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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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
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.
Supernatural is consistently one of the BEST shows on TV and was proven even more so with this episode. What show do u know that can make you laugh and then turn around an have u in deep contemplation of thought all within the same episode. The writers, crew, and actors of this show do such a good job. Why can’t EW (and other media) give this show more love? I’m tried of 20 covers of Twilight showing up in my mailbox. Give me 20 of Supernatural instead.
Great episode. The opening credits were HILARIOUS!!!! And I really liked the serious info we were given at the end as well.
I totally agree! I did laugh my way through most of it, and while the seriousness at the end did make me think, there was a part in the middle that made me really sad. The part with the Japanese gameshow, where the host asked Dean if his parents would still be alive if his brother had never been born, and Dean answered “yes” without knowing what the question was or even what he was saying, that actually made me tear up a bit.
Also, LOVED the Kightrider bit! Ha ha, Sam as the car…
I know. I felt really sad for them during the Japanese game show too. I wonder if the questions will ever be revealed to them. My favority was the herpes commercial. I was in tears from laughing on that one!
Ha ha, the commercial was great! At first, I couldn’t tell if it was a real commercial because it looked like the cheesy ones they play all the time.
Next week’s looks like it’ll be really good. I just love a show that knows how to poke fun at itself and be serious at the same time. Very nervous about the week after next, as that one includes the death of a supporting character. Fingers crossed that it’s not Bobby!!
I just cant get enough of these sexy brothers. That mock of Grey’s Anatomy was classic! This show keeps me LMBO!! I wonder what if Sam and Dean just DONT fight or become the vessels…would they continue to be attack by outsiders like Gabriel wanting them “to just get it over with”? Oh, and him conparing the apacalypse as a typical “Sunday dinner” very funny!
Thank you so much for recapping Supernatural. This is such an underrated show that doesn’t get nearly enough coverage that it deserves.
Few shows excel at balancing humor and drama the way SPN does. A single hour can be such a roller coaster of emotions and last night’s episode epitomized that.
The parodies were so spot on. The opening sequence had me laughing so hard I’m pretty sure there were tears. All of the spoofs were delightful and the Grey’s one offered a great shout out for Jeffrey Dean Morgan/Daddy Winchester fans.
But as much of a high as the comedic crack wrought, the episode somehow worked in provoking new pieces of the mythology and packed a pretty mind blowing twist – that worked.
Not many shows can do that.
This is easily one of my favorite episodes EVER!!! I’ve never laughed so much and even re-watched some of the funny scenes. I wonder whether the nut-cracker really hit Sam cos he looked like he was in a real lot of pain. Either that or he’s a freaking excellent actor. Well, they both are… everyone in the Supernatural team deserves a pat on the back. They really out-did themselves this time! =)
Awesome, awesome AWESOME episode. Love Supernatural. It’s my favourite show (next to Friday Night Lights).
A really hilarous episode, I loved it when Dean gets so emotional when he sees Dr. Sexy M.D. coming towards them that he cannot even look him in the eyes and then figures out he’s the trickster because he’s not wearing cowboy boots, “And cowboys boots are what make Dr. Sexy M.D. sooo sexy”. LOL.
As always, Supernatural hit the nail on the head with this episode. What a fantastic show!!
I LOVE this show. The opening credits were the best. I bet the guys had so much fun filming this episode.
Supernatural is without a doubt my favorite show, and loved this episode, was funny but at the same time very important to what is to come next, cant wait for next week.
I don’t think I have to say anything other than: BEST SHOW EVER!!!
TOTAL GUESS FOR HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO END: Both guys eventually get possessed, but their love for one another makes G-d come back into play and save them. Or they both die. Either way, it’s going to be awesome.
Except for the both of them dying part, I think that’s a pretty good guess! I think they’re both going to make it out alive (considering they’ve both already died twice) because although they said this would most likely be the last season, they said there could be another after this, just starting over with a completely new story arc. They’d need both brothers alive to make it work.
Fantastic episode! I definitely had my doubts going in but I should have known to trust Kripke and Co. Wonderful blend of humor and angst.
There were a couple of complaints about EW’s lack of coverage of Supernatural, and while I agree that I could do with far FAR less Twilight/Grey’s/House, I want to thank Ken for reviewing the show every now and then. This is one of the few “mainstream” sites that I’ve seen that cover our boys. Thanks for helping to spread the word on one of the best shows out there!
Loved loved LOVED this episode. Brilliant writing.
Jared and Jensen knocked it out of the park this episode but special kudos has to go to Jared, far too often he’s straight man to Dean and he was just incredible with the comedy, I LOVE seeing this side of Sam and absolute kudos to Jared and the rest of the cast and crew. What a magnificent episode.
I agree. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Jared was the comic centre of the episode. He did a great job, and should get more of the comedy on the show.
Are we ever going to see Supernatural on the cover of EW?!? I’m really sick of seeing the same overrated shows on the cover…its about time a QUALITY show made the cover!
Oh, forgot to add…LOVED this episode
Did I love SPN on Thursday? I knew I would love this episode as soon as I saw the previews for it a while back. Knew it.
SPN on the cover of EW!