Line #110 Recap/SupernaturalS05E08ChangingChannels


1	[floatboxright: Previous: Recap/SupernaturalS05E07TheCuriousCaseOfDeanWinchester\
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3
4	'''[[Recap/{{Supernatural}} Recap]] of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'''''\
5	'''Season 5, Episode 8'''
6
7	!Changing Channels
8	-> Town to town, two-lane roads
9	-> Family biz, two hunting bros -
10	-> Living the lie, just to get byyyyyy
11	-> As long as we're movin' forward
12	-> There's nothing we can't do
13	-> Together, we'll face the day
14	-> You and I won't run awaaaaay
15	-> When the demons come out to plaaaay
16	-> Together, we'll face the day!
17	-->--Supernatural, opening theme
18
19	Written by Jeremy Carver.
20
21	Directed by Charles Beeson.
22
23	Air Date: November 5, 2009.
24
25	The Winchesters investigate a mysterious death in which the widow swears it was Series/{{The Incredible Hulk\|1977}} that killed her husband. When Sam finds candy wrappers at the scene of death, they know what they're dealing with--[[TricksterArchetype the Trickster]].
26
27	Two days later, they're TrappedInTVLand. Yeah, it's that kind of episode.
28
29	!!Body count
30	For this episode = 1 human.
31
32	For the series so far = At least 333 humans (of which 6 were witches), 39 demons, 28 ghosts, 11 vampires, 6 changelings, 4 angels, 4 gods, 3 shapeshifters, 3 zombies, 2 ghouls, 2 werewolves, 2 dogs, 1 crocotta, 1 djinn, 1 rakshasa, 1 rawhead, 1 reaper, 1 rugaru, 1 shtriga, 1 siren, and 1 wendigo.
33	----
34	!!Tropes:
35	* AffectionateParody: Of multiple television shows in multiple genres.
36	* AmbiguouslyBi:
37	** Dean has an obvious crush on the character/actor of ''Dr. Sexy MD'' to the point of becoming tongue-tied around him.
38	** TheTrickster himself continues his habit of flirting with and making double entendres around the Winchesters.
39	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: The commercial for the fictional genital herpes medication, Herpexia, [[SideEffectsInclude lists the drug's side effects]] as follows (as recited by Dean):
40	-->'''Dean:''' ''[voiceover]'' Side effects of Herpexia include permanent erectile dysfunction, thoughts of suicide, and nausea.
41	* AssShove: Sam turns into a ''Series/KnightRider'' version of the Impala. Later, Dean retrieves an object from the trunk and Sam comments about how uncomfortable it feels. Dean later makes a comment about pulling something out of Sam's ass.
42	* AutopsySnackTime: In the ''Series/CSIMiami'' parody, the coroner explains the body to Sam and Dean while [[OralFixation sucking on a lollipop]].
43	* BadBadActing: In the ''Series/CSIMiami'' parody with a HurricaneOfPuns, {{Dramatic Pause}}s and GlassesPull. And in the sitcom parody, with the characters dully waiting their turns to recite their lines (including time for the laugh track) just like the worst of 80s sitcoms.
44	* BedsheetGhost[=/=]ScaryFlashlightFace: During the situation comedy-type opening credits.
45	* BigBad: The Trickster, revealed to be the ArchangelGabriel, places Sam and Dean through several television shows in order to force them to say yes to Michael and Lucifer.
46	* BigScrewedUpFamily: Gabriel views his family i.e. God and the other angels as this.
47	-->'''Gabriel:''' You do not know my family. What you guys call the apocalypse, I used to call Sunday dinner.
48	* BilingualBonus: In the Japanese game show segment, on the wall behind the boys are Japanese characters. "くるみ割り" (kurumiwari) means "nutcracker". The lonely character beneath the arc, "苦、", means "bitter, hardship, worry, suffering, trial". This ties in quite nicely with the aspects of the game show. After all, Sam does not only suffer from a GroinAttack, but the quizmaster asks questions which have hardship, trial, and worry as central topics.
49	* BirdsOfAFeather: Why Sam and Dean were selected as the vessels of Lucifer and Michael.
50	* BlatantLies:
51	** Dean is totally not a fan of ''Dr. Sexy''.
52	** And in the sitcom...
53	--->'''Sam:''' Have you done your research yet?\
54	'''Dean:''' ''[[[BadBadActing looking shifty]]]'' Oh, yeah! All kinds of research...all night.\
55	''[[[ReadyForLovemaking Hot bikini babe]] comes out of the bedroom]'' Oh, Dean, we have some more ''[[SexualEuphemism research]]'' to do...
56	* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: "You're brilliant! And a coward! You're a brilliant coward!"
57	* CatchPhrase: Dean's "son-of-a-bitch!" is parodied in the sitcom.
58	* TheChewToy: Sam throughout this entire episode. He gets hit in the groin, given genital herpes, slapped multiple times, and turned into a car.
59	* ChewingTheScenery: Gabriel gets really hammy once he's outed. Also the host of ''Nutcracker!'', but at least he's got an excuse.
60	* ClicheStorm (InUniverse)
61	* ClosedCircle: Maintained by the Trickster. Despite moving from show to show while TrappedInTVLand, Sam and Dean cannot leave or seek help from any other characters. When Castiel breaks into TV Land to help them, the Trickster just zaps him back out.
62	* CowardiceCallout: Dean deconstructs Gabriel's assertions that his older brothers' world-ending battle is inevitable and his personal justification that he just wants to get the damn thing over with already by saying that Gabriel's just making excuses to cover up the fact he's "too afraid to stand up to [his] family". Gabriel responds with a DeathGlare and complete silence for the rest of the scene.
63	* CrazyPrepared: [[Recap/SupernaturalS05E03FreeToBeYouAndMe Remember that special oil that Cas brought back from Jerusalem?]] Very rare stuff that can be burned to trap an angel with holy fire? The Winchesters now carry some of it around in the Impala's trunk.
64	* CurbStompBattle: The Trickster is able to effortlessly fling Cas around and trap him...somewhere. This actually works against the Trickster, as Cas and the Winchesters realize that no trickster or demigod should be able to overpower and angel that easily if at all.
65	* DagwoodSandwich: Dean makes one when he finds himself in a sitcom.
66	-->'''Dean:''' [[GonnaNeedMoreX I'm gonna need a bigger mouth]].\
67	'''Sam:''' ''[on entering]'' [[StrangeMindsThinkAlike You're gonna need a bigger mouth]].
68	* DeusExMachina: Averted; Cas barges in to save the boys, only to be quickly thrown out by the Trickster. This is a clue that he's much more powerful than a demigod.
69	** Later invoked by the brothers when they force Gabriel to bring back Cas.
70	* DoubleEntendre: In the sitcom version of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''.
71	-->'''Sam:''' I'm sorry, but we have work to do.\
72	'''Bikini Babe:''' But we ''did'' do work. ''[smiles at Dean]'' In depth. ''[LaughTrack]''
73	* EnemyMine: Discussed. Despite being previously tormented by the Trickster, Sam hopes to convince it to help the brothers fight the Apocalypse.
74	* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Dean's tongue-tied [[{{Fangirl}} reaction]] to Dr. Sexy.
75	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Herpexia.
76	* GasLeakCoverup: The "bear attack".
77	* GetItOverWith: The Trickster's reaction to the Apocalypse.
78	* GlassesPull: Multiple times by both Sam and Dean, to "play their roles" in the parody of ''Series/CSIMiami''. A step in distracting the Trickster.
79	* GroinAttack: '''"NUT-CRACKAAAAA!"'''
80	* GuiltyPleasures: Sam catches Dean watching a hospital show called ''Dr. Sexy, MD''. Dean claims he isn't a fan of the show. Later on, "Dr. Sexy" actually appears.
81	-->'''Dean:''' ''[notices the doctor's footwear, slams him against the wall]'' [[SpotTheImposter You're not Dr. Sexy]].\
82	'''"Dr. Sexy":''' You're crazy.\
83	'''Dean:''' Really? Because I swore part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes!\
84	'''Sam:''' Yeah, you're not a fan...\
85	'''Dean:''' It's a guilty pleasure!
86	* HospitalHottie: The entire point of ''Dr. Sexy, MD'', where not only the title character but also every other hospital worker is sexy.
87	* HotAsHell: The FanserviceExtra girls in the Japanese game show are wearing sexy devil outfits.
88	* HowUnscientific: Sam [[{{Discussed}} asks why]] a show like ''Dr. Sexy'' would even ''have'' ghosts.
89	* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Sam towers over Ellen Piccolo. She practically has to stand on her toes in order to slap him.
90	* HurricaneOfPuns: Weaponized by the Winchesters during the ''Series/CSIMiami'' parody.
91	* ImprovisedWeapon: The boys weaponized a ''Series/CSIMiami'' ShoutOut. They make the obligatory series of puns, which distracts the guy they're talking to so Dean can get behind him and stab him. Except he's not the Trickster. The real Trickster, nearby, was distracted by ''that'' stabbing so Sam can stab him. Yes, that's right, they weaponized a ShoutOut, and then ''weaponized the weaponization''.
92	* IncomingHam: The Trickster entering the sitcom right after having Castiel BlownAcrossTheRoom.
93	-->'''Trickster:''' Helloooo! ''[audience goes wild]'' Thank you! Thank you!
94	* InstantCostumeChange[=/=]OffscreenRealityWarp: The Winchesters enter an AbandonedWarehouse and find themselves in ''Dr. Sexy, MD'', wearing [[LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine Labcoats of Science and Medicine]].
95	* IronicHell: Sam and Dean fear being TrappedInTVLand forever.
96	-->'''Trickster:''' 300 channels and nothing's on.
97	* IsThereADoctorInTheHouse: Yes, Sam, and it's you.
98	-->'''Sam:''' I need a pen knife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and [[INeedAFreakingDrink a fifth of whiskey]]. Stat!
99	* KarmicDeath: A man with deep-seeded anger issues so bad that he's been arrested twice for spousal battery and gone through multiple anger management courses meets his maker at the hands of "[[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 TV's biggest hothead]]".
100	--> '''Dean:''' I guess you could say... you wouldn't like him when he's angry.
101	* LaughTrack: Done during the sitcom segment.
102	-->'''Sam:''' We could die in here.\
103	''[Canned Laughter]''\
104	'''Dean:''' ''How is that funny''? Vultures!
105	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Multiple times.
106	** After Sam confirms that the Trickster is involved, Dean retorts with this:
107	---> '''Dean:''' Good. I've wanted to [[UnusualEuphemism gank]] that mother since [[Recap/SupernaturalS03E11MysterySpot Mystery Spot]].
108	** Later on:
109	---> '''The Trickster/Gabriel:''' Guys, I wish this ''were'' a TV show.
110	** Even later:
111	--->'''Dean:''' Right about now, I wish I was back in a TV show.
112	* LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn[=/=]ProsceniumReveal: An ElevatorGoingDown scene with accompanying song turns out to be on a medical soap opera that Dean is watching on TV.
113	* MoodWhiplash: The episode jumps from comedy to drama multiple times. One minute it's a glitzy sit-com parody, the next minute the Trickster re-banishes a bloody Castiel and rants threateningly at Dean about Michael and Lucifer. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments And then the next scene is the CSI parody]].
114	* NotSoDifferentRemark: The Trickster remarks that the relationship between John, Sam and Dean is exactly the same one that God, Lucifer and Michael have.
115	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Castiel appears from wherever the Trickster zapped him, much the worse for wear. When the brothers ask what happened, he just waves his hands to indicate it's not important. "I got out!"
116	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The Trickster/Gabriel drops his playful demeanor when Lucifer and Michael are brought up.
117	* OutOfCharacterAlert: Dr. Sexy does ''not'' wear tennis shoes! And The Trickster may be a demi-god, but he should ''not'' be able to throw Castiel around like a rag doll.
118	* PointAndLaughShow: With the Winchesters being pointed at.
119	* ProductPlacement: Shrimp chips in the game show. The initial shot of the sitcom parody is a close-up of the food products in the fridge, obviously designed for this - though the creators [[VisualPun put it to other uses]].
120	* RelationshipReveal: Since The Trickster is an archangel, that makes Castiel his little brother and Michael and Lucifer his older brothers.
121	* RelativeButton: This helps reveal the Trickster's true identity -- Sam notes just how angry he got when Dean mentioned Michael and Lucifer. Dean later says that in his experience, people only get that mad concerning family.
122	* RealityWarper: The Trickster, who has actually always been the ArchangelGabriel in disguise.
123	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Dean delivers a scathing one to Gabriel just before they leave him soaking under the sprinklers.
124	* RepeatCut: Several instant replay shots of Sam getting smashed in the nuts.
125	* TheReveal: The Trickster is ArchangelGabriel.
126	* SideEffectsInclude: The Herpexia commercial.
127	* ShareTheMalePain: Dean's reaction to [[GroinAttack the above]].
128	* ShoutOut
129	** The Incredible Hulk. Three different versions: ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008'' with Edward Norton, ''Film/{{Hulk}}'' with Eric Bana, and ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'' with Lou Ferrigno.
130	** ''Series/KnightRider'': Sam's the ''car''.
131	** ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': "So, which one are you? Grumpy, Sneezy, or Douchey?"
132	** The Japanese game show segment was inspired by ''Series/GakiNoTsukaiYaArahende'' which is known for its GroinAttack machine. It should be noted that it is not an actual game show.
133	* ShowWithinAShow: Dean's GuiltyPleasure, ''Dr. Sexy, MD''. Also possibly a SoapWithinAShow, as they're obviously taking the soapy melodrama and cranking it up to eleven.
134	* SitcomHomageEpisode: Naturally, the TrappedInTVLand episode includes a cheesy sitcom.
135	* SpecialEditionTitle: Replacing the opening titles with a sitcom-style montage, complete with appropriately-styled theme song and credits (in the ''Series/FullHouse'' font, no less).
136	* StealthInsult: "Call it my own little idiot box."
137	* StepfordSmiler: Sam and Dean in their sitcom.
138	** The Trickster/Gabriel reveals himself to be one. His lifestyle of messing with people for fun is the result of him being traumatized by watching his family kill each other.
139	* StylisticSuck: Every show the Winchesters find themselves in is either an AffectionateParody or a TakeThat, maybe both, of one or many popular TV shows.
140	* SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat: Dean is surprised to find he can speak Japanese when he decides to play along with the game show.
141	* SunglassesAtNight: Lampshaded.
142	-->'''Sam:''' You gotta calm down.\
143	'''Dean:''' Calm down? I'm wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douchebags.
144	* TakeThat:
145	** This episode essentially makes fun of the shows and genres that were popular at the time:
146	*** {{Police procedural}}s, particularly ''Series/CSIMiami''. Dean hates that there are [[FollowTheLeader so many of them and they're all the same]], and is embarressed that he's wearing sunglasses at night. They also make fun of the bad puns that are common in the genre.
147	*** {{Medical drama}}s like ''Series/GreysAnatomy''. The episode essentially points that these shows are full of overdramatic romantic storylines and ideas, such as ghosts or a man shooting Dean for refusing to help his wife, that don't make sense or have anything to do with real doctors, though Dean defends it as a guilty pleasure
148	*** {{Game Show}}s are made fun of, especially foreign ones. ''Nutcracker!'' is confusing as the goal is simply to disorient the contestants, Sam and Dean, and humiliate them.
149	*** {{Sitcom}}s like ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen''. With Sam and Dean acting as stand ins for Alan and Charlie Harper, the show criticises the laugh track in sitcoms which often appears at jokes that aren't really that funny and how scripted they can be, as Sam and Dean visibly wait for the laughter to end before speaking again.
150	** Let it be known that the two shows that get it the worst in this episode were essentially ''Supernatural'''s rivals. ''Grey's Anatomy'' (the show that ''Dr. Sexy, MD'' is parodying) and ''CSI'' (Vegas, not Miami) aired in the same timeslot as ''Supernatural'': Thursdays at 9:00. The ''Grey's Anatomy'' riff is especially meta, as it references the ghost of a dead patient haunting one of the doctors. On the actual ''GA'', that patient was played by Creator/JeffreyDeanMorgan, aka the actor who played John Winchester.
151	** The [[Film/{{Hulk}} Bana]] and [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008 Norton]] Hulks are derided in favor of the [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 Lou Ferrigno version]].
152	* TakeThatAudience: InUniverse, Dean eventually becomes pissed with the LaughTrack while in the sitcom:
153	-->'''Dean:''' ''How was that funny?!'' ...vultures.
154	* ThemeTune: {{Parodied}} with an over-the-top, sitcom-style opening tune.
155	* ThisBearWasFramed: A sheriff attributes a murder in his town to a bear attack, because the truth is just too bizarre for him to take seriously: the victim's wife claims that he was beaten to death by ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk. This was caused by a [[RealityWarper reality-warping]] monster whose entire modus operandi consists of inflicting comical deaths.
156	* ThisIsReality: "Look guys, I wish this ''was'' a TV show. But this is real."
157	* TrapIsTheOnlyOption: The boys investigate a police officer desperately calling for backup and find an AbandonedWarehouse with no police cars.
158	-->'''Dean:''' What does that look to you?\
159	'''Sam:''' Crappy. ''[gets out the wooden stakes]''
160	* TrappedInTVLand: Obviously.
161	* VisualPun: The [[BrandX Mr. Cheese]] in the fridge... as we lead into a cheesy sitcom.
162	* WeirdnessSearchAndRescue: Castiel has been searching for the brothers offscreen and bursts in on them. Gabriel manages to thwart his rescue, but not before Castiel gives Sam and Dean enough clues to fight Gabriel.
163	* WhamEpisode: The Trickster is revealed to have been Archangel Gabriel, the younger brother of Michael and Lucifer, all along.
164	* WhamLine: After Sam and Dean figure out that The Trickster is actually an Angel, they ask him who he really is.
165	-->'''The Trickster:''' …Gabriel, okay? They call me Gabriel.

Context Recap / SupernaturalS05E08ChangingChannels