‘Supernatural’ Recap: ‘Galaxy Brain’

3/23/2020

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

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

With only nine episodes left post mini hiatus, ‘Galaxy Brain’ wastes no time getting to the point and neither will I. Let’s discuss…

We open four weeks prior on Earth 2 at a Radio Shed (nice name…lol!). In the Supernaturalverse timeline , this is just after Dean (Jensen Ackles) called God’s (Rob Benedict) plan galaxy-brained (*writer’s wink*) in 15.09: ‘The Trap’, telling him to go back to Earth 2 and play with his toys. UH OH!! Louden Swain’s Pop Tart Heart plays overhead. NICE!! As the music fades, a DJ discusses the Paris Climate Agreement and President Hilary Clinton kicking off her reelection campaign in Iowa. Wow, Earth 2 indeed!!

Chuck appears and soon, in front of a giant wall of multiple TVs, typical of any electronics store, claps his hands and says, “It’s monologue time.” Each screen changes to other Earths and different Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean’s!! We find out via Chuck’s own admission, over all the others, our Sam and Dean challenge, disappoint, and surprise Chuck. I LOVE IT!!! In fact, Chuck’s affection is so well acted that it makes me wish for the days when Chuck was just a drunken fandom writer. Then again, that was all an act anyway (*frowny face*). In reference to his other creations, Chuck says, “They don’t spark joy,” then says “It’s time to start cancelling shows.” Roll title card!! Again, how many times can I say “DAMMIT CHUCK!?!”

As a side note, now that I’ve been to a Supernatural Convention, these characters, particularly Chuck, since Rob hosted all four days, seem different to me now. Closer and more real! I can only imagine how those who regularly attend Supernatural Cons feel, right??

Moving along, throughout the episode, the scenes at the Bunker are fantastic. Sam, Dean and Cas (Misha Collins) discuss Jack (Alexander Calvert) and Billie’s (Lisa Berry) plan for him to kill God. Geez, just typing that feels weird! Sam questions a soulless Jack, the overall cosmic balance, Amara (Emily Swallow) and the lack of knowledge surrounding Billie’s plan. All legitimate concerns, right?

Speaking of Jack, even with no soul, he seems conflicted by his return to the Winchester fold. And when he runs his hand over the initials MW carved into the table in the common room, he seems quite regretful. *SIGH* We also meet Jack’s new secret babysitter, Merle the Reaper (Sandra Ferens), who seriously rubs me the wrong way from the get!! Later, Jack and Cas playing Connect Four is totally the awkward cuteness I didn’t even know I needed… lol! Plus, after Sam, Dean, Jody and Dark Kaia return, Cas tells Jody that it’s nice to finally meet her in person. To this, I paused. Have they really never met in person? HOLY COW!! From there, as the group contemplates options, Dark Kaia interrupts saying they’re wasting time. Classic Dean says, “Hey not Kaia! Not helping!” LOL!! And when they are deciding what to do with Dark Kaia, considering she attacked Jody, she pipes up saying, “Do I get a vote?” LOL, I love Jody!!

Post attack, we find out why Dark Kaia acts so hasty. She knows her world is ending! She can see this through our Kaia’s eyes. KAIA’S ALIVE!! I assumed, writing in The Women of Supernatural, that Dark Kaia wanted to get home to help her family. She actually meant Kaia as now she says, “I thought I could leave her behind. But she haunts me.” WHOA!!

We also get a scene between Dean and Cas where, to me, Cas seems overly sure that Jack is the answer. I think of earlier in regards to Jack eating Angel hearts, when Cas admits, “The hearts were disturbing.” And, because it’s been shown a few times on recaps and now mentioned, specifically with Cas commenting on it, I feel this will come back around somehow. Possibly involving Cas’s heart. YIKES!!!

Continuing their conversation, Dean reflects on revenge. Cas is hesitant, but Dean goes on to say, “Chuck wanted Cain and Abel and now we’re going all Biblical on him. Killed by his own Grandson. That sounds right to me.” Boy do I agree, but still, I cannot help but wonder the specifics. The writers pointing out something we, for the most part, already know, just like the eating hearts thing, seems… telling, no?

The group tries to figure out a way to open a rift without using Jack’s powers. Cas even tries to call Sergei (Dimitri Vantis), surely a desperate move, right? But they NEED Arc Angel Grace or Jack’s Nephilim Grace as a substitute, which is off limits for fear of tipping off God. While directing this, Richard Speight Jr. must’ve loved watching all this play out considering his character was/is an Arc Angel, LOL!!

A bit later, Jack visits Dark Kaia and after dream walking with her, he sees how badly our Kaia is suffering. Jack is now intent on using his powers to open a rift. This causes Merle to make her presence known to everyone. She berates Jack for wanting to risk it all for one life, and says, “that’s not just dumb. That’s Winchester dumb!” Dean’s reaction to her comment is priceless!! She threatens to tell Billie but Jack calls her bluff. NICE!! She then threatens to stop Jack. He calls her on this too, because we all know he’s stronger than her!! GO JACK!! Merle changes her insult from dumb to stupid (eyeroll), but with little options, she also changes her tune. A surprise to the boys, she tells them the Bunker’s Cosmic Warding originally stripped by Amara was never properly restored. WOW! Using a spell and power from Cas, Merle restores the warding, hopefully blocking them from Chuck’s radar. YES!!

As Sam and Dean prepare, hearing them talk about feeling like the old times, is a small moment for not only them, but us, that fans. We miss the old days! Sam and Dean together. Saving people. Hunting things. The Family Business. And with the end, in more ways than one, on the horizon, it’s nice to know the writers are right there with us!! “Winchester dumb/stupid” all the way…LOL!! Also, Cas asking Jody to stay behind was just so damn awesome! To protect Claire (Kathryn Newton)!! Someone they both care so deeply for. It was definitely not “Some BS male chivalry thing,” (LOL!!). Did I mention that I just love Jody? *BIG GRIN*

Jack opens the rift. Sam, Dean and Dark Kaia slip through. The storms have gotten worse. Dammit Chuck!! As they make their way, they are surrounded by monsters with glowing red eyes. On the attack? Nope! Dark Kaia tells Sam and Dean to stand down. The creatures aren’t hungry or hunting. They can sense the impending doom. Duh, right?? The storm increases and they frantically run away. Approaching Dark Kaia’s old home in the forest, a faint light shines from a fire within. They call out to Kaia. Surprised, she slowly emerges, knife in tow. She sees Dean. A man who once held a gun to her face. Teary eyed, she runs to him, hugging him tight. An amazing scene to say the least!! When our Kaia sees Dark Kaia, Sam assures her it’s okay. The storm worsens!! They head for the rift, but Dark Kaia holds back. She tells them she never belonged in their world. Dammit, I don’t want her to stay and die. Just. No!! But she does. Closing her eyes, Dark Kaia embraces the storm as planetary destruction washes over her. Gone!! *SIGH* On the other side of the rift, the new trio returns. Jody hugs our Kaia in relief.

After some time to clean up, Jody invites Kaia to return to Sioux Falls. She asks if Claire will be there and my head is filled with hope for a relationship that was abruptly halted years ago. Not to mention, having Kaia back basically reunites the original Wayward Sisters line up!! Seriously, I’m still mad at CW for passing on this series and the soon to be off screen reunion feels a bit like the writers agree, right??

Things seem complete. Then suddenly, Merle dies with a surprise reaping from Billie. WOW!! I mean. Sam, Dean, Jack and Cas ALL looked legitimately scared. Same guys… SAME!! Quite the opposite of the Winchester mantra, Billie explains how one life is nothing in the grand scheme of things. She then tells them all the worlds, except theirs, is dying. Hmm, must be why she was so busy before, right?

Sam questions Billie’s plan. But Billie, the ultimate consequence, says that after she became Death (Julian Richings), she inherited his knowledge AND his library. Everyone has a book!! Yep, even God!! The scene cuts to 5.21: ‘Two Minutes to Midnight’, where original Death says, “At the end, I’ll reap him, too.” I scream “YES!!” But wait! Chuck wrote his own demise? Cas, totally on my page (no pun intended), questions why God would write “the blueprint” to his own death. Billie explains that the books actually write themselves!! WOW! And Chuck, to create other worlds, had to build himself into the framework of their world to keep the balance. OMC!!! In his own selfishness, he did this to himself!! AND, he has no idea what’s in his own book as Billie states, “No one can read their book unless I let them.” This is diabolically wonderful!! But, there’s more!! Jack is part of God’s book!! So are Sam and Dean!! YES!! Billie reminds them how she once told Dean they have work to do, another long standing Winchester mantra! HECK YA!! She says it’s their destiny. That they are “the messengers of God’s destruction.” End scene! SPEECHLESS!!

The final scene takes us back to Earth Two, present day. The Radio Shed has seen better days. Chuck, surrounded by empty fast food containers and pizza boxes, sits in front of the TV displays watching the destruction of all his creations. He rises to leave. Giving false hope to the poor clerk whose been serving him for weeks, Chuck walks out, tossing his soda, while giant fireballs plummet into the Radio Shed behind him. Credits! Dammit Chuck!!

Was this episode as revelatory for you as it was for me? Did I miss something profound? Let me know if the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!

0 Comments