The writers initially intended for Sam to develop his demonic abilities in order to use them against Lilith in the third season. How the confrontation would have ended at that stage was uncertain, with Kripke stating that "when they (the Winchesters) went up against Lilith, maybe they would've survived and maybe they wouldn't have."Knight, Season 3, p.17 However, the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike prevented them from fleshing out Sam's abilities until the fourth season, and so Lilith and Sam's battle was pushed back. Lilith is "very active behind the scenes" for much of the fourth season, with the writers planning for her to make her on-screen return later on. Boecher received the part of Lilith for "The Monster at the End of This Book", with Kripke feeling that she fulfilled Lilith's myth of being a "seducer of men" by bringing "a sexuality and a menace to the role". Boecher still attempted to maintain some childlike quality for the character to "bring out more sides of Lilith". Although demons typically rotate through their hosts, production asked her to return for "Lucifer Rising". Kripke admitted the benefit of having a familiar face return for the finale, but furthermore said that the production team "really liked what [Boecher] did, and [...] thought she had such a fascinating look. She's beautiful, but there's something really menacing in her performance as well, and the camera just loves her."Knight, Season 4, p.120 The opportunity to reprise the role both surprised and excited Boecher.
