Ghostfacers!

“What do you say we kill some evil sons of bitches and we raise a little hell?” Episode 13 of the third season of Supernatural starts out like any other, with a nice recap telling us where we are going and where we have been. An Episode from season one, “Hell House,” is heavily featured in the recap letting us know we are in for some familiar faces, and then everything takes a strange turn. The title turns to static and the show is taken over by Ed Zeddmore and Harry Spangler, the hellhounds we met in “Hell House.” Their names are an homage to Ghostbusters’ Dr. Eagon Spengler and Winston Zeddmore. Supernatural is not afraid to play around with different tropes and genres and in this episode we are treated to a full on mockumentary/parody, making fun of such awesome shows as Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State. I unashamedly love Paranormal State; it’s hilarious and kind of brilliant. Like how Ryan has this demon that has been stalking him through his life but they can’t say it’s name or even show the name, because if you say it you will summon it right into your freaking living room! Anyway I digress. Ghostfacers takes these shows (and reality shows in general) to task and is one of the funniest hours (47 minutes) of television I’ve ever seen.

Ghostfacers starts off with an intro from “professional paranormal investigators” Harry and Ed. This is apparently an unsolicited pilot that they sent out to all the important people in Hollywood. This was Supernatural’s first episode back from the writers strike and with a wink and a nod Harry and Ed sympathize with overworked executives, as Ed states, “who needs writers when you have guys like us?” Warning that the team has faced many horrors to bring about what we are about to see, Harry asks us to “strap in for Ghostfacers!” Cue specially made intro (complete with theme song) and a team of people we haven’t met. Except for Sam and Dean, who somehow make their way into this mess. The episode is shot mostly with hand helds and shaky cam to give us the documentary feel. The lighting is low and enhanced by camera lights and flashlights. Like any good ghost hunting show we start with the team meeting where we learn the case and meet the rest of the crew. There is Ed’s sister (or as he likes to point out adopted sister) Maggie, Tech guy Spruce (he is 15/16 Jew and 1/16 Cherokee), and intern Corbett (who has a big crush on Ed and his beautiful beard). The team plan to spend the night in Morton House. Every 4 years, on a leap year, the Morton house becomes the most haunted house in America.

As the team stakes out the Morton House we hear classic rock in the distance and see a black car driving by, who could it be? Just in case you are slow on the up take we get a quick close up of Sam and Dean. Relieved that it’s “not cops, just hicks,” the team make they’re way into the house cue setting up montage. The action in this episode is intercut with the Ghostfacers’ confessionals, leaving no reality show stone unturned. After the set up we enter “Face Time”, or as Paranormal State would call it, “Dead Time.” This is any time after dark (usually the middle of the night) where you try and antagonize the ghost into showing itself, because if there is something evil lurking about the best course of action is to piss it the hell off. It involves a lot of yelling and swearing, and in this episode we get the bleeped out swear words, complete with a little skull over the mouth. Face Time starts out with the normal camera static and creaky noises most ghost hunting shows capture. Also the discovery of a dead rat which has Harry hilariously declare that, “I don’t really like rats they’re gross. Rats are like the rats of the world.” The team splits up. Harry, Maggie and Spruce come face to face with a live ghost reenacting being shot to death, and Corbett and Ed run smack into Sam and Dean, crazy no? As the team gets together to discuss all the goings on, Sam and Dean try to get the civilians the hell out of there. We go to commercial complete with Ghostfacers commercial bumpers, icing on an already delicious cake.

After this the episode really starts rocking as it brings horror back into the mix. It turns out there are several ghosts haunting the Morton house but the only ones we have seen so far are “death echoes,” ghosts trapped in the moment of their death and harmless. As Dean and Sam argue with the team and try and force them out of the house, Ed notices that Corbett is missing. Cue Corbett’s screams echoing through the house. While everyone looks for Corbett the house seals up, there is no way in and no way out. Sam goes missing right after Corbett causing Dean to yell, “SAAAMMM!!!” “SAM!” is to Supernatural what “WALT!” is to Lost. As the tension mounts the reality show drama is brought back in. Harry and Maggie try to comfort each other and end up making out. A chuckling Spruce films them, and they are caught by an angry Ed, “my best friend, and my best sister.” Ed starts a ridiculous slappy fight with Harry, which is broken up by a pissed off Dean, he doesn’t have time for this shit. Dean walks off yelling, “Sam!” Cut to the creepiest birthday party on the planet. We see Sam, a terrified Corbett and a bunch of bodies wearing birthday hats. As you can see from one of the promotional pics for this episode, this is Dean’s kind of party. We also see a large mean looking ghost who just wants to have a good time. You never want to be the only guy trapped in a room with a killer ghost and a series lead. Of course the adorable gay dies a horrible death, a metal rod through the throat. This happens on screen, do the censors even watch this show? Dean and Spruce rescue Sam just in the knick of time. I know I was worried.

The rest of the team cower in a ring of salt. The fear of possible impending death leads Ed to have a realization and he tells Harry, “It’s totally okay if you do my sister,” earning him a few hits from Maggie. The trio are confronted with the ghost of Corbett who is locked in his last horrible moment. As we learned earlier death echoes can be shocked back to reality if confronted by someone they care about. Harry realizes that Ed is the only one who can set Corbett free, “Ed you gotta go be gay for that poor dead intern, you gotta send him into the light.” Ed summons his courage walks out of the protective salt circle and goes to Corbett. With tears in his eyes he tells him how much he meant to the team, and then he tells his friend what he needs to hear and tells Corbett he loves him. This does get through to Corbett and he is no longer stuck. Damn scene gets me every time I watch. Sam, Dean, and Spruce are trapped in the basement fighting off the big bad. Just when it looks like the bad guy has the upper hand Ghost Corbett appears and totally kicks ass and saves the day. Cut to Harry and Ed wrapping up the episode, saying goodbye and thanks to Corbett, and discussing the important lessons learned. “War changes man, and one woman.” The Episode ends with Sam and Dean watching what we just watched overlaid with the credits that would normally have been at the beginning of the episode. They destroy the footage because, “the world just isn’t ready for the Ghostfacers.” But of course we were more than ready. The episode became a fan favourite and this year the Ghostfacers got their own spinoff webseries. The stupid CW webplayer doesn’t play in Canada, making the webepisodes a bitch for me to find. Not that I’m bitter, they only film how many of their shows here? Anyway children what did we learn from this episode. Well we learned “about how gay love can pierce through the veil of death and save the day.” This was a genre bending episode that was like nothing Supernatural had ever done before. It effectively made the series leads, the guest stars in their own show. It is definitely on my list of top 10 Supernatural episodes.

Miscellaneous Quotes:

“Two lone wolves need other wolves.”

“Yeah, we're not hellhounds anymore, okay? It didn't test that well.”

“I’m not going to whine about my bull**** problems to some bull**** reality show. I’m going to do my ***king job.”

“It’s bizarre how y’all were able to honour Corbett’s memory, while grossly exploiting the manner of his death.”


End notes:

This episode was scribed by Supernatural VIP Ben Edlund, round of applause.
Lindsay has been having trouble getting into season one of Supernatural. I threatened to make her watch it Clockwork Orange style. She thought I was joking.

Everyone seems to be wondering if Supernatural can keep up the momentum in it’s 6th season. I’m not too worried, as this and other episodes prove the writers can do anything with this show.

My prediction for the song used in the seasons 1-5 recap on the premiere episode, ACDC “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).”