Difference between revisions of "4.03 In the Beginning"
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|Infobox= | |Infobox= | ||
{{InfoboxEpisode | {{InfoboxEpisode | ||
| − | |image= [[Image:4.04 In The Beginning Promo.jpg| | + | |image= [[Image:4.04 In The Beginning Promo.jpg|400px]] |
|title= In the Beginning | |title= In the Beginning | ||
|episode= Season 4, Episode 3 | |episode= Season 4, Episode 3 | ||
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|imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1222611/ In the Beginning] | |imdb= [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1222611/ In the Beginning] | ||
|download= [http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?i=292742009&id=291088594&s=143441 iTunes], [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HAOADU Amazon.com] | |download= [http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?i=292742009&id=291088594&s=143441 iTunes], [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HAOADU Amazon.com] | ||
| − | |outline= Castiel sends Dean back to Lawrence in 1973. Can Dean avert the course of events that lead to his mother's death? | + | |outline= [[Castiel]] sends [[Dean]] back to Lawrence in 1973. Can Dean avert the course of events that lead to his mother's death? |
|motw= [[Azazel]] | |motw= [[Azazel]] | ||
|timeline= April 30 - May 2, 1973 | |timeline= April 30 - May 2, 1973 | ||
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</googlemap>}} | </googlemap>}} | ||
| − | |Synopsis= The episode begins with [[Sam]] meeting up with [[Ruby]], which is the perfect opportunity for [[Castiel]] to drop in on [[Dean]]. The [[angel]] tells him that he has to "stop it," at which point he touches Dean's forehead and sends him back to [[Lawrence, Kansas]] circa 1973. Dean heads into a diner and chats up a young guy who turns out to be [[John Winchester]]. | + | |Synopsis= The episode begins with [[Sam]] meeting up with [[Ruby]], which is the perfect opportunity for [[Castiel]] to drop in on [[Dean]]. The [[angel]] tells him that he has to "stop it," at which point he touches Dean's forehead and sends him back to [[Lawrence, Kansas]] circa 1973. Dean heads into a diner and chats up a young guy who turns out to be [[John Winchester]]. Dean's mind is blown when he figures out what's going on. |
| − | Dean runs into Castiel as he follows his father around, and the angel once again cryptically tells him that he has to stop something. Dean follows John to a car lot, where he suggests his father buy the '67 Chevy [[Impala]] instead of an old VW van. Dean introduces himself as Dean Van Halen and assures John that the car will still be bad-ass when it's 40. Dean tries to get info about the mysterious event he has to stop, but John hasn't smelled any sulfur or noticed any strange happenings lately. Dean follows [[Mary]] home and goes inside to meet her father, [[Samuel Campbell|Samuel]]. He's also a hunter, and though Dean convinces him that he's a hunter with his knowledge of [[vampire]] slaying, Samuel doesn't trust others in his profession. | + | Dean runs into Castiel as he follows his father around, and the angel once again cryptically tells him that he has to stop something. Dean follows John to a car lot, where he suggests his father buy the '67 Chevy [[Impala]] instead of an old VW van. Dean introduces himself as Dean Van Halen and assures John that the car will still be bad-ass when it's 40. Dean tries to get info about the mysterious event he has to stop, but John hasn't smelled any sulfur or noticed any strange happenings lately. Dean follows [[Mary]] home and goes inside to meet her father, [[Samuel Campbell|Samuel]]. He's also a hunter, and though Dean convinces him that he's a hunter with his knowledge of [[vampire]] slaying, Samuel doesn't trust others in his profession. Mary's mother, [[Deanna Campbell|Deanna]], is a bit more friendly and invites Dean to stay for dinner. Grandpa Samuel is currently looking into a farmer's mysterious death, but he'd rather have Mary act as his partner on the case than Dean. |
| − | Samuel and Mary go to the farm, where Samuel poses as a priest to get close to the widow. | + | Samuel and Mary go to the farm, where Samuel poses as a priest to get close to the widow. He's shocked to find Dean already there, also impersonating a priest, but he rolls with the surprise fairly well. The widow claims everything was perfectly normal when the farmer bit the dust, but Mary learns that her son made a deal with a yellow-eyed stranger praying for his father to stop beatings that took place in the household. The guy told him he'd come back to collect something in about ten years. Dean concludes that the boy sold his soul to [[Azazel]]. |
| − | Samuel and Deanna have never heard of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, so Dean makes a plan to get | + | Samuel and Deanna have never heard of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, so Dean makes a plan to get [[the Colt]] and kill Azazel as soon as possible. [[John's Journal|The journal]] arrived back in time with him, which is handy since it has info about where Azazel will be the next day. Dean visits Mary before he leaves and tells her that he approves of her relationship with John, which is when Dean's future mother reveals that her boyfriend is planning to propose soon. Mary says that John is sweet, optimistic and "everything a hunter isn't," and she can't wait to run off with him to escape the demon-slaying lifestyle. Before Dean goes, he tells Mary not to get out of bed on that fateful night in 1983. "No matter what you hear or what you see, promise me you won't get out of bed," he tells her. She agrees. |
| − | The next time Castiel appears, Dean asks why Sam wasn't allowed to get in on this Back to the Future action. Castiel explains that Dean has to do this alone, and reminds him that if he alters the future and never becomes a hunter, all the people he's saved will die. Dean cares about the lives of strangers, but he's not going to let his parents die again. | + | The next time Castiel appears, Dean asks why Sam wasn't allowed to get in on this ''Back to the Future'' action. Castiel explains that Dean has to do this alone, and reminds him that if he alters the future and never becomes a hunter, all the people he's saved will die. Dean cares about the lives of strangers, but he's not going to let his parents die again. |
| − | While Dean steals the Colt from [[Daniel Elkins]]' safe in Colorado, Mary discovers that the demon is currently hanging out at her friend's house. She rushes over to jump in the fray along with Samuel, but his shotgun is no match for | + | While Dean steals the Colt from [[Daniel Elkins]]' safe in Colorado, Mary discovers that the demon is currently hanging out at her friend's house. She rushes over to jump in the fray along with Samuel, but his shotgun is no match for Azazel, who's been posing as a friendly doctor and making deals. Mary bursts in, stabs Yellow Eyes and kicks his ass a bit, but is soon overpowered by him. The [[demon]] immediately takes a shine to her. Dean arrives to save the day before things can get ugly, but the demon dis-possesses of the doctor and takes off. |
| − | Dean tells Samuel that they have to kill the demon to save Mary's life. He then explains that Mary is his mother and that she's destined to be killed in 1983 if they don't do something. Samuel thinks he's pretty crazy, but Dean is persuasive and convinces him that it's time to send | + | Dean tells Samuel that they have to kill the demon to save Mary's life. He then explains that Mary is his mother and that she's destined to be killed in 1983 if they don't do something. Samuel thinks he's pretty crazy, but Dean is persuasive and convinces him that it's time to send Azazel back to [[Hell]]. When Samuel tries to get his hands on the Colt, Dean realizes that the Yellow-Eyed Demon has possessed his grandfather and now knows what the future holds. |
| − | + | Azazel asks Dean if he's one of his psychic kids, but a quick sniff of Dean's neck reveals that he's not. Dean figures out that the demon has been playing matchmaker and hooking up parents to create his own master race of special children. Azazel explains that in 10 years he'll show up to pour some [[demon blood]] into the mouths of the children, not to find a leader for his demon army like Dean and Sam long assumed, but for something much bigger. Whatever his endgame is, he chooses not to reveal it. Azazel then jabs a knife into the gut of his current [[meat suit]], Grandpa Samuel, so he'll die once his body is empty. He also snaps Deanna's neck for good measure. | |
| − | As John and Mary share a romantic moment in the Impala, Samuel/ | + | As John and Mary share a romantic moment in the [[Impala]], Samuel/Azazel interrupts, yanks his daughter out of the car, and snaps John's neck. Azazel tells Mary that her parents are dead. He also explains that he'll bring John back to life if she simply agrees to make a little [[deal]] with him. He doesn't want her soul, but permission to visit baby Sammy in 10 years. He promises no one will get hurt as long as his ritual isn't interrupted, so she goes ahead and seals the deal with a kiss. Dean shows up a moment later to kill the demon, but the smoke escapes once again, leaving Samuel dead. |
Mary's parents may be dead, but John quickly springs back to life, at which point Castiel appears to bring Dean back to the present. The angel explains that Dean couldn't have changed history even if he wanted to. He didn't send Dean back to stop anything, but to show him the whole truth. Now he's aware of exactly what happened to Sam, but even the angels are clueless when it comes to figuring out what [[Azazel]]'s true endgame is. Maybe Dean can crack the case. "Your brother is headed down a dangerous road, Dean," Castiel explains. "We're not sure where it leads. So stop it, or we will." | Mary's parents may be dead, but John quickly springs back to life, at which point Castiel appears to bring Dean back to the present. The angel explains that Dean couldn't have changed history even if he wanted to. He didn't send Dean back to stop anything, but to show him the whole truth. Now he's aware of exactly what happened to Sam, but even the angels are clueless when it comes to figuring out what [[Azazel]]'s true endgame is. Maybe Dean can crack the case. "Your brother is headed down a dangerous road, Dean," Castiel explains. "We're not sure where it leads. So stop it, or we will." | ||
The episode finishes with a "To Be Continued." | The episode finishes with a "To Be Continued." | ||
| − | |||
|Characters= | |Characters= | ||
| Line 45: | Line 44: | ||
* [[Dean Winchester]] | * [[Dean Winchester]] | ||
* [[Azazel]] | * [[Azazel]] | ||
| − | * | + | * [[Mary Winchester]] (nee Campbell) |
| − | * | + | * [[John Winchester]] |
* [[Samuel Campbell]] | * [[Samuel Campbell]] | ||
* [[Deanna Campbell]] | * [[Deanna Campbell]] | ||
| Line 55: | Line 54: | ||
|Music= | |Music= | ||
* "Ramblin' Man" by The Allman Brothers Band | * "Ramblin' Man" by The Allman Brothers Band | ||
| − | :''(plays in the diner when Dean talks with John; also played in Pilot)'' | + | :''(plays in the diner when Dean talks with John; also played in [[1.01 Pilot]])'' |
* "Go For Your Self" by Kenny Smith and the Loveliters | * "Go For Your Self" by Kenny Smith and the Loveliters | ||
:''(plays when John and Mary are in the diner)'' | :''(plays when John and Mary are in the diner)'' | ||
| Line 64: | Line 63: | ||
|Pad_of_Definitions= | |Pad_of_Definitions= | ||
| − | * [[Colt]] | + | * [[The Colt]] |
* [[Impala]] | * [[Impala]] | ||
| + | * [[Demonology]] | ||
* [[Demonic Possession]] | * [[Demonic Possession]] | ||
* [[Angel Lore]] | * [[Angel Lore]] | ||
| Line 72: | Line 72: | ||
* [[The Meaning of Episode Titles]] | * [[The Meaning of Episode Titles]] | ||
* [[Star Trek]] | * [[Star Trek]] | ||
| − | |||
|Quotes= | |Quotes= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | '''Dean:''' Sammy, wherever you are - Mom is a babe! I'm going to | + | '''Dean:''' Sammy, wherever you are - Mom is a babe! I'm going to Hell. Again. |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
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{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
'''Castiel:''' We know what Azazel did to your brother, but what we don't know is why. What his endgame is. He went to great lengths to cover that up.}} | '''Castiel:''' We know what Azazel did to your brother, but what we don't know is why. What his endgame is. He went to great lengths to cover that up.}} | ||
| − | |||
|Trivia_References= | |Trivia_References= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| Line 97: | Line 95: | ||
'''Dean:''' Nice threads. You know Sonny and Cher broke up, right?<br> | '''Dean:''' Nice threads. You know Sonny and Cher broke up, right?<br> | ||
'''Young John:''' Sonny and Cher broke up?<br> | '''Young John:''' Sonny and Cher broke up?<br> | ||
| − | :''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_and_Cher Sonny and Cher] were a popular singing husband and wife duo. In 1973 they had an Emmy award winning show called | + | :''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_and_Cher Sonny and Cher] were a popular singing husband and wife duo. In 1973 they had an Emmy award winning show called The Sony and Cher Comedy Hour.'' |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| Line 110: | Line 108: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | The VW van John Winchester nearly buys instead of the Impala is possibly a shoutout to the mode of transport known as the "Mystery Van" used by the Scooby gang in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo Scooby Doo]. | + | The VW van John Winchester nearly buys instead of the Impala is possibly a shoutout to the mode of transport known as the "Mystery Van" used by the Scooby gang in ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo, Where are You!]''. |
}} | }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| Line 122: | Line 120: | ||
Mary deals for John's life on May 2. This is Sam's birthday. It is also the same day John Winchester traded his life for Dean's and Dean traded his for Sam's and the day Dean went to Hell. }} | Mary deals for John's life on May 2. This is Sam's birthday. It is also the same day John Winchester traded his life for Dean's and Dean traded his for Sam's and the day Dean went to Hell. }} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | The Campbell family are shown as active Hunters in a flashback to 1969 in the spin-off novel ''[[Supernatural: Heart of the Dragon]]'', which reveals that the Campbells finance their hunts through Samuel's dry-cleaning business and Deanna's work as a substitute teacher. }} | + | The Campbell family are shown as active Hunters in a flashback to 1969 in the spin-off novel ''[[Supernatural: Heart of the Dragon]]'', which reveals that the Campbells finance their hunts through Samuel's dry-cleaning business and Deanna's work as a substitute teacher.}} |
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | The scene were Dean first meets young John Winchester in the diner is almost identical to how and where Marty McFly first meets his teenage father in [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ Back to the Future].}} | + | The scene were Dean first meets young John Winchester in the diner is almost identical to how and where Marty McFly first meets his teenage father in ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ Back to the Future]''.}} |
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
When Dean and Samuel run into each other at the Whitshire home dressed as priests, Dean introduces Samuel as "Father Cheney." This is a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney]. There was a previous reference to Cheney in [[3.04 Sin City]].}} | When Dean and Samuel run into each other at the Whitshire home dressed as priests, Dean introduces Samuel as "Father Cheney." This is a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney]. There was a previous reference to Cheney in [[3.04 Sin City]].}} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
'''Dean:''' ''(to Castiel)'' So what? God's my co-pilot, is that it?<br> | '''Dean:''' ''(to Castiel)'' So what? God's my co-pilot, is that it?<br> | ||
| − | :''This is a popular saying among people of faith in the United States, and was the title of a war pilot's autobiography. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_My_Co-Pilot_%28band%29 God | + | :''This is a popular saying among people of faith in the United States, and was the title of a war pilot's autobiography. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_My_Co-Pilot_%28band%29 God Is My Co-Pilot] is also a New York City based [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queercore Queercore-Band] from the 1990s.''}} |
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
'''Dean:''' ''(to Castiel)'' Well, you're a regular Chatty Cathy. <br> | '''Dean:''' ''(to Castiel)'' Well, you're a regular Chatty Cathy. <br> | ||
:''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatty_Cathy Chatty Cathy] is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965 that spoke one of eleven phrases at random when a ring protruding from its upper back was pulled. The term is sometimes used to refer to a particularly talkative person.''}} | :''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatty_Cathy Chatty Cathy] is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965 that spoke one of eleven phrases at random when a ring protruding from its upper back was pulled. The term is sometimes used to refer to a particularly talkative person.''}} | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | In the diner where Dean first meet young | + | In the diner where Dean first meet young John, an elderly man tells John to "Say hi to you old man for me", but we learn in season 8 that Johns father vanished when John was a child. Though the "old man" could also allude to a step-father, adopted father or grandfather.''}} |
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| − | In the diner, the song | + | In the diner, the song "Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers Band is playing. The song came out on the album, ''Brothers and Sisters'', which wasn't released until August 1973, about three months later than when the events took place.''}} |
|Minutiae= | |Minutiae= | ||
{{TriviaQuote |Text= | {{TriviaQuote |Text= | ||
| Line 152: | Line 150: | ||
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyMoi3gCSNw Episode Promo: 4.03 In The Beginning] | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyMoi3gCSNw Episode Promo: 4.03 In The Beginning] | ||
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kVltisZ0P0 Kripke speaks about 4.03] | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kVltisZ0P0 Kripke speaks about 4.03] | ||
| − | *[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/supernatural-preview-in-the-be-23193.aspx preview clips and episode review] at Buddy TV | + | * [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/supernatural-preview-in-the-be-23193.aspx preview clips and episode review] at Buddy TV |
| − | *[http://eclipsemagazine.com/television/6776/television-supernatural-s4-in-the-beginning-a-review/ Episode review by Eclipse magazine] | + | * [http://eclipsemagazine.com/television/6776/television-supernatural-s4-in-the-beginning-a-review/ Episode review by Eclipse magazine] |
| − | *[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/exclusive-interview-mitch-pile-23249.aspx Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by Buddy TV | + | * [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/exclusive-interview-mitch-pile-23249.aspx Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by Buddy TV |
| − | *[http://tvblog.ugo.com/index.php/tvblog/more/exclusive_ugo_talks_with_supernaturals_mitch_pileggi/ Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by ugo | + | * [http://tvblog.ugo.com/index.php/tvblog/more/exclusive_ugo_talks_with_supernaturals_mitch_pileggi/ Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by ugo |
| − | *[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp?aid=9356&tcid=1 Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by collider | + | * [http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp?aid=9356&tcid=1 Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by collider |
| − | *[http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/Tv-Previews/Mitch-Pileggi-Supernatural/800047774 Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by TV Guide | + | * [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/Tv-Previews/Mitch-Pileggi-Supernatural/800047774 Interview with Mitch Pileggi] by TV Guide |
|Categories= [[Category:Canon]][[Category:Episodes]][[Category:Season 4]] | |Categories= [[Category:Canon]][[Category:Episodes]][[Category:Season 4]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 04:06, 18 November 2013
| |
| Title | In the Beginning |
| Episode # | Season 4, Episode 3 |
| First aired | October 2, 2008 |
| Directed by | Steve Boyum |
| Written by | Jeremy Carver |
| On IMDB | In the Beginning |
| Outline | Castiel sends Dean back to Lawrence in 1973. Can Dean avert the course of events that lead to his mother's death? |
| Monster | Azazel |
| Timeline | April 30 - May 2, 1973 |
| Location(s) | Lawrence, Kansas |
| [[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]] | |
Contents
Synopsis
The episode begins with Sam meeting up with Ruby, which is the perfect opportunity for Castiel to drop in on Dean. The angel tells him that he has to "stop it," at which point he touches Dean's forehead and sends him back to Lawrence, Kansas circa 1973. Dean heads into a diner and chats up a young guy who turns out to be John Winchester. Dean's mind is blown when he figures out what's going on.
Dean runs into Castiel as he follows his father around, and the angel once again cryptically tells him that he has to stop something. Dean follows John to a car lot, where he suggests his father buy the '67 Chevy Impala instead of an old VW van. Dean introduces himself as Dean Van Halen and assures John that the car will still be bad-ass when it's 40. Dean tries to get info about the mysterious event he has to stop, but John hasn't smelled any sulfur or noticed any strange happenings lately. Dean follows Mary home and goes inside to meet her father, Samuel. He's also a hunter, and though Dean convinces him that he's a hunter with his knowledge of vampire slaying, Samuel doesn't trust others in his profession. Mary's mother, Deanna, is a bit more friendly and invites Dean to stay for dinner. Grandpa Samuel is currently looking into a farmer's mysterious death, but he'd rather have Mary act as his partner on the case than Dean.
Samuel and Mary go to the farm, where Samuel poses as a priest to get close to the widow. He's shocked to find Dean already there, also impersonating a priest, but he rolls with the surprise fairly well. The widow claims everything was perfectly normal when the farmer bit the dust, but Mary learns that her son made a deal with a yellow-eyed stranger praying for his father to stop beatings that took place in the household. The guy told him he'd come back to collect something in about ten years. Dean concludes that the boy sold his soul to Azazel.
Samuel and Deanna have never heard of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, so Dean makes a plan to get the Colt and kill Azazel as soon as possible. The journal arrived back in time with him, which is handy since it has info about where Azazel will be the next day. Dean visits Mary before he leaves and tells her that he approves of her relationship with John, which is when Dean's future mother reveals that her boyfriend is planning to propose soon. Mary says that John is sweet, optimistic and "everything a hunter isn't," and she can't wait to run off with him to escape the demon-slaying lifestyle. Before Dean goes, he tells Mary not to get out of bed on that fateful night in 1983. "No matter what you hear or what you see, promise me you won't get out of bed," he tells her. She agrees.
The next time Castiel appears, Dean asks why Sam wasn't allowed to get in on this Back to the Future action. Castiel explains that Dean has to do this alone, and reminds him that if he alters the future and never becomes a hunter, all the people he's saved will die. Dean cares about the lives of strangers, but he's not going to let his parents die again.
While Dean steals the Colt from Daniel Elkins' safe in Colorado, Mary discovers that the demon is currently hanging out at her friend's house. She rushes over to jump in the fray along with Samuel, but his shotgun is no match for Azazel, who's been posing as a friendly doctor and making deals. Mary bursts in, stabs Yellow Eyes and kicks his ass a bit, but is soon overpowered by him. The demon immediately takes a shine to her. Dean arrives to save the day before things can get ugly, but the demon dis-possesses of the doctor and takes off.
Dean tells Samuel that they have to kill the demon to save Mary's life. He then explains that Mary is his mother and that she's destined to be killed in 1983 if they don't do something. Samuel thinks he's pretty crazy, but Dean is persuasive and convinces him that it's time to send Azazel back to Hell. When Samuel tries to get his hands on the Colt, Dean realizes that the Yellow-Eyed Demon has possessed his grandfather and now knows what the future holds.
Azazel asks Dean if he's one of his psychic kids, but a quick sniff of Dean's neck reveals that he's not. Dean figures out that the demon has been playing matchmaker and hooking up parents to create his own master race of special children. Azazel explains that in 10 years he'll show up to pour some demon blood into the mouths of the children, not to find a leader for his demon army like Dean and Sam long assumed, but for something much bigger. Whatever his endgame is, he chooses not to reveal it. Azazel then jabs a knife into the gut of his current meat suit, Grandpa Samuel, so he'll die once his body is empty. He also snaps Deanna's neck for good measure.
As John and Mary share a romantic moment in the Impala, Samuel/Azazel interrupts, yanks his daughter out of the car, and snaps John's neck. Azazel tells Mary that her parents are dead. He also explains that he'll bring John back to life if she simply agrees to make a little deal with him. He doesn't want her soul, but permission to visit baby Sammy in 10 years. He promises no one will get hurt as long as his ritual isn't interrupted, so she goes ahead and seals the deal with a kiss. Dean shows up a moment later to kill the demon, but the smoke escapes once again, leaving Samuel dead.
Mary's parents may be dead, but John quickly springs back to life, at which point Castiel appears to bring Dean back to the present. The angel explains that Dean couldn't have changed history even if he wanted to. He didn't send Dean back to stop anything, but to show him the whole truth. Now he's aware of exactly what happened to Sam, but even the angels are clueless when it comes to figuring out what Azazel's true endgame is. Maybe Dean can crack the case. "Your brother is headed down a dangerous road, Dean," Castiel explains. "We're not sure where it leads. So stop it, or we will."
The episode finishes with a "To Be Continued."
Characters
- Sam Winchester
- Dean Winchester
- Azazel
- Mary Winchester (nee Campbell)
- John Winchester
- Samuel Campbell
- Deanna Campbell
- Daniel Elkins
- Ruby
- Castiel
Definitions
- The Colt
- Impala
- Demonology
- Demonic Possession
- Angel Lore
- Single Perfect Tear
- Demon Blood
- The Meaning of Episode Titles
- Star Trek
Music
- "Ramblin' Man" by The Allman Brothers Band
- (plays in the diner when Dean talks with John; also played in 1.01 Pilot)
- "Go For Your Self" by Kenny Smith and the Loveliters
- (plays when John and Mary are in the diner)
- "One More Day" by Kenny Smith and the Loveliters
- (plays when John drops Mary off at home)
- "Music" by Henry Turner's Crystal Band
- (plays when Dean says goodbye to Mary)
Quotes
Dean: Sammy, wherever you are - Mom is a babe! I'm going to Hell. Again.
Mary: This job. I hate it. I want a family. I want to be safe. You know the worst thing I can think of, the very worst thing? Is for my children to be raised into this like I was. I won't let it happen.
Samuel: She wants to hunt, she doesn't want to hunt. Is this some female 'time of the month' thing?"
Castiel: We know what Azazel did to your brother, but what we don't know is why. What his endgame is. He went to great lengths to cover that up.
Trivia & References
The title of the episode is taken from the opening words of the Book of Genesis. See also The Meaning of Episode Titles.
Dean: What, did angels invest in Deloreans?
- A reference to the time traveling Delorean in the movie Back to the Future. There are other references to the movie in this episode, such as Dean meeting his father's younger self in a diner.
Dean: Nice threads. You know Sonny and Cher broke up, right?
Young John: Sonny and Cher broke up?
- Sonny and Cher were a popular singing husband and wife duo. In 1973 they had an Emmy award winning show called The Sony and Cher Comedy Hour.
Dean: Know where I can get any reception?
Young John: The U.S.S. Enterprise?
- To young John Winchester, Dean's cell phone looks like a communicator from Star Trek.
Young John: John Winchester. Thanks.
Dean: Dean Van Halen.
- Dean introduces himself as Dean Van Halen. Van Halen is a rock band who enjoyed their first album success in 1978.
The VW van John Winchester nearly buys instead of the Impala is possibly a shoutout to the mode of transport known as the "Mystery Van" used by the Scooby gang in Scooby-Doo, Where are You!.
Dean and Samuel appearing together in priests' outfits harks back to Dean and Sam doing the same in 1.14 Nightmare.
Azazel: You're Little Orphan Mary now.
- Little Orphan Annie was a character in a comic strip that started in the 1920s and later made into movies and a hit musical.
Mary deals for John's life on May 2. This is Sam's birthday. It is also the same day John Winchester traded his life for Dean's and Dean traded his for Sam's and the day Dean went to Hell.
The Campbell family are shown as active Hunters in a flashback to 1969 in the spin-off novel Supernatural: Heart of the Dragon, which reveals that the Campbells finance their hunts through Samuel's dry-cleaning business and Deanna's work as a substitute teacher.
The scene were Dean first meets young John Winchester in the diner is almost identical to how and where Marty McFly first meets his teenage father in Back to the Future.
When Dean and Samuel run into each other at the Whitshire home dressed as priests, Dean introduces Samuel as "Father Cheney." This is a reference to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. There was a previous reference to Cheney in 3.04 Sin City.
Dean: (to Castiel) So what? God's my co-pilot, is that it?
- This is a popular saying among people of faith in the United States, and was the title of a war pilot's autobiography. God Is My Co-Pilot is also a New York City based Queercore-Band from the 1990s.
Dean: (to Castiel) Well, you're a regular Chatty Cathy.
- Chatty Cathy is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965 that spoke one of eleven phrases at random when a ring protruding from its upper back was pulled. The term is sometimes used to refer to a particularly talkative person.
In the diner where Dean first meet young John, an elderly man tells John to "Say hi to you old man for me", but we learn in season 8 that Johns father vanished when John was a child. Though the "old man" could also allude to a step-father, adopted father or grandfather.
In the diner, the song "Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers Band is playing. The song came out on the album, Brothers and Sisters, which wasn't released until August 1973, about three months later than when the events took place.
Minutiae
The date on the newspaper John Winchester was reading in the diner was Monday, April 30, 1973. The headline reads "Nixon accepts resignation of top…”
John Winchester bought the Impala from Rainbow Motors in Lawrence, Kansas. The price on the windshield was $2204.
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
- 4.03 In the Beginning (transcript)
- Transcript of DVD commentary with Eric Kripke and Jeremy Carver
Promotion
- Promo pics at supernatural.tv
- Episode Promo: 4.03 In The Beginning
- Kripke speaks about 4.03
- preview clips and episode review at Buddy TV
- Episode review by Eclipse magazine
- Interview with Mitch Pileggi by Buddy TV
- Interview with Mitch Pileggi by ugo
- Interview with Mitch Pileggi by collider
- Interview with Mitch Pileggi by TV Guide
