Diary of a Supernatural Virgin – Kripke’s a god … again

Season 4, Episode 16 – 19

I’ve just about forgotten about those five or so episodes in the middle of season four that had me wondering if Kripke had been kidnapped by aliens and J.J. Abrams, or maybe Greg Berlanti, had taken over for him. You know the pattern: strong start, show with promise, unique premise, lots of heart … down the tubes.

This didn’t happen with Supernatural, I’m happy to say, and I’m also happy to report that I don’t agree with Modwild (yet) when she commented that the show I once knew is no more. Although I would be a little embarrassed to explain the story arc of season four to anyone I was trying to sell the show to, it somehow works (really, if you haven’t said it out loud, try it; it’s hokey) because Supernatural doesn’t take itself too seriously. We can even add “The Monster at the End of This Book” to my list of favorite episodes; this was an amazing batch with all the classic Supernatural formula ingredients.

“On the Head of a Pin“
Uriel is killing angels who won’t join him in trying to raise up Lucifer, so Anna kills him. Dean tortures Allistair, Hell-style, because the angels ordered him to do it and Sam ends up killing Alastair.

“You guys don’t walk enough. You’re going to start to get flabby.” – Dean to Castiel, after Uriel flies away

I can’t even start writing about this episode until I vent just a little: I just can’t stand Alastair’s (Christopher Heyerdahl) voice, so much so that it distracts me from the actual plot of the episode, and obviously the dialogue. I get it, you’re creepy, now stop talking through your nose.

I gotta say, the boys have seen more righteous days. Sam the bloodsucker is disturbing, but Dean the torturer may trump him. After all, Sam’s only trying to save the world, right? Dean’s hurting someone for the sake of hurting, although I suppose you could argue the devil angels made him do it. I know I’m supposed to think Sam’s the baddy, but I’m not there yet. I do wonder about Ruby, though … the look on her face as Sam was chugging down was a might bit suspicious.

• Anna’s right: Castiel really does need to think for himself. Such a whiny angel.
• Dean really got a blow when he found out John lasted 100 years and never tortured anyone.
• I take that back: the big blow was when he found out he opened the first seal by being weaker than his dad, and being that righteous man who sheds blood in Hell. Bummer.
• Dean’s right: he’s not strong enough to beat Lucifer and end the apocalypse. This is going to be good.

“It’s a Terrible Life“
Dean is a corporate douchebag and Sam works in tech support for a haunted company. They don’t remember each other or their former lives as hunters.

I couldn’t even quote this episode and do it justice, because every situation was played so perfectly that an out-of-context quote just wouldn’t cut it. Writers of Supernatural, you are so freaking clever that I just don’t know how you sleep at night. Do you and your awesomeness even fit in the same bed? I’ve just got to list those moments, you know the ones:

• Dean in his electric car, listening to NPR, drinking the Master Cleanse
• Dean Smith and Sam Wesson
• Sam “oversharing” with Dean about his dreams
• the joke about Sam’s psychic ability as they figure out what’s going on
• Sam breaking down the door and Dean using an iron wrench on the spirit
• Dean calling Sam “Sammy” (Sam: “Don’t.”)
• Dean doing research, as his specialty
• Sam knowing that he broke up with his girlfriend Madison and trying to call her and getting an animal hospital
• the Ghostfacers tutorial, basically teaching Sam and Dean everything they taught the Ghostfacers, and the tutorial being interspersed with how much the Winchesters suck ass
• Dean finally realizing who he was, and his first words: “God, am I hungry.”

Now the really interesting part is that Sam felt like he was destined for something different, like it was in his blood, and Dean didn’t believe in destiny. Is Dean just in denial? Without even knowing it, they both chose to become themselves, also interesting, because for all of their bitching and moaning, they really do like the hunting life. And the angel Zachariah truly believes that Dean will do what he’s destined to do; can’t wait for that to play out.

“The Monster at the End of This Book“
Books written about Sam and Dean’s life are written by a prophet, and they come true. Lilith approaches Sam to make a deal: The Winchesters sacrifice themselves to save the world.

“Did you really have to live through the bugs?” (“Yes.” – Dean) What about the ghost ship? (“Yeah, that too.” – Dean) I am so sorry. I mean, horror is one thing, but to be forced to live bad writing….” – Chuck the author

C’mon, was every moment of this episode completely fun and brilliant? Just say yes; don’t argue with me. I was back to laughing out loud, while appreciating all that is dark and serious and deep about the situations and characterization — a perfect Supernatural episode. Must list my favorite parts:

• agents DeYoung and Shaw (Styx)
• Sam and Dean posing as agents was mistaken for larping (live action role playing) by comic book store owner.
• Fans of Sam/Dean — that’s just sick, says Dean.
• “The best parts are when they cry.” – publisher of Supernatural books
• Sam and Dean showing their “tattoos” to prove they are fans. And pretty much this whole scene.
• “Is this some kind of Misery thing?” – Chuck Shurley
• Dean’s knowledge of Vonegut (“What?” – Sam; “What?” – Dean)
• “Sam tossed his gigantic darks into the machine….”
• “You just thought I was a dick.” – Dean to Sam, as he reads the manuscript that foretells the current events.
• Lilith and Sam’s “fiery demonic passion”
• the whole scene with the bacon cheeseburger / veggie tofu burger
• Dean wearing pink band-aids
• “Writing yourself into the story is one thing, but as a prophet? That’s like M. Knight level douchiness.” – Chuck
• the clever way Dean gets Castiel to help, and gets Lilith gone. I so want an archangel looking out for me.

Sam’s talk with Chuck about the demon blood sucking was so good, and Chuck seemed to have the proper sympathy for him. I’m kind of on board here. I really do think Sam (at least thinks) is doing it for the right reasons. He feels it’s all on his shoulders because Dean is too weak. Still, probably not a great idea, but Sam feels backed into a corner. It makes so much sense, since he’s always been the little girl of the two, and now he needs to be strong because Dean can’t be, and this is the only way he can think of to do it (with lots of suggesting by the Ruby I no longer trust). But Chuck can’t warn Sam and Dean of what he sees; why wouldn’t Sam and Dean be bugging him incessantly? I would be. Dude, he’s a prophet; there’s gotta be some help in there somewhere.

“Jump the Shark“
Sam and Dean find out they have a brother, John’s love child, who ends up just being a ghoul (though there really was a brother) getting revenge on John’s children because John left him and his sister fatherless.

“Tell me Agent Nugent (Dean), have you thought about where you’d like to spend eternity?” – Crypt keeper
“All the damn time.” – Dean

Could anything really be better than the subject of this episode? Oh yes: the title. The cleverness of leading the audience to believe they were going to jump the shark and bring in a third Winchester brother was brilliant, and the Supernatural writers found yet another new way to play with us viewers, in a good way.

I’m keeping this one short (not an easy task for me, as you can tell by the three episodes above!) and bringing up two points:

1. Sam lost a lot of blood, which means he lost a lot of demon blood, which means he’ll be weak. This surely will take an important place in the next three episodes somehow.

2. Dean lost an infinite amount of respect for John in this episode, although there have been pieces of it building up for a long time. Sam takes it as a compliment when Dean tells him he is more like John than he ever thought, but Dean clearly didn’t mean it that way. There is an element of selfishness to John and Sam’s approach that Dean has had it with.

I can’t believe I only have three more episodes to watch, and then I have to wait — not very patiently! — like the rest of you for season five of Supernatural to start.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jul 19, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT