Supernatural Review: Season 5 Episode 5 "Fallen Idols

By: Julie Siege

**Spoilers**

If you have not yet seen this episode, please go and do so before proceeding.

         I want to thank this episode for making me afraid of convertible cars. Did they really have to show us multiple close-ups of the guy's ruined face? Really?!

It's funny because Jared was in House of Wax.

        Sam and Dean take a break from cleaning up Zachariah's mess in order to go on a hunt where idols come to life and kill their worshipers. And we're not talking old god Dagon idols, no, we're talking James Dean's car and Abe Lincoln and Paris Hilton herself.

      You have to have a good sense of humor to be a celebrity and cameo on this show as yourself because they make fun of EVERYTHING. Hilton rose to the challenge, though, and - in the process - gave us a very funny, very interesting MotW. Nothing like Dean Winchester getting whaled on by Paris Hilton, after all.

      The rest of the episode was quite enjoyable too. There were some legitimate jump scares (not to mention the very tense scene where Dean is under what they think is James Dean's haunted car to check an engine number) and a lot of the angles and lighting gave it a really gloomy, surreal atmosphere that just added to the intrigue.

     But this episode wasn't all gloom and doom. Unlike last week's dive into Walking Dead territory, the story focuses a lot on black humor and some truly outrageous social commentary.

    
Favorite Moments & Random Thoughts:

- "I'm sure the Apocalpyse will still be there whenever we get back." Only on this show could a statement like that be made and be both entirely serious and a joke.

- I really love the way that the teaser for this episode was shot using 1st Person through the hand held camera. Obviously by this point on the show, we KNEW that something bad had happened to Cal...but that technique just added a bit of suspense and interest back in.

- And, again, that close-up of the guy's ruined face? SO unnecessary! I think they're trying to make me lose my lunch.

- "You think I need training wheels?" "No. 'We' need training wheels." Yes indeedy you do, Dean. Really the case in this episode played second fiddle to putting the shards of the Winchester brotherly relationship back together again. Sam is still feeling guilty and jumpy after the events of Lucifer Rising and all that has happened since then. And Dean is still touchy and feeling like he can't trust Sam. They're trying, but something is definitely broken between them and it's going to be a long road back.

-  Sam and Dean used the names 'Agents Bonham and Copeland' this time. Interesting...

- The sheriff that the boys encounter never fails to make me laugh. He's just so DESPERATELY trying to explain away the things he is seeing that I half wonder if it wouldn't be kinder to give him the old "The truth is out there!" speech and put him out of his misery.

- Dean talking to 'Little Bastard' and calling it 'baby' is hilarious. I wonder if Baby was jealous?

- Also? Whoa. Both of them were down to one layer in this episode. I usually don't make a point of pointing out objectification of hot male leads but, considering what show this is, that one deserves a mention. So...

- ONE LAYER ALERT! ONE LAYER ALERT!

- Dean accuses Sam of playing the world's smallest violin. Heh. Really, I think Sam had every reason to be irritated. Dean did sneak off to a bar and leave him with the work. Bad Dean!

- I still want to how how Abraham Lincoln strangling that professor would require a spurt of blood like that. Did he tear the guy's throat out with his teeth? Or was that all from the gunshot? And where on EARTH did ol' Abe get a gun? Was he carrying one? Questions, questions...

- Sam speaks rudimentary Spanish.

- "Actually, uh, there is a lot of lore on famous ghosts. More than, you know, the non-famous kinds. I'm actually surprised we haven't run into one before."

- I love how Sam Winchester, the Boy King, favored child of Azazel, destined bringer of the Apocalypse, and the vessel of the Devil considers Gandhi his personal hero. His idol, even, considering that Ghandi attacks him and tries to gnaw off his ear.

- Wax museums are just creepy anyway. Even with the 'I'm going to make wax museums hip again' guy standing about making things hilariously awkward.

- I choked with laughter whenever Sam and Dean were questioning those girls who said that Paris Hilton took their best friend. What even is this show?!

- Leshi is such an interesting villain (take note, current writers...THIS is the ONLY thing on SPN that shapeshifts without shedding its skin) and I really find it fascinating that she/he/whatever was going to turn into John. Even after all these years, it would seem that Dean's hero is his father.

- She also had an excellent point about celebrity culture being crazy.

- Sam almost looked offended whenever Dean said he hadn't seen House of Wax. Ha!

         This episode is a roller coaster of feels and laughs that ends with the brothers taking the first steps towards getting their relationship back on track. It's also an excellent example of how a MotW plot can drive the story line forward without overshadowing the main characters or feeling weak and underdone. Paris Hilton was a riot and a very good sport and the episode has good re-watchability factor. Fallen Idols is a 4/5.

What did you think? Do you agree with my rating? If not - what would you say differently?