Difference between revisions of "The Meaning of Episode Titles"
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Revision as of 13:26, 21 August 2010
Introduction
"Supernatural" is a TV show that uses a lot of popular culture references and fully understands itself as a postmodern text, as it draws from famous texts not only of its own genre, but also "shops" through over a hundred years' worth of popular culture products.
Apart from obvious references of the story, plots, and characters itself (see e.g. Hero's Journey, Bibliography), as well as references made by the characters (see Trivia of Episodes, and They like to watch), an increasing number of episode titles refer to several cultural texts, most commonly songs (of the Mullet Rock variety), as well as horror films and other classical movies (with a preference for the fifties, sixties, and seventies).
Season 1
1.01 Pilot is the pilot episode. 1.02 Wendigo, 1.04 Phantom Traveler, 1.05 Bloody Mary, 1.07 Hookman, and 1.08 Bugs name the monster of the week. 1.03 Dead in the Water, 1.06 Skin, 1.11 Scarecrow, and 1.16 Shadow describe the monster of the week—the ghost of a drowned boy, someone who changes skins, an aspect of the local fertility god, demons who are visible only in silhouette. 1.09 Home, 1.10 Asylum, 1.17 Hell House, and 1.21 Salvation name the setting. 1.12 Faith names the key theme of the episode. 1.14 Nightmare, 1.19 Provenance, 1.20 Dead Man's Blood, and 1.22 Devil's Trap name elements key to the plot.
Route 666 is the sixth spur of the famous "motherline" Route 66, and the last remaining stretch of road was renamed into Route 491 in 2003. Route 666 has also been called "The Devil's Highway"(Source). It wouldn't be the Devil's Highway without a number of strange incidents.
The Benders were a family of 19th century mass murderers from Kansas(Source and Further Reading).
The title refers to a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth: "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes". More on the phrase at Wikipedia. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is also the title of a Ray Bradbury novel in which two teenage boys encounter Mr. Dark, the owner of a mysterious carnival, who has offered secret desires to several people, only to bind them in service to the carnival. One of the chapters in the episode Something Wicked on the Season 1 DVD is called "...this way comes."
Season 2
"In My Time of Dying" is a song by Dean's favorite band, Led Zeppelin, released in 1975; it is a cover of "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed" recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in the late 1920s.
"Everybody Loves a Clown" is a song by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, released in 1965.
Bloodlust! is a 1961 movie, in which a crazed hunter kidnaps people and hunts them for sports on his estate. While this sounds more like The Benders, the "crazed hunter" most certainly is Gordon Walker.
2.04 Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things is a 1972 low-budget zombie movie by Bob Clarke.
Simon Says is a game for children, in which one of the players becomes "Simon", and the other players must do as Simon says. "Simon" has to start each sentence with "Simon says...".
Simon Says is also a 2006 horror film.
No Exit is a play by French existentialist writer Jean-Paul Sartre, in which three people are locked into a room (which might be hell) together. While they wait to eventually be freed of their prison, a complex dynamic starts to develop between the three of them...
The Usual Suspects is a 1995 movie by Bryan Singer, in which a con-man, interrogated by the police, tells a convoluted story of events that lead up to a massacre and fire at the docks. Using flashbacks, he tries to explain how he and his fellow partners-in-crime were on the boat that was involved, but not everything is as it seems. The episode draws heavily from the style of the film, using flashback and narration as well, as Sam and Dean tell their story.
The plot of the episode is heavily inspired by the story of Robert Johnson, without whom Dean's favorite music would likely not exist. One of Robert Johnson's songs is entitled Cross Road Blues.
The title comes from a plot element, in this case the mystery of Roanoke, explained by Sam and Dean in the episode itself.
The title directly references the plot, in this case Sam Winchester being hunted by Gordon Walker. Several movies of the same name exist, but none of them holds any plot elements shown in the episode.
The title comes from a plot element, namely the dolls which Dean and Sam thought were being used for hoodoo.
The title comes from plot elements, namely the shapeshifter and the bank incident that takes place during the night.
Houses of the Holy is a 1973 Led Zeppelin album. (Incidentally, the seventh song on the album is "No Quarter"—in the same episode, Dean runs out of quarters when using the Magic Fingers.) Led Zeppelin also used the title for a 1975 song.
Born Under a Bad Sign is the title song of a 1967 Albert King album.
Tall tales are elements of American folklore, as such as they are tales about extraordinary heroes or deeds done, "larger than life". In this case, the term 'tall tale' would appear to be used more generally to mean 'fantastical story', as in the absurd stories published in the Weekly World News which inspire the demon in this episode, which do not have particular resonance with American folklore.
This is a direct reference to a plot element. The word generally refers to animals who are killed on the road by being hit with a car; this describes two of the characters to some extent.
This is a direct reference to a plot element, namely the missing hearts of werewolf victims.
Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets, is a book by Kenneth Anger, said to unveil the secrets of Hollywood in the 1920s through 1950s. There's also a song by The Misfits titled "Hollywood Babylon".
"Folsom Prison Blues" is a 1955 song by Johnny Cash.
2.20 What Is and What Should Never Be
"What Is and What Should Never Be" is a 1969 song by Led Zeppelin.
2.21 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part One and 2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two
"All Hell Breaks Loose" is A) a set phrase (idiom) and B) a song by The Misfits.
Season 3
The Magnificent Seven is a 1960 western with Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. It's also the name of a song by the English punk band The Clash.
"The Kids are Alright" is a 1965 song by The Who.
Bad Day at Black Rock is another film by John Sturges with Spencer Tracy.
Sin City is the name of a comic title by Frank Miller (a movie adaptation was done in 2005). "Sin City" is the part of the fictional city described in the comic which is ruled over by prostitutes and other seedy/shady characters. "Sin City" is also an AC/DC song.
This is a direct reference to a plot element. Fairy tales are sometimes referred to as bedtime stories, because they were read to children at bedtime.
The title of the episode comes from an old piece of weather lore" “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor’s warning”. Red sky at morning is said to signal rain.
The title is a direct reference to plot elements, namely vampires, especially newly created vampires, and their diet. It is possible the new vampires would need fresh blood or could be considered themselves fresh blood, i.e. someone new or 'fresh'.
3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas
This title plays on two standard TV tropes: the Christmas episode and the Very Special episode. The Christmas episode is, rather obviously, a one-off episode of a series set around that holiday. The Very Special episode was an episode of a series that focused on an Important Issue such as cancer or addiction and was usually very earnest and serious.
There is a different title card for the episode which is preceded by a version of the old CBS Special Presentation Indent. Sleigh bells are heard and the a Christmas ornament explodes on the screen and then the episode's title appears.
Malleus Maleficarum means Hammer of the Witches in Latin, and it was the title for a fifteenth century treatise on witches. It was used to support argue the nature and reality of witchcraft and was used in the persecution and murder of women accused of witchcraft across Europe in in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
3.10 Dream a Little Dream of Me
"Dream a Little Dream Of Me" is the title of a song first recorded in 1931. The song, a version by Mama Cass, is heard during the episode during Dean's dream of Lisa.
The title is a direct reference to a plot element. The episode title refers to a tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, California called the Mystery Spot that was open in 1939. Just like in the episode, it is reported be a place where the laws of physics and gravity have do not apply. There are other mystery spots but the Santa Cruz location is the original.
The title is a direct reference to a plot element. Jus in bello means "justice in war" and refers to the guidelines for "fighting well" once war has begun.
The title is a direct reference to plot elements. The title and style of the episode are a parody on the American reality television series Ghost Hunters, which has been airing since October 6th, 2004. In the show, Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes investigate paranormal activity.
"Long Distance Call" is the title of the season 2, episode 22 episode of The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling, in which a boy is able to communicate with his deceased grandmother through a toy phone. "Long Distance Call" is also a 1951 song by Muddy Waters.
"Time Is on My Side" is a song by the Rolling Stones.
"No rest for the wicked" is a phrase from the Book of Isaiah, verses 48:22 and 57:20-21. It is also the title of a 1995 Ozzy Osbourne album and a Godsmack song.
Season 4
The title is a direct reference to a plot element. In the Gospel of John, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
4.02 Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester
The title of this episode refers to the Judy Blume book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
In the Beginning is a Journey album released in 1980. It compiles the first three albums they released before Steve Perry joined the band. It is also the phrase that opens both the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of John in the King James version of the Bible.
The title is a direct reference to plot elements. The Metamorphosis is a novel by Frank Kafka about a man whoa wakes one day to find himself transformed into a giant cockroach, and the conflict this causes with his family. In this episode the character Jack Montgomery goes through a transformation into a rugaru, and Sam and Dean clash over Sam's continued struggle with the demon blood he was fed by Azazel and how it has affected him.
The title is a direct reference to a plot element. Monster movie is a slang term referring to films with a struggle between humans and monsters - like King Kong. In this episode, the protagonist is himself a monster - a shapeshifter and he is also obsessed with classic horror films and devotes himself to recreating them.
This title is a play on the virus yellow fever caused by the bite of the yellow fever mosquito and the American slang "yellow" meaning a coward. Dean is infected with ghost sickness or "yellow fever", the yellow referring to the fear induced by the supernatural infection.
4.07 It's The Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester
The title of the episode references the 1966 Peanuts movie It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The title is a direct reference to plot elements, namely the wishing well key to the plot and how, given that all the wishes in the episode go spectacularly wrong, it's wishful thinking to believe wishes work.
4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer
I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 movie.
"Heaven and Hell" is the title song of a 1980 Black Sabbath album.
The title is a direct reference to plot elements: it is a play on 'remains' referring to a corpse, and remains, as in what is left of a family after tragedy.
4.12 Criss Angel Is A Douchebag
There is a show named Criss Angel Mindfreak staring Criss Angel, a magician, who performs stunts. Angel has a reputation of being a douchebag.
A term coined by the ABC for their made-for-television movie series dealing with conflicts of teenagers. See also CBS Schoolbreak Special.
This is an obviously named episode deals with a sex demon and ends in violence. The concepts of sex and violence are thought to be contributing factors is the deterioration of morals and family values. Sam and Dean forget their family bond and have a violent confrontation because of the sex demon.
The title is also the name of the pilot episode of The Muppet Show and an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
The title of the episode may be a reference to the Jane's Addiction song "Ted, Just Admit It..." which contains the lyrics "sex and violence" and "sex is violent," or to a song by The Exploited titled "Sex And Violence"
The title comes from a 1934 Fredric March movie where Death decides to live his life as a mortal.
The title comes from the old question "How many angels do you fit on the head of a pin?"
The title is a play on the title of the 1946 movie It's A Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart as a man who wonders what life would have been like if he were never born.
4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book
The title is from the Sesame Street book where Grover cautions the reader that there is a monster at the end of the book and they shouldn't go there. At the end, Grover finds out the monster is himself.
The title is a television term taken from an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie jumps a shark. It usually denotes that a show is past its prime.
The title is a direct reference to a plot element, namely the Rapture, which is a term used to describe the events surrounding the second coming of Christ where the faithful is taken back to Heaven.
"When The Levee Breaks" is a 1929 blues song, covered by Led Zeppelin in 1971.
This is the title of a 1972 experimental film by Kenneth Anger as well as an album by the Swedish heavy metal band Candlemass. It is also a play on the title of Season 4's first episode, Lazarus Rising.
Season 5
"Sympathy For The Devil" is the name of a song by the Rolling Stones and a movie by Jean-Luc Goddard.
The episode title "Good God Y'All" is from the line 'War! Huh! Good God Y'all' a lyric from the song "War" originally sung by Edwin Starr and covered by many including Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bruce Springsteen.
The title of the episode refers to a 1970s children's record and TV show "Free to be .. you and me"]. This clip from the show is particularly relevant as the kids in the clip talk about how they feel about their siblings.
Another reference - when the CW was formed in 2006, its initial promotional campaign featured the tag "free to be...".
The episode title might refer to The Doors Song "The End", which uses themes of the apocalpyse and a world gone mad ('all the children are insane'). The song also evokes the image of the devil ('the snake is long, 7 miles, (..) and he's old, and his skin is cold'), and has an oedipal part, where a son goes to murder his sister, brother and finally father, to confront his mother, who he wishes to have sex with. Furthermore, the song was used in Francis Ford Coppola's iconic war movie, Apocalypse Now.
The episode title probably refers to idols in both the religious sense and the cultural-icon sense.
5.06 I Believe The Children Are Our Future
The title is a lyric from Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All".
5.07 The Curious Case Of Dean Winchester
The title is a play on the title of the F.Scott Fitzgerald short story, later made into a movie starring Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which the protagonist ages backwards.
The title is a direct reference plot elements, namely the many TV shows featured in the episode, which include Grey's Anatomy and CSI: Miami; Grey's Anatomy and another show in the CSI franchise air Thursday nights at nine, the same time slot as Supernatural.
The title of the episode refers to a 1980s animated TV show based on the movie Ghostbusters.
"Abandon All Hope" is a reference to the final line of the inscription over the gate of Hell in Dante's Inferno - "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". according to Canto III of Dante's Inferno.
The title is a play on the memoir by Susanna Kaysen and the movie based on same, both entitled Girl, Interrupted and depicting Kaysen's stay in a mental health facility. Misha Collins has a bit part in the movie; a more important character is played by Clea Duvall, who costarred with Jensen Ackles in Ten Inch Hero.
The title may be a pun on swap meets, also known as flea markets.
5.13 The Song Remains The Same
The Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy opens with the song "The Song Remains the Same"; the song is also the title track on a Zeppelin live concert album.
My Bloody Valentine] is a 1981 movie. In 2009 Jensen starred in a 3-D remake: My Bloody Valentine 3D.
5.15 Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is a 1982 movie. In this film, Steve Martin interacts with (now dead) stars of 40s and 50s noir movies through use of clips from their movies.
The title of the episode refers to the 1973 Pink Floyd concept album Dark Side Of The Moon. The episode was originally called “Your Whole Life Flashes Before Your Eyes” Source.
The title comes from a song by Jay-Z entitled "99 Problems"; this is the ninety-ninth episode.
The point of no return is the point at which events have progressed far enough that stopping them becomes impossible, or the narrative climax. It may also be a reference to the Kansas album Point of Know Return or to that album's title song.
The title is a line from Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", referencing the hammer of Thor; the episode includes two gods from the same pantheon as Thor, Odin and Baldur, but does not include Thor himself unless he is one of the unidentified gods.
The title may reference the debut album of the group Heaven & Hell, whose members were all previously part of Black Sabbath; more likely, it is a reference to the idiomatic phrase "better the devil you know than the devil you don't".
The episode gets its title from the Iron Maiden song "Two Minutes to Midnight." The song's title and subject refer to the Doomsday Clock.
The phrase "Swan Song" in modern jargon refers to a final work or performance, or the final part of a story. It was also the name of the record label founded by Led Zeppelin.
