‘Supernatural’ season 10, episode 5 recap: For the fans

Supernatural season 10, episode 5, “Fan Fiction,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the 200th episode with fellow fans!

Prologue

We open with a drama teacher quitting a stage production of the Supernatural books. The student director, Marie, is an avid Supernatural fan and takes any and all mistakes personally. On the sidewalk outside of the school, the teacher is talking on the phone when she’s pulled into the bushes by branches. A purple flower is all that’s left.

Cue all the Supernatural title cards ever.

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First act

Dean is tuning up the Impala outside of a motel when Sam comes out of room 200. Dean suggests they look into the case of a missing teacher, though Sam is skeptical there is even a case. Dean, though, convinces him to go.

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At the school, the brothers head to the auditorium in their FBI duds — only to discover the Supernatural stage production. Marie and the stage manager, May, come over to see them. Dean takes offense at there being singing — and not classic rock at that — in Supernatural before Sam brings the conversation back to the missing teacher. According to the girls, their teacher was an alcoholic.

The brothers split up, Sam with May and Dean with Marie. Dean notices the fake Sam and Dean standing pretty close together, which Marie says is for “reasons.” Eventually, he makes it to the office and finds mostly empty booze bottles as well as a robot head — for the second act of the play.

Dean, affronted at the fan fiction of it all, tries to tell Marie about seasons 6-9, but Marie calls those events “some of the worst fan fiction” she’s ever heard. Dean then notices fake Dean and and fake Cas embracing — the girls are a couple in real life, which leads to more shipping jokes. Dean is unhappy.

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Outside the school, the brothers question whether there is a case here.

That night, Maggie, the Sam actress, quits and threatens to go to the principal to shut down the show. Marie runs off but comes back when she hears Maggie scream. She sees Maggie being taken by a scarecrow and dragged away. A purple flower is the only thing left behind.

Second act

Sam and Dean return and Marie tells them about the scarecrow, saying it looks just like the prop from the show. Marie is now convinced monsters, ghosts, et al. are real. Sam tells her, “It’s all real. And so are we.”

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The girls, though, just laugh.

Dean says that he and Sam are hunters, so they’re going to dig into the case. Marie’s scarecrow isn’t from the series, though; she based it on a local legend. They suspect that a tulpa is to blame, but Sam isn’t convinced there’s enough psychic energy involved.

Third act

While Dean and Marie head down to the boiler room and burn the scarecrow prop, Sam and May research. Sam connects the purple flower to Calliope, the muse of epic poetry. She’s protecting the author, Marie, until her vision is realized; once that happens, she’ll eat the author. To get Calliope to appear, though, the show must go on.

Marie has a panic attack, so Dean calms her down and asks her to believe in the play with all her might. Marie agrees and prepares to take on Sam’s role.

Backstage, everyone prepares for opening night. Sam and Dean, armed with stakes, give the girls a pep talk. The girls’ show circle is, hilariously, the Ghostfacers cheer. Marie introduces the play while the Winchesters take their place. As the show begins, the scarecrow shows up behind Sam and grabs him and they disappear before Dean can reach them.

Final act

Sam wakes up in the school basement with Maggie and the drama teacher. Enter Calliope, who easily stops Sam from stabbing her.

On stage, meanwhile, Dean tells Marie to keep going. The fake Dean continues singing as the scarecrow appears, and Dean fights it in the background. When Dean is knocked down, Marie grabs his stake, yells, “No chick flick moments!” and stabs the scarecrow.

Back in the basement, Calliope says there has been something special about this specific production — perhaps that the story’s inspiration is present. She’s also attracted to the story of Supernatural because it’s “epic.” While she monologues, Maggie grabs a book and hits her, which frees Sam and gives him the opening to stab Calliope.

Calliope and the scarecrow explode at the same time, spraying purple goo everywhere. Cue applause and curtains closing for Intermission.

The Winchesters bid farewell to Marie and May. Marie gives Dean a prop Samulet, and they share a “Jerk” “Bitch” moment before the curtain goes back up.

The Winchesters watch on as the cast sings “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

The brothers later drive into the sunset as Dean puts the fake Samulet on the rear view mirror.