The brothers are aware they need to collect four rare items to complete the spell, open a door to an alternative world, then save Jack and their Mother. The episode is a portrayal of film noir as their westcoast travels run into multiple signature film elements and caricatures of the genre while attempting to locate one of the items. Additionally Dean gets yet another opportunity to recenter, or at least redirect his faith while Sam gets knocked unconscious enough times to put him in concussion protocol.
—Kenneth Gillissie