TV Verdict

The Trickster returns and has an even more diabolically diabolical scheme cooked up for Sam and Dean. And as much as they might despise the predicament, I suspect the viewing audience likely enjoyed this gonzo episode as much as me; “Changing Channels” is probably the funniest installment of Supernatural ever aired.

The episode begins with the Winchesters trapped–in a sitcom. Complete with laugh track and awful jokes. And then it transitions into an awesome Full House-like intro.

We back up a couple of days and find Sam and Dean investigating a claim that a man was brutally murdered by the TV version of the Incredible Hulk. Following the clues, they end up trapped in “TV Land,” a concoction devised by the Trickster who’s trying to teach the boys to “play their roles,” namely that of Michael and Lucifer, the two dudes they’re supposedly destined to vessel.

After bouncing through a hospital melodrama, a police procedural, an insane Japanese game show and Knight Rider, the brothers finally trap the Trickster, who is revealed to be Gabriel the Archangel. Gabriel reveals he just wants all this infighting to end and for the boys to get their vesseling on.

The episode ends with Dean giving a stern talking-to to Gabriel about standing up for his beliefs, which seems to take and indicates that we might see more from him later.

Great, hilarious show, that actually grounds the parodies in the overall season arc. The Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are definitely having a great time goofing on TV stereotypes and seemed to especially delight in David Caruso mockery.

I enjoyed the Gabriel stuff, too, though his “I’m tired of all the bellyaching” argument was a bit fuzzy. The parallels between Michael/Lucifer and Dean/Sam were interesting, though hugely inconsistent with Biblical orthodoxy (Michael as Lucifer’s older brother; it’s pretty obvious that Satan was the second banana in Heaven).

No matter. This season isn’t a Sunday School lesson and I’m more than happy with that. What counts is the storytelling and so far Kripke and crew have put together some hugely entertaining stuff, none as hilarious as last night’s episode.