“We now return to Supernatural.” Back to the sunny, very warm and inviting Sun and Sands. We get a repeat of Dean's cheesy "Son of a Bitch" tagline, just in case you forgot where they left off. Sam escorts the bikini clad bombshell out and Dean watches lustfully. Actually, that's no sitcom acting. He actually does that! Dean waves goodbye to the girl, and Sam closes the door shaking his head. "How long do we to have to keep doing this?" Dean says behind his fake smile. “I don’t know. Maybe forever? We might die in here," Sam nervously answers with his own false grin. “How is that funny!” Dean shouts at the laugh track and audience. “Vultures.” He's fraying at the edges.



Suddenly Castiel comes in to the oohs and ahhs of the laugh track. Luckily none of that phases him and says he doesn’t have much time. “Something is not right. This thing is way more powerful than it should be.” “The Trickster?” Dean asks. "If it is a Trickster.” Just as Sam asks for clarification, Castiel goes flying against the wall.

Speak of the Devil, in pops the Trickster! He does the celebrated “hi-yo” entrance that happens so much in those lousy shows. He turns toward the angel struggling on the ground. "Hi Castiel," he says cheerfully. Castiel can't answer back since he has duct tape over his mouth now. You know, as bad as The Trickster has it in for Sam, Castiel is getting it about ten times worse. There's an untold story there that I hope we find out eventually. He zaps Castiel away.

Dean asks where he sent Castiel in an overprotective manner. It’s so nice how Dean has that type of concern for Cas, just like he would for Sam or Bobby. I know many people have been getting down on Castiel this season, but I for one still love the bond between Dean and him. I’d like to see a stronger one formed between Sam and Cas. Anyway, The Trickster answers, “Relax, he’ll live. Maybe.” Dean gets really angry. He’s done with the monkey dance. “Playing our roles, that’s your game?” The Trickster tells him that’s only half of the game.

Sam asks “What’s the other half?” Ooh, time for a delicious plot twist! “Play your roles out there.” They still don’t get it and the Trickster is never one to be afraid to spell things out. “Sam starring as Lucifer, Dean starring as Michael, your celebrity deathmatch. Play your roles.” Sam is confused. “You want us to say yes to those sons of bitches?” You know, that saying in plural form always sounds off to me, yet this show is using it more and more. Ah well, it serves its purpose. “Hells yeah. Let’s light this candle!”

Sam is still having issues with the idea. “We do that the world will end.” The Trickster is unsympathetic. “Yeah, whose fault is that? Who popped Lucifer out of the box? Look it started. You started it. It can’t be stopped. So let’s get it over with.” Oh, so that’s why the Trickster has it out for Sam. He’s blaming him for starting the apocalypse. I think. Okay, I’m only guessing.

Sam is guilt ridden, Dean is angry. “Heaven or Hell, which side you on?” The Trickster claims he’s not on either side. Dean doesn’t buy it. “You’re grabbing ankle for Michael or Lucifer. Which one is it?” “You listen to me you arrogant dick. I don’t work for either of those SOBs, believe me.” Dean prods further, for he hasn’t gotten what he wants. “No, you’re somebody’s bitch.” Suddenly the Trickster loses his temper and slams Dean against the wall. “Don’t you ever, ever presume to know what I am.”



Dean and the Trickster have this long, mean, ominous stare down. The Trickster holds onto to Dean by the throat with one hand and turns around to Sam to issue ultimatums with the other. “Now you listen very closely. Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna suck it up, accept your responsibilities and play the roles that destiny has chosen for you.” “And if we don’t,” Sam says with defiance since Dean can’t say much in that stranglehold. “Then you’ll stay here in TV Land, forever.” Glare from Sam, glare from a struggling Dean, back to the smug Trickster. “300 channels and nothing’s on.” I wish these guys would end up on Mythbusters. I would love to see them high five each other over blowing stuff up.





What happens next works too. The Trickster snaps his fingers, and they’re at a crime scene. Dean and Sam turn around and they’re both wearing blue suits with blue shirts, no tie and sunglasses! They’re Horatio Caine clones. God, I hate that show. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original CSI in Las Vegas. The rest, I don’t need to tell you why I hate them. Dean does just a perfect job for me.

“Oh come on,” Dean says, definitely not happy. Sam isn’t looking too pleased either. A guy comes up to them asking what they think. Dean gives a very agitated, “go screw yourself,” line. The original line is a bit more colorful than that, but I’ve already gone overboard with the four letter words in this recap and will refrain. Sam is a little more polite, asking for a minute. Ah, good cop bad cop. Like that’s never been done before! Sam tells Dean he’s gotta calm down.



“Calm down? I’m wearing sunglasses at night. You know how does that? No talent douche bags. I hate this game. I hate that we’re in a procedural cop show, you want to know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows. 300 on television and they’re all the freaking same. It’s ooh, plane crashed here. Oh shut up!” This is why being a TV writer is my dream job. I want to be able to get away with venting like that at my job!



Sam notices that the one guy that came to talk with them is eating a lollipop. That could be their guy. Sam tells him to follow his lead. They walk, no, they cooly stride over, putting the sunglasses on their faces, and they're ready for some investigating! This is so funny because Sam is actually getting into the role. Maybe because he knows he’s a dead ringer for David Caruso. It's certainly evidence that he does watch procedural cop shows.

While the boys "make their entrance" a remade version of the CSI: Miami theme song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” plays. It should be noted that when I got to see this on the critics preview, the ACTUAL Who version of the song played. I guess they couldn’t get the rights in time for airing. Bummer, but it’s still a great entrance. Dean's voice goes into a Caruso husk and he asks what do they got. Victim has ligature marks on his neck and a roll of quarters down his throat.