In the last episode of season 8, the characters of Supernatural set out to cure a demon.

Not just any demon, however. The Winchester brothers (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) decided that, since Crowley (Mark Sheppard) had been keeping his demons away from them, they would have to take on the King of Hell himself.

Things didn't go quite as planned for the hunters and Crowley was left in a state of limbo as "Sacrifice" came to an end.

While Sam (Padalecki) attempted to cure him, Crowley clearly exhibited some form of emotion as he yelled about deserving, and needing, to be loved. Although the King of Hell looked rather confused to hear himself say such sentimental statements, his change in demeanor left the door open for a new take on the character in season 9.

"I wouldn't say he's cured, the situation was never finished," Sheppard told MTV on Saturday at the San Diego Comic-Con. "I'm pretty certain, I'm very certain, that it has had a profound effect on him, and it's not exactly going to be the easies thing for him to shrug off."

Crowley might need to push past these issues quickly simply for the sake of keeping his position as the ruler downstairs. Dean (Ackles) and Sam accidently let Abaddon (Alaina Huffman), the last surviving Knight of Hell, out into the world again and she appears determined to knock Crowley off his throne.

"There's defiantly some push coming from some other angles towards his position as the King of Hell and right now he's unfortunately in the clutches of the two tall gentlemen, [Sam and Dean]," Sheppard informed MTV.

Crowley's presence with the Winchesters opens up the possibility that the trio will perhaps fight together to take down the far more insidious Abaddon. After all, better the demon you know than the Knight you don't.

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Supernatural