Recap – “The Monster At The End Of This Book”
Another cartoon drawing on the wall, and back to the Castiel/Dean/Chuck drama. “You’re, you’re Castiel, aren’t you?” Chuck is stunned, like he’s seeing an angel or something. “It’s an honor to meet you Chuck, I admire your work.” Castiel has always had a way with words, hasn’t he? Dean calls Chuck more of a Penthouse forum writer than a prophet. Chuck knows about the prophet stuff though. “It’s too preposterous, not to mention arrogant. I mean writing yourself into the story is one thing but as a prophet? That’s like M. Night level doucheness.” He’s got a great point.
Castiel reads “Scarecrow” while talking to Dean. He did that in “Lazarus Rising” too. Strange habit. Dean can’t believe this guy is deciding his fate, Castiel clarifies he’s just a mouthpiece. “A conduit for the inspired word.” Dean is still able to be stunned by everything. “The word, the word of God? What like a new, New Testament?” Castiel delivers another bombshell, for angels like doing that. “One day these books will be known as the Winchester Gospel.” “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” both Dean and Chuck say in unison. “I am not”¦kidding you,” Castiel deadpans. Chuck grabs his whiskey and runs upstairs. He can’t take anymore.
“Him, really?” Dean asks. “You should have seen Luke,” Castiel says. Ha! Angel humor. About time Cas. Dean wants to know why Chuck was tapped. Castiel doesn’t know, the order comes high up in the chain of command. How high? Very. Well that’s specific. Dean wants to know how to stop the Sam/Lilith love connection. Castiel continues to rain on Dean’s parade. “What the prophet has written cannot be unwritten.”
A defeated Dean comes back to the motel, and sees the sign says “Red.” Castiel was right! He storms into the room and announces they’re getting out somehow, even if it means swimming. I’d really love to see that! Sam looks at him with “trepidation” (I love borrowing Chuck’s words) and Dean sees what’s going on. Sam burned the hex bags and as Sam expected, Dean’s pissed. Sam thinks Lilith coming is a big if. Dean reveals it’s more than that, for Chuck’s a prophet. “Cas showed up and apparently Chuck is writing the gospel of us.” “Okay,” Sam replies, not too bothered by that news. “Okay, let’s get the Hell out of here.” Dean goes back to packing.
Sam pauses, firms up, and makes his point. “No.” Dean goes off, saying Lilith will slaughter him. Sam thinks maybe she will, maybe she won’t. Dean asks if Sam thinks he can take her. Sam is more than ready to find out. As Dean starts yelling, Sam brings it all out in the open. “You think I’ll do it, don’t you. You think I’ll go darkside.” “Yes! Okay, yes.” Dean exclaims. Well at least he’s being honest. “The way you’ve been acting lately, the things you’ve been doing? Oh, I know. How you ripped Alastair apart like it was nothing, like you were swatting a fly. Cas told me, okay?” Sam wants to know what else he told him. “Nothing that I don’t already know. That you’ve been using your psychic crap, that you’ve been getting stronger. We just don’t know why, and we don’t know how.” Oh Dean, you really don’t know everything. Wait until you find out. You’re gonna be pissed!
“It’s not what you think,” Sam says. Dean demands to know what it is then, for he’s at a total loss. Sam shuts up. I know Sam, you’re afraid Dean’s going to ruin that plan of self-sacrifice you’ve got going. Big brothers tend to do that. Dean grabs the bag and notices Sam isn’t following. “Are you coming or not?” “No.” Dean throws down the bag in frustration and leaves.
A livid Dean is getting something from the vending machine, and he does the unthinkable (besides not pulling the drink from the machine). “I feel stupid doing this, but I’m fresh out of options.” He closes his eyes and holds open his arms. “Please I need some help.” No answer. “I’m praying okay, come on!” Still no answer. After one more please, we hear that angel sexy voice. “Praying is a sign of faith. This is a good thing Dean.” Dean doesn’t care about that, for he wants Castiel to get Sam out of there. Castiel can’t interfere with a prophecy.
Dean pulls the “I’ve-never-asked-for-anything-despite-all-the-stuff-you’ve-put-me-through,” card, and begs for help. Castiel tells him what he’s asking is not within his power. Dean has a fit. “Screw you. You and your mission, your God. If you don’t help me now, then when the time comes and you need me, don’t bother knocking.” He goes to leave and Castiel gets this wild look. “You must understand why I can’t intercede. Prophets are very special and protected. If anything threatens a prophet, anything at all, an archangel will appear to destroy that threat. Archangels are fierce, they’re absolute, they’re Heaven’s most terrifying weapon.” BTW, check out this cool shot my player froze on.
Dean gets where he’s going now, especially since Castiel’s look has changed from helpless to scheming. “So if a prophet is in the same room as a demon”¦” A wide eyed Castiel answers, “Then the most fearsome wrath of Heaven of rain down on that demon.” Dean takes this all in. “Just so you understand why I can’t help.” Castiel looks upward and then back at Dean with the most perfect “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” eyes. “Thanks Cas.” “Good luck,” Castiel says. Oh, our favorite angel is learning how to be devious. Humanity is starting to grow on him!
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.