Looking Back at Supernatural Season 8: Episode Titles Explained, Part Two
It’s time for part 2 of the season 8 episode titles! If you missed part one, make sure to check it out. There were some interesting references.
8.12 “As Time Goes By”
This episode title is taken from a song by the same title. The song became famous in 1941 when it was featured in the movie “Casablanca”. In this episode, we find out that that John Winchester had an old music box that played the song “As Time Goes By”. It was given to him by his father before he disappeared. And as kids, Sam and Dean remember hearing their father whistle the song.
This episode also gave us this gem-of-a-line:
Henry: You’re also Winchesters. As long as we’re alive there’s always hope. I didn’t know my son as a man, but having met you two, I know I would have been proud of him.
8.13 “Everybody Hates Hitler”
In this episode Sam and Dean investigate the death of Rabbi Bass who turns out to be one of the last remaining members of The Judah Initiative, a secret order of rabbis that worked with The Men of Letters. While investigating his death they meet Aaron, the rabbi’s grandson and the last remaining member of the Judah Initiative. Together with the help of a Golem; Sam, Dean and Aaron fight a group of Nazi necromancers who conducted experiments to bring the dead back to life.
This episode title has me stumped. The only thing I am reminded of is the period sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris” which follows the early life of comedian Chris Rock and his experiences growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Anyone else have any ideas?
8.14 “Trial and Error”
In this episode Kevin is able to decipher the demon tablet and he discovers the instructions for closing the gates of Hell. He tells Sam about the three trials with the first trial being to kill a hellhound and bathe in it’s blood. In this episode we also get to see the beauty that is a Winchester in glasses.
This episode title is an obvious play on the idea of the trials. But there’s more to it than that. Trial and error is, by definition, the act of repeated attempts at solving a problem. Often without any real plan of attack. It’s unsystematic by nature. Sam and Dean jumped head first into these trials with no idea of what the outcome would be. That seems pretty unsystematic to me!
8.15 “Man’s Best Friend With Benefits”
In this episode, Sam and Dean receive a text from James Frampton who they had worked with in the past. They learn that James has become a witch and is having dreams about murders that are actually happening. While investigating whether or not James is guilty, he opens up to his Familiar, Portia, who reveals that he cannot be committing these murders.
This title is a clever little word play. A “before and after” for any of you Wheel of Fortune fans out there. I’m sure we’ve all heard these two phrases but if not, I’ll explain them! “Man’s best friend” is a phrase often used to talk about dogs. And since Portia took the shape of a dog, this makes good sense. And “friends with benefits” is a phrase used to describe friends who are sexually involved without being emotionally involved. Seems pretty appropriate for this episode.
8.16 “Remember the Titans”
In this episode we meet the Titan Prometheus. He goes by Shane because he doesn’t remember who he is. His earliest memory is being caught in an avalanche and not dying. Since then, he has died once a day, every day. Sounds like Mystery Spot!
This episode title is taken from the 2000 movie of the same name. The movie centers on a newly appointed African-American football coach as he leads a newly racially integrated high school through their football season. Even though this episode has nothing to do with football, the title is appropriate because we are dealing with an actual titan.
8.17 “Goodbye Stranger”

This episode is in the running for world’s greatest cold open. After Castiel is forced to kill who knows how many copies of Dean, he is sent by Naomi to get the angel tablet before Crowley can get to it. Sam and Dean take a case involving many dead people who had been digging for what turns out to the the angel tablet. Castiel has killed them while under Naomi’s control. Castiel manages to break his bond with Naomi right before killing Dean and runs away with the tablet.
This episode title seems to be taken from a song by the British progressive rock band “Supertramp”.
Now some they do and some they don’t and some you just can’t tell
And some they will and some they won’t, with some it’s just as well
You can laugh at my behaviour that’ll never bother me
Say the devil is my saviour but I don’t pay no heed
And I will go on shining, shining like brand new
I’ll never look behind me, my troubles will be few
Goodbye stranger it’s been nice, hope you find your paradise
Tried to see your point of view, hope your dreams will all come true
Goodbye Mary, goodbye Jane, will we ever meet again
Feel no sorrow, feel no shame, come tomorrow, feel no pain
Sweet devotion (Goodbye Mary), it’s not for me (Goodbye Jane)
Just give me motion (Will we ever) and set me free (Meet again)
And land and the ocean (Feel no sorrow), far away (Feel no shame)
The life I’ve chosen (Come tomorrow), every day (Feel no pain)
And now I’m leaving (Goodbye Mary), got to go (Goodbye Jane)
Hit the road (Will we ever), I say it once again (Meet again)
Yes I’m leaving (Feel no sorrow), got to go (Feel no shame)
Got to go (Come tomorrow), I’m sorry I must tell you (Feel no pain)
Goodbye Mary (Goodbye Mary), goodbye Jane (Goodbye Jane)
Will we ever motion (Will we ever) meet again (Meet again)
I believe, yes, I’ve got to get away
What do you guys think about this song in relation to Castiel in this episode? For much of the episode he’s fighting against Naomi and when he is finally able to free himself from her grip he takes the tablet and hits the road leaving everything else behind.
8.18 “Freaks and Geeks”
In this episode Sam and Dean run into and old friend, Krissy Chambers. Krissy’s father has passed away and she has moved into a house composed of orphaned hunters and their new father-figure, Victor. Something about this living situation is off from the beginning and as it turns out, Victor has been attempting to create a new generation of hunters by scouting out potential kids and hiring a vampire to kill their families.
This episode title is taken from the American television series by the same name. “Freaks and Geeks” follows two different groups of teenagers as they navigate high school life in the 1980’s. “Freaks and Geeks” follows the many trials and tribulations of high school just as this episode followed the hardships of child hunters attempting to avenge their families death while keeping up their grades.
8.19 “Taxi Driver”
In this episode, Kevin deciphers the second trial. Sam must free an innocent soul from Hell. After some investigating, Sam and Dean learn of a rogue reaper (Ajay) who can transport humans in and out of Hell. With his help, Sam is able to break into Hell and free Bobby who neither Sam or Dean realized was in Hell. Bobby and Sam are stranded in Purgatory after Ajay is killed and Dean calls Benny to ask him to go and help Sam. In order to get into Purgatory, Dean has to kill Benny, which he does. (So sad!) Benny manages to save Sam and Bobby and chooses not to come back.
This episode title is taken from the 1976 movie starring Robert Deniro. Deniro plays Travis Bickle, a veteran of the Vietnam war who spends his nights driving a taxi in New York. Bickle is unstable and his encounters with late-night passengers fuel his need to lash out violently.
This episode title doesn’t seem to have much to do with the film, but it works well because the rogue reaper, Ajay works as a taxi driver.
8.20 “Pac-Man Fever”
In this episode Sam and Dean are contacted by Charlie who tells them about a case in which people’s insides are being liquified. While Sam recovers from the second trial, Dean takes Charlie to teach her how to hunt. They determine that they are hunting what they deem a “bastard off-shoot” of a djinn who puts it’s victims in a fear-induced coma. After Charlie is put into a nightmare, Dean goes in after her using dream root. We learn that Charlie’s fear is losing her mother who has been in a coma for years. Dean helps her let go of her fear and come back to the real world.
“Pac-Man Fever” is also the name of a concept album by Buckner & Garcia, recorded in 1982. Each song on the album focuses on a different classic arcade game even using sound effects from the game on each track. The title track of the album is about the singers obsession with playing Pac-Man and how it is driving him crazy.
In this episode, when Charlie is put into her fear-induced coma, she winds up inside a game she had stolen as a child. In her nightmare she had to endlessly defend her mother from the super-soldier vampires that were the focus of the game.
8.21 “The Great Escapist”
In this episode Crowley acts as director holding Kevin captive in what he thinks is Garth’s houseboat. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean, thinking that Kevin is dead, try to figure out what the third trial is. Kevin’s notes point them to a Native American casino where Metatron has been hiding out. Sam and Dean attempt to convince Metatron to help them out with the third trial. While all of this is going on, Castiel is on the run popping in and out of Biggerson’s all over the world.
This episode title seems to be taken from the 1963 film “The Great Escape”. The film follows a group of prisoners of war as they attempt to flee an “escape proof” prison camp.
This episode title works well since the idea of being a prisoner is a part of all three storylines in this episode. Kevin is a prisoner of Crowley and is thankfully smart enough to figure it out. Cass is a prisoner of Naomi and has been for longer than he knew. In this episode she reveals that she has been wiping his brain for centuries. Even Metatron can be seen as a prisoner. It is his own doing but he has become a prisoner in the casino, hiding out from the archangels for who knows how long.
8.22 “Clip Show”
In this episode Sam and Dean are on the hunt for a way to cure a demon. While looking through the Men of Letters archive, they come across the tapes of a priest who was able to do just that. Sam and Dean decide to try it out on Abaddon first but they leave her alone (rookie mistake!) and she manages to escape. Meanwhile Crowley decides to kill everyone the Winchesters ever saved in order to get them to stop attempting to complete the trials. Metatron approaches Castiel to convince him to join up and complete the angel trials and close the pearly gates.
A clip show is a type of television episode. We’ve all seen them. This kind of episode consists of excerpts and flashbacks of the series and is often used for milestone episodes or series finale. This title works well for this episode since we saw flashbacks of each of Crowley’s victims within the episode.
8.23 “Sacrifice”
In this amazing season finale episode Sam and Dean manage to capture Crowley and plan to use him for the third trial. Dean leaves Sam to work on the demon-curing process while he goes to help Castiel complete the second angel trial – retrieving Cupid’s bow. Naomi informs Dean and Cass that Metatron has been lying and is actually working a spell to expel all angels from heaven. She also informs Dean that Sam will not survive the third trial. Dean rushes back to stop Sam and the two deliver one of the greatest scenes to date. Castiel goes to Heaven and is ambushed by Metatron who takes his grace which is the final item needed for his spell and sends a now human Castiel back to Earth. All Heaven breaks loose as the angels fall and Sam is left in an unknown state.
The idea of sacrifice runs through this episode and this whole season. (Hell, the entire show!) Sam is willing to sacrifice his life to complete these trials, even after Dean confirms that he will die. Dean does not want to sacrifice Sam and he doesn’t feel that he should have to. Castiel is willing to sacrifice his freedom on Earth to close the gates of Heaven but ends up sacrificing so much more.
What a great season! Was anyone surprised by any of the references behind these episode titles? Did I overlook anything? If so, post it below!
I haven’t seen the movie but according to the description Taxi Driver is about a person with PTSD (possibly?) just back from Vietnam who finds himself unable to cope with the world and being driven crazy by the people around him. He ends up trying to kill himself but is hailed a hero for saving someone’s life…
You know there are parallels to Benny and what happened in the episode there…
It is just faintly possible that the Hitler title is a reference to Dr Who as well since Ben Edlund appears to be a fan. Last season there was an episode called ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’.
I also though eilf had it when he referred to Taxi Driver and Benny- returning from Purgatory and he could not adjust(PTSD) and saves Sam,
Everyone Hates Hitler- I thought of everyone Hates Chris which was a coming of age comedy. In some ways Aaron comes into his adult responsibility. It also unified everyone in the episode against the Necromancers and Sam and Dean had no squabble about the end game. Goodbye Stranger was about Cas’s freedom but also about a goodbye to Meg. She chose to stay with Crowley so Sam could save her unicorn, It is also about the brothers choosing the hunters’ life and choosing to leave Meg behind=give me motion, no regrets.Gotta go. Will we ever meet again? These are tandems to your already spot on analysis.
Nice research Sofia.
In previous seasons they named episodes after something from a crew member’s life. Everybody Hates Hitler reminded me also of Everybody Hates Chris. Jim Michaels who joined the Supernatural crew after Kim Manners death as producer was a producer on Everybody Hates Chris till it got cancelled. So maybe that is another connection for that title.
For Trial and Error, I agree about the reference to the trials and jumping into them without enough information. I also thought the error part referred to the fact that Sam ended up doing the trials when Dean wanted to do them himself. They thus ended up making an “error” in the conduct of the first trial.