“Changing Channels.†There is not any amount of words I can write in any review that can express what an absolutely perfect, completely out there nuts, “putting Supernatural on the map†episode this is. This episode doesn’t just make the best episodes list for Supernatural, it makes the list of one of the most daring episodes ever done on television. If people didn’t notice “Supernatural†before, this one certainly got people’s attention, even those in the mainstream community. It’s out there with other memorable eps like the Buffy The Vampire Slayer musical episode. This episode can never be forgotten.
So, you know how I’m going to remember “Changing Channels†here as we countdown Jeremy Carver episodes to the Wednesday season premiere? Quote-o-rama!
“I’m gonna need a bigger mouth.”
Dean: Hey there, Sam. What’s happening?
Sam: Oh, nothing. Um. Just the end of the world.
Laugh track, classic sitcom expression from Dean
Sam: Dean…
Dean: Son of a bitch!
And now, the most batshit crazy opener in the history of Supernatural…
Town to town, two-lane roads
Family biz, two hunting bros –
Living the lie, just to get by.
As long as we’re movin’ forward
There’s nothing we can’t do
Together we’ll face the day
You and I won’t run away
When demons come out to play
Together we’ll face the day!
Sam: What are you watching?
Dean: Hospital show. Dr. Sexy, MD. I think it’s based on a book.
Sam: When did you hit menopause?
Dean: It’s called channel surfing.
Kathy: It was definitely a bear.
Dean: We’re sure it was. But see, it helps us to hear every angle. So just tell us what you thought you saw.
Kathy: It’s impossible, but…I could have sworn I saw…the Incredible Hulk.
Sam: The Incredible Hulk.
Kathy: I told you it was crazy.
Dean: Bana or Norton?
Kathy: Oh, no, those movies were terrible. The TV Hulk.
Dean: Lou Ferrigno.
Kathy: Yes.
Dean: Spiky-hair Lou Ferrigno.
Kathy: Yes.
Dean: Huh.
Dean and Sam try to process.
Kathy: You think I’m crazy.
Dean: No. Uh, no, it’s just…is there, uh, would there be any reason that Lou Ferrigno, the Incredible Hulk, would have a grudge against your husband?
Dean: Just desserts, sweet tooth, screwing with people before you kill ’em—we’re dealing with the Trickster, aren’t we?
Sam: Sure looks like it.
Dean: Good. I’ve wanted to gank that mother since Mystery Spot.
Dean: And there’s Johnny Drake. Oh, he’s not even alive, he’s a ghost in the mind of—
(another doctor sits next to Johnny) -of her. The sexy yet neurotic doctor over there.
Sam: So…this show has ghosts? Why?
Dean: I don’t know. It is compelling.
Dean: You’re not Dr. Sexy.
Dr. Sexy: You’re crazy.
Dean: Really? Because I swore part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes.
Sam: Yeah. You’re not a fan.
Dean: It’s a guilty pleasure.
Sam: Lady, what the hell?
Dr. Piccolo: You are a brilliant, brilliant—
Sam: Yeah. A coward. You already said that. But I got news for you. I am not a doctor.
Dr. Piccolo: Don’t say that. You are the finest cerebrovascular neurosurgeon I have ever met, and I have met plenty. So that girl died on your table. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Sometimes people just die.
Sam: I have no idea what you’re saying to me.
Dr. Piccolo: You’re afraid. You’re afraid to operate again. And you’re afraid to love.
Sam: I don’t know how to use any of this crap.
Dean: Figure it out.
Sam uncomfortably grins at the other doctors but doesn’t do anything.
Den: Sam. Come on. I’m waiting.
Sam: Okay. Um. I need a penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey.
The other doctors look at him strangely and each other.
Sam: Stat!
(They all start moving, Sam is impressed)
“Let’s play Nutcracker!
Japanese Game Show Host: I’m sorry, Sam Winchester.
Sam: Sorry? Sir? For what?
The host mimics laughter
Sam: Dean?
A pole comes up and whacks Sam in the crotch. Dean is freaked out, the crowd cheers.
Japanese Game Show Host: Nutcracker!
“Sam, are you okay?”
“No, no, no, no. Mr. Trickstah does not like pretty-boy angels.”
Dean: What do I do, what do I do?
Sam: What?
Dean: I don’t wanna get hit in the nuts.
Woman in Yoga pose: I’ve got genital herpes.
Older Man: I’ve got genital herpes.
Sam: Seriously?
Dean: Hey, you’re the one who said play our roles.
Sam: Yeah. Right.
Dean pats him on the shoulder and goes back to the game.
Sam: I’ve got genital herpes.
Woman in Yoga pose: I try to be responsible.
Older man: I tried.
Sam: But now I take twice-daily Herpexia to reduce my chances of passing it on.
(Dean voiceover) Ask your doctor about using Herpexia. Patients should always consult with a physician before using Herpexia. Possible side effects include headache, diarrhea, permanent erectile dysfunction, thoughts of suicide, and nausea.
Sam:I am doing all I can to slightly lessen the spread of (hesitant pause) of genital herpes. And that’s a good thing.
Dean: How long do we have to keep doing this?
Sam: I don’t know.
(Applause)
Sam: Maybe forever?
(Laugh track)
Sam: We might die in here.
(Laugh track)
Dean: How was that funny? Vultures.
Dean: Heaven or hell, which side you on?
Trickster: I’m not on either side.
Dean: Yeah, right. You’re grabbing ankle for Michael or Lucifer. Which one is it?
Trickster: You listen to me, you arrogant dick. I don’t work for either of those S.O.B.s. Believe me.
Dean: Oh, you’re somebody’s bitch.
The Trickster grabs DEAN by the collar and slams him into the wall.
Trickster: Don’t you ever, ever presume to know what I am. Now listen very closely. Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna suck it up, accept your responsibilities, and play the roles that destiny has chosen for you.
Sam: And if we don’t?
Trickster (grinning): Then you’ll stay here in TV Land. Forever. Three hundred channels and, uh, nothing’s on.
Sam: You gotta calm down.
Dean: Calm down? I am wearing sunglasses at night.
He yanks them off.
Dean: You know who does that? No-talent douchebags. I hate this game. I hate that we’re in a procedural cop show and you wanna know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows. There’s like three hundred of them on television and they’re all the freaking same. It’s ooh, plane crashed here—oh shut up.
“Well I say, jackpot.”
“Well I say, no guts, no glory.”
“Get that guy a Tums.”
“Gutter ball.”
Sam!pala: Dean?
Sam’s voice sounds odd. Dean looks around and doesn’t see anything.
Dean: Sam? Where are you?
Sam!pala: I don’t know.
DEAN notices an console that looks a lot like the KITT car from Knight Rider.
Sam!pala: Oh crap. I don’t think we killed the Trickster.
http://youtu.be/uP3uRijPKZw
Sam!pala: Dean?
Dean: What?
Sam!pala: That, uh, feels really uncomfortable.
Dean shuts the trunk.
Sam!pala: Ow.
Dean: All right, you son of a bitch! Uncle! We’ll do it!
No answer…
Sam: Should I honk?
Trickster: Wow. Sam. Get a load of the rims on you.
Sam!pala: Eat me.
Trickster: Well played, boys. Well played. Where’d you get the holy oil?
Dean: Well, you might say we pulled it out of Sam’s ass.
Dean: What did Daddy say when you ran off and joined the pagans?
Gabriel/Trickster: Daddy doesn’t say anything about anything.
Gabriel/Trickster: You do not know my family. What you guys call the apocalypse, I used to call Sunday dinner. That’s why there’s no stopping this, because this isn’t about a war. It’s about two brothers that loved each other and betrayed each other. You’d think you’d be able to relate.
Sam: What are you talking about?
Gabriel/Trickster (whistles): You sorry sons of bitches. Why do you think you two are the vessels? Think about it. Michael, the big brother, loyal to an absent father, and Lucifer, the little brother, rebellious of Daddy’s plan. You were born to this, boys. It’s your destiny! It was always you! As it is in heaven, so it must be on earth. One brother has to kill the other.
Dean: What the hell are you saying?
Gabriel/Trickster: Why do you think I’ve always taken such an interest in you? Because from the moment Dad flipped on the lights around here, we knew it was all gonna end with you. Always.
Gabriel/Trickster: You’re just gonna, you’re gonna leave me here forever?
Dean: No. We’re not, ’cause we don’t screw with people the way you do. And for the record? This isn’t about some prize fight between your brothers or some destiny that can’t be stopped. This is about you being too afraid to stand up to your family!
Only two more of these until Jeremy Carver’s 13th episode, “We Need To Talk About Kevin” premieres! Up next, the awewsome zombie themed “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.” The zombie apocalypse done
Supernatural style!
PS: I’m redoing all of the season five episodes with new, HD quality screencaps and did this one to go with this recap. This is the largest episode gallery I’ve done yet. 477 photos. This episode particularly is very impressive since much of the TV land stuff was shot with bright color filters. So enjoy the new and improved photo gallery here:
{AG thumbWidth=”200″ thumbHeight=”120″ thumbAutoSize=”width” arrange=”name” backgroundColor=”ffffff” foregroundColor=”808080″ highliteColor=”fea804″ frame_width=”550″ frame_height=”360″ newImageTag=”0″ newImageTag_days=”7″ paginUse=”1″ paginImagesPerGallery=”100″ albumUse=”1″ showSignature=”0″ plainTextCaptions=”1″ template=”classic” popupEngine=”pirobox”}SeasonFive/ChangingChannels{/AG}
Good One 😆
This was truly, one of the boldest episodes ever. And not just of supernatural, but all the television series(as far as i know).
None of the other TV series would have pulled it off so brilliantly anyway 🙂
Oh, Alice you’re right, no words can describe how awesome this episode is, and how much I love it. It could easily go on any “best of” list for this show. It could so easily have become stupid, but it didn’t and that’s an achievement on its own!
BTW, I spent this entire review trying not to burst out laughing at work!
Yes, bold, awesome, best of TV. This one should have gotten critical acclaim from the industry. I’ll never forget the Herpes commerical. All around love this episode.
This really was a brilliant episode. And the opening reminds me how much i love those alternate realities when the boys are friends. MAkes me wish Sam had a friend on this show.
Anyway..brilliance.
Thanks so much for doing this with screencaps, it was, in the words of Dean Winchester, awesome. This episode is up there with the Buffy musical and The X-Files “Jose Chungs “From Outer Space””. It’s all kinds of batshit crazy done to perfection.
You picked 2 of my favorite television episodes ever.
I agree that every bit of this episode is wonderful (even the bits I can’t watch because they make me cringe) but my favorite quotes are:
You are the finest cerebrovascular neurosurgeon I have ever met, and I have met plenty.
Okay. Um. I need a penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey… Stat!
It’s *tastes a tiny speck of something* ooh, plane crashed here … oh shut up.
(that last one makes me laugh just thinking about it – you can see the CSI guys standing in the middle of half a square mile of wreckage going ‘what we need here is SCIENCE’)
I will never forget this episode…funny,advancing the plot , acting…genius JC..Perfect..The spoofs of all the shows was perfect
This was a brilliant piece of television!!! It was so original and well-done. There is just nothing I don’t love about this episode. I especially love that the trickster motives work even better for Gabriel. I usually that sort of retooling doesn’t work. (Like the Chuck as God interpretation, I like the joke-Kripke as God, but I like Chuck better as Chuck). But this time it worked to perfection.
If episodes like this can’t get Emmy nods than it probably isn’t happening. Although Mystery Spot still wins out for personal favorite of his or maybe Point of No Return, but the fact that I have to pick between such amazing episodes shows how talented he is.
Episode like this what makes me love Supernatural because like Jim Beaver said ‘Everything’s possible’ in Supernatural world. 😀
This one ought to have gotten discriminating approval from the business. I’ll always remember the Herpes commerical. All around affection this scene.