Oh, but fun with fandom doesn’t end there. They meet the biggest fan girl of all, the publisher of the stories who knows them inside, out, backward and forward. They want to know the real name of the author, Carver Edlund, and the meta keeps rolling! She’s worried Sam and Dean, posing as fans doing a story, will produce a smartass article that’ll make fun of “my boys.” Her boys! Ha! Even I’m guilty of that. She gushes over how emotional these “real” men are, and the best parts are when they cry. “No offense, how often do you cry like that, huh?” Oh man, I’m dying here. This sounds exactly like my last con experience. She quizzes about Sam’s birthday, his LSAT scores, and Dean’s favorite song, getting perfect answers, but ultimately caves with the sharing of tattoos. Sam and Dean’s are still perfectly mounted on their chests, hers… strategically below the belt.
Now they must convince Carver Edlund, aka Chuck Shirley, they’re for real. So, to push surreal to new heights, Chuck reads his brand new manuscript, describing exactly the approach of Sam and Dean to his door as it happens. He reacts as expected, these guys are nuts and shuts the door. They show him the Impala trunk, but he still doesn’t get it. They ask how much he knows about the angels, and Chuck admits he wrote that but it was never published. Finally, they convince him when they mention the last name Winchester. That was never part of the books, and only Chuck knows that name.
So, the story goes on from there, right? No, for Julie Siege isn’t finished messing with us. She’s cool enough to pick on the writing team now, for fair is fair. Chuck’s mind can only reconcile this with one explanation. He’s a God, and he’s put these two people through horrible things for the sake of “literary symmetry” and “entertainment.” “Did you really have to live through the bugs?” Chuck asks. Dean affirms. “What about the ghost ship?” Sam and Dean both nod on that one. “I’m so sorry, horror is one thing, but to be forced to live bad writing.” That’s it, I’m toast for the next twenty minutes.
How Is He Doing This?
Once Sam and Dean get their hands on the latest manuscript, the story seems implausible, but has Chuck been wrong yet? In what happens to be my favorite scene of the episode, Sam and Dean in a laundromat (They are human! They do wash their own clothes! It only took 78 episodes to learn this!), they demonstrate how dead on Chuck is. As Dean reads through the pages, Chuck does more than describe their actions, he gets inside their heads. Dean with delight reads everything Sam is thinking but not saying while Sam is quietly loading a washer. When Dean nails everything Sam is thinking, down to his thought that Dean is being a dick, even Sam can’t deny what’s happening.
Article comments
1 - robijean
Actually the gushing fangirl was supposed to represent the female writers/producers on the show. Her name was Sera Siege for Sera Gamble and Julie Siege. Jared has commented in the past that Sera likes to get them naked and/or make them cry.
2 - Huppy
Alice, I really enjoyed reading your review. I laughed at your comment that Lilith wanted to have sex with Sam because Ruby has.
I just watched this episode for the first time yesterday, since I had been out of town and couldn't see it until I returned. Interesting episode--I watched it again today, and I am still trying to come to grips with it. It is that kind of off-the-wall episode you have to think about.
I really enjoyed the scene in the laundromat, with Dean reading about Sam's "brooding and pensive face."
I am glad Sam went for the knife rather than have the passionate sex with Lilith that Chuck had written about. I did like Chuck-the-prophet, and to have Lilith as a grown woman rather than a little girl.
I wonder why Zachariah warned Chuck not to tell Sam and Dean his lastest vision. Did Zachariah agree with Uriel, or is he a good guy? This episode answered questions, like why we haven't seen much of Sam's blood-sucking habit, and raises new questions.
Not looking forward to the hiatus!
3 - Alice Jester
robijean - Right you are! I'm surprised they didn't give the name, Sera Siege would have been funny after Carver Edlund.
BTW, Jared made that naked and crying comment during a question I asked him at the Chicago con last November. I asked him if he cringes every time he sees Sera Gamble's name on a script. That was his answer. I love that you brought it up!
Thanks Huppy! Glad you finally got to see it.
4 - vichi
:)Hey Alice, as always I loved your review and simply adored the episode. I laugh so hard that my chest hurted and by the end I was so sad to see that yes indeed Kripke is gonna go in the season finale with the two brothers each against the other. It will be heartbreaking to watch that, but Sammy's decision is clear. He won't stop untill Lilith will be dead. Hope it will not be too late!
I really liked Chuck, Rob Benedict did a good job and I just hope to see it later on the show, maybe next season :)
As for Lilith, she wasn't really that scary, hmm? I think that little girls were more scarier than her! And Zachariah, well I don't really know what to think anymore about him. Just hope he will no be a bad guy after all, I mean, the boys already have a lots of enemies, the demons hate them, it is not necessary that the angels hate them too! Castiel will be there for Dean forever though! And I am pleased with that:)
5 - Julie
Awesome blog as always!!!
You should have seen my face when I saw Sam go for the knife! Phew! That can mean that somewhere deep inside of him, even though he dopes himself on demon blood, that Sam still has a care for the world. I can't wait to see how things will play out for him and what consequences he will have to go through. One thing is for sure; it doesn't look good for Sammy!
LOVED the homage that we got! I think we're one of the few fandom (if not the only one) that got an episode with so many references in it. But I also liked that the episode was still myth arc-linked and that the story did somewhat keep going on a bit. I cannot wait to see what Zachariah has in store for the boys, especially Dean. I think we're not done with the angel just yet so who knows?
Hats off for the cast and crew! This episode is gonna be in my faves for a long time! (Btw, I loved the fact that you noticed the Julie Siege vs Impala gig.
6 - kikibug13
Anooother episode that I loved loved loved; and your review? *thumbs up*
Also, in one of the interviews Sera Gamble commented that she was helping out with the script for this ep and it was like 'being in a hall of mirrors'. I was looking forward to it, and MAN it didn't disappoint!
Also, considering that the main 'character' in the story is SamAndDean, I would say the monster at the end of the book is both Sam and Dean. From different perspectives. (although I'm sure Chuck may see himself as the monster too. Ahem.)
Anyhoo, another thing that I liked was that Dean didn't give up. Sure, he was spooked out and yes, he is less than he used to be. But he didn't give up on Sam (I cheered when he dropped that bag before walking out) and also he didn't stop thinking. He called for help, true, but he didn't just flail helplessly that Castiel wouldn't do the work for him. He listened to the opening that Castiel was giving him, and then took off and took it.
Also, I think that Dean was just explaining what was happening, rather than giving Lilith a chance to run. He couldn't keep her, nor did he seem able to speed up the archangel's appearance. A bit of exposition there, but hey, it's Dean, and he tends to yell things when he's scared and/or angry...
7 - Elle
Alice, I agree with your review 100%. You never fail to capture the essence of the episode wholly.
I too nearly died laughing during all the fan-shout outs, including the Wincest dig (which disturbs me to no end). The other line that got me "I am the prophet, Chuck!" so did Dean's comment about Sam's "brooding shoulders" - loved it. Like many others this season, this episode is ranking on my top-ten list of favourites. I can't wait to get the DVD's and share it with my family. (I was VERY distressed that the Impala was wounded this week - that upset me ALOT).
I love, love, LOVE that Cas was helping Dean all sneaky like - their relationship is so great, I enjoy watching it evolve. No idea what to make of Zachariah now, thought. Good? Bad? Medium? Never can tell with this show.
I agree with your assessment of Sam as the "monster" in question. When it comes out exactly how Sam's been increasing his powers? Oh boy, duck and cover.
The A Rating is pitch perfect for this episode. Thanks Alice.
8 - Leash
OMG Your review is awesome! I think that the episode was excellent and that Kripke was considering the fact that in the last season next year theres going to be a lot of ends to tie so he wont have the time to dedicate an episode like this. Kripke knows that the fans have kept this "little" CW show on with our obsessive personalities. I loved the episode and I loved the fact that they addressed Wincest because I agree that it is totally wrong! I dont know which demographic is penning those stories, but I hope to God that is isnt young girls!
9 - Sun
Am I the only ones thats been disapointed with this season so far? I didn't like this episode especially with the introduction of a prophet. I thought this season had a strong opening, but for me anyway it just hasn't clicked since the red hair girl was unveiled as an angel. My personal faves so far of this season are monster movie and lazarus rising. But I've been hugely disapointed by season4.