Looking Back at S6: The Meaning of Season Six Episode Titles
6.12 “Like a Virgin”
“Like a Virgin” is the title track of Madonna’s second studio album. I think we’re all familiar with the lyrics but I’ll give you a little taste anyway!
I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn’t know how lost I was
Until I found you
I was beat incomplete
I’d been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new
Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
When your heart beats
Next to mine
This is the perfect title for an episode dealing with “Virgins, Sam. Virgins”. The boys take a case involving missing virgins and gold. After ruling P. Diddy out, they decide they are dealing with dragons.
Dean: “I’ve decided I’m going to give Stan my most precious gift”
Sam: “Wow, that sounded really creepy coming out of your mouth.”
Dean: “I think I delivered it.”
6.13 “Unforgiven”
This title has a few possible origins. There is a 1992 Clint Eastwood film “Unforgiven” which follows a retired gunslinger, William Munny, as he takes on one more job to find justice. In a review I found, they describe Munny’s character as “blurring the lines between heroism and villainy, man and myth.” Sound like anyone we know?
There is also a song my Metallica called “The Unforgiven” featured on their fifth album “Metallica”.
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
This kind of sounds like the anthem for Sam dealing with his soulless past. What do you think? Which one is a better fit?
In this episode Sam and Dean follow coordinates to a small town where Sam and Samuel once worked a job. Many townspeople recognize Sam and he learns a little bit about how he spent his soulless year.
6.14 “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning”
This title seems to come from The 1987 movie “Mannequin” and it’s 1991 sequel “Mannequin Two: On the Move. Before I go into the plot, I have to ask why? Why are there not one, but two of these movies!? The film follows an ancient Egyptian named Emmy who is hiding from her mother because she is trying to make her marry a man who sells camel poop. Yes, you read that right. So she prays to the gods to save her. It also follows modern day Jonathan Switcher, an employee of a mannequin manufacturing company. Switcher creates a mannequin that comes to life as the reincarnated Emmy.
This episode also features mannequins that come to life. Only in this episode the mannequins are killing a group of men that all took part in a practical joke that cost a girl her life.
Dean: “Maybe we’ll have a Snooki sighting.”
Sam: “What’s a Snooki?”
Dean: “That’s a good question.”
6.15 “The French Mistake”
This title comes from a scene in the film “Blazing Saddles”. In the scene, there is a brawl between the good guys and the bad guys. The film proceeds to parody itself by pulling the camera back and revealing that the scene is being shot on a Hollywood set. There is a musical number (“The French Mistake”) being performed on an adjoining soundstage by a cast of gay men. The song goes as follows:
Throw out your hands
Stick out your tush
Hands on your hips
Give ’em a push
You’ll be surprised
You’re doing the French Mistake
Voila!
If ever there was a show that liked to parody itself, then Supernatural would be it! In the episode, the boys are transported into some kind of alternate reality where they are actors playing Sam and Dean Winchester on a TV show called Supernatural. Oh sweet meta goodness.
Dean: “Why would anybody want to watch our lives?”
Sam: “According to the interviewer, not very many people do.”
6.16 “…And Then There Were None”
This title comes from the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. The book follows 10 people of different social classes who are invited to a mansion on a fictional island. When they arrive, they are told that their hosts are away. At dinner, a gramophone record plays that accuses each guest of murder and they realize they were tricked into coming to the island but they are unable to leave. The ten guests are then murdered one by one.
Sam, Dean and Bobby search for The Mother of All’s newest creation, a black worm that crawls into the ear of its victim and possesses them. They run into Samuel and Gwen who are hunting the same thing and the monster starts picking them off one by one. Farewell Rufus!
Dean: “Well, hey there, you little herpe.”
Sam: “Why do you keep talking about herpes?”
Dean: “What? I don’t. Shut up. Shut up.”
6.17 “My Heart Will Go On”
This title is taken from the theme song of the 1997 movie “Titanic”. Music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings and recorded by Celine Dion (Alice’s favorite gal!) It became one of the best-selling singles of all time. (From Alice – Yes, in this pitiful alternate reality of ours. In my happy place, Celine Dion is where Balthazar wants her!)
Every night in my dreams
I see you. I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.
Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
This title works well for this episode that shows us what would have happened to the Winchester’s world if the Titanic never sank. As it turns out, Balthazar and Castiel worked out a plan to reverse that historical event in order to collect more souls for their war machine.
6.18 “Frontierland”
This episode title is taken from one of the “themed lands” at Disney-run parks. Frontierland is themed after the Old West of the 19th century and features many classic western elements like cowboys, saloon, gold rushes and pioneers.
This aptly titled episode finds the boys taking a trip back in time to pay a visit to Samuel Colt and collect the ashes of a phoenix, their only weapon against the Mother of All. There is nothing quite like a strategically placed cowboy hat!
Bobby: “You goin’ to a hoedown?”
Castiel: “Now is it, is it customary to wear a blanket?”
Dean: “It’s a serape. And yes, it’s… never mind, let’s just go”
6.19 “Mommy Dearest”
This title is taken from the 1978 memoir “Mommie Dearest” written by Christina Crawford, adopted daughter of Joan Crawford. The memoir depicts Christina’s childhood and her often rocky relationship with her mother. The book was later adapted as a film in 1981.
In this episode Sam and Dean hit the road with Castiel and Bobby to hunt down the Mother of All. They find her in a small town in Oregon where she is experimenting to create the perfect monster. Dean actually references Crawford’s memoir saying to the Mother, “Beat me with a wire hanger, the answer’s still no.”
6.20 “The Man Who Would Be King”
This title is taken from an 1888 short story by Rudyard Kipling that was later adapted to film in 1975. The story follows two British adventurers who become kings of a remote area in Afghanistan. The story is believed to be inspired by the travels of American adventurer Josiah Harlan and Englishman James Brooke.
In this episode we are given a look at things from Castiel’s perspective. The episode serves as an outline of his unintended “adventures” on his path to becoming his own kind of king. Castiel explains to us just how the dominos lined up to get him to the point of his secret partnership with Crowley.
6.21 “Let It Bleed”
“Let it Bleed” is the title of the tenth American album by The Rolling Stones (From Alice – and their best in my opinion). In a 2001 Stones bio, author Stephen Davis describes the album by saying that “No rock record, before or since, has ever so completely captured the sense of palpable dread that hung over its era.”
Dread seems like a good theme for this episode. When Crowley kidnaps Ben and Lisa, Sam and Dean join forces with Balthazar and Castiel to save them. The episode ends with Dean’s final request of Castiel; wipe Lisa and Ben’s memory so that they don’t remember him. Ironic that the final track on the Stones album is “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”; seems to be the anthem of Dean’s life.
6.22 “The Man Who Knew Too Much”
This title is taken from the 1934 Hitchcock film of the same name. The film was remade by Hitchcock in 1956. The story follows a family vacationing in Morocco when the accidentally find themselves in the middle of an assassination plot. The conspirators kidnap their daughter to keep them from reporting the plot to the police and the couple must track down their daughter and prevent the assassination before it’s too late.
In this season finale episode Castiel causes the Great Wall of Sam to crumble as a means to distract Dean and Bobby. Sam is trapped inside himself and is forced to confront what the wall had hidden from him. Meanwhile Dean and Bobby hunt Castiel and Crowley as they attempt to open the door to Purgatory.
So there’s season six. It may have had its rocky moments, but looking back through the episodes there was a lot of really great storytelling. As usual, if I missed any references be sure to post them below! And if you just want to chat about what you did and didn’t like about the episodes, you can do that too. Who’s ready for season seven?
Really? Let It Bleed the Stones best? I’d rank Exile and Beggars Banquet above it, but that’s just me, maybe. (see name again. No really.)
I love these tidbits for the titles. I learn so much about where they get their inspiration and get into other things because of that. It’s all good.
I loved a lot of the quotes you picked. So many of them really captured that particular episode well.
[i]War, children,it’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away It’s just a shot away [/i]
Oh yeah, best Stones album ever, and one of the best ever. The redhead has spoken! 😆
I’ve always pretty much ranked it:
Beggars
Exile
Let it Bleed
Goats Head Soup (minus Angie. I hate that song)
Sticky Fingers
That’s my top five, really. But yes, Gimme Shelter is probably one of their better songs of ALL time. I’m more partial to the B-sides. Give me Child of the Moon over Jumping Jack Flash more often. The more obscure the song, the better almost always. Especially a good old fashioned Keith Richards song.
I’ll concede that Let It Bleed DOES have one of my fave Keef songs: You Got the Silver.
I’ve been a hard core Stones fan since forever really. Last concert I saw of theirs, my third, they played “Rocks Off.” I squealed with delight and can now die happy.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I learn so much while I’m writing these too. It’s amazing to me how connected the pop culture reference really is to the story in most episodes.
Thanks for you comments!
There was alittle speculation about ‘Appointment in Sammarah’ title, which I ride the fence on, that title and general idea of the plot got ‘Kripke’d based on a FanFic ‘Black Horse and a Cherry Tree by Silver Ruffian (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4631585/1/Black_Horse_and_the_Cherry_Tree)with an Apoca-Horse named Samirah and Dean becoming Death. *scratches head* Sometimes wonder if SN writers don’t look to FanFic for inspirations.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the writers look at FanFic for inspiration from time to time. I read the chapter you posted, I really liked it. I don’t really read FanFic but I may have to start. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Silver Cougar, for the mention and the link to “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree.”
And thank you, Sofia, for the article. I really enjoyed it. I’m glad you liked the first chapter of “Black Horse.”
You kidding? ‘Course I mentioned and linked back to it!!! I hang on that story like a life line!! One of my top 2 faves which are tied!! ANd really believe it was “Kripked”. FanFictioners support each other!! Love!
Check out the “My Favorites” at the bottom of my profile on fanfiction.net. There’s like 46 great stories faved! And check the site often… more amazing stories are added daily!!
I’ll have to take a look at that for a little summer reading! Thanks Silver Cougar!
Thanks Sofia, that was most enjoyable, I was wondering where some of these titles came from. I love where they got “Appointment in Samarra”, that actually was my favourite episode of season six.
Sylvie,
I’m so glad you liked it. I think the “Appointment in Samarra” reference was my favorite one too. I had never heard of that story before and it worked beautifully with the episode.
Thanks for these, Sofia. You’ve done some serious research here! It’s always interesting to learn that the majority of the episode titles have more than one meaning, that they have hidden depths, like the show itself!
I also love the quotes you included for each episode, such happy memories!
Excellent! I love your report. I can not stand the wait but now I want to start Season 7
Hi Sofia
It’s interesting how many were from movie references this year and last year I believe it was more based on the music.
It’s funny I found Two and a Half Men more like Three Men and a Baby then the TV series, maybe the couldn’t get the copy rights.
Thanks again for putting this together, I really enjoyed reading it.
Karen,
I was thinking the same thing! It seems like each season (with the exception of the first) they concentrate on one type of media; movies, songs, books, etc.
And Three Men and a Baby would have been a great title for TAAHM especially with Bobby being the third man.
just a comment on ..And then there were none. The plot of that book is similar to the TV Show Harper’s Island, which 18 of the actors have been on SPN including Jim Beaver and Katie Cassidy. Just thought it was interesting. (Harper’s Island was known as a cross between Agatha Christie’s …And then there were none and Scream.)
I love the dissection of each episode through the titles that you have here. Although there are similarities between the episode “The Man Who Would Be King” and the Kipling short story, there is also a song by Dio by the same name that seems to fit with that episode even better. It’s about the same theme – religious conflict and acultural arrogance – as the short story, but it centers around the struggle to do what God would want while taking power in his name. It opens:
“Bless me, Father, I must go away
To save us from the ones who don’t belive
Confess me, Father, I have sinned
But maybe angels really sing
For the man who would be king”
and ends with:
“Curse me, Father,
For the change we bring
And don’t believe
The man who would be king.
We never got an answer
The question slipped my mind
I’ve been so busy killing
I haven’t found the time.”
So I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that might be the source of the episode title rather than the short story.