Changing Channels

Season 5, Episode 8, Aired
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Episode Summary

Dean and Sam find themselves mystically trapped in a series of real-life "TV shows" and there appears to be no escape. They believe their old enemy the Trickster is responsible, but discover someone or something else is involved.
9.0
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EPISODE RATING: Superb
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Fan Episode Reviews (33)

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  • IMO this episode is close to perfection and here is why...

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By uk18flashback, Sep 20, 2011 Report Abuse
    This reminded me of why I love this show they throw in these stories which are just fun. It brought memories of the good old days were there was just simple hunting. They make fun of all these different shows like CSI: Miami with the one liners and the glasses it was hilarious to watch. I love that they brought the trickster back because I love him and his in another one which I won't mention but he is great. And him turning out to be the Archangel Gabriel ,who saw that coming? I didn't.

    It is a perfect combo of the Angel story-arc and the episodes pasted.moreless

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    6 0

  • Pure fun, but also some pretty great reveals about one of the best adversaries the Winchester's have had up until this point.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By JaCkKbAuEr2424, May 13, 2011 Report Abuse
    I knew about this episode long before it aired, and the premise alone was enough to get me excited. Just about every TV show that Supernatural lampooned and made fun of in this episode are shows that I also don't enjoy. Supernatural did an incredible job of parodying other shows that air in the same time-slot, as well as foreign television shows, hilarious, yet awkward commercials and cheesy 80's theme shows. Besides the heavy mythological reveals near the end, this is the kind of episode you could show to any person who's never watched this show in order to get them watching.

    The Grey's Anatomy/CSI: Miami parodies were by far the most entertaining, as we got to see numerous jokes cracked at the expense of Grey's Anatomy and all other corny, melodramatic hospital shows, and with the CSI: Miami parody, we got hear some pretty ridiculous Horatio-type quotes from Sam and Dean. The episode mostly revolved around The Trickster sending Sam and Dean through a number of different television shows in order to teach them a lesson, so we got to see him appearing every now and then throughout the episode, which added to the humor of the episode.

    However, as the episode progressed, it turned out to be less about a Trickster screwing around with the brothers and more about the war between angels and demons. We learn a pretty important detail about the Trickster that completely changes our views on him and makes the war between these two sides that much more interesting. Castiel also makes his usual small appearance in the episode, showing up to inform us that the Trickster is not who he says he is.

    By the end of the episode, we're left once again where we started, with the brothers travelling across the US like they did in Season 1, solving supernatural crimes on a case-by-case basis. However, after seeing the end of the episode, I have a feeling it's not the last we'll see of the Trickster.. and I have no problem with that whatsoever.moreless

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    7 0

  • I loved this episode!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By angim350, Jan 26, 2011 Report Abuse
    Easily my favourite episode of the season thus far. I always enjoyed the Trickster's appearances before so I was very much lookiing forward to this episode. And this was was easily the best.

    Trapped in a huge list of crappy tv shows that you would find on TV while flicking through the channels... a don't think I've ever seen another show do it. I guess it's psycology that I found myself laughing in the comedy one... it wasn't even funny and yet it was hillarious. Kudos to Jenson and Jared; they made it what it was. But of course... the best bit of the episode is the last 10 minutes... the big reveal that all along the Trickster was an Angel and not just any Angel but Gabriel. Was wondering when he was going to show up. I didn't see this twist coming at all. Maybe you guys did and I'm just a little bit dumb... but I found the twist very satisfying. More reveal about the end of the world as well; I've said before the parralells between Sam, Dean, Micheal and Lucifer and very strong and this proves it. Brother vs brother... it does indeed seem like its all been aiming towards this. (Plot hole I've just realized... if Sam was so important then why didn't the Angels bring him back when he died, thus saving Dean from making the deal?)

    I loved every bit of this episode... I don't even feel the need to compain that still we see no Lucifer (I know when we do it's going to be awesome). Very, very good.moreless

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    5 1

  • Sam and Dean find themselves in an alternate TV reality with spoofs galore and the return of an old nemesis.

    4.5
    "Poor"
    By TheShazz, Nov 15, 2010 Report Abuse
    That's it...there is no doubt left in my mind. The powers that be at Supernatural have officially lost their minds.

    With a mean glare, shaking my head in utter disbelief, I stared at the screen as it was revealed that a beloved, multi-dimensional, fabulously played, Pagan god, was really.... get this..... an archangel all along.

    Yup..that's right. We are supposed to believe that since his very first introduction, (Tall Tales was it?) the craftily played Trickster (Richard Speight whom I met and just loved!!) is really, Gabriel.

    Now, isn't Gabriel the archangel supposedly protecting Chuck? (I may be wrong in my recollection...I'm not into the whole angel thing). But, if it is indeed good ol' Gabe protecting Chuck, when does he have time to cause so much mischief and mayhem in the human world?

    That aside..... WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    It was one thing for Kripke to bring back the ever so enigmatic Croatoan as an evil zombie-inducing plague of the future...but to try to tie in a pre-existing character who was solidified in the Pagan order of things as a Christian symbol all along is just beyond the realm of understanding. To hell with all this apocalypse stuff. This may actually be what gets me to stop watching the show.

    As it is, the last episode was ALMOST bearable, and there were some entertaining tid-bits...but I'm ready to be rid of Bobby. Either get him out of the wheelchair (which doesn't seem to be serving any purpose other than being a receptacle of self-pity), or get over being a "broken" man...I'm tired of it.... Just gratuitous wallowing. Don't we already have enough of that with Dean and Sam???moreless

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    4 20

  • It's not every day you see Supernatural turn into some kind of cheesy sitcom, and I have to say, I really liked this one. Warning, spoilers contained below

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Dark_Davis, Sep 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    Now I have had some issues with trickster episodes before, but this one was just brilliant. The most interesting part of this all was that the trickster, was not actually a trickster all along, he was an arc angel. Woops, guess I didn't see that coming, but can you blame me, how could you have. Even more heavy, was what the trickster said, I always knew that it was strange that the two brothers would have to face off, but I never put it together with angels and demons being like brothers. The connection was truly mind blowing, and really amazed me. It seems like this show being all planed out before it even airs really pays off in the end, because you can piece it all together like this instead of make up the big stories along the way. I don't know how many shows do it like this, but not many shows are still this good this far into their life. Amazing episode!!moreless

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    6 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Dean is shot, the bullet wound is on the left side of his back. When he falls to his knees, however, the wound is on the right side. Edit

  • Notes

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    • The opening credits are in an 80s family/sitcom style: different opening theme, different font for the credits, and shots of Sam and Dean engaging in brotherly humor and ghost-hunting. Edit
    • The episode parodies two of the shows on opposite Supernatural: CSI on CBS and Grey's Anatomy on ABC. Edit
    • Music: Move You (Anya Marina), Not A Through Street (Anya Marina), Something Real (Renee Stahl), Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who), Knight Rider Theme (Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson) Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Cathy Randolph: I could have sworn I saw... the Incredible Hulk. Sam: The Incredible Hulk? Cathy Randolph: I told you, it's crazy. Dean: Bana or Norton? Cathy Randolph: Oh, no, those movies were terrible. The TV Hulk. Dean: Lou Ferrigno? Cathy Randolph: Yes. Edit
    • Dean: Ally with the Trickster? Sam: Yeah. Dean: A bloody, violent monster... and you wanna be Facebook friends with him? Nice, Sammy. Edit
    • Dr. Piccolo: Doctor, seriously. Sam: What? Dr. Picolo: Seriously, you are brilliant, you know that, and a coward. You're a brilliant coward. Sam: Uh, what are you talking about? Dr. Picolo: As if you don't know. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Cathy Randolph: I could have sworn I saw the Incredible Hulk. Specifically referencing the CBS TV series running from 1978 to 1982, starring Bill Bixby as David Bruce Banner, and Lou Ferrigno as his alter-ego, the Hulk. Dean's subsequent question "Bana or Norton" refers to the two actors who played the character in the movies. Edit
    • SAM the car: The glowing red light, control panel in the car, and hip background music reference the NBC TV series Knight Rider, which ran from 1982 to 1986, and featured KITT, a talking car with a computer intelligence. Edit

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