Changing Channels



Sam and Dean are thrown into an alternate universe where they become characters in various TV shows, including a medical series, a Japanese game show, a forensics procedural and a sitcom. Castiel warns them that if they don't find a way out soon, they will become trapped inside forever.

Full Synopsis
Sam and Dean investigate a death where a woman swears her husband was killed by the Incredible Hulk. They soon work out that they are dealing with the Trickster, but he manages to lure them into a trap and plant them into a series of TV shows including a hospital drama of which Dean is a fan, a Japanese game show, an ad for "Herpexia", and a sitcom.

Castiel manages to appear at one point but is banished. When he reappears, bloodied and bruised, he reveals that he thinks it may be something more powerful than the Trickster - who appears and again banishes him. The Trickster says he is trying to drive home the lesson that they must play their roles as Michael and Lucifer's vessels and finish the apocalypse even though it will destroy the Earth. Dean tries to find out which side the Trickster is on, but he denies he is allied with either Heaven or Hell.

Sam and Dean continue in TV until, during a procedural cop show, they think they spot the Trickster, and they stab him with a stake dipped in blood. But, while it momentarily appears things are back to normal, when Sam appears to have been transformed into the Impala, it is obvious they aren't out. They've merely changed channels again. Finally, acting on a hunch, Dean sets a ring of Holy Oil and entraps the Trickster, who reveals himself to be the Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel reveals he left Heaven and took on his disguise as the Trickster because he couldn't bear his father - God - and his brothers - Lucifer, Michael, and the other angels - fighting. He says that Sam and Dean are destined to be the vessels, because they mirror the relationship between Michael and Lucifer. Dean is like Michael - the loyal son obeying the absent father - and Sam is like Lucifer - the rebellious son. He says it has always been predestined.

Dean gets Gabriel to bring Castiel back, and then they leave after setting off fire sprinklers so that Gabriel will be released.

Major Characters

 * Sam Winchester
 * Dean Winchester
 * Gabriel/Trickster
 * Castiel

Featured Music

 * "Move You" - Anya Marina
 * "Not A Through Street" - Anya Marina
 * "Something Real" - Renee Stahl
 * "Love To See You Happy (Livin' my Life)" - Robbi Spencer (during Dr Sexy show)

Continuity

 * The Trickster was last seen in the episode "Mystery Spot".

Quotes

 * Sam Winchester: "Okay, um, I need a... penknife, some dental floss, a sewing needle, and a fifth of whiskey! Stat!"


 * Sam: So what one are you, grumpy, sneezy, or douchey? (indirectly labeling his brothers using names of Snow White's Dwarves; Lucifer as grumpy, Gabriel as sneezy, and Raphael as douchey).
 * Gabriel: Gabriel. They call me Gabriel.


 * Gabriel: "You do not know my family. What you guys call the Apocalypse, I used to call Sunday dinner!"


 * Dean Winchester: [notices doctor's footwear, slams him against the wall]  You're not Dr. Sexy!
 * Dr. Sexy: You're crazy.
 * Dean: Really? Because I swore a part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes!
 * Sam Winchester: Yeah, you're not a fan. ..
 * Dean: It's guilty pleasure!


 * Dean: Calm down? I'm wearing sunglasses at night! You know who does that? No-talent douchebags! I hate this game! I hate that we're in a procedural cop show, and you want to know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows! There's like three hundred of them on television, they're all the freakin' same. It's like, ohh, plane crashed here, oh SHUT UP!