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, Shadow, 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:
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.
The Benders were a family of 19th century mass murderers from Kansas. (Source and Further Reading)
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
"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.
"Everybody Loves a Clown" is a song by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, recorded in the 1960s.
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 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...
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.
Obviously, this episode title comes from the Robert Johnson song "Crossroad Blues", and is inspired - as is the episode - by the Robert Johnson story.
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.
Several movies of the same name exist, but none of them holds any plot elements shown in the Supernatural episode.
This probably refers to the dolls featured in this episode which Dean and Sam thought were being used by someone for hoodoo.
This is most likely referring to the shapeshifter and the bank incident that takes place during the night.
"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.)
"Born Under a Bad Sign" is a blues album (and the title song of said album) by Albert King. (Source)
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 maybe a reference to the fact that the spirit, Jonah Greeley, was killed when Molly ran over him on the road.
Probably self-explanatory (see Season 1)
"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".
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
"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. Sin City is also an AC/DC song.
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.
3.07 Fresh Blood
The title most likely has to do with the theme of vampires and the blood they require. It is possible the new vampires would need fresh blood or could be considered themselves fresh blood i.e. someone new or 'fresh'. Fresh Blood is also an album released in 1980 by the English musician Steve Swindells and a song by the Eels. Neither is likely related to the title.
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.
Their 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.
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.
3.11 Mystery Spot
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.
3.12 Jus in Bello
Jus in bello means "justice in war", and refers to the guidelines for "fighting well" once war has begun.
3.13 Ghostfacers
The title and style of the episode is 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.
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 a phrase from the Book of Isaiah verses 48:22 and 57:20-21. It is also the title of a 1995 Ozzy Osburne album and a Godsmack song.
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.
4.03 In the Beginning
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.
4.04 Metamorphosis
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.
4.05 Monster Movie
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.
4.06 Yellow Fever
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 refering 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.
4.08 Wishful Thinking
The title most likely refers to the Wishing Well that is the main focus of the episode and peoples' wishes coming true.
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.
4.11 Family Remains
The title 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</br> The fact is magician Criss nagel is widely considered a douchebag. Having once stolen Hugh Hefner’s bunny, Holly Madison, in May 2009, Criss angel reportedly stole a cat belonging to impersonator Jeff Beacher and left phone messages taunting that fact. The cat had one belonged to Mr. Beacher's parents who are now dead. Sources 1, 2, 3 and 4.
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.
4.14 Sex and Violence
This is an obviously named episode is 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
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.
4.20 The Rapture
The title of the episode refers to 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.
4.21 When The Levee Breaks
When The Levee Breaks refers to a 1929 blue's song, the most famous version recorded by Led Zeppelin in the 1971.
4.22 Lucifer Rising
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
5.01 Sympathy For The Devil
"Sympathy For The Devil" is both the name of a song by the Rolling Stones, later covered by Guns 'N Roses, and a movie by Jean-Luc Goddard.
5.02 Good God Y'All
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'.
5.03 Free To Be You And Me
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...".
5.04 The End
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.
5.05 Fallen Idol
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.
5.08 Changing Channels
The title is a reference to the many TV shows featured in the episode - two of which air against Supernatural.
5.09 The Real Ghostbusters
The title of the episode refers to a 1980s animated TV show based on the movie "Ghostbusters".
5.10 Abandon All Hope
"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.
