Supernatural Review: Don’t Call Me Shurley (Season 11 Episode 20)
Charles is in charge.
After years of speculation, Supernatural confirmed its biggest fan theory — Chuck Shurley is, indeed, God.
While at first the reveal seemed a bit obvious (and actually kind of cheesy), as the episode goes on we see that although both of those things are true, there is still a significant weight to Chuck – regular old Chuck – being God.
What I find most surprising about the big reveal is that it comes hand in hand with a story about Metatron.
I normally dislike Metatron. I find his character to be just useless, annoying, and someone who by all accounts should have met his ending in this story by now.
However, in, “Don’t Call Me Shurley,” the way in which Metatron is used, combined with an amazing performance by Curtis Armstrong, feels entirely right.
Metatron’s descent into nothingness is made powerful when he uses it to question Chuck about why he has done the things that he has; why he’s allowed others to feel pain, why he’s allowing Amara to take over; why he’s hiding now.
And Chuck’s answers, which included conversations about nature, history repeating itself, and music, all seemed to make sense.
Sense is even made of the famous “Samulet,”which also makes a return. Longtime fans will recognize the necklace that Sam gave to Dean many Christmases ago to “protect” him, the one that Castiel took away from Dean because it burns bright in the presence of God.
Every time the camera cut away from a Metatron and Chuck scene to a Winchesters scene, I found myself frustrated, because of the clarity that the writers were bringing to the table with their big God reveal.
Hell, I’ll just be honest. If the whole hour had been only Metatron and God talking in a bar, it would have been a riveting hour.
The Winchesters are still fighting the Darkness the only way that they know how, tracking down any leads that they think might get them closer to Amara and to Casifer. (Is Lucifer still in Castiel? It’s been so long since we’ve seen them that I honestly can’t recall how that ended.)
Amara’s dark fog is destroying a new town, creating stronger, more dangerous, Darkness Zombies than the ones we met back in Season 11 Episode 1.
Sam gets infected by the fog (again,) and Dean decides to stay by his brother’s side as the fog overtakes him. It’s actually a great moment for the brothers, who seem to finally be on death’s door. There can’t be a way out.
That is, until the fog is cleared, and the Samulet begins burning brightly, and the Winchesters look at each other wide-eyed, because they know exactly what this means; God is in their presence.
To have Metatron be the one who calls God out of hiding, as the guy who’s lost everything, makes every ridiculous Metatron moment that I’ve sat through worth it.
God’s back to writing his story and he’s not going to write an unsatisfying ending. Judging by the look on Metatron’s face, we’re in for a beautiful ending.
And that final scene? The one that featured Rob Benedict singing the old folk diddy, “Dink’s Song,” as all of the destruction caused by Amara is cleared away and reversed — and that moment when the Winchesters realize that Chuck is God — THAT is a moment that will go down as one of Supernatural‘s best.
Again, while it’s not really a shocking twist in the story, not by any means if you’ve been paying attention, it’s still a well-played story twist.
I’m anxious to see that talk between Sam, Dean, and Chuck. I’m hoping we aren’t robbed of that moment.
Other Things:
- I want to read the chapter of God’s book about why he doesn’t answer prayers. For some reason, I think it would make me laugh more than anything else.
- That “Dad” mug was just a wonderful prop.
- Dean irons with beer. Can we just think about that for a second? All of his suits smell like beer.
- Admit it. It was adorable when Metatron gave his pastrami to the puppy.
- That little girl reaching out for Sam? Totes presh, guys.
There are just two episodes left of the season! Here’s a preview of next week’s episode, “All in the Family!”
What did you think of this episode of Supernatural? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Supernatural airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
Christine Laskodi
Christine is guilty of watching Hart of Dixie more times than the average human will in their lifetime. She's the host of Long Live the Hart: A Hart of Dixie Podcast (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!) as well as co-host on The Shipping Room, a podcast devoted to television's greatest relationships. You can find some of her older television reviews at TV Fanatic and IGN. Christine eagerly anticipates every cheesy holiday movie that networks can throw at her, and current favorite shows include The Good Place, The Resident, Shark Tank, and All Rise.