The Meaning of Episode Titles

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" in the over 100 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, 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 50s/60s/70s).

Season 1

Overall Season 1 of Supernatural has very simple, self-explanatory episode titles - Wendigo, Dead in the Water, Phantom Traveler, Skin, Hookman, Bugs, Home, Asylum, Scarecrow, Faith, Shadows, Dead Man's Blood, - they all indicate the nature of the Monster of the Week that's defeated and are self-referential.

Some exceptions during Season 1:

1.13 Route 666

Route 666 is the 6th 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.

1.15 The Benders

The Benders were a family of 19th century mass murderers from Kansas. ^{(Source and Further Reading)}

1.18 Something Wicked

The title refers to a line of 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."

Apart from this, it's only in Season 2, that the episode titles become references to other cultural texts (films, songs, novels, etc.)

Season 2

2.01 In My Time Of Dying

"In My Time of Dying" is a song by Dean's favourite band "Led Zeppelin" (it first appears on "Physical Graffiti (1975)", but the song was originally written much earlier, first recorded by blues singer "Blind Willie Johnson" in the 1920s. For a history of the song see here.

2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown

"Everybody Loves a Clown" is a song by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, recorded in the 1960s.

2.03 Bloodlust

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.

2.05 Simon Said

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.

2.06 No Exit

No Exit is a play by French existentialist writer Jean-Paul Satre, in which 3 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...

2.07 The Usual Suspects

Movie Poster for the 1995 film 'The Usual Suspects'

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.

2.08 Crossroad Blues

Obviously, this episode title comes from the Robert Johnson song "Crossroad Blues", and is inspired - as is the episode - by the Robert Johnson story.

2.09 Croatoan

The episode title comes from the mystery of Roanok, explained by Sam and Dean in the episode itself. This episode title falls back into the style of Season 1 episode titles, by being self-referential.

2.10 Hunted

Several movies of the same name exist, but none of them holds any plot elements shown in the Supernatural episode.

2.11 Playthings

This probably refers to the dolls featured in this episode which Dean and Sam thought were being used by someone for hoodoo.

2.12 Nightshifter

This is most likely referring to the shapeshifter and the bank incident that takes place during the night.

2.13 Houses of the Holy

"Houses of the Holy" is a 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.)

2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign

"Born Under a Bad Sign" is a blues album (and the title song of said album) by Albert King. ^(Source)

2.15 Tall Tales

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.

2.16 Roadkill

This is maybe a reference to the fact that the spirit, Jonah Greeley, was killed when Molly ran over him on the road.

2.17 Heart

Probably self-explanatory (see Season 1)

Cover of the infamous novel by Kenneth Anger

2.18 Hollywood Babylon

"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 early (20 - 50s) Hollywood. There's also a song by The Misfits titled "Hollywood Babylon".

2.19 Folsom Prison Blues

This episode refers to the famous Johnny Cash song of the same name.

2.20 What Is and What Should Never Be

Another song title 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

3.01 The Magnificent Seven

Movie Poster of "The Magnificent Seven"

"The Magnificent Seven" is a 1960 western with Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson.

3.02 The Kids Are Alright

"The Kids are Alright" is a song by 60s rockband The Who.

3.03 Bad Day at Black Rock

"Bad Day at Black Rock" is another film by John Sturges (so is "The Magnificent Seven") with Spencer Tracy.

3.04 Sin City

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.

3.05 Bedtime Stories

Fairy Tales are sometimes referred to as Bedtime Stories, because children were read them to prepare them to sleep. (The absurdity of reading horrific tales of witches and death to children before they fall asleep, isn't lost on the Supernatural episode.)

3.06 Red Sky At Morning

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.

3.09 Malleus Maleficarum

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.

3.12 Jus in Bello

Jus in bello means "justice in war", and refers to the guidelines for "fighting well" once war has begun.

3.14 Long-Distance Call

"Long Distance Call" is an old blues song by Muddy Waters. Lyrics of the song can be found HERE.

3.15 Time Is On My Side

"Time is on My Side" is a song by The Rolling Stones.

3.16 No Rest For The Wicked

No Rest for the Wicked is the tile of a 1995 Ozzy Osburne album.

Season 4

4.01 Lazarus Rising
The title of the episode, "Lazarus Rising" refers to Lazarus of Bethany who was raised from the dead by Jesus and whose story is recounted in the Gospel of John.

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.

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.

4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer
The title of this episode refers to the Jennifer Love Hewitt movie, I Know What You Did Last Summer.

4.10 Heaven And Hell
Heaven and Hell is the title of a Black Sabbath song.

4.13 After School Special
A term coined by the ABC for their made for television movie series dealing with conflicts of teenagers. See also CBS Schoolbreak Special.

4.15 Death Takes A Holiday
The title comes from a 1934 Fredric March movie where Death decides to live his life as a mortal.

4.16 On The Head Of A Pin
The title comes from the old question "How many angels do you fit on the head of a pin?"

4.17 It's A Terrible Life
The title is a play on the title of the 1946 movie "It's A Wonderful Life" starring James 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.

4.19 Jump The Shark
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.