It's a Terrible Life

Season 4, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

Dean and Sam now lead ordinary lives. Dean works in the corporate world at the Sandover Bridge & Iron Company along with Sam who works as a Tech Support. Both have no idea who the other is until their colleagues start killing themselves.
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Fan Episode Reviews (37)

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  • A normal life for the Winchester brothers - how does that sound? Fow a while, that seems to be just okay with Sam Wesson and Dean Smith.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By oxana, Jan 06, 2012 Report Abuse
    One of those amusing episodes. Not among the best that Supernatural can - and has - offered, but still good enough to provide a few laughs.

    Dean and Sam are suddenly working in a normal 9-to-5 job, no recollection of their true selves (this is a little confusing at first).

    Sam has dreams, though, and it seems that when people start to die in the office, and Dean sees a ghost, that some things are coming back.

    The conclusion is bearable, tying very well the final discussion of the previous episode where Dean decided he isn't strong enough to try and save the world.

    In and on itself, the episode was probably just as confusing as it was supposed to be.moreless

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  • Another alternate reality with a twist

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By onebuffchick, Jun 20, 2011 Report Abuse
    This was one of those episodes that didnt really faze me till the last scene. Dont get me wrong, it was very entertaining watching the bros take on another alternate life ep, but for some reason it just didnt hold my interest very well until the very end, when things made sense. Still, like I said, it was an enjoyable episode nonetheless.

    The entire premise here was set into motion by our newest angel, Zachariah, who happens to be somewhat of a replacement for Uriel but is also Castiels superior. And after what happened with Uriel in the last ep, Im really hoping Zach here will be one of the good ones. According to dialog, he seems like the real deal. But this is Supernatural, so you never know. Anyway, Zachariah has put into Deans head an alternate life for him which ultimately turns out to be a test of sorts to make Dean realize his true destiny in life. Of course, Sam is an unwitting participant in this as well but I was unclear on just how much of Sams involvement was incidental. Whether he was put there by Zachariah also or just happened to be in Deans memory is actually irrelevant, but still important. After all, Zachariah never brought up Sam to Dean in the end, so Im guessing Sams presence in Deans alternate reality was a technicality. I dont really buy that, but for now, to me, thats the only thing that makes sense. And it DOES make sense since Sam is a major driving force in Deans decisions - both in the alternate version and in their true lives.

    To explain further, the ep basically focused more on Dean. We start out in the alternate life and watch Deans very successful corporate American businessman self start his day and continue watching it progress as a normal, everyday mans life in a business world. Then we get Sam, a computer techie who happens to work in the same building as Dean and who seems to be part of the lower chain, so to speak. But in this odd universe the 2 are not even brothers; they are total strangers, even with different last names. Things quickly start to get very weird after they soon meet and have a few very awkward, weird exchanges. They soon realize they believe in ghosts and begin working together to dispel the one haunting their workplace. Now, some of the stuff throughout all of this was, I am so sorry to say, kinda bizarre and felt so out of place. The ghost story itself was okay, and even those gruesome deaths (the guys head in a microwave!) brought out the ugh factors like theyre supposed to on this show. But the stuff with the bros just felt so....off.

    Then again, I could be reading it the wrong way. I mentioned above that Sam was a driving force in Deans decisions, and I stand by my belief in that. After all, it was Sam who started to mention that maybe they were not meant for all this corporate America stuff. That maybe something else was in their destinies. And he was right. On the other hand, this was Zachariahs doing, so perhaps all that was indeed intentional on his part. What would be the point of completely obliterating their minds of everything theyve done and gone through if he didnt think there was a chance theyd figure it out? True, a lot of stuff they DID have to re-learn on their own, but because it seemed to come naturally to them was the eye opener.

    Nonetheless, this was still Deans ep, his experience. The angels have targeted him for a reason, which became clear last ep that Dean must stop the apocalypse. And what I got from his conversation with Zachariah at the end was that they need Dean focused and all his energy set on being a good hunter so he can play the valuable asset he is in stopping the apocalypse. After all, Deans attitude about the job has been waning and slipping for a while now. Always complaining about the perils and injustices of it, always spouting off how tired he was.... This may be well and true, but Zachariah was right: Dean needs to quit whining. Hes been turning into a version of Sam that has long been gone by now. Sam, for what its worth given his own indiscretions on the hunt, has at least grown some real passion for the job. This was sorta indirectly shown during the alternate reality, especially during the scene where he tries to encourage Dean to quit the corporate spot and hit the road to go ghost hunting. Meaning, Sam was the one trying to entice Dean to the positive aspects of the job: saving lives, etc. In the end, though, once all was revealed, I believe Dean finally gets it. He is on the way to be who he truly is.

    Bits and Pieces:
    - So the Ghostfacers boys - Ed and Harry - are still running their gig. Though it oddly makes sense because this is what helped the alternates Sam and Dean learn how to deal with ghosts, I just really could care less.
    - Still, some funny moments in the alternate reality. One example: Sam still hates being called Sammy.
    - I loved the references to Bobby, Ellen, Jo, and Madison. But this shows how the boys think of these people, even in this alternate reality, as close family and friends. Odd, though, why Madison was Sams chosen instead of Jessica. Not complaining, but just struck me as odd.

    Im gonna rate this a 9. It was very good, but it just had its weak spots for me. Next ep looks as if Sam and Dean get to read about their own lives in the comics. THAT should be a hoot.moreless

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  • Dean and Sam become normal as they work in an office.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Spongelly, May 11, 2011 Report Abuse
    I liked that at the end of the episode, both boys chose to stay and do hunting opposed to working in a building for the rest of their lives. Although I really thought Dean would stay because he was so much higher up than Sam was.

    So the whole thing was a test for DEAN? Then why was Sam thrown into it? And was Sam told that it was just a test or what?

    Sometimes I don't know why the angels waste time by doing silly tests. Normally they get so heated over the boys wasting time and in turn seals get broken.

    Great job cast and crew. Can't wait for more!moreless

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  • The acting is superb, the storyline is awesome, but the music sucks. The producers need to choose their accompanying music for better impact. Look at Smallville, what does it have that Supernatural doesn't....excellent music to carry the mood.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By bethdixon, Dec 24, 2010 Report Abuse
    I really enjoyed this episode, as I do all of them. However, I believe Supernatural could surpass Smallville in ratings if they played better music throughout the episodes. Example for the episode - On the Head of a Pin - to Enigma's song Why, Its a Terrible Life - Enigma's song - Prism of Life, Heaven & Hell - Enigma's song Invisible Love. The show is pretty awesome but to make it truly awesome one needs the music to go with the superb acting to give that goosebump effect. Enigma's song Distorted Love could be perfect for Sam and Ruby.moreless

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    1 1

  • Way too many suicides for me to watch.

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By starfire2896, Oct 18, 2010 Report Abuse
    I ended up having to watch something else due to the fact there were more than one suicide(s). I just couldn't watch it. I can't stand the fact the people were offing themselves just for tiny mistakes. To me this episode is sending the wrong message to viewers. I know some people how have attempted to kill themselves just because they felt like they were worthless or had failed in one way or another. Both survived, one because they're dog wouldn't let them sleep, the other because she had my siblings and myself to care for. I am glad that they didn't succeed in killing themselves because they are a part of my family.moreless

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    2 16
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Paul was working in the middle of the night trying to retrieve his files, the screen was white with black text. Typically computer "command run" programming section is black screen with white text. Edit
    • Dean says that his mother's name is Ellen, his father's name is Bob, and his sister's name is Jo. These are characters from the 2nd season. Bob is most likely Bobby Singer. Ellen owned the roadhouse and her daughter Jo worked there until she went off hunting by herself. Sam says that he just broke up with his fiance Madison. Madison was the werewolf that Sam fell in love with in the episode "Heart." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Airdates: UK: May 10, 2009 on ITV2 Denmark: May 24, 2009 on TV3 Australia: June 29, 2009 on Channel TEN Norway: July 16, 2009 on FEM Portugal: August 17, 2009 on AXN Sweden: October 4, 2009 on Kanal 5 Spain: December 21, 2009 on AXN Germany: January 25, 2010 on Sky Cinema Hits Poland: June 4, 2010 on TVN7 New Zealand: June 12, 2010 on TV2 Czech Republic: September 3, 2010 on Prima COOL Finland: August 2, 2011 on Sub Edit
    • Music: A Well Respected Man (The Kinks) Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Dean: You broke into their e-mail accounts? Sam: I used some skills that I happen to have to satisfy my curiosity. Dean Nice. Edit
    • Dean: Oh, so what? This was all some sort of a lesson? Is that what you're telling me? Wow. Very creative. Zachariah: You should see my decoupage. Dean: Gross... no thank you. Edit
    • Sam: Can I ask you a question? Dean: Look, man, I told you, I'm not into the, uh... Sam: Oh dude, come on, I'm not either. I just wanna ask you one question. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Ian: I mean, thank God we got Harry Potter here to save us from the Apocalypse. Referencing the title character in author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Harry is the boy wizard who over the course of seven novels is destined to defeat the ultimate evil wizard, Voldemort. Edit
    • Dean Smith & Sam Wesson Referring to Smith & Wesson the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smith & Wesson is known for the many types of ammunition it has introduced over the years and for its revolver expertise. Edit
    • Title References the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life (1946) starring James Stewart. A guardian angel helps George Bailey, a compassionate but frustrated businessman, by showing him what life would have been like if he had never been born. The classic movie is frequently aired around Christmas and illustrates the positive effect simple acts of kindness and generosity can have on generations. Edit

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