In Supernatural season 11, episode 20, “Don’t Call Me Shurley,” Chuck returned and we got a definitive answer to the God question.
So, Chuck is God. Seven seasons after his introduction and six seasons after fans were left speculating about whether the pulp novel writer/prophet of the Lord was actually the big man himself, the show went there. They took a fan theory and made it canon.
And I’m not sure I’m in love with it. Yes, I’ve for the most part subscribed to the theory that Chuck is God because he served as the avatar for series creator Eric Kripke. But that is one theory that feels best left in the fandom. Uncertainty has always made more sense with that story. Moreover, God’s absence has been a purposeful storytelling choice up until now, and the dynamics of everything completely change with his presence.
On the other hand, I suppose that’s the point. Eleven seasons later and the show is looking to keep shaking things up; bringing God in and canonizing a fan theory definitely does that. It’s ironic (likely on purpose) that such a shakeup also comes in an episode that heavily invokes season 3’s “Jus In Bello” and season 2’s “Croatoan” with the fog plot.
Oh, and it also brings back the Samulet. You know, the one that was supposed to be able to detect God’s presence; the one that Sam gave to Dean when they were kids and that Dean threw away after the events of “Dark Side of the Moon.” Chuck hints that we’d never believe where it’s been all along (probably in Sam’s possession), but eventually it comes out of Sam’s pocket, shining.
So, the episode heavily invokes the past while simultaneously completely shaking the foundation of the series. It’s a tricky tightrope to walk, but whether I loved the development or not, there’s no denying things won’t be the same after this episode.
Right, so. Chuck/God is back. But why? He’s writing his autobiography and wants Metatron’s editing skills. He’s not going to make Metatron an angel again, but Metatron isn’t afraid to speak his mind — once he’s done kowtowing, anyway. And Metatron is particularly likable in this episode, which is a feat I didn’t think possible of that previously despicable character. He talks back to God, gives unpopular opinions and takes his lumps when they come.
And all his wheedling ends up inspiring Chuck/God to finally act. He’s been incognito, starting a blog with cute cat pictures and dating both men and women, but he ends up intervening in the invasion of Amara’s fog in a town called Hope Springs (on the nose, much?). He destroys the fog, cures the infection, revives the dead — and then reveals himself to the Winchesters, saying they need to talk.
I really hope the first thing Dean does in the next episode is deck Chuck for being MIA for so long.
The portrayal of God is interesting, as he’s fed up and bitter. He created life because he was lonely, but Amara kept destroying his creations, so he and the archangels locked her away. Now, he knows Amara is out and he’s resigned to the end of humanity. Metatron calls him a coward and says he’s running away, which is what really gets God’s/Chuck’s ire raised. And isn’t that interesting? And it’s not until Metatron pushes him to write the truth about himself and his life that God/Chuck is inspired to intervene.
On top of all the meta in this episode, we get a sequence of fan service (because actor Rob Benedict’s band Louden Swain has become fandom famous for performing the convention circuit) with Chuck singing and accompanying himself on the guitar before he intervenes in Hope Springs Eternal.
So, God is among us and he has a lot to answer for.
Watch a promo for the next episode
