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The Man Who Knew Too Much is the second part of the season finale of Season 6, and the 22nd episode. It aired on May 20th, 2011.

Summary[]

Dean Purgatory Blade.png There was something about being there... It felt pure.

This episode summary is an official CW press release. It may contain errors.
DO NOT CHANGE!

The wall comes down in Sam's head and all hell breaks loose. Dean and Bobby (guest star Jim Beaver) are, for once, at a total loss on how to help him and are forced to stand by and do nothing while Sam breaks. The battle for heaven comes to a head.

Plot[]

Sam wakes up on a park bench when two policemen try to move him along. He has no memory of who or where he is, but his first instinct is to take the policemen down. Afterwards, he's running from a patrol car when he bursts through the back door of a bar and scares a bartender named Robin, who tells him that the bar is closed. When she learns that he has amnesia, however, she takes pity on him and tries to help.

Robin wants to take Sam to the hospital, but he refuses. He feels like he has to be somewhere - to stop something. When he sees a book by H.P. Lovecraft in the bar, snippets of memory assault him. He sees flashes of Dean, Balthazar, and Bobby who says something about Lovecraft. He doesn't recognize them, but the last thing he sees is the sign for a motel called the Nite Owl. When he and Robin look online, they learn that the motel is real and just two towns over. Robin insists on driving him and, when they arrive, Sam instinctively knows that he's staying in the room with the best escape route. Robin is disconcerted, even more so when Sam opens the door to his room with her credit card and she sees the papers and other evidence of Sam's hunting occupation all over the walls. When she finds a pile of fake IDs, she starts to leave, but Sam sees a newspaper clipping about a missing woman named Eleanor Visyak and collapses.

Sam remembers finding Eleanor bleeding from her stomach in an alley with Dean and Bobby. In his memory, he hears Eleanor tell them that Castiel and Crowley kidnapped and tortured her for information about opening a door to Purgatory. She broke when Castiel took over the interrogation and told them everything they wanted to know. Bobby asks Eleanor how close they are to getting in, and she tells him that they just have to wait for the lunar eclipse tomorrow, as they already have or can easily get what they need: the ritual, the blood of a virgin, and the blood of a "Purgatory native." Before she can tell them where Castiel and Crowley are, she dies, and Castiel appears. He tells them to stop interfering, but Dean refuses. Castiel tells him that if he backs down, he'll save Sam when everything's over, and then touches Sam's head, tearing down the wall in his head.

0664

"Soulless" Sam attacks.

Sam snaps out of the vision, and Robin asks him what he remembers. He tells her that his name is Sam and that he was with two guys, one a "male model type" and one an older man named Bobby. He finds an address for Bobby in his contact book, takes the car keys on his desk, and goes outside with Robin. He instantly knows that the Impala is his car, and while Robin says her goodbyes, she warns him that he might not like what he finds if he goes to Sioux Falls. As they talk, Sam hears something and tackles Robin to the ground just in time to avoid being shot by someone who looks exactly like Sam.

While Sam and Robin drive to Sioux Falls, it is revealed that Sam is actually comatose and in a dream state as a result of Castiel touching his forehead and breaking the wall that Death created in his head. Dean and Bobby have put his unconscious body in Bobby's Panic Room, but they're running out of time if they want to stop Castiel from opening the door to Purgatory. When Balthazar appears and betrays Castiel by giving up Crowley's hiding place, they decide to leave Sam behind with a note that lets him know where they'll be.

Slider-SamvsSoullessSam

Sam confronting his "soulless" doppleganger.

Meanwhile, in Sam's head, Sam has another confrontation with his doppelganger, who reveals that Sam is actually unconscious after Castiel broke the wall in his mind. He learns that the doppelganger in his mind is "soulless" Sam, and that he intends to kill "soulful" Sam in order to take over his body in the real world. The two Sams play a cat and mouse game where "soulful" Sam emerges the victor. As he dies, "soulless" Sam tells him that there is another Sam, one that's worse than him. Sam then absorbs "soulless" Sam and regains his memories of the time he was soulless. He remembers that Robin is actually a victim of a demon attack, one who he mercilessly killed when the demon tried to use her as a hostage. After Sam apologizes for failing to help her, she disappears.

Back in the real world, Castiel meets with Crowley, who has assembled the necessary ingredients for their ritual. Castiel wants to renegotiate their deal. He will not give Crowley the souls, so Crowley can either flee or die. The demon leaves Castiel with the blood for the ritual.

SamAbsorbingHellSam

Sam absorbs memories of his time in Lucifer's Cage

Still trapped inside his head, Sam travels to Bobby's house and meets the third Sam, who is comprised of the memories of his time in Lucifer's Cage. "Tortured" Sam tries to convince Sam not to reabsorb him as he is not strong enough to face those memories, but Sam is adamant that he needs to wake up and help Dean and Bobby. "Tortured" Sam wishes him luck and then allows Sam to kill him. As he reintegrates into Sam's mind, Sam's physical body seizes out of control.

Later, Castiel confronts Balthazar. He says that Dean is coming, and someone among them is a traitor. Balthazar asks him who it is, and Castiel tells him that he doesn't know, but he wants Balthazar to investigate. He reveals his inner turmoil to Balthazar, telling him that he tries his best in impossible circumstances, and feels abandoned and misunderstood. Balthazar tries to cheer him up with saying "you've always got little old me", before Castiel teleports behind him and stabs him with an Angel Blade, replying "yes, I always have you" right before watching the angel die with no visible emotions.

Dean and Bobby arrive at Crowley's hideout and scope out the building. It's full of angels, but before they can try to infiltrate it, they are hit by a gigantic cloud of demons that flips the Impala with them inside it. Castiel is still preparing the ritual when the cloud of demons descends around the building, and Crowley appears. Castiel tries to smite him, but it fails because Crowley has a new partner: Raphael. Castiel is surprised at the partnership because of their differing goals, but both Crowley and Raphael seem to think they have taken the best course available. They demand the blood; Castiel throws them the jar of blood and leaves. Outside, Sam surveys the flipped and empty Impala - has a flash of memory from Lucifer's Cage, then continues to approach the building.

2132

Castiel exposes his new Deity-like power.

Crowley conducts the ritual, and though Bobby and Dean try to interrupt, he completes it. Nothing happens, and Castiel reappears. Crowley realizes that he switched the blood and conducted his own ritual. Castiel displays his new power briefly in a flash of energy and tells them that they cannot imagine what it is like to be filled with the power of "millions upon millions of souls." Crowley immediately beats a hasty retreat, but Raphael is unable to.

RaphaelDeath

Raphael, moments before his death.

As Castiel taunts the now terrified Raphael who begs for mercy, asking why Castiel allowed Crowley - a demon - to escape but not his own brother. Castiel answers that he has plans for Crowley, but none for Raphael. Castiel then snaps his fingers, blowing up Raphael, much like how Lucifer once did to Castiel himself.

He turns to Dean and Bobby. He was right, he says, and did save them. Dean nervously agrees, then suggests that Castiel should return the souls and disarm himself. Castiel says he has Raphael's followers to deal with. Dean is worried that Castiel's power is affecting his mind and that he could "kill us all." He reminds Castiel that he is family and tells him that he doesn't want to lose him. Castiel says that he has no family anymore; he will not give up the souls. Suddenly Sam stabs him from behind with an Angel Blade, but nothing happens. Castiel greets him, then says the sword will not work because he is not an angel anymore. He says that he is their new God - a better one - and that they must venerate him or be destroyed. They look at him in horror.

Characters[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Guest Stars[]

Co-Stars[]

Featured Supernatural Beings[]

Continuity[]

  • Last episode, Castiel kidnapped Dr. Visyak for information on Purgatory.
  • Castiel is still working with Crowley, though he terminates their alliance in the middle of the episode.
  • Castiel obliterates Raphael in the same manner he did Castiel in Lucifer Rising.
    • Lucifer obliterated him the same way in Swan Song; respectively an interesting note is that both occurred during a Season Finale.
  • This episode marks Balthazar's and Raphael's last appearances.

Trivia[]

  • Antagonists: Raphael, Crowley and Castiel.
  • This is the last episode written by Eric Kripke in the show.
  • Jared Padalecki states that the finale focuses more on Sam, while the previous episode focused more on Dean.
  • This episode was filmed before any news of a season seven renewal, yet the writers still left a cliffhanger at the end due to the optimism of many fans on the show's renewal.
  • The episode's title refers to the movie: The Man Who Knew Too Much, involving Balthazar's role.
    • The episode's title may refer explicitly to the actions of Balthazar, Sam, and Castiel throughout the entire episode.
  • This is the last episode with Misha Collins as main cast member until Season 9, he returned as a "Special Guest Star" in Season 7 and Season 8.
  • The scene when Sam takes down the two policemen is reminiscent of a scene from The Bourne Identity in which the main character takes down two policemen in a similar manner.
  • The scene where Dean and Bobby arrive at the warehouse Castiel is located, is reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park. Dean and Bobby hear loud thuds in the distance from the yet to be revealed cloud of demon smoke. They turn around and see vibration ripples in a puddle. This refers to the scene in Jurassic Park of the vibration ripples in the glass of water when the T-Rex footsteps can first be heard. After seeing the puddle, Dean seems to make the connection to the Jurassic Park scene and says "T-Rex, maybe?". The demon smoke flipping over the Impala is also similar to the T-Rex flipping over the Jeep.
  • The Leviathans technically have a cameo in this episode, as they are absorbed into Castiel with all the souls of Purgatory. They are fully introduced as the show's new villains in the next episode "Meet the New Boss".
  • It's interesting to note the similarities between the culminated events of this season and those that transpired in Season 4. The circumstances are fairly similar in their motivations and consequences, though some differences are present due to having two antagonists in Season 4 to the singular in this season. Comparable situations include:
    • Castiel is Sam; a "wayward hero" who attempted to do good, making questionable decisions, but through an unforeseen factor ends up causing a cataclysmic mistake, Castiel releasing the Leviathans (which is only revealed in the next season) and Sam releasing Lucifer.
    • Crowley is Ruby; the scheming ally of the wayward hero who ultimately betrays him to his archenemy; Crowley betrays Castiel to Raphael to seize power, while Ruby was a double agent to release Lucifer.
    • Raphael is Lilith; the archenemy of the wayward hero, whose death somewhat coincided with the release of the hidden evil; Raphael is killed as Castiel absorbs all the souls, including the Leviathans, and Lilith's death is the final seal to release Lucifer.
    • Sam is Dean; the hero's ally whose refusal to comply leads to their incapacitation; Sam's wall is removed by Castiel, and Dean is attacked by Sam while attempting to prevent him from leaving with Ruby.
    • Balthazar is Castiel; the 'repentant underling' who originally worked with the wayward hero until he realizes the hero's plan to be flawed and immoral. In betraying the hero to the 'original ally', he is killed for his treachery; Balthazar is killed by Castiel after informing Dean and Bobby of his hideout and Castiel is killed by Raphael for removing Dean from the White Room.
    • Dr. Visyak plays the role of the possessed nurse whose blood Sam had to drink, an innocent who the wayward hero kills as a sign of their ruthlessness.
    • The Leviathans (though not revealed until the next episode) are Lucifer; the hidden evil whose presence and danger is not realized until is too late; the Leviathans stowaway in Castiel's body and stay when he releases the souls, and Lucifer's release was caused by Lilith's death.
    • The kidnapping of Lisa and Ben serves a similar purpose to Zachariah's trapping of Dean; both serve as distractions for the hero's ally to prevent them from interfering with the grand plan. The 'repentant underling' is the one who allows for the hero's ally to prevail.
    • The way Dean has Castiel remove all traces of him from Lisa and Ben's memories is the same as Jimmy Novak finally giving up all notions that he could ever return to his family.
    • The characters learning about Castiel's allegiance with Crowley comes at roughly the same point in the time-line as the revelation that Sam was drinking Demon Blood to fuel his powers (sinister methods unveiled);
    • Both Castiel and Sam plead to Dean to remain faithful to their actions by reminding his familial bond with them;
    • Both Sam and Dean arrive seconds after the final blow is struck, attempting to attack whoever is responsible, Sam attacking Castiel and Dean stabbing Ruby.
    • After making the mistake of unleashing a terrible monster upon the world, the 'wayward hero' works through the next season for redemption and to defeat the enemy they released. Sam sacrifices himself to send Lucifer back to the Cage and Castiel aids Dean in killing Dick Roman, effectively defeating the Leviathans. Both 'wayward heroes' also end up trapped where they banish their monster back to, Sam in the Cage and Castiel in Purgatory. Both are also rescued by an outside force, Sam by Castiel and Death and Castiel by Naomi and her soldiers.
  • The season 6 Castiel has many parallels to the fallen angel Lucifer.
    • Both are commented to be extraordinarily loved by God. Crowley stated that God loves Castiel most (because God resurrected him) and vice versa, and Metatron called Castiel "God's fav". Lucifer was confirmed by God to have been his favorite son, though God seemingly lost most of his affection for both, if he ever had any for Castiel.
    • Both see their shady actions justified by their unfair situation and insist on the necessity of their deeds.
    • Both have given up and even killed parts of their family, in favor of their own ambition. Castiel killed Balthazar, his last angelic friend and brother and Lucifer killed Gabriel, his younger brother. The only difference is that Lucifer tried to avoid the harm of his brethren by pleading with Michael and Gabriel to step out of his way, and even cried for Gabriel, while Castiel murdered his brothers in cold blood, without any signs of regret (though he dedicates himself to atone for his mistakes later on in the show).
    • Both were idolized by the brother they've killed. Gabriel openly said he loves Lucifer, and Balthazar idolized Castiel for bringing an age of freedom to Angels.
    • Both were corrupted by an evil force. Castiel was tempted by the demon Crowley and became prideful, while Lucifer was corrupted by the Mark of Cain.
    • Both held a powerful evil force inside them, that was locked away by God. Castiel had the souls of Purgatory and the Leviathans inside him, while Lucifer held the lock to the Darkness.
    • Both have proclaimed themselves God. Castiel after absorbing all souls from Purgatory and Lucifer in season 11, while the latter did it mostly to mock God and the angels.
    • Both are currently hated in Heaven.
    • Both have/had the power to scorch Heaven and Hell. Castiel, in his God mode, had the power to easily kill Raphael, the most powerful angel left, and slew each and every of his followers, stating that "there is no way to hide." He said that he would have wiped out Hell (which could mean the eradication of demonkind or Hell in general) if he didn't need a place for his enemies. Lucifer wished to use The Antichrist to destroy all angels of Heaven, and he would have annihilated all demons, once they've run out of use.
    • Both were once righteous angels, though Castiel has become his natural self again, while Lucifer is still evil.
    • Both have a special connection to the Winchesters. Castiel is Dean's and Sam's best friend, while Castiel shares a deeper bond with Dean, and Lucifer shares a fated bond with Sam, though he confirmed to actually dislike (and to an extent, even hate) both Winchesters.
    • The key difference between Lucifer and Castiel is that Castiel wished to protect humanity at all costs, while Lucifer wanted to destroy it at all costs. Castiel takes all blame for his deeds in the future, while Lucifer refuses to accept any blame.

Errors[]

  • When Soulless Sam is hunting the crossroads demon in his flashback, he's using a regular firearm, which shouldn't have any effect on a demon.
  • While Sam is running from Soulless Sam in the woods, his gun disappears and reappears between shots.

Deaths[]

Featured Music[]

Quotes[]

  • Dean: Listen, we were family once. I'd have died for you, almost did a few times. So if that means anything to you, please. I've lost Lisa, I've lost Ben and now, I've lost Sam. Don't make me lose you too.
  • Castiel: You're not my family, Dean. I have no family.

  • Sam to Sam-with-memories-of-the-cage: You know me. You know why. I'm not leaving my brother alone out there.

(Worth noting: Jared Padalecki is quoted as saying that is his favorite one-liner from the show. He actually couldn't say the line exactly, as the panel was before the air date for this episode, but he said it was the line directly after Sam said "You know me. You know why." So there you go.)

 International Titles[]

  • Brazil: O Homem Que Sabia Demais (The Man Who Knew Too Much)
  • German: Der Mann, der zuviel wusste (The Man Who Knew Too Much)
  • French: L'Homme Qui En Savait Trop (The Man Who Knew Too Much)
  • Hungarian: Az ember, aki túl sokat tudott (The Man Who Knew Too Much)
  • Polish: Ten, który wiedział za dużo (The One Who Knew Too Much)

External Links[]

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