Supernatural S04E18 - The Monster at the End of This Book (2009)

Review

The Winchester Bros have arrived at a comic book store to investigate reported supernatural activities. The clerk figures they are LARPing as the lead characters of a book series called Supernatural! The boys soon discover the author, Carver Edlund, knows their entire back story and has written about it. Naturally the Winchesters track down Edlund's Publisher and learn the author's real name is Chuck Shurley, it doesn't take them too long to pay Chuck a visit.

Seems Chuck thinks his books, unfortunately the series is now defunct, are works of fiction and he is surprised to learn that Sam and Dean are real people who have done what he is writing about. Just when Dean decides to take measures into his own hands Castiel shows up and warns that Chuck is protected as he is a "Prophet of the Lord". Chuck has written that Sam will be waylaid by Lilith in a motel room, this is happening, but since Chuck is protected by an Arch-Angel, Heaven's most destructive weapon, Dean comes up with a plan that just might work.

Got to say this episode presents as one of the most interesting episodes yet of Supernatural, the scenario was pretty unique, we do get a move on the main plot arcs - or at least have the big bad of the season involved, and are left wondering what exactly the episode title relates to. While the monster I guess could be Lilith, we also have Dean nominally in the mix, and of course Sam who is going to need a lot more power in the batteries to go up against Lilith by season's end.

The idea of a biblical prophet as an author of an unsuccessful series of pseudo novels was certainly something I hadn't seen before, albeit taking into account the Sutter Cane character from In The Mouth of Madness (1994), and it worked in the at times surreal universal Supernatural is set in. The episode opens with covers of the books, which seem to plot major episodes from previous seasons, and which amusing show Sam as a Fabio looking character. I was also amused by author Chuck Shurley apologising for a couple of the books which highlighted two of the worse received episodes to date. Amusing also was Dean's reaction to some of the fan fiction that has been posted on the web over the years; some people have bizarre ideas about relationships.

The Lord moves in mysterious ways, apparently through the pages of cheap horror novels

For the first time since the character's introduction Castiel shows a whole lot of independent action, highlighting for Dean a possible solution to Sam facing down Lilith. Clearly the Angel isn't meant to point out to Dean the next course of action, considering the Prophet of the Lord has already written down coming events, but does so with what amounts to a large wink and a nudge. Whether or not this will have any bearing on the resolution to the season's major plot arc remains to be found out, though it might skip into next season.

Been a while since we talked about a Supernatural episode emulating another horror property, but The Monster at the End of This Book just screams it out. Chuck, when Sam and Dean first confront him, thinks they are fans of his work and asks them whether this is "a Misery thing". The clear reference is to the Stephen King novel Misery where the fictional protagonist is a writer who is in the clutches of his "biggest fan". The fictional world of the novel is of course not something that horror keeps at arm's length, but as stated the underlying concept of this episode of Supernatural is moving into some pretty unique territory with a pulp fiction writer being a prophet.

One of the aspects of the episode that seems to have slipped from the attention of most commentators is Sam's clash with Lilith at the Motel. This is right after Dean makes a valiant attempt to change the course of their destinies but discovers that God's voice is pretty much set in concrete. Sam doesn't have the fire power to match Lilith which doesn't bode well for Sam staying on the straight and narrow; Ruby is no doubt going to be delighted by the outcome. On the bright side Arch Angels look to be completely terrifying entities. Lilith is fleeing at the first hint of the angelic warrior, so I'm expecting Sam and Dean to clash with one in the next season or so. In the short term Sam is probably going to be hitting the demonic blood bank with new vigour in the coming episodes. Ruby's plan is? We simply don't know but Sam needs to walk very carefully through the next few encounters with the demonic.

In the final scene we are back at Chuck's place, Zachariah shows up and we get another piece in the puzzle season four has built for us. Apparently Chuck is aware of what the future holds for both Winchesters and decides he needs to warn both Sam and Dean. Zachariah warns Chuck that he will stop him from approaching the Winchester and when Chuck threatens suicide Zachariah warns that the Angels will only just bring him back. Clearly Sam isn't the only one with something coming down the tube, over the last couple of episodes it has become increasingly obvious that Dean also has something dark looming in his near future.

Dean confirms during the conversation with the Publisher that his two favourite songs are Ramble On and Traveling Riverside Blues, both tracks performed by the mighty Led Zeppelin. The only actual song we get is Leave All This Behind rocked out by Sonny Ellis. Since the episode mentions a couple of Led Zep songs I'm going to give it a passing mark on this score, no pun intended.

Great episode, loving the new character Chuck and hope we have a recurrent role happening. There's an interesting theological aspect to the episode, predeterminism - as promoted by the Protestant churches as opposed to free will - the cornerstone of the Catholic sects. Considering the word of God cannot be changed, we are more in line with Protestant beliefs. Okay great episode, full recommendation, did dig the added depth being shown.