Supernatural may be surrounded by heavy-duty time-period competition — Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, The Office, Fringe — but it just keeps doing its demon-ganking thing, and this week’s episode, called “Changing Channels,” managed to beat a few of those competitors at their own game.
We were told Sam and Dean are dealing with a familiar foe: (WARNING: SPOILERS FROM HEREON) the Trickster, who plunks them down in a variety of TV genres.
The Grey’s Anatomy spoof struck just the right tone of nighttime-soap mingled with Sam’s utter disbelief… that Dean knows so much about this Dr. Sexy, M.D. show.
The CSI spoof was certainly lit like Supernatural‘s time-period partner (i.e., dark-dark-dark), but its true target was CSI: Miami, with both of our heroes impersonating David Caruso’s sunglasses-tugging and murmured speech mannerisms.
Best of all, however, were the opening credits to this episode, an impeccable parody of the cheerfully cornball openings to old sitcoms such as Three’s Company or Perfect Strangers.
There was a serious side to this episode, however. In fact, the conclusion got pretty heavy, as the Trickster was revealed as the archangel Gabriel, who insisted that this season has not been about the Apocalypse, but about how “one brother has to kill the other.” Less Cain-and-Abel than a worldly version of the Biblical battle against the forces of evil led by the Antichrist.
Where this goes from here, in Supernatural‘s wild current season, is anyone’s guess. Care to take a stab at it yourself?
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Trickster was not Michael–he was Gabriel.
No he was the archangel GABRIEL
The Trickster was Gabriel, not Michael.
Sorry, just saw your post.
As a lover of tv this is one of my favorite episodes of Supernatural ever! They had such great detail for every show and it kept me laughing throughout. This one is definitely staying on my dvr
Tonight was amazing. Seriously the funniest ever…EVER. Couldn’t stop laughing and how wonderful was it to have the Trickster turn out to be an archangel. Gabriel. Love it. We know they’ve always been around but to find out that Sammy and Dean have encountered and interacted with them before is just the best. So much wonderful about tonight. The cornball comedy complete with laugh tracks. Dean’s guy crush on Dr. McSexy MD. The shoutout to JDM *yay* and um…Dean learning Japanese in the nick of time. So much wonderful. Only my poor “pretty boy” angel, Cas, so much abuse from his own brother. Loved what Dean said to Gabe at the end their. Excellent.
This episode was awesome. One of my favorites, definitely! The herpes commercial was just too much. That one just killed me. And the way they tied it in to the Apocalypse…totally didn’t see that coming. Reminds me how much I love Supernatural.
Again that is why EW you are so clueless when it comes to this show!! All the other mindless shows get more attention in this craptastic magazine!
Yes, Michael is the Angel that Dean is supposed to be the vessel for. Gabriel was the angel pretending to be the Trickster
All in all, it was a pretty darn good episode! I was a little worried we were going to get another comedy episode, when they have barely focused on the Apocalypse, but then they pulled it all together and the comedy had some actual meaning, and I was good.
Some hilarious moments though, and the guys – esp Jensen – were spot on and hilarious! And that final scene with Dean confronting Gabriel and giving his speech? Sent chills down my spine! I think Dean might have just made himself another ally there at the end!
Sorry–my mistake–too enthused about the rest of the episode and made that error. Sorry to all fans.
Ken
Great ep that shows just how great this show is in balancing hilarity and heavy drama. Had the same feel as the ep when they first meet “the prophet… Chuck”… and cannot wait until next week for the “SPN convention” gonna be good!
It’s “Gabriel” not Michael. And I totally love this episode. Man, the Herpexia commercial kills me. They combine the drama and comedy spot on. OMG, Dr. Wang and the hospital show that has ghost *lol*
Damn, it was Herpexia. I called it Herpillax. Whatever. I had to rewind when Dean said Dr. Wang b/c I wasn’t sure if I heard him right. The intern that was madly in love with Sam was hilarious too.
Jackpot!
You know, I was watching the first 10 minutes of Fringe with the shadow being and that looked like a pretty decent episode, but then I remembered Supernatural was on and man, when I saw the Hospital parody, I had to stay and watch it all. That was the best I saw this weeek after Castle.
This is so pathetic. What a huge mistake to make. Did you even watch it?
Supernatural is so underrated. I’m so mad at C&E W for treating this series like crap.
Last night’s episode was fantastic. I did not see the Trickster being Gabriel twist coming. The Herpillax commercial was awesome with Sam having to say that he had genital herpes. LOL I loved both of their David Caruso impersonations. And Dean explaining to Sam all about Dr. Sexy, MD. I laughed throughout the entire TV Land sequence. I’m getting worried that Dean & Sam are going to end up fighting each other in the end & Sam’s going to die.