Title: Channel Surfing: Changing Channels' Episode Review
By: Pixie Queen
While many viewers were still mulling over the events of “The Curious Case of Dean Winchester,” I was watching next week’s episode, “Changing Channels,” courtesy of a Trick or Treat (okay, mostly he’s not for ‘treats’) friendly demi-god. But I don’t have to tell you who that is, do I?
In its previous seasons, Supernatural has aired an array of parody episodes one can only dream of seeing from a favorite TV program, and when it sets out to poke some fun at itself, fans and now other television programs, the show does it very well. With classic episodes such as “Monster Movie” (that took black and white classic noir horror films and flipped them on their ear) and “Ghostfacers” under their belt, it’s no surprise that tackling TV’s most popular (and fondly remembered) shows come naturally in this season’s attempt. “Changing Channels” also reminds me of the TV cult favorite Roswell, when it tried to present the characters in a Bewitched type of setting but, of course, Supernatural does their version with more ease and charm than was portrayed through the Roswell entry.
The episode opens in typical Seventies TV show exaggerated fashion with Dean exclaiming, “I’m going to need a bigger mouth!” as he eyes a tower of a sandwich that’s almost as tall as he is. From there? It only gets better.
As with the other parodies, the original title card has been replaced by an opening credits sequence of scenes showing the two brothers hunting, throwing a football, riding tandem bikes and mini-scooters. Did I mention it was scored with an appropriate theme song that describes ‘two hunting bros?’
Sam and Dean, next seen in their real world, set out to investigate a ‘bear’ attack. The scene then shifts as if it would be used in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy with appropriate music (and I think they managed to score a few songs from up and coming indie singer Anya Marina). From there, you have the overly dramatic tone of Grey’s, which includes mentions of a ‘Dr. Sexy,’ a face transplant and a ghost, which is a very well placed nod to the character of Denny, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I’m only a tad disappointed Sam wasn’t referred to as ‘Dr. McBrilliant,’ but after that? Things go from, well, bad to worse.
Next up, is a Japanese game show parody entitled NutCrackers (it’s exactly what it sounds like in this case) and it’s not too great; the spoof commercial that takes the place of a real one is done with humorous intent, but what comes next is really amazing: the boys get thrown into CSI: Miami. This is where the show just nails the meaning of parody and has the boys slap on Horatio Cane-esque attire (including the sunglasses) and it’s all done fantastically, with Jensen and Jared mimicking Cane and his weekly deliberately-paced, satirical quips, as well. And Kripke, in this CSI spoof, is not shy about voicing his opinion concerning the lack of original programming on television.
There’s more, of course, and I don’t want to give too much away, but there are mentions of the brotherly love the boys have for one another, as well as Castiel being referred to as a ‘pretty boy angel,’ and a few other choice moments I think fans are going to love.
The well-deserving crew of the show, with their outstanding work on every aspect of the episode, from music to lighting and editing, and everyone else involved behind the scenes in making this an excellent episode, deserve a huge ‘well done.’ Not to say that Jared and Jensen aren’t brilliant, they are, but it’s really the atmosphere that makes this episode stand out more this time around.
I’m a TV junkie as well as a film one, and I got what the show was aiming for. It succeeds in what it sets out to do. It’s a very well done addition to the number of parodies Supernatural has done over the years, and it also just happens to include a big piece to the overall Supernatural puzzle.
Lack of original programming? I don’t think so.
Supernatural: Changing Channels airs next Thursday at 9:00 (eastern)/8:00 (central) on The CW.