‘Supernatural’ Recap: ‘Atomic Monsters’

11/14/2019

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Revisit episode 15.03, ‘The Rupture’, right here.

Week after week and year after year, the adoring fans, myself included, tune in to Supernatural (CW) for many reasons – thrills, chills, mystery, mayhem, comedy and more. Did somebody say eye candy? (LOL) It’s become such a fixture, a ritual if you will, to settle in every fall, then come round again every spring to follow Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester to hell and back… literally! Usually, by episode four, the chess board has been set. Many of the players have been revealed as well as some of the major obstacles. And though this season, on its surface, appears to be no different, because we all know it’s the last season, every episode feels heavier. What normally amounts to a typical monster of the week, turns out to be the thing that gets us all one step closer to the end. Therefore, the overall story moves along at a familiar pace, but with substantial consequences. Rowena (Ruth Connell) is dead, Castiel (Misha Collins) is gone and Chuck (Rob Benedict)… well, he’s out there somewhere!! Despite all this, like a familiar warm blanket, besides the average villain of the day, Atomic Monsters gives us two things that often lingers season after season within the Supernaturalverse… egos and lies.

Directed by none other than Jensen Ackles himself and arguably one of the best openers to date, in a scene cast in red light to let us know it’s parallel to Sam’s vison in episode one, we see Dean fight his way, John Wick style no less, through the bunker. Seriously, it’s bad ass!! However, whether on purpose or not, the whole things seems… untrue. Mostly because I don’t want to believe it. Dean is making his way towards Sam, stopping along the way to see Benny (Ty Olsson) die. Huh?? He’s already dead isn’t he? Regardless, Dean confronts Sam who appears to be pumped up on demon blood as he says, “I will not be stopped.” Whoa!! And just after snapping Dean’s neck, Sam awakens with a fright, the visions now coming in his dreams and all I can think is yep, that darn demon blood thing is back! YIKES!!

As Sam enters the kitchen, I can already tell, that just like so many times before, Sam isn’t going to be truthful with Dean about his visions. Same as I know Dean isn’t going to talk about Castiel. Inserting humor to get past the hump, the “Meat Man” scene, which is truly glorious by the way, feeds the ego side of things while the discussion that never happens builds upon the lies. Veggie bacon be damned!!

The monster of the week seems almost not worth mentioning as it’s obviously just a backdrop for the bigger picture. A high school murder, frustrated parents and a scared teen vampire, who, as it turns out, is ready to die. Wow, that was easy! Playing the song, Sounds of Someday, from Jensen’s own band, Radio Company, as the vampire accepts his death is truly the highlight of this part of the story. That, and of course, the school’s beaver mascot on a standing motorized scooter!

At the true heart of the episode, catching up with the biggest ego of all, Chuck visits Becky Rosen (Emily Perkins). Cliché or not, I feel compelled to say “Oh my God, Becky!!” (LOL) Once Chuck’s number one fan, Becky is now a wife and a mother. Holy cow, good for her!! But why is Chuck there? Turns out, God needs a pep talk and who would he turn to when everyone else is gone, but someone who used to worship him, of course! As he discusses losing his way and not being able to write about the Winchesters’ anymore, Becky speculates it’s because he lost his prophet powers. Upon hearing this, Chuck rubs his shoulder – AKA: the bullet wound he shares with Sam. Interesting!! Does this have something to do with his overall power or his ability to manipulate the Winchesters’? Maybe!! Becky pushes Chuck to write and write he does.

Back with the Winchesters’ discussing the job on the drive home, Dean tells Sam they gotta keep going. Admitting that it was Sam who made him realize this with his saving people mantra early on after the big Chuck reveal. And even as we scream at our TVs, wanting Sam to tell Dean the truth about his visions or for Dean to reach out to Castiel that would be too easy. I mean, here we are… nearing the end of a 15-year meal and lying is still on the menu. On the whole, the formula of a Big Bad and the issues that plague the Winchesters’ is on full display here and try as I might to be annoyed with it, I just can’t. You’d think the lies between them over the years would be played out, but honestly, it’s their modus operandi, or M.O. for short. To protect each other. To get through another day. They lie, including to themselves!!

At this point, I believe the fans subconsciously expect it and if the writers were to veer too far away from the formula this late in the game, it might come across as disingenuous. Why?? Because, the boys must not only conquer the Big Bad, but their own issues as well. Monsters? To quote Becky, “Meh!” (LOL – epic!) Saving people. Hunting Things. Of course these things matter, but as I’ve come to realize, it’s the boys’ growth that matters more!! The lessons they learn along the way are what keep us coming back year after year. We love them so much that we’re willing to accept the lying just to see the story play out. To see them save, not just people and the world, but each other. Heck, I would even argue that, we the fans, are addicted to this formula!! The boys have their share of egotistical moments too, but it’s the lying that truly drives their stories.

God on the other hand, feeling defeated, seeks Becky out, not because he cares, but to feed his over inflated ego. He feels lost and though his speech to Becky includes hating himself, I seriously doubt he truly feels that way. Even when his sister walked out on him, he seemed more bewildered than reflective, no? As he asks Becky to give him feedback on his new piece of writing she pumps him up in what appears to be an effort to get him out the door. I mean, that Supernatural fan fiction isn’t gonna write itself, right? LOL. When pressed, Becky reveals the many flaws of Chuck’s new story. His ego lies naked and bruised to the point of wrath!! It’s truly an epic moment, acted perfectly by Benedict as he immediately moves to amending his latest tale. Upon reviewing the re-write, Becky is actually scared of what Chuck plans to do to our boys and to Cas. She FEELS the atrocities set forth and Chuck is happy… giddy even! Proving even further how little, he cares for humanity, but rather the manipulation of Sam and Dean… his favorite characters, not humans! I’m trying to wrap my head around any ideas on what Chuck has written, but I’m too distracted by all the Supernaturalverse merchandise in Becky’s house – the largest Etsy site for unofficial Supernatural merch!! Again, holy cow, good for her!! The Meta is off the charts in this episode. Maquettes, posters, hand crafted miniatures, purses, a quilt, Pop vinyls and so much more. The writers even take digs at fan fiction, monsters and writers in general. Not to mention discussing the actual works unabashedly making fun of themselves because yeah, we all pretty much hated Leviathans… LOL! The only thing saving that story arc was Dick Roman (James Patrick Stuart), the Alpha Vampire (Rick Worthy) and Charlie freaking Bradbury (Felicia Day) – am I right??

By the end of the episode, Chuck reveals himself to Becky as God. He admits how much he likes it at her place then makes her and her family vanish. Whoa!! Sitting down to write even more, nourished by his fluffed ego and surrounded by the merchandise of his creations, Chuck says “Oh yeah! This is gonna be good,” and boy do I agree!! So now, having laid the groundwork for more big reveals, in both egos and lies, the story continues.

What did you think about Atomic Monsters? Do you agree with my take? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!

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