Criss Angel Is a Douche Bag (22 Jan. 2009)

Sam and Dean investigate the activities of a trio of magicians who are using a grimoire to execute real feats of magic.

Director:

Philip Sgriccia

Writers:

Eric Kripke (creator), Julie Siege

Stars:

Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Barry Bostwick

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jared Padalecki	...	Sam Winchester
Jensen Ackles	...	Dean Winchester
Barry Bostwick	...	Jay
Luke Camilleri	...	Jeb Dexter
Genevieve Padalecki	...	Ruby (as Genevieve Cortese)
Richard Libertini	...	Vernon
John Rubinstein	...	Charlie
Michael Weston	...	Young Charlie (as Michael Rubenstein)
Alex Zahara	...	Vance
Amber Lewis	...	Vance's Assistant
Ecstasia Sanders	...	Bartender
Jordan Becker	...	Jason
Chris Burns	...	The Chief

Storyline

Sam and Dean travel to the Magic Week in Iowa where amateurish and professional magicians are gathered everywhere presenting their abilities. They discover that the veteran and decadent magician Jay has a fantastic show with two other old friends risking his own life; but when Jay succeeds to escape from death, another magician dies the same way. Sooner the Winchester brothers find that one magician of the trio is using black magic.

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Plot Keywords:

hanged by the neck | card trick | escape artist | competition | tarot card | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kripke Enterprises, Warner Bros. Television, Wonderland Sound and Vision

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Dean gives his name as a Federal Agent, he is Agent Ulrich. Lars Ulrich is the drummer for Metallica.

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Quotes

Chief: You are really gonna get it tonight, big boy.
Dean Winchester: There's been a misunderstanding. I think, uh, I've been had.
Chief: Oh, you ain't been had till you been had by The Chief. Oh, and before we get started, what's your safe word?

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Connections

References Cocoon (1985)

User Reviews

The Magician

When an episode opens with the great Barry Bostwick as a guest star, you know you are onto a winner. Furthermore, the title is dead on, the show-runners just stating the fact for those who didn't already know it from watching "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" (2008) – that far too many of Criss's tricks involve paid-for "audience" and/or editing trickery despite claims to the opposite. The man, therefore, is a douche bag.

Having had a few good laughs at Criss Angel's expense, the story proper begins. And it is great. By this point, Supernatural has found the stream of never-ending laughs, but on the dramatic side the results have varied. Fortunately, as any story involving magicians should, this one has plenty of momentum, good twists and reveals, but even more importantly, a lot of heart. The main guest characters are well-written and the actors bring them really alive.

Among all the mystery, we get some great musings about the Apocalypse and life as a Hunter from the Winchesters. And who'd have thought the most important lines in the episode would come from Ruby's mouth? That scene is the one that most sticks to the mind from watching this. While not a full classic, or even essential viewing considering the myth-arc, this is still 8/10 greatness.