History Recap / SupernaturalS08E21TheGreatEscapist

* HeyItsThatGuy: Curtis Armstrong, who plays Metatron, played Dudley "Booger" Dawson in ''Film/RevengeOfTheNerds'', Herbert Quentin Viola in ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'', and Peter Goldman in ''Series/TheCloser''. He also does the voice for Snot on ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' and the titular character of ''WesternAnimation/DanVs''.

* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: Crowley's angel-killing gun. Although it does make one wonder how you melt down an angel blade, which then leads you to wonder how and of what angel blades are made.

* IncaMythology: Sam received a 3.7 MB e-mail yesterday from "Mythology Weekly" with the subject line "This month we focus on Inca mythology".

* LotusEaterMachine: After capturing him, Crowley scrubs Kevin's short term memory and places him in a reality-bubble duplicate of his boat hideout. Going in there makes it possible for his demons to assume Sam and Dean's forms and manipulate Kevin to translate their half of the demon tablet. Kevin figures it out, tricks the demons, and taunts Crowley when he comes to confront him.

** Metatron asks about the archangels, and Sam and Dean explain that Michael and Lucifer are [[Recap/SupernaturalS05E22SwanSong locked in the Pit]] and [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E15TallTales Gabriel]] and [[Recap/SupernaturalS06E22TheManWhoKnewTooMuch Raphael]] are dead.

-->'''Crowley:''' I'm the daring-est devil you've ever met, love.

-->'''Castiel:''' How many times have you torn into my head and washed it clean?
-->'''Naomi:''' Frankly? Too damn many.

-->'''Sam:''' And I remember looking at this picture of [[PuritySue Sir Galahad]], and he was kneeling, and [[NaturalSpotlight light streaming]] over his face, and, I remember... thinking, uh, I could never go on a quest like that. Because I'm not clean. I mean, I was just a little kid. You think, maybe I knew? I mean, deep down, that I had demon blood in me, and about the evil of it, and that I'm — wasn't pure?

-->'''Sam:''' It doesn't matter anymore. Because these trials... they're purifying me.

* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Dean, at least from Sam's point of view. Also, a bit of a RunningGag recalling Sam correcting Dean's "Siamese twins" with "conjoined twins" in [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E15TallTales "Tall Tales" (S02, Ep15)]].

-->'''Sam:''' Yeah! Yeah, I do. You're not — you're not really supposed to say Indians, it's... We should go.
* PopCulturePunEpisodeTitle: Playing with the title of the film ''Film/TheGreatEscape''. This movie was [[ContinuityNod previously referenced]] in the episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E07TheUsualSuspects "The Usual Suspects" (S02, Ep07)]], when Dean addressed a note to Hilt and signed it [=McQueen=], to signal that Sam should escape from the police station.

* POVCam: When Kevin opens his eyes in the teaser, there is an out of focus shot which shows the room upside down representing Kevin's viewpoint who woke up lying on his back.

-->'''Metatron:''' But really... really, it was your storytelling. That is the true flower of free will. At least as you've mastered it so far. When you create stories, you become gods, of tiny, intricate dimensions unto themselves. So many worlds! I have read... as much as it's possible for an angel to read, and I haven't caught up.
* PrimaDonnaDirector: A new and surprisingly fitting aspect of the King of Hell.

* {{Retcon}}: In [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin "A Little Slice Of Kevin" (S08, Ep07)]], Kevin identifies Metatron as an Archangel who wrote the tablets, but in this episode Metatron says he is not an Archangel.

* RoomFullOfCrazy: Kevin adds the post-it stuck to his face to the numerous notes covering the walls. The windows and walls of Crowley's simulation of Garth's boat are also covered with sigils in red paint.
* RustproofBlood: The bright red paint-like blood decorating the table and other surfaces of the Santa Fe Biggerson's restaurant.
* UsefulNotes/SchrodingersCat: Castiel exists in a quantum superposition which allows him to exist in all of the Biggerson's restaurants at once due to the similar layouts of each restaurant. He then chooses which restaurant he will manifest in and is able to elude the angels chasing him.

-->'''Ion:''' It's their sameness. Castiel is using it against us. Now, we try to orient ourselves, but it's as if we're in every Biggerson's at once - trapped in a quantum superposition. Now, he chooses which to go to next. That's what's giving him the edge.

-->'''Ion:''' There's — there's just so many Biggerson's.

* SeriesContinuityError: Sam tells a story about Dean having a flatulent mule when they visited the Grand Canyon as young children with their father, but in [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E09Croatoan "Croatoan" (S02, Ep09)]], Dean said he had never been to the Grand Canyon.

** The demon pretending to be Sam calls Kevin "Special K", which may reference [[http://www.specialk.com/ the cereal]] or be a reference to the drug ketamine.

* ShutUpHannibal: Castiel is tired of Ion's explanations.
-->'''Castiel:''' Ion. [Castiel hits Ion, knocking him to the ground.] Shut up.

-->'''Castiel:''' In the words of a good friend... bite me.
* SourceMusic: Kevin's "hunter mousetrap" which caught the demons impersonating Sam and Dean includes "Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, the theme song to ''Main/TheDatingGame'', playing at an obnoxiously loud level. When the scene cuts to Crowley, the song can be heard coming from his cell phone.

* SpottingTheThread: Kevin eventually catches on that the "Sam" and "Dean" that visit him are just Demons in disguise. When Crowley asks him how he found out, Kevin says it was the minor things such as forgetting their secret knock, but what really gave them away is that [[GoodIsNotNice they were far too nice]], such as bringing him a complete barbecue dinner when he asks for one.
-->'''Crowley:''' So... my [[{{Irony}} demons were too polite]]?
* StealthHiBye: Castiel just disappears from the Santa Fe restaurant to the shock of one of the waiters.
-->'''Perry on all fours under the table where Castiel was sitting:''' I swear to God, Lance, the guy just disappeared.

-->'''Kara the waitress:''' Been on the road a long time, huh?

-->'''Ion:''' Nothing matters.

* SupernaturalSensitivity: The transformation by the trials allows Sam to sense Metatron and actually causes him to hear a ringing sound when Metatron in nearby.

* TermsOfEndangerment: After shooting two of her assistant's, Crowley calls Naomi "darling". When he points his gun at her, he calls her "love".

-->'''Crowley:''' I was thinking to myself, "Self, if Cas got away from her by touching the tablet, why would he ever stop touching the tablet?" And then I thought to myself, "Self... he hasn't stopped touching the tablet, now has he?"
* TheThreeTrials: Trial #3 = To cure a demon.

-->'''Kevin:''' Which means if you're watching this, then I... then I — I'm dead. I'm dead, you bastards! So screw you, [[RageAgainstTheHeavens screw God]], and everybody in between! Crowley must've gotten to me.
* TheVoiceless: The Two Rivers Hotel manager does not say a line, but still is able to menace.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Naomi has Ion and Esper kill everyone in the Santa Fe Biggerson's restaurant trying to recover the Angel Tablet.
* WhatTheHellHero: Sam and Dean call Metatron on the fact that while he has been enjoying stories and reading about people suffering, he has done nothing to ease that suffering, even when it was done by his brother angels.

-->'''Crowley:''' I'm the daringest devil you've ever met, love.

------

[[Characters/SupernaturalProphets Kevin]] has [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E19TaxiDriver been captured]] by [[Characters/SupernaturalDemons Crowley]], and his short-term memory was erased so he believes he is still on [[Characters/SupernaturalHunters Garth]]'s boat and that Sam and Dean have brought him the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin other half of the demon tablet]]. Kevin is initially suspicious when the fake Sam and Dean working for Crowley do not use the secret knock when they arrive, but when he sees the other half of the tablet, he is so excited he reveals to the demons that he should now be able to discover what the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E14TrialAndError third trial]] is which will allow them to close all [[{{Hellgate}} Gates to Hell]].

[[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Castiel]] is drinking coffee in a Biggerson's restaurant in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico Santa Fe, New Mexico.]] There is a buzzing noise, and Castiel notes vibrations in his coffee. Castiel disappears just before two other angels, [[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Ion and Esper]], appear in the restaurant. Ion and Esper then report back to [[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Naomi]], explaining how Castiel is using the similarity of layout between the different Biggerson's restaurants to be in all the locations of this ubiquitous restaurant at once, until he appears in a single location he chooses. This tactic is making it impossible for them to catch Castiel and recover the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E17GoodbyeStranger Angel Tablet]], and Naomi insists they make Castiel stop. Castiel is seen appearing in the same position in Biggerson's restaurants in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Bay,_Florida Palm Bay, Florida,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver,_Colorado Denver, Colorado,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh,_Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon Portland, Oregon,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri St. Louis, Missouri,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Maine Bangor, Maine,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno,_Nevada Reno, Nevada,]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson,_Arizona Tucson, Arizona.]]

Sam recognizes a symbol in Kevin's notes which is used every time God's scribe, [[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Metatron]], makes an editor's note, as a symbol used by the Two Rivers tribe in Colorado. Sam and Dean arrive at Two Rivers Hotel and Casino off [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_34 Route 34 in Colorado.]] Sam starts to have a ringing in his ears and becomes even more ill. Dean questions the gift shop owner and learns that Two River Tribe settled in this location because the great spirit's sacred messenger dwelt here, and if they offered the spirit stories, he would bless them. Sam notices boxes of books being delivered to a room in the hotel, and concludes that this is where Metatron is staying. However, Sam collapses from the fever, and Dean has to put him in an ice bath to bring his temperature down.

When Castiel teleports back to the Biggerson's restaurant in Santa Fe, he finds the staff and patrons dead, except for Kara, the waitress who previously served him coffee. Kara has her eyes burned out and is repeating, "They said you have to stop." When he kneels down to help her, Ion appears behind Castiel with his angel blade at Castiel's throat. Naomi starts interrogating Castiel, but he will not reveal where the Angel Tablet is. A search of the other Biggerson's restaurants does not turn up the tablet. Crowley suddenly appears shooting Esper through the neck and shooting Ion in the arm with bullets made from a melted down angel blade. Naomi starts to glow with light, but when Crowley points the gun at her, she disappears. Crowley then shoots Castiel in the stomach, and Ion, who is actually a double agent for Crowley, helps Crowley bring Castiel back to Crowley's office. Crowley says he knows that Castiel wont tell him where the tablet is, but he has already figured out where Castiel hid the tablet. Crowley then reaches into the wound in Castiel's abdomen and pulls out the Angel Tablet.

After Sam regains consciousness, Sam and Dean enter the room where the books were delivered. They find an older man with a shotgun surrounded by stacks of books who has no idea who the Winchesters are and asks them if they are working for [[Characters/SupernaturalAngels Michael or Lucifer]]. They realize that he is Metatron, and that the Scribe of God has so isolated himself that he did not hear about the Apocalypse or the Civil War in heaven. Metatron recognizes the tinnitus Sam is suffering from as resonance from being so close to him, the source of the Word of God, and knows that Sam has undertaken the trials. Metatron explains that he has been hiding from the archangels since God disappeared, as he knew they were scheming to take over the universe, but would need the Word of God and him to do this. Sam and Dean try to explain the suffering humans have experienced at the hands of angels, and tell Metatron about Kevin, whom they presume is dead.

Kevin asks the demons pretending to be Sam and Dean to get him barbecue and pad thai, but when they return he says he is still having trouble translating the portion of the tablet he has, and Kevin asks them to get the other half of the Demon Tablet, which [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E19TaxiDriver Kevin hid]]. These demons find themselves trapped in a devil's trap when they go to the location Kevin gave them. The demons call Crowley, who is furious and goes to confront Kevin. When Crowley asks how Kevin knew the charade was not real, Kevin explains that the real Sam and Dean would never have gone to get him barbecue when there were burritos in the fridge. When Kevin refuses to tell Crowley what is on the tablet, Crowley strangles Kevin. Metatron erases Crowley's angel warding and transports Kevin's body, still clutching the second half of the Demon Tablet, in blinding white light that burns Crowley. After Kevin's body appears in Metatron's room in the Two Rivers Hotel, Metatron touches Kevin's chest bringing him back to life and healing his bruises. Kevin wakes up and says he knows what the third trial is, but when Sam asks what it is, it is Metatron who answers, "To cure a demon."

Castiel was left alone with Ion, who is trying to excuse his actions by explaining how hard it was to work for Naomi in heaven's intelligence division. Castiel digs the angel-blade bullet out of his gut, and distracts Ion, knocking him to the ground. He then pushes the bullet through Ion's eye and into his brain, killing Ion. Sam and Dean are driving in the Impala discussing what the consequences of completing the trials might be, when a figure suddenly appears lying in the road. Dean slams on the breaks, and they avoid hitting the wounded Castiel.

----

* AbandonedArea: Crowley's [[{{Pun}} staging area]] is a a wrecked movie theater with a bank of security monitors and mummy cases decorating the walls. The simulation of Garth's boat is on the other side of the torn film screen.
* ActingForTwo: Creator/JensenAckles and Creator/JaredPadalecki play the two different demon versions of Sam and Dean, which each have slightly different characteristics than the Sam and Dean they usually play.
* AscendedDemon / FindTheCure: The third trial is to cure a demon.
* AwakeningTheSleepingGiant: Metatron had withdrawn from the world, heaven, and hell, to the point that he had not heard about the events of the Apocalypse, but now he is back in the game.
* AwesomeButImpractical: Castiel is seen holding a mechanical 17 jewels watch, instead of a more accurate modern quartz watch. The watch face is dirty, and Castiel puts it back in his pocket when the waitress approaches. This wrist watch presumably belonged to [[Characters/SupernaturalOtherHumans Jimmy Novak]], and it leaves one wondering if Castiel has kept Jimmy's wedding ring in the [[{{Hammerspace}} same place]] he kept the watch.
* BadassBookworm: Metatron, found among stacks and stacks of books, which put even Bobby Singer's collection to shame.
* BathtubScene: Sam is submerged in a bathtub full of ice cubes to bring down his fever. The fact that he is fully clothed makes this less {{Fanservice}} than most bathtub scenes.
* TheBigBoard: Sam is once again sitting in the Men of Letters' MissionControl at the table with an illuminated world map with red and black discs and a protractor sitting on it.

* BizarreTasteInFood: SubvertedTrope with Kevin's extremely specific and odd food requests being an ImpostorExposingTest.
-->'''Fake Sam:''' Garlic mashed potatoes, mixed greens with... baby lettuce, cornbread, and, uh, Pad Thai?

** Biggerson's restaurant and bar has many similarities to [[http://www.tgifridays.com/ T.G.I. Fridays]] including the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TGIFridays_world_map.svg ubiquitous nature]] of the restaurant chain. In this episode, we also see more of Biggerson's menu items including "new south-west tacos", "smart-heart beer-battered tempura tempters", and "ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich", which would not be out of place on a T.G.I. Fridays menu.
** The packages outside Metatron's room had logos for Quick Post and DHF, which resemble [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FedEx FedEx]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHL_Global_Mail DHL.]]
* BloodIsTheNewBlack: Crowley does not wash his hands or the Angel Tablet covered in Castiel's blood before going to see Kevin.
* BrainFever: Sam's [[{{Portmanteau}} trialberculosis]] seems to have evolved into this with a case of tinnitus when near Metatron.

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Castiel, clearly upset by the destruction inflicted by angels, kneels beside the blinded and injured Kara, which provides enough distraction for Ion to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished catch Castiel]] with an angel blade against his throat.
* ComfortFood: Dean makes Sam John Winchester's "cure-all kitchen sink stew" with enough cayenne pepper to burn off your lips.

** A super-soaker full of holy water was previously seen in [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E01WeNeedToTalkAboutKevin "We Need to Talk About Kevin" (S08, Ep01)]] and [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin "A Little Slice Of Kevin" (S08, Ep07)]].
** The window behind Sam's e-mail on the laptop seems to be a web search with the web address: [=http://searchtheweb/#q=Sussex+Kearney+MI+Jeff+Bult&hl=en=]. Sussex was the company owned by Jeff Bult in Kearney, Missouri, in [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E06SouthernComfort "Southern Comfort" (S08, Ep06)]]. It is unclear why Sam was checking up on this old case.
** Sam asks Dean if any of the prophets in line, which were seen in [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin "A Little Slice Of Kevin" (S08, Ep07)]], have been activated as would be expected if Kevin dies.
** Biggerson's restaurant chain is used for good by Castiel, where the Leviathans had previously used it for their own sinister motives in [[Recap/SupernaturalS07E09HowToWinFriendsAndInfluenceMonsters "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters" (S07, Ep09)]]. Famine also made use of a Biggerson's restaurant in [[Recap/SupernaturalS05E14MyBloodyValentine "My Bloody Valentine" (S05, Ep14)]]. Veritas turned her powers against a Biggerson's waitress in [[Recap/SupernaturalS06E06YouCantHandleTheTruth "You Can't Handle The Truth" (S06, Ep06)]]. Sam wins one year of free food after being the one-millionth guest of the Biggerson’s restaurant family in [[Recap/SupernaturalS03E03BadDayAtBlackRock "Bad Day At Black Rock" (S03, Ep03)]]. Sam gets Biggerson take-out in [[Recap/SupernaturalS07E03TheGirlNextDoor "The Girl Next Door" (S07, Ep03)]], and Dean gets Biggerson take-out in [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E19TaxiDriver "Taxi Driver" (S08, Ep19)]].
** After shooting Castiel in the gut and taking him to his office, Crowley says he just wants to chat with his old business partner, referencing Castiel's betrayal in [[Recap/SupernaturalS06E22TheManWhoKnewTooMuch "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (S06, Ep22)]].

** Metatron asks about the archangels, and Sam and Dean explain that Michael and Lucifer are [[Recap/SupernaturalS05E22SwanSong locked in the pit]] and [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E15TallTales Gabriel]] and [[Recap/SupernaturalS06E22TheManWhoKnewTooMuch Raphael]] are dead.

-->'''Dean to Sam:''' The bloody handkerchiefs, the fever, the shaky legs... this is not good.
* EiffelTowerEffect: Outside the window of the Biggerson's restaurant in Palm Bay, Florida, a palm tree and shop called Organics can be seen. In Denver, Colorado, there are skyscrapers in front of blue mountains. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Roberto Clemente Bridge and historic Fulton building are seen.

* EvilBrit: Crowley throws out a couple of terms more often heard in the U.K. After Crowley tears the tablet from Castiel's belly, Crowley covered in Castiels blood smiles and says, "Oh, you're a pip, you are." Pip could also be meant as a reference to the protagonist of ''Literature/GreatExpectations''. Later, when he realizes that Kevin has seen through his masquerade, Crowley calls Kevin a "little prat", and he says he has "deals and plans up the jacksie".

** Also, Castiel overpowers and kills Ion by shoving the angel-blade bullet through his eye.

-->'''Sam:''' You really haven’t heard of us? What kind of angel are you? We’re the freaking Winchesters.
* ForgetsToEat: Sam has not eaten for 3 days. Dean is so motivated to get Sam to eat, he offers to do the airplane spoon.

* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: Metatron asks the people of the Two Rivers Tribe for an offering, their stories.
* GoodGunsBadGuns: Crowley's Angel Blade Pistol is a Luger.
* GoshdangItToHeck: One of the demons refers to Kevin as a "dab of crap" and Crowley calls him a "smudge". Sam says "freaking".
* GuttedLikeAFish: Crowley shoots Castiel in the gut, and then reaches into the wound and tears out the hidden Angel tablet.
* HealingHands: Metatron places a white glowing hand on Kevin's chest and his bruises fade.
* HeroicRROD: Sam [[{{fainting}} collapses]] from the transformations he has undergone by completing the first two trials and being so near the source of God's Word.
* HeyItsThatGuy: Curtis Armstrong who plays Metatron, played Dudley "Booger" Dawson in ''Film/RevengeOfTheNerds'', Herbert Quentin Viola in ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'', and Peter Goldman in ''Series/TheCloser''. He also does the voice for Snot on ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' and the titular character of ''WesternAnimation/DanVs''.
* HistoricalInJoke: Naomi intertwines the story of Passover with the history of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'s'' angels.
-->'''Naomi:''' There was that day, back in Egypt, not so long ago, where we slew every first-born infant whose door wasn't splashed with lamb's blood. And that was [[SlaveToPR just PR]].
* HolyBurnsEvil: [[spoiler: For all that he is the vaunted "King of Hell", Crowley sure gets a bad case of sunburn from Metatron's power, in addition to getting knocked on his ass]].
* {{Homage}}: Kara, the waitress at the Santa Fe Biggerson's restaurant, is wearing an impressive piece of [[Film/OfficeSpace flair]] with a blinking pair of hearts pierced by an arrow. The hearts pierced by an arrow may also be meant to recall Castiel's visit to a Biggerson's restaurant in [[Recap/SupernaturalS05E14MyBloodyValentine "My Bloody Valentine" (S05, Ep14)]].

* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: Crowley's angel-killing gun. Although, it does make one wonder how you melt down an angel blade, which then leads you to wonder how and of what angel blades are made.
* ImpostorExposingTest: Kevin squirts Crowley's "Sam" and "Dean" with what he thinks is holy water in a super-soaker. As Crowley also staged Kevin's environment, it is unlikely the super-soakers actually contained holy water.
** What actually tips Kevin off is that the Demons are ''too nice'' to him to be Sam and Dean.

* InfantImmortality: InvertedTrope. Naomi reminds Castiel that the angels slew many first born infants in Egypt, and implies Castiel played a role in these events.
* InstantWakingSkills: Kevin opens his eyes and then jumps out of the bed in the teaser.
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Esper punches Castiel in the face as Naomi interrogates him.
* JiveTurkey: Dean is the Winchester who uses slang, not Sam, as Crowley points out.

-->'''Demon:''' Patios?
-->'''Crowley:''' Your slang. Special K, nose to the God-stone, that's the way Dean speaks. Sam is... more basic, more sincere. Remember, I want two distinct, authentic characterizations.

-->'''Crowley answering his cell:''' This is the king.

** We learn that Naomi had manipulated Castiel's memories long before he returned back from Purgatory, like around the time of Exodus.
-->'''Castiel:''' How many times have you torn into my head and washed it clean?
-->'''Naomi:''' Frankly? Too damn many.
* LotusEaterMachine: After capturing him, Crowley scrubs Kevin's short term memory and places him in a reality bubble duplicate of his boat hideout. Going in there makes it possible for his Demons to assume Sam and Dean's form, and manipulate Kevin to translate their half of the Demon tablet. Kevin eventually finds out, tricks the Demons, and taunts Crowley when he comes to confront him.

* ManchurianAgent: All of the angels according to Ion, but those in the intelligence division were never allowed to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia forget their crimes]] completely.

* MissingMissionControl: Garth is MIA, and Keel, who is presumably another hunter, has not heard from him. Given TheLawOfConservationOfDetail, Dean's phone conversation establishing this may be [[ForeShadowing more important]] than it seems.

-->'''Castiel:''' Ion, how far can we let it all drop? This charge was left to us. It's our mission.
-->'''Ion:''' Do you even know what the mission was? They've [[{{Brainwashed}} been in all our heads]].
-->'''Castiel:''' We aren't machines for them to program and reprogram. That wasn't what this was meant to be.

-->'''Castiel to the waitress refilling his coffee cup:''' You know, I remember when you first discovered it. Before you started brewing it, you'd just chew the berries. Folk tale is true, by the way, you learned it from the goats.

* OfficeGolf: Perhaps in part due to his Scottish roots, Crowley has selected an office with golfing statues and a set of golf clubs in the corner.
* OnlyAFleshWound: Crowley shoots Ion in the arm with a bullet made from an angel blade.
* OnlyTheKnowledgableMayPass: Kevin is suspicious when the fake Sam and Dean do not use the secret knock.
* OnlyThePureOfHeart: Sam recalls that he felt tainted even as a young child, but he believes that the trials are purifying him of the demon blood.

'''Season 8, Episode 21''':

-->What you brought to His Earth, all the mayhem, the murder, just the raw, wild invention of God’s naked apes, it was mind-blowing.
--->'''- Metatron to Sam and Dean'''

[[Characters/SupernaturalProphets Kevin]] has [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E19TaxiDriver been captured]] by [[Characters/SupernaturalDemons Crowley]], and his short term memory was erased so he believes he is still on [[Characters/SupernaturalHunters Garth's]] boat and that Sam and Dean have brought him the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin other half of the Demon tablet]]. Kevin is initially suspicious when the fake Sam and Dean working for Crowley do not use the secret knock when they arrive, but when he sees the other half of the tablet, he is so excited he reveals to the demons that he should now be able to discover what the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E14TrialAndError third trial]] is which will allow them to close all [[{{Hellgate}} gates to Hell]].

Meanwhile at the Men of Letters' bunker in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon,_Kansas Lebanon, Kansas,]] Dean is trying to get the feverish Sam to eat some stew when they receive an e-mail link to a video from Kevin. Kevin had set up this video to be e-mailed to Sam and Dean along with his notes on the tablet if he does not reset a command each week. The only reason he would not reset the command is if he is captured by Crowley or dies. Sam starts to study Kevin's notes, and Dean berates himself for failing to keep Kevin safe.

-->:'''Crowley:''' So... my [[{{Irony}} demons were too polite]]?

* ActingForTwo: Creator/JensenAckles and Creator/JaredPadalecki play the two different demon versions of Sam and Dean, which each have slightly different characteristics then the Sam and Dean they usually play.

* [[spoiler: AscendedDemon / FindTheCure: The third trial is to cure a demon.]]

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: Metatron rescuing Kevin as Crowley was strangling him.]]

* DeathIsCheap: [[spoiler: Kevin is killed by Crowley, but is brought back to life by Metatron.]]

** Also, [[spoiler: Castiel overpowers and kills Ion by shoving the angel-blade bullet through his eye]]

** What actually tips Kevin off is that [[spoiler: the Demons are ''too nice'' to him to be Sam and Dean]].

* LotusEaterMachine: After capturing him, Crowley scrubs Kevin's short term memory and places him in a reality bubble duplicate of his boat hideout. Going in there makes it possible for his Demons to assume Sam and Dean's form, and manipulate Kevin to translate their half of the Demon tablet. [[spoiler:Kevin eventually finds out, tricks the Demons, and taunts Crowley when he comes to confront him.]]

* PostVictoryCollapse: [[spoiler: Cas, who just manages to teleport into the road ahead of the approaching Impala after killing Ion and escaping captivity]].

* PowerGlows: Light as well as blood flies out of Esper's wound from being shot in the neck. Light also escapes from Ion's arm wound and Castiel's gut wound. Naomi's eyes and then entire body glows in a threatening way before Crowley points his gun at her. [[spoiler: When Castiel pushes an angel-blade bullet through Ion's eye, light escapes from Ion's eye and then his whole body as he dies.]]

* {{Retcon}}: In [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E07ALittleSliceOfKevin "A Little Slice Of Kevin" (S08, Ep07)]], Kevin identifies Metatraon as an Archangel who wrote the tablets, but in this episode Metatron says he is not an Archangel.

* RoomFullOfCrazy: Kevin adds the post-it stuck to his face to the numerous notes covering the walls. The windows and walls of [[spoiler: Crowley's simulation of]] Garth's boat are also covered with sigils in red paint.

* SpottingTheThread: [[spoiler:Kevin eventually catches on that the "Sam" and "Dean" that visit him are just Demons in disguise. When Crowley asks him how he found out, Kevin says it was the minor things such as forgetting their secret knock, but what really gave them away is that [[GoodIsNotNice they were far too nice]], such as bringing him a complete barbecue dinner when he asks for one.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Crowley:''' So... my [[{{Irony}} demons were too polite]]?]]

* TheThreeTrials: Trial #3 = [[spoiler: To cure a demon.]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: An In-Universe example where Crowley says if he were not so busy, he could have played Dean in the scenario he created for Kevin.
-->'''Demon Henchman:''' Oh, you would've made a great Dean, sir.

* BathtubScene: Sam is submerged in a bathtub full of ice cubes to bring down his fever. The fact that he is fully clothed makes this less {{Fanservice}} than most bathtub scenes.
* TheBechdelTest: Failed.

* DeathIsCheap: [[spoiler: Kevin is killed by Crowley, but is brought back to life by Metatron.]]
* DeggansRule: Failed.

* ImpersonatingAnOfficer: Sam and Dean impersonate FBI agents and make Kevin pretend to be their supervisor.
-->'''Sergent:'''' How old are you?
-->'''Kevin:''' Old enough. And I'm with the FBI, so you have to do what I say, or...

* FridgeBrilliance: Since [[spoiler: Kevin briefly died]] did another prophet get activated in the same manner that a second slayer was activated in ''[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E10WhatsMyLinePart2 Buffy The Vampire Slayer]]''?
** Kevin didn't die; he was merely unconscious.

!!The Great Escapist

!The Great Escapist

* ActingForTwo: JensenAckles and JaredPadalecki play the two different demon versions of Sam and Dean, which each have slightly different characteristics then the Sam and Dean they usually play.

* ContinuitySnarl: Sam tells a story about Dean having a flatulent mule when they visited the Grand Canyon as young children with their father, but in [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E09Croatoan "Croatoan" (S02, Ep09)]], Dean said he had never been to the Grand Canyon.
** Remember, Sam's now remembering things more clearly.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Curtis Armstrong who plays Metatron, played Dudley "Booger" Dawson in ''Film/RevengeOfTheNerds'', Herbert Quentin Viola in ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'', and Peter Goldman in ''Series/TheCloser''. He also does the voice for Snot on ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.

Kevin asks the demons pretending to be Sam and Dean to get him barbecue and pad thai, but when they return he says he is still having trouble translating the portion of the tablet he has, and Kevin asks them to get the [[Recap/SupernaturalS08E19TaxiDriver other half of thr Demon Tablet Kevin hid]]. These demons find themselves trapped in a devil's trap when they go to the location Kevin gave them. The demons call Crowley, who is furious and goes to confront Kevin. When Crowley asks how Kevin knew the charade was not real, Kevin explains that the real Sam and Dean would never have gone to get him barbecue when there were burritos in the fridge. When Kevin refuses to tell Crowley what is on the tablet, Crowley strangles Kevin. Metatron erases Crowley's angel warding and transports Kevin's body, still clutching the second half of the Demon Tablet, in blinding white light that burns Crowley. After Kevin's body appears in Metatron's room in the Two Rivers Hotel, Metatron touches Kevin's chest bringing him back to life and healing his bruises. Kevin wakes up and says he knows what the third trial is, but when Sam asks what it is, it is Metatron who answers, "To cure a demon."

* FridgeLogic:
** Even though Castiel was released from Naomi's influence when he touched the tablet, why didn't Naomi at least try using her mind control device to extract the whereabouts of the tablet from Castiel's mind?
*** Naomi doesn't have a "mind control device." She would normally force information out of an angel by compelling them to speak, but she no longer has any power over Castiel because he was reset by the tablet, and she never had any such control over Crowley. Plus, Crowley now has a gun that is capable of killing her, so even if she ''did'' have such a device, she would have to get close enough to Crowley in order to use it on him but would probably be shot and killed in the process.
** Why didn't Castiel transport to another location when Crowley shot Naomi's assistants and she was distracted?

* GeometricMagic: The devil's trap on the ceiling of the storage room where Kevin sent the two demons impersonating Sam and Dean. There is also a large devil's trap in front of the door on Crowley's version of Garth's boat. However, the demon versions of Sam and Dean have no trouble walking over this trap, suggesting it must have had a small break in it or was in some other way nullified.

* GeometricMagic: The devil's trap on the ceiling of the storage room where Kevin sent the two demons impersonating Sam and Dean.