Meta Fiction As a Funhouse: How Supernatural Smashes and Distorts The Fourth Wall
“The Monster at the End of This Book,” is the first meta fictional episode to have a serious undertone. It has the same prank elements, throwing Sam and Dean into a whirlwind adventure outside their normal framework, yet this prank is most certainly on them. Earlier, it had been on the victims of their cases, or their goofball doppelgangers in Ed and Harry. This joke is most certainly on them and they are most certainly not laughing.
They arrive to a comic/book store, asking the typical questions concerning a case. They ask the shop owner if they’ve had any flickering lights, sounds of scratching like rats, and other signs of ghosts. He seems perplexed by this line of questioning until a look of recognition crosses his face. He tells them that they must be “LARPING,” which confuses Sam and Dean. They find out that this means live action role playing and that there is a book series that is eerily about their lives. They proceed to buy the entire series, reading through it.
It is written by Carver Edlund, a pen name for Chuck Shirley. The name Carver Edlund is a play on two of the Supernatural writers, Jeremy Carver and Ben Edlund. Chuck, as a character, stands in for Eric Kripke himself. Sam and Dean need to find him, and to do so, they run into a woman who helps publish the series. She tests Sam and Dean, concerned that they might not write an appreciative article about “her boys.” Both Sam and Dean pass her tests with flying colors, even revealing their protection tattoos. This gains them the name of Chuck, giving them the chance to confront him.
When they show up, Chuck thinks this is a joke, that Sam and Dean are just over zealous fans. He says that they should get lives. The prank of this episode is on him as much as it is on them. It isn’t until Dean reintroduces himself saying, “I’m Dean Winchester and this is my brother Sam.” Chuck is stunned, retorting, “I never put the last names in the books.”
Chuck, reminiscent of Sam’s season 1 and 2 psychic visions, endures deliberating headaches followed by flashes of what is to come. He is not attached to any psychic children of Azazel’s, exhibits no other power. Chuck doesn’t know why or how he is doing what he is, but the writers tip their hands possibly by having him state out in the open that he is a “cruel, capricious God.” Many in fandom equate him to being God after his “disappearance” at the end of “Swan Song.” Instead, he is identified by Castiel as a Prophet of the Lord.
Dean, wanting to avoid the confrontation Chuck has seen between Sam and Lilith, declares the day “opposite day.” The prank is rather on him, as everything he tries to do fails. He orders a tofu burger and gets a cheese burger. He takes Sam to a motel that is by the hour, with a different name, only to have the lights fritz and become the “Red Motel,” as Chuck foresaw. He leaves to park the Impala, only to be hit by the minivan and ends up seeing stars. Everything that Dean attempts fails, leading Sam to the inevitable confrontation that could potentially kill him.
But the joke in this episode is really on those orchestrating the “plan” to start the Apocalypse. Chuck claims that Dean is going off script when he pulls Chuck to the hotel Sam is at with Lilith. Castiel has told him that Chuck is protected by an Archangel, and any threat to Chuck will be destroyed. Dean takes this under the table information and puts it to good use, placing Chuck in Lilith’s path. It saves Sam, stops what Chuck saw from coming to pass, and proves that just because it’s their “destiny” that it is not entirely written in stone. Despite Zachariah’s threat to Chuck about warning Sam and Dean, it’s obvious that he’s already on the losing side without realizing it.
On the lighter side, this episode is the first true episode to actually acknowledge the fan base directly. There were shout outs in earlier meta episodes such as “Hollywood Babylon,” but nothing quite as blatant as this. Subgenres of fandom, including that of Wincest, were touched upon. Sam and Dean look up fandom information, coming across this tidbit much to their chagrin. Dean seems pleased at first that there are Sam Girls and Dean Girls, but is puzzled by this “slash” fan aspect. Sam gets it immediately, and explains that it means that they mean “As in… Sam-Slash-Dean. Together. ”
To pull further on the meta fiction aspect, Chuck admits that he has written himself into the story the same way that Kurt Vonnegut did with Kilgore Trout, interacting with his own characters. This is the most brazen meta fictional episode Supernatural has done to this point. We’re not just seeing them play with the meta fictional structure or pulling in references to the work itself, we’re seeing behind the curtain more than ever before—but through Sam and Dean’s eyes. They are reading the story while we watch them reading the story, and as Dean becomes frustrated, stating “I’m sitting in a laundromat, reading about myself sitting in a laundromat reading about myself – My head hurts. ” We can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous that sounds.
As never before, a television show can and has interacted directly with their fans. Because of the internet and instantaneous reaction, the writers of the show know what the pulse of greater fandom really is. They provide episodes such as this one to bring not only their obvious love for meta fiction within the fabric of the story, but to bring the fans themselves into the fold. As they do with the show and their cast and crew, they also poke fun at the fans themselves. This teasing isn’t malicious or cruel, but rather fond. From here on out, all meta episodes will have this particular flavor, and even those that only brush with direct meta such as “Sympathy for the Devil,” or “The End,” we know we’re included within the joke. It’s something not seen prior to the internet age, and in many ways it serves to enrich the viewer’s experience of the story itself.
It also plays on the emotional construct of the story for many fans. In this episode, Sam and Dean turn out to be “real” to Chuck, and even if the publisher doesn’t realize it, for her, too. A lot of fans feel that Sam and Dean seem very real to them. They are flawed heroes with real personalities and characteristics. Their story may be fantastical and classified within the genres of sci fi and horror, but their humanity is what anchors the program more than any of the fantasy story lines concerning the demons or angels or monsters ever had. This is a service to the fans—and to the writers on many levels—to make Sam and Dean, already larger than life in many ways, that much more “real.”
Coming up in part two…season five and six
I love the photo choices, including that of Dean flipping the bird. Perfect. Thanks again, Alice!
Thanks for a really interesting article. I love the meta episodes, with Hell House and Ghostfacers being a couple of my all time favorites. and I still smile every time Monster at the End of the Book is brought up. The only time I think meta was taken too far was when EK spoke to the fans who may be critical of Swan Song in saying “Endings are hard…” I feel like when a writer has to counteract any possible criticism beforehand, that that is a sign of a bad script at best or, at least, an upfront apology. Either way, feeling a need to insert something like that should have been a red flag to the writer.
I’m looking forward to the second part of the article.
I’m glad you enjoyed my look at the meta. I’m a Meta Head, probably rotten to live with since I eat, breathe, sleep writing.
As for the “Swan Song” slight from EK, I disagree. I think what he was saying, and it is oh so true, that no matter what artistic endeavor you undertake, someone will not like it. It just is. It’s not a slight to those who might be disappointed by a finale or episode or storyline. It’s just a fact. Just like there’s people who will always love everything no matter what. But that’s just my opinion, as a writer, that this will always be a truth. You can’t please everyone and that’s basically what I took from that statement.
My complaint is directed toward the need to say it in the first place, not what was said which is, I agree, a fact of life. Actually, even though I absolutely hated the last ten minutes of Swan Song, I took the whole episode to be a love letter from EK to the fans. I think he did, in fact, try to give us something special. I particularly liked the voice-over about the Impala, since up until S6, I considered the Impala another very pretty cast member. I even loved that cheesy cemetery entrance with Rock of Ages blasting.
But, I’m with you on meta. I love it.
I am so glad to not be the only Meta Head.
As for this, I don’t know, I still disagree. Endings ARE hard to pull off, not just for the whole making people happy part, but to give it a fitting end or a good close.
All I’ll say is see what I have to say about Swan Song in the second part. I cover that in this one, counting it as a part of this Meta Overview more or less, even if it doesn’t have the “prank” the way the others do necessarily.
Thanks for this. I love the meta episodes. They can have a lot of humour, but they can also have some tragedy. Best of both worlds. “Ghostfacers” and “Monster At The End Of This Book” are two of my favourites. I’ll be looking forward to your next part. Kudos for the pictures, I do love the one of Dean flipping the bird. Priceless!
You can thank Alice for the photo choices.
I also love these episodes. I think they’re the reason I fell so damn hard for the show in the first place. These episodes, to my writing heart, were just what I needed to get into my own again.
And yes, Dean flipping the bird is classic. If they were on a more risque channel, I have a funny feeling we’d see that more often.
This was a great read. I barely get around to read many articles lately but I had to read this one.
I love the meta episodes. I always enjoyed watching those together with my boys. That’s when I realized, that a lot of those jokes are lost on ordinary viewers. Meaning those who just watch the show without getting involved in the fandom. Kind of feel sorry for those people. They are missing out on so much.
I look forward to the second part of this. Thanks for bringing it to us.
I’m glad you chose my article to read! I had a lot of fun writing it, I’ll admit. I SHOULD be working on the novel, but this said “write me.”
Yeah, I think it’s more than just the fandom insider jokes, though. It’s those that don’t investigate the nature of story telling that miss out on these episodes at times, but maybe that’s just me.
I do hope you’ll like the second half as much as this half.
Loved this article Far Away Eyes!!!
I too love all the meta episodes. Hell House is a particularly beloved one for me when I want to watch something without too much angst and Edd and Harry are quite hilarious in it. Just leaves me with a good feeling. (fish in the back seat, Hah!)
Loved the spoon, the glue and the laughing fisherman and poor Harry having to pee in front of people. 😮
Looking forward to part 2.
I’m glad I’m not the only Meta Head.
I started this almost as a whim while cleaning out the closet. I stuck in Real Ghostbusters and then decided, “Hey, why not talk about the direct meta episodes?” I know there’s more, like Changing Channels or even Tall Tales, but they’re more subtle and don’t tie to the ones I chose nearly as neatly. Who knows, I might do something more with those meta episodes. I do know I’d like to compare No Rest for the Wicked to Yellow Fever, as meta fictionally they mirror each other in a lot of ways.
Ed and Harry, what can you say about Ed and Harry besides that they’re hilarious and a riot. I do really look forward to seeing Hell House (already saw Ghost Facers while working on the article) on my new big 40″ TV. I’m going through the series, hopefully all before season 7, but we’ll see.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article. That’s interesting about the sigils. I don’t know anything about that unless I actually sit down to study that, so it’s neat to hear that type of thing! I learned something. Yay for learning!
I really enjoyed this. I hadn’t really spent much time thinking about meta episodes in the series outside of “Monster at the End of This Book,” “The Real Ghostbusters,” and “The French Mistake,” (though intellectually I knew “Hollywood Babylon” and “Changing Channels” were meta to some degree), so I found this very thought-provoking.
Interestingly, my mother will watch SPN on and off, if I tell her about a particularly interesting episode coming up (like “The French Mistake” or “Frontierland”) or if I’m at home and watching it, but she thinks the show’s strength is in how it doesn’t take itself too seriously; when it starts getting heavy, she thinks it strays into the bad side of campy.
Point being, it’s interesting to see what meta episodes can do for the show’s tone and reputation. SPN does a good job of continuous quippy banter, one-liners, and ongoing jokes to (usually) keep it from taking itself too seriously, which I think allows meta episodes to work well in the framework. If every episode were dark like “The End,” meta episodes would feel completely out of place. Instead, the show does a good job of keeping an overall tone and feel that lends itself to funnier, more experimental things. And that’s something, for me as a viewer, that keeps me interested and entertained.
I think Jensen put it best when he was asked about the comedy and self deprecation this show tends to do. He then turned it around by saying that the drama they do on the show matches any other drama other shows do. Don’t believe him? Watch On the Head of a Pin again or The Man Who Would Be King or All Hell Breaks Loose I and II. This show can get heavy and dark, but they do keep, even in those dark episodes, the humor and sarcastic wit that keeps it from, as your mother things, from going all campy.
Take for instance, Dean’s insistence that Sam get the pie in All Hell Breaks Loose Part I. He earns himself a disgruntled response from Sam, and we laugh, but we know danger is lurking for them soon. I think the make up of both Sam and Dean’s characters is what lends them the ability to keep a tongue firmly in cheek, even in the dark and angsty episodes. There’s a line that makes us laugh and lightens the tone, even if it’s for a moment.
The funny thing about the meta episodes is how far they’re willing to go all out campy, deliberately. It’s also why it’s hilarious. Becky is probably the most campy character they’ve ever had—and yet she’s delightfully hilarious. That’s in part two, though.
What I find fascinating about this show is that they are willing to make fun of themselves and their audience. Yet, it doesn’t come off as insulting. They’re more like open invitations, saying “Come on in, join us. We want to laugh at ourselves and you can, too!”
Too many shows on television follow the “srs bzns” thought pattern, and when they get going, they can turn the viewer off because they seem to be sermonizing or preaching. Supernatural dances a fine line with their chosen subject matter, and yet they pull off keeping us from getting too far into preachy mode.
That’s probably why I love it more than any other show. I watch Gossip Girl for Leighton Meester (shush. It’s a girl crush.), but I find that when it wants to point out that the characters are behaving badly that the moral discussion hits too hard—kind of like a two by four.
Completely agreed on all points. There’s something really special about [i]Supernatural[/i] in its ability to balance the drama and angst with both witty and campy humor–and all of it feeling like it belongs on the same show. I’m usually iffy on comedy since my sense of humor is pretty specific, but SPN does a good job of catering even to my funny bone.
I think that it’s, as you say, a welcoming kind of self-deprecating humor. It’s easy to appreciate people who can laugh at themselves; it’s easier to trust people like that, too–and that in turn helps me trust the show, I think. “We’re all having fun here, come join us!” type of attitude. “There’s a great joke here that we want to share with you!” It’s not something you see done all that much, and I think that’s part of what has drawn me into the show so intensely compared to, well, just about any other fandom I’ve been a part of.
I have a twisted sense of humor I’ve discovered, and this show has a twisted sense of humor. See anything Ben Edlund has added in comic relief for this show. That sobbing suicidal talking Teddy Bear? Yeah, totally laugh every time. I. Am. Twisted. I figure the whole if you’re not laughing you’re crying thing applies to the show. They are facing life and death and nightmares every day and they have to have something to use to cope—besides alcohol and easy lays.
To me, and it’s one reason I wrote the meta article the way I did, this show was written for writers and people who enjoy great storytelling that is able to poke fun at itself and the art of storytelling. They are so inviting to the viewer, calling inside jokes from the actual fandom over and over, making US the fans as much of the fabric of the show as anything else.
After all, Jared says they do call us their family. Letting those of us who GET it, really GET it in on the joke, that’s just gold.
And this is why this show has what I call REAL fans. We get it. I have a friend that watches when I remind her that is. Come Monday morning, I’ll ask what she thought of the episode and I’ll realize she just didn’t get it. You need to pay attention and watch multiple times to catch every little nuance. This is why I love you guys, I know you understand my obsession, cause we all have it!
That’s the best part about this show for me. No matter how many times I watch or rewatch, as a whole, or in a single episode, there’s something NEW to catch, something I missed. A new layer is revealed. It’s just so neat.
And yeah, those of us who get it, really get it, that’s why we’re here all sharing in our Supernatural Anon.
Mighty Meta Morphin Power Rangers. Brilliant.
Thanks. It was one of those “Write me or I won’t leave you alone.”
I’m glad you liked it so much. Sometimes being a Meta Head has its advantages.
I was just innocently reading this article, where it says “As in… Sam-Slash-Dean. Together. â€, which I had at the bottom of my screen. I then clicked down to see the picture to accompany it and nearly choked on my grape. That screencap was perfect!
Well-written article, thanks for the read.