasted fifteen years. It wasn't just about the monsters; it was about the people left behind to deal with the mess. Aaron Bass wasn't a hero. He was a guy with a giant clay doll and a box of old papers, but he stepped up because he had to. That’s the Winchester way.
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Common Misconceptions About the Episode
Some people get the timeline confused. Because the Thule return later, folks often think this was a two-part episode or that it happened later in the series. Nope. This was a standalone monster-of-the-week entry that just happened to have massive world-building implications.
Another misconception is that the Golem is "unkillable." The episode actually makes it clear that if Aaron dies without passing on the "ownership" (the ritual of the blood and the scroll in the Golem's mouth), the Golem becomes a mindless, rampaging force or simply stops working. It’s a fragile partnership. That vulnerability is what makes the ending—where Aaron commits to learning the ways of his grandfather—so impactful.
How to Revisit the Episode Today
If you’re doing a rewatch, Everybody Hates Hitler Supernatural is best enjoyed as part of a "Men of Letters" marathon. Watch it alongside "As Time Goes By" (8x12) to see the transition from the brothers finding the Bunker to them actually living in it.
Honestly, the episode holds up. The CGI on the combustion is a little dated, but the practical makeup on the Golem is still top-tier. It’s a testament to the show’s ability to take a ridiculous premise—Nazi Necromancers vs. a Jewish Clay Giant—and turn it into a story about family, duty, and finding your place in a world that’s way weirder than you thought.
To get the most out of this specific corner of the Supernatural universe, you should:
- Pay attention to the background details in the Bunker. This is one of the first times we see the sheer scale of the Men of Letters' collection.
- Look for the parallels between Aaron and Sam. Both are the "younger generation" trying to escape a family business they eventually realize is vital.
- Appreciate the Golem’s physical acting. John DeSantis does so much with just his eyes and his posture. It’s a masterclass in non-verbal storytelling.
- Note the "Red Folder" mention. This becomes a recurring bit of lore for the Thule that pops up years later.
The Winchesters might have moved on to bigger threats like the Darkness and God himself, but the fight against the Thule remains one of the most unique chapters in their long, bloody history. It’s weird, it’s campy, and it’s heart-wrenching. It’s exactly what Supernatural was meant to be.