Steenbergen was happy to see the character return in the fifth season, noting that the show has been missing "smart, tough women who are not evil in general." Tina Charles of "TV Guide" also welcomed the character back, and enjoyed how Ellen's initial reaction to Dean Winchester in "Good God, Y'all!"—hugging and then slapping him—was "very much in character." Regarding the character's death, Charles noted that "when went down in 'Abandon All Hope[...' like did, I felt it. [Her death meant something." Though also happy to see Ellen reappear in the fifth season, Ryan was disappointed at the lack of screentime the character received in "Good God, Y'All!" Commenting on the character's farewells in the fifth season, Ryan noted that Ferris "brought A-game to 'Abandon All Hope…'" She added that "[Ferris fits perfectly into the 'Supernatural' world because understands that on this show, restraint is everything. It's not necessarily just about what the characters say or do, it's about what they don't say—what they can't find the words for."