Just about any opinion of Supernatural these days is unpopular, so I’ll state up front I loved “Criss Angel Is A Douchebag.” Not just for the title either. This episode excelled in all areas; the writing, the directing, the acting. What puts it above others is though the superb guest acting. Who knew a magic themed episode could be so gut wrenching?
Yes, the story showed another slap-you-upside-the-head parallel between Sam and Dean and the guests of the week. While such parallels are heavy handed at times, this week’s managed to give the season plot a huge push forward.
By the way, considering the word is used so much it even made it to the title, I should share the official definition of “douchebag” according to the Urban Dictionary: “Someone who has surpassed the level of jerk and asshole, however not yet reached fucker or motherfucker.” I’m sure everyone’s grateful for that clarification!
So What’s Your Safe Word?
The writer is newcomer Julie Siege, whose previous effort was the decent “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester.” She turned out a better script this time. The director is Robert Singer, who has a knack for bringing out the emotional elements of the story. He again excelled in this one. The guest actors are the fantastic Barry Bostwick, John Rubenstein, and Richard Libertini, plus a surprise guest I’ll mention later.
It’s Magic Week in Sioux City, Iowa and time to insert your own joke here. Jay (Barry Bostwick) decides its time to go out with a bang. He’s doing the table of death. With few people in the crowd watching, a clue that his glory days are long gone, Jay’s strapped securely to the table and behind a white curtain struggles to get free before the spikes come down and impale him. They do, but somehow he gets up unscathed. Another magician, a younger one that gave him crap earlier in the bar, ends up dead on a pavement with eight unexplained stab wounds. Sounds like a job for the Winchester boys!
Criss Angel, I mean Jeb Dexter, does a demonic card trick on the sidewalk that’s pretty ludicrous, but this is Iowa, so the crowd eats it up. Here’s something we haven’t seen in a while, fun brotherly teasing. Apparently Sam went through a magic phase at the age of 13 and Dean has no trouble reminding him of it. Already this episode feels right. Another fun thing that’s back is the amusing interrogation of the witness. The dead magician’s assistant talks while pulling out an outrageously long silk scarf that mesmerizes Dean, an adorable bunny and oh, a tarot card with swords found on the dead magician.
Article comments
1 - elle2
It was a great episode for exactly all the points you made here. There were some clunk moments (such as the quick out of jail w/o repercussions) and there was an abrupt cut after Sam and Dean's converstation about death and how it ends (fabulous scene) and they split up to follow leads but the next cut is to Dean watching the stretcher take Jeb Dexter's body away and Sam reporting he lost Jay...very abrupt and makes me wonder what got lost in the editing.
Bardicvoice and you both bring up excellent points on the in-your-face parallels and while these can be heavy handed they work so well because we see the brothers processing, and in this case the supporting cast was superb and all was real for them as well.
I enjoyed this episode greatly and while GC remains a thorn in my side for her distracting on camera efforts, the plot drives forward quickly and I'm certainly left hoping that whatever Sam has a problem with isn't just the whole pulling demons out of innocents like we've seen (I say that only because his comment of "the psychic thing isn't what bothers me...psychic thing doesn't make me think of him pulling demons, that exorcising demons with his mind; doesn't make me think of being psychic).
I'm a bit concerned that the only IT is that Sam can pull demons and not something more...me thinks more may be revealed in After School Special, at least judging by the preview clip, so I'll bide my time.
I'm sure Jared and Jensen enjoyed having such a superb supporting cast that had some longer scenes and I can't fault that for the actors were indeed superb and perhaps the boys got a little (very little) break in their taxing shoot schedule.
As for the script, yes, this is a much better outing for this newest of the new writers, she wrote the boys wonderfully both in deep angst and brotherly teasing and moments of just being.
As for the Impala...I absolutley noticed it wasn't there, I missed it but there really wasn't a place to put it so I'll let it pass.
Speaking of pass...Kim Manners, you will be desperately missed. I'll miss you for all the episodes you coulda, woulda, shoulda directed and the performances we'll never see. I never knew you personally so I can only miss you in this way, but for all who knew you and worked with you and loved you...my prayers and thoughts and yes, sorrow, goes out to all of you.
2 - Karmyn
Hmmm, I'm liking that definition of douche bag - I should use the term more often!
Thanks for your review Alice. I also really enjoyed this episode. I expected it to be another filler MOTW episode but think it really moved the mytharc ahead. I was completely transfixed and very tearful during Sam and Dean's conversation about growing old - I thought it was quite a powerful scene. I have no problem with Sam going off with Ruby - as you say it drives the plot and makes for intense drama. This scene had me screaming at the television saying "No Sam don't!" but I could see the process he had worked through to arrive at that choice, not just in this episode but throughout the series.
Also, I loved the guest stars and all their scenes, this was a great guest star line-up. I didn't know young Charlie was played by John Rubinstein's son, thanks for that trivia.
I too noticed the Impala missing, although the Mustang is awesome.
You should do that top ten funniest moments list, that would be cool.
3 - Karmyn
I just saw the news about Kim Manner passing away. How very sad and what a great loss to the entertainment industry and to our show. My condolences to Kim's loved ones.
4 - Suze
I liked all the Dorothy Parkeresque " Young or dead ... " stuff going on here and the 3 not-so-wise wizards were marvelous.
I'm very nervous about what Sam's getting himself into, if Lilith doesn't kill him Dean probably will ... Didn't anyone ever tell him not to go riding with strangers? Nice car though ( I've got a soft spot for Mustangs )
I'm very sorry to hear the sad news about Kim Manners, such a shame.
5 - Clarice
Hi Alice,
I read this very interesting meta by Dodger Winslow where she makes a good case for the fact that maybe it's not Charlie that represents Sam here, but rather Jay. Or at least that it's Jay Sam identifies with: he sees that choosing the "right" thing can still leave you old, sad, and alone, and so chooses to embrace "the gift", make the "wrong" choice, so he can try to save everybody and keep his friends (Dean). Well, she says it way better than I do!
6 - Deej1957
Excellent review-- I loved this episode for all the reasons you mentioned. I simply ignored the jail business. And the guest stars.... Oh, Brad *G*
I'm very much looking forward to this week's!
7 - Haven
I find the only flaws in this episode was the overuse of douchebag and Dean's scene with the Chief. Sure, it was funny I suppose but it was a random shift in mood for the episode and I would have thought something like that would be a bit too close for comfort after Dean has, you know, just returned from real torture in real hell. Otherwise it was excellent, the parallels a bit too heavy handed but the had the desired effect making the episode one of the best this season!
8 - Kate
Had to look up who Criss Angel was - still don't really get it - some kind of goth magician? Anyway aside from that I loved the episode.
9 - Sandy
Great review thanks Alice. I do remember reading a while back that the impala wasnt in two episodes (now this being the 3rd). Ive watched each episode many times trying to pick which ones the car wasnt in but obviously Ive been distracted by the players themselves (well do you blame me? lol) to notice the car missing. Please someone tell me which other 2 episodes. hehe. Oh and I loved this one. It was great seeing the boys bantering again. :) Cant wait for this weeks one.
10 - Alice Jester
Sandy - The other episodes were The Usual Suspects and Hollywood Babylon.
11 - Tigershire
The crux of this show is that Sam and Dean are played so skillfully that I WANT them to be "real" people and I want them to live to a ripe old age. I want them to hang around.
Sam has professed in the past (Hunted I think) that being in "harms way" never really bothered him. I think it might this time if he really had any incling of what harm really was.
Makes me think of a story about one of my uncles. When he was a young feller he made grocery deliveries. One day he had a passenger with him in the truck and he asked this fellow to check what was coming before he pulled out onto the street. The man said, "Nothing but a big old grey hound."
So my uncle pulled out and they almost got creamed by a Greyhound bus.
I kid you not. True story. And it makes me think of Sam. I love him for his willingness to do what it takes to save Dean (cause I feel that is his first priority) and then by doing so saving the rest of us. GRIN
I just really want them to both walk out the other side of this. More or less intact both mentally and physically. Is that too much to ask? ~smirk~
12 - Tigershire
Gah, it's obviously been a long day because I forgot to write a whole sentence.
I love Sam's willingness to do what it takes...but where I was going with that was, he might think twice, or perhaps include his brother, if he had any idea of what the situation was really like.
I don't trust Ruby. I have my suspicions about her and her motives and while I think what she tells Sam may really be the truth, she's by no means telling him all of it. Heck I don't think she's even telling him HALF of it. She's only giving him enough to keep him doing what she wants.
Which is great storytelling....no? Keeps me tuned in.
Thanks for another great review Alice.
13 - Sandy
Oh thanks for that Alice. Well theres another good reason to watch those epi's again...research....
14 - Suze
Oh joy. It's those fine Winchester communication skills in action again. Sam's not telling Dean what he's doing as he knows Dean will try to stop him and he'd rather go down with guns blazing having taken out Lilith and saved Dean and the rest of the world than fizzle out sad and futile like poor old Jay ( read Dodger Winslow's highly sussed out thoughts on this, see post 5 )
The boys do seem to have the Kamikazi gene hardwired into their thought process thanks to Big John and his Do or Die ( but mostly just Die ) world view. He got scooped up to heaven in a shower of golden sprinkles, Dean gets a leg-up out of inferno and re-hymenated ( sic ) into the bargain ... surely someone's going to save Sam? Deano, Castiel, the Toothfairy ... Anyone!
15 - Kat
Great review, as usual.
I loved this episode. Except I didn't care much for the Chief scene. It's just not my humor. I do see why people found it funny, though.
There were some things that clunked for me. But, I had a great time watching it. I love Barry Bostwick (why couldn't there have been any Rocky Horror Picture Show jokes, though?). I didn't even notice that the guest stars were on the episode more than the brothers because I was just having fun watching them.
Some truly inspiring casting. Loved the fact that John Rubinstein's son played young Charlie. I kept thinking "I know this actor," when I saw him. (I know him from a couple episodes of "Scrubs" and "House.") Loved the fact that he used his real last name "Rubinstein" instead of his stage last name, which is "Weston."
I have complaints about Sam in general. But, it's in general. Nothing about the writing though.
Thanks for the definition of douche bag!
Kat