Recap of Supernatural
Season 10, Episode 18:
Book of the Damned
Written by Robbie Thompson
Directed by P. J. Pesce
Charlie returns from Europe with an occult book that might help Dean, but a ruthless family is in hot pursuit of it and her. Castiel and Metatron continue their quest for Castiel's grace.
Body Count:
For this episode: 5 humans and 1 angel.
For the series so far = At least 1111 angels, 1101 humans (of which 9 were witches), 179 demons, 62 vampires, 51 ghosts, 36 Jefferson Starships, 22 gods, 19 zombies, 12 werewolves, 10 hellhounds, 7 shapeshifters, 7 skinwalkers, 6 changelings, 5 djinn, 5 reapers, 4 dogs, 4 ghouls, 4 Leviathan, 3 Khan Worms, 2 Amazons, 2 arachnes, 2 kitsunes, 2 rugarus, 2 Thule, 2 vetalas, 1 cat, 1 crocotta, 1 deer, 1 dragon, 1 fairy, 1 familiar, 1 lamia, the Mother of All, 1 okami, 1 phoenix, 1 pishtaco, 1 Purgatory creature, 1 rakshasa, 1 rawhead, 1 shojo, 1 shtriga, 1 siren, 1 Titan, 1 wendigo, 1 whore of Babylon, 1 wicked witch, and 1 wraith.
Tropes present in this episode:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Metatron, of all people, gives one to Castiel.Metatron: If I'm gonna die, I want answers. Like, who are you now? Like, you're obviously not an angel of the lord. And what about all of this "walking the earth like Caine from Kung Fu" crap? Cleaning up heaven's messes. How many more rogue angels are there out there? And what are you gonna do once you're done with all that? Go back to Heaven? Please. The angel formerly known as Hannah has restored order up top. Smoothest it's run since God cut the ribbon on the pearly gates. So tell me, Castiel, truly, what is your mission now?
Castiel: (Beat) You shut up and keep looking.
Metatron: (sighs) Can't say I didn't try. - Chekhov's Gun: In season 9's Meta Fiction, Metatron becomes irritated when literal-thinking Castiel is unable to understand pop culture references and uses his angel powers to magically give Castiel an understanding of every book and movie Metatron has ever read or seen. This knowledge allows Castiel to solve Metatron's riddles leading to the location of Castiel's hidden grace, for which both angels were searching.
- Deal with the Devil: Sam lies to Dean by telling him he destroyed the book, then brings it to Rowena and asks for her help curing the Mark.Rowena: Shall we discuss terms?
- Human Resources: The book is made out of the skin and blood of the nun who wrote it, implied to give it its dark powers.
- Internal Reveal: Sam is surprised to learn from Dean that Rowena is Crowley's mother, something the audience has known almost from the beginning.
- Mundanger: The Styne family who reclaims the book are just human. Averted in the B-plot where Castiel faces angel Metatron.
- Musical Spoiler: When the first notes of The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" start playing as Sam, Dean, Charlie and Castiel are about to enjoy a lighthearted meal together, you know that something's up.
- Shout-Out:
- Metatron loves the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic", which Castiel shuts off before it begins on the radio. Later Metatron gets a chance to quote it.Metatron: "Swam all this way just to drown in shallow waters. Isn't It Ironic? Don't you think?"
- Also ironic, as Alanis played God in Dogma.
- Charlie calls Jacob Styne "Gambit" because of his accent.
- Castiel finds his grace inside Don Quixote.
- Simulacra And Simulation is apparently one of Metatron's favorite books.
- The Book of the Damned is a shout out to the Necronomicon from Evil Dead with the whole "pages made of skin and inked in blood".
- Metatron loves the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic", which Castiel shuts off before it begins on the radio. Later Metatron gets a chance to quote it.
- Southern-Fried Genius: Occultist and assassin Jacob Styne is an evil version.
