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Supernatural Season 4 Episode 2

Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester

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Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester

AIRED: 9/25/08

Ghosts of children Bobby couldn't save cripple him with guilt and Sam and Dean must save him. However, they must also ignore the spirits of Meg and Agent Hendricksen, who have come back to accuse the brothers of failing them.

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Fan Episode Reviews (45)

"Nicki Aycox" Was really convincing.

7.5

By cup4life, Mar 02, 2012

Right this episode was a little better then the first. The reason being I adore the whole plot between the characters. Old familiar faces were interesting to watch as they manipulate. They're being haunted by the spirits of the people they couldn't save, which is called "The Rising of the Witnesses", a sign of the upcoming Apocalypse which connects to the main plot really well. It answer some of my questions which were burning inside, why Dean? The progress of his character development revealed to me as a personal reference that he is no saint. The acting abilities of "Nicki Aycox" Was really convincing, very emotional aswell. It was great to see her in action. My only negative is that the plot was not portrayed well. I wish it had more of a flow more of unity. The end scene. This information was a powerful source to the main season plot, I personally wished more time was given to tell us more about the plot. I know Castiel is a great character too show atmosphere but I really dislike that he reappears and disappears.moreless
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Bobby, Sam and Dean all fight some unpleasant truths from some ghosts of their past while trying to figure out how Dean got out of Hell and what the heck is going on.moreless

9.0

By noomma, Aug 05, 2010

Ignoring the usual ghost battle, this episode adds in a horror that the viewer could only imagine because it tells us of the horror these regular people faced at the hands of demons. Meg's family being torn apart from her disappearance and death, Agent Hendrickson's torture-death at the hands of Lilith abnd Bobby's guilt at being unable to save two children. Add in Dean's confusion at being saved and why, and you have a shocked, confused and horrified Dean. Heavy stuff for someone who usually just points, shoots and asks questions later. I look forward to the growth of Dean's character. As far as Sam goes, it didn't surprise me that he beleives in God or Angels but it did shock me that he looked extremely guilty at Meg's accusations. And on a side note, Bobby's panic room- I agree with the boys. He is the MAN!moreless
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Season 4 gets better and better

9.5

By seriesguy3998, Aug 08, 2009

After discovering he was saved by an angel, Dean starts doubting about religion. Then, it is revealed that many hunters have been dying, ghosts killing them. Bobby reveals this is called "The Rise of the Witnesses". Castiel reveals Lilith's plan and the 66 seals, and Lucifer trying to break free.

This episode was awesome! The witnesses rise, including Meg and Henricksen, the 66 seals are being brken now, Lucifer tries to walk free, Dean has his doubts about religion, this episode is so great! Season 4 is one of the best, after season 2, with all that Angels VS Demons and the 66 seals. This episode is awesome!moreless
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The Raising of the Witnesses and a deeply emotional episode that is the perfect retinue for "Lazarus Rising".

10

By Snape83, Jul 04, 2009

"Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester" not only has one of the best titles to date, but it is also - as in the tradition of Sera Gamble's episodes - a multitude of interpretations, levels and layers and it's the best possible retinue for the mythology-intensive, action-packed, mind-twisting season premiere.

Let's start with the first layer. Is there a God? Are the Angels the real deal? If there's a God, how come that he allows that demons and other monsters tore good people to shreds? Is there a purpose, a finality? Or there is only chaos and darkness? These are immortal questions, sprung to life around the same time manhood developed philosophy, in Ancient Greece, and they are still well-alive and kicking even nowadays. "Supernatural" had touched them only peripherally in Season Two, with the episode "Houses of the Holy" (2.13), written always by Gamble. What's interesting is how the characters reacts to these questions: Sam has no problem believing in God and Angels, and thus in a transcendent order and purpose (Sam = Christianity, faith), while Bobby maintain a down-to-earth approach, a pragmatic one, in that he's more interested in the facts that in the theological speculation (Bobby = Agnosticism, suspension of judgment). Dean, on the other hand, doesn't believe in a superior good and bases this belief in the widespread argument of the motivation of evilness and absence of goodness (Dean = Atheism, empiricism).

The second, more subtle, layer is how these three characters react to the Rising of the Witnesses itself. Sam appears to be less touched by their appearance, since he is now accustomed to treat the supernatural the same way John did. He has been changed by Dean's death (we caught a glimpse of this in "Mystery Spot", 3.11) and Ruby's acquaintance, and - out of three of them - he is the most practical about the witnesses. Bobby and Dean, particularly Dean, on the other hand maintain a more humanistic approach and they appear to be extremely touched by the people they failed to save: it's not by a total fluke, I reckon, that Bobby and Dean are the only ones that the Witnesses try to directly kill by stroking their heart, whilst Henricksen only beat Sam's head on the sink. Dean in particular - changed by his year of impending doom (Season Three) and by the months spent in Hell - is now more shaded and layered: he spent time talking to Ronald and Victor and he continuously questions his moral, his actions and his motivations.

The third layer is magnificently represented by Meg: instead of exorcising her right away, the boys threw her out of a four-stories window and - when they finally exorcised the demon - the girl it was wearing died. Once again Dean is the one mostly shocked by her appearance, but in this case Sam is more relevant, because Meg raises an interesting point: Sam isn't thinking of the girl Ruby is riding, of the pains and troubles she is forced to aknowledge while possessed. Why didn't he exorcised her? asks Meg. The answer is clear: because Sam thinks to be able to use Ruby for his own purposes and yet again he demonstrates how driven can he be, while Dean has, once more, a more human, ethical approach. How greatly the characters changed over the course of four seasons and how magnificently the mythology continue to grow and deepen is a testament to the writers' brilliance and the two opening episodes of Season Four are amongst the best Supernatural delivered.moreless
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Well, now that we know Supernatural is about to go all epic on our asses, it's good to see the production staff getting down to business and actually, you know, delivering.moreless

9.0

By screenagedkicks, May 17, 2009

Well, now that we know Supernatural is about to go all epic on our asses (you don't get much more gargantuan than Heaven vs. Hell, angels vs. demons and that), it's good to see the production staff getting down to business and actually, you know, delivering. And who better to get the ball rolling than Sera Gamble, eh? His A* track record on the show is certainly well documented and he doesn't disappoint here; 'Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester', as well as being one of the most pleasingly ludicrous titles in the show's four year history, is also a cracking episode, perfectly marrying some deft, and important, character beats (Dean questioning his new found destiny, Sam's issues with his brother's return) with an obligatory 'supernatural occurrence' narrative that, pleasingly, is well woven into the season-long mythology and, just to sweeten the pot even more, is a continuity fest for fangeeks to die for. Agent Henriksen? Meg? Larry, for Chrisssakes? Wonderful, well-missed characters all and a delight to have back in a role that doesn't seem contrived and works to bolster the on-going plot. Keep going like this Supernatural and you may just be the best damn thing on TV right now.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Jared Padalecki	Sam Winchester
Jensen Ackles	Dean Winchester

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Charles Malik Whitfield	Special Agent Hendricksen	Guest Star
Chris Gauthier	Ronald Resnick	Guest Star
Daniel Arnold	Ghostly Man	Guest Star
Jim Beaver	Bobby Singer	Recurring Role
Nicki Lynn Aycox	Meg Masters	Recurring Role
Misha Collins	Castiel	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (22)
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- Meg: You know what really pisses me off, Sam? You saw how I suffered for months. I thought you must have learned something. I thought I died for something.
  Sam: Meg...
  Meg: But what you're doing with that demon, Ruby... how many innocent bodies has Ruby burned through for kicks? How many girls just like me? And you don't send her back to Hell? You're a monster!
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- Dean: See, this is why I can't get behind God.
  Sam: What are you talking about?
  Dean: If He doesn't exist, fine. Bad crap happens to good people. That's how it is. There's no rhyme or reason. Just random, horrible, evil. I get it, okay. I can roll with that. But if He is out there, what's wrong with Him? Where the Hell is He while all these decent people are getting torn to shreds? How does He live with himself? You know, why doesn't He help?
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- Dean: Don't you think that if angels were real that some hunter, somewhere, would have seen one, at some point... ever!
  Sam: Yeah, you just did, Dean.
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- Dean: All I know is I was not groped by an angel.
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- Meg: You don't recognize me? This is what I looked like before that demon cut off my hair and dressed me like a slut.
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- Bobby: I think I got everything we need here at the house.
  Dean: Any chance you got everything we need here in this room?
  Bobby: So you thought our luck was gonna start now all of a sudden?
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- Dean: So Bobby was right about the Witnesses. This is some kind of a sign of the Apocalypse.
  Castiel: That's why we're here. Big things afoot.
  Dean: Do I wanna know what kind of things?
  Castiel: I sincerely doubt it, but you need to know.
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- Castiel: The Rising of the Witnesses is one of the sixty-six seals...
  Dean: Okay, I'm guessing that's not a show at Sea World?
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- Dean: Don't you think that if angels were real, that some hunter, somewhere would have seen one... at some point... ever?
  Sam: Yeah, you just did, Dean.
  Dean: I'm trying to come up with a theory here okay, work with me.
  Sam: Dean, we have a theory.
  Dean: Yeah, one with a little less fairy dust on it, please.
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- Dean: Ronald. Hey, come on, man. We were pals.
  Ronald: That was when I was breathing. Now I'm gonna eat you alive.
  Dean: Well, but I'm not a cheeseburger.
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- Dean: I thought angels were supposed to be guardians. Fluffy wings. Halos. You know, Michael Landon, not dicks.
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- Bobby: I've checked on Carl Bates and R.C. Adams. They've redecorated… in red.
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- Dean: How you feeling, huh? How many fingers am I holding up?
  Sam: None. I'll be fine, Dean.
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- Meg: Meg Masters. Nice to finally talk to you when I'm not, you know, choking on my own blood.
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- Dean: Apocalypse.
  Bobby: Yep.
  Dean: As in Apocalypse Apocalypse? The Four Horsemen? Pestilence? Five-dollar-a-gallon-gas Apocalypse?
  Bobby: That's the one.
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- Dean: Lucifer? But I thought that was just a story they told at Demon Sunday School.
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- Castiel: There's a God.
  Dean: I'm not convinced. 'Cause if there's a God, what the hell is he waiting for, huh? Genocide? Monsters roaming the earth? The fricking apocalypse? At what point does he lift a damn finger and help the poor bastards that are stuck down here?
  Castiel: The Lord works...
  Dean: If you say "mysterious ways" so help me, I will kick your ass.
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- Sam: You built a panic room?
  Bobby: I had a weekend off.
  Dean: Bobby.
  Bobby: What?
  Dean: You're awesome.
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- Sam: Apparently, you're a regular guy that's important to the man upstairs.
  Dean: Well that creeps me out. I mean, I don't like getting singled out at birthday parties, much less by... God.
  Sam: Okay, well too bad, Dean, because I think he wants you to strap on your party hat.
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- Bobby: It all says that an angel can snatch a soul from the Pit?
  Dean: What else?
  Bobby: What else what?
  Dean: What else could do it?
  Bobby: Do what? Airlift your ass out of the hot box? As far as I can tell, nothing.
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- Castiel: Our numbers are not unlimited. Six of my brothers died in the field this week. You think the armies of Heaven should just follow you around? There's a bigger picture here. You should show me respect. I dragged you out of Hell. I can throw you back in.
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- Castiel: Why do you think we're here, walking among you now for the first time in 2,000 years?
  Dean: To stop Lucifer.
  Castiel: (nods) That's why we've arrived.
  Dean: Well, bang up job so far.
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NOTES (2)
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- International Airdates:
  Australia: October 6, 2008 on Channel 10
  Denmark: November 30, 2008 on TV3
  UK: January 25, 2009 on ITV2
  Sweden: March 22, 2009 on Kanal 5
  Norway: April 2, 2009 on FEM
  Portugal: April 27, 2009 on AXN
  Spain: September 7, 2009 on AXN
  Germany: November 23, 2009 on Sky Cinema Hits
  Poland: February 19, 2010 on TVN7
  Czech Republic: May 21, 2010 on Prima COOL
  Finland: April 19, 2011 on Sub
  Slovakia: March 13, 2013 on Markiza
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- Music: Lonely is the Night (Billy Squier)
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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- Dean: All I know is I was not groped by an angel.
  A play on the show titled Touched by an Angel (1994-2003) starring Della Reese and Roma Downey, about angels who live among people, influencing their lives.
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- Bobby: If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
  This quote is from the classic western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) written and directed by Sergio Leone. A gunslinger, a hit man, and an outlaw go after a dead man's gold during the American Civil War. Starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef. The line is said by Tuco (Wallach) during a similar scene as we see here.
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- Dean: You know, Michael Landon, not dicks.
  Referencing Highway to Heaven (1984-1989), starring Michael Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent to Earth to help people with the aid of human Mark Gordon (Victor French).
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- Title
  References the book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. The 1970 novel details a young girl's quest for a religion while dealing with other teenage and adolescent female issues.
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