Recap – “The Monster At The End Of This Book”
The series ends with Dean going to Hell. Sam pushes the computer to Dean, and Dean notices there are actually fans. There aren’t many of them. “Although for fans, they certainly complain a lot.” A poster named Sympatico posted “The demon storyline it trite, clichéd, and overall craptastic.” Dean is holding back by telling her “screw you.” They REALLY need to approve harsher language for this show. Oh, but Sam knows Dean hasn’t seen the truly upsetting part. Here’s the dialogue. It’s just too perfect.
Sam: Keep on reading, it gets better.
Dean: There are Sam girls and Dean girls and what’s a slash fan?
Sam (disgusted): As in Sam/Dean, together.
Dean (shocked): Like together, together?
Sam: Yeah.
Dean: They do know we’re brothers right?
Sam: Doesn’t seem to matter.
Dean: Oh come on that’s, that’s just sick.
\
Sorry, give me a minute. I’m too busy dying in absolute delight here. I’ve been saying that for a year now. Okay, anyway, they need to find Carver Edlund, but all searching so far has determined it’s an alias. “Somebody’s gotta know who he is,” Dean says, which is our perfect segue to the biggest fan of all, the publisher. In the sides, the name of this publisher is Sera Siege, which like Carver Edlund is a mixture between writer/producer Sera Gamble and the writer of this episode, Julie Siege. Too bad they didn’t give the name, because I would have died over that. BTW, I am now christening Julie Siege as the gutsiest writer of the series. What she did with this episode takes a lot of balls!
So, this fast talking, over the top publisher is the same actress that played Karen in season two’s “The Usual Suspects.” I like her better in this one. Man, each time I watch this I catch a new reference. I love her quote, “You know they never really got the attention they deserved. All anyone wants to read anymore that romance crap. You know, Dr. Sexy MD. Please.” HA! That’s a rip on Grey’s Anatomy. I love it! How did I miss that before?
She’s all for good press, for it means that maybe that will generate enough interest where they can start publishing again. Dean isn’t too thrilled with that idea. “Why would you want to do that? It’s such a complete series, you know, with Dean going to Hell and all.” Sera goes all fan girly. “Oh my God, that was one of my favorite ones. Dean was so”¦strong and brave, and Sam (she sighs), the best parts are when they cry. You know, like in “Heart,” when Sam had to kill Madison, the first woman since Jessica he really loved and in “Home” when Dean had to call John and ask him for help.” She then fights back her emotions. I have no idea what’s funnier, the disturbed look on Sam and Dean’s faces, or the fact that I’ve actually talked that way about the show a few times. I guess no fan is being left untouched.
She goes on, “No offense, how often do you cry like that?” Sam fights back a laugh, and an unsettled Dean comes up with one of his best answers. “Well, right now I’m crying on the inside.” “Is that supposed to be funny?” She asks. “Lady, this whole thing is funny.” I can’t believe I’m still even able to type after going through this. I can’t believe Jensen and Jared were able to get through this script.
Now Sera is suspicious, and wants proof they’re legit. “Well, I don’t want any smartass article making fun of my boys.” My boys! Okay girls, we’ve all been busted on that one. Sam and Dean claim to be big fans, so she asks questions I’m sure we’re all shouting. “Year and model of the car,” she commands. “1967 Chevy Impala,” Dean answers with pride. “What’s May 2nd?” Sam’s turn. “That’s my-uh, that’s Sam’s birthday.” I’m so surprised these guys are able to play along like this. Dean points out “Dean’s is January 24th”. “Sam’s score on the LSATs.” Man, even Sam has to think about this one. “174,” he says uncertain. “Dean’s favorite song?” Dean smiles, now getting into this. “It’s a tie, between Zep’s “Ramble On,” and “Traveling Riverside Blues.” Really? There are so many cooler Led Zeppelin songs than that. My choices would have been “Black Dog” and “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” or “The Rain Song” and “No Quarter” for the mellower side.
She’s impressed enough to entertain their request. Sam asks what Carver Edlund’s real name is. She won’t give it. “He’s very private, like Salinger.” Sam goes all out to prove what real “fans” they are, opening up his shirt and revealing his anti-possession tattoo. Dean rolls his eyes and does the same, not believing he’s stooping to this level. Sera is so impressed she gets up, pulls down her pants and shows her tattoo, strategically placed low enough where the camera won’t show it. Sam and Dean continue to be shocked by this. Actually, they stay frazzled the entire episode, so I commend Jared and Jensen for that. She writes the name down. “His name is Chuck Shirley and he’s a genius, so don’t piss him off.”
Wow, Alice, this is one wicked recap. I love it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a book, tv show or movie poke fun at itself (and us) better than this. It’s the bomb (if you will).
I notice that Kim Manners was listed as Exec Prod on this one – I suspect this is the last episode he worked on. 🙁 Kind of nice that it was such a fantastic episode.
I wonder if anyone else had the same reaction to Zachariah that I did. I just wanted him to bugger off and leave Chuck free to contact Sam and Dean. GRIN
Sigh, X’ing off the days until April 23rd.
Great recap Alice!
As far as I’m concerned, the longer your recaps, the better I like it.
I don’t think Zachariah is a bad angel. Just one of the more detached ones. At least I hope he’s not the monster at the end. And Cas, I just about cheered when he helped Dean in his sneaky way. He’s learning.
Everyone was wonderful in this episode and I’d give it an A+ for writing and acting.
Am a little scared about what Kripke will leave us with to suffer over the summer.
Hope you find lots of stuff to write about our show when the summer hiatus begins.
Hi, Alice,
Fantastic recap, thank you for all the effort it takes to put those screen caps in there, love that sometimes you get the fade.
I was checking the titles of the eppies at first as well planning to include that in my comments until I realized Red Sky was mentioned but not included…decided to pass it by but they do get high marks for referring back to shown episodes (esp. high marks for JIB and the tats…show those tats anytime please.)
I thought the actress playing the ‘comely dental hygienist’ did a good job of channeling some of what Katie did when she showed Lilith as ‘all grown up and pretty’. Some of the facial expressions and turns of the head are similar and added to the continuity.
Julie Siege is an excellent addition to the writing staff, hope she stays for next season ’cause she’s got three good to great episodes under her typewriting fingers from this season.
Yes, it will be a long, long, long summer…sheesh.
We’ve been away so I’ve got a bit of catching up to do!
I was expecting to hate this episode. Normally it makes me cringe when fiction gets all smug and knowing and self-referential. It sort of bursts the bubble … I know it’s not real but there’s some little bit of my subconcious that thinks it is and doesn’t like to be reminded that the whole thing’s a construct.
Anyway, I got as far as the publisher showing them the tattoo on her bum before dissolving into hysterics. Love it. So many in-jokes and Castiel is just getting better and better.
I think the monster at the end was poor ol’ Chuck. He goes from creator to helpless by-stander. He knows there’s something hideous coming down the line but he can’t warn the boys and he can’t help, he just writes it down and it happens, which makes him feel it’s all his fault.
For my money the best Zep ever was Immigrant Song or Battle for Evermore 😀
Ah the show amuses me with its normal male double standard here. For all Dean and Sam cringe at slash, Dean has no problem with incest when it is too his benefit. For example Magnificent Seven at the very start, Dean is about to have sex with twins (and does) while Sam researches deals in the car. Now really, two women, one man, sex? Even I am not so naive as not to know that those girls would be touching each other as well as Dean
I think it is interesting that though the first song is a famous Zep tune the second song may actually be referring to the original Robert Johnson song and not the Zepplin cover. Yup Robert Johnson of Crossroad Demon fame. The first version of the lyrics fit Dean’s travelin’ woman in every port life style, the second could either be a reminder of Cassie or a creepy reference to Dean’s deal
Oh and I forgot to mention the “get a life” is actually a pop culture reference to Shatner’s Saturday Night live appearance where he ticked off Star Trek fandom.