Supernatural season 9, episode 18, “Meta Fiction,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the episode with fellow fans.
The episode opens with Metatron at a typewiter, surrounded by the Supernatural books. He appears to break the fourth wall, asking, “What makes a story work?” and “Who gives the story meaning? Is it the writer? Or you?” He then offers to tell the audience a story.
Source: Tumblr
Siren song
After a shower, Dean stares broodingly into a mirror before going to find Sam, who is tracking demonic activity — but alas, no Abaddon to be found.
Elsewhere, Castiel is following a kind of siren call, and he rips his coat in the process. He finds an unfamiliar sigil on a wall at the call’s source as well as dead angels. He’s also gotten more tech-savvy since we last saw him as he snaps a picture on his phone.
He’s examining the mark when he’s attacked by an angel named Hannah. She was spared the wrath of what killed the others, though she’d lost an eye, and describes the sigil’s call as being like Heaven.
Gadreel, it turns out, is using the angelic siren call to recruit angels for Metatron. Those who side with Metatron can return home while those who refuse are killed. Cas heals Hannah, and she too offers to follow him — but he doesn’t want to lead.
Tricksy business
Cas returns to his motel and calls the Winchesters with an update and sends them the picture. Sam finds matches from crime scenes near Castiel’s current location. They realize Gadreel is moving north and agree to split up to find him. After the call ends, Cas’s television turns on and Casa Erotica plays.
And who should appear on screen?
Cas turns around to find the archangel Gabriel standing behind him, asking for help. When Cas points out that he was dead, Gabe scoffs, “You can’t take the trick out of the Trickster.”
He gives a rundown of where he’s been: Hiding in Heaven until the angels fell, then running from Metatron’s minions and watching Downton Abbey. Metatron blowing the Horn of Gabriel brought him out of hiding. He wants to get the band back together and go on the kill Metatron tour.
Cas and Gabriel drive toward the bunker, and Gabe tells Cas he’s done running and wants to do what he was meant to: lead. Cas agrees that it’s good to have him as a leader.
Writing the story
The pair are followed into a gas station by Metatron’s minions. Cas prepares to fight, but Gabe volunteers to hold them off and tells Cas to go ahead — and to lead the angels. Cas agrees, the brothers embrace, and Cas leaves.
However, he realizes the entire thing was an illusion because his coat wasn’t torn. He returns to the gas station and confronts Gabriel, who tells him to hear Metatron out. Metatron is only trying to help, though his pages of the script don’t say how.
Cas asks Gabe if he’s really dead, and Gabe gives him a Look before snapping out.
The illusion now broken, Cas finds himself prisoner in Metatron’s study, where Metatron asks, “What makes a story work?” After instilling Cas with some epic pop culture knowledge, Metatron drops some major exposition about his plan.
For instance, he meant for Cas to run into Gadreel’s lone survivor. And now he intends for Cas to lead the other angels — to be the villain of Metatron’s piece. The Gabriel ruse was inspired by the Winchester gospels.
Metatron also offers Cas a spot in Heaven if he plays his part. Cas refuses, so Metatron offers Cas an endless supply of rechargeable batteries since his stolen grace is burning out. The conversation, though, is interrupted.
Winchesters vs. Gadreel
That same day a few towns over, Gadreel visits a hunter-friendly shop looking for ingredients for another sigil. That night, Sam and Dean find the shopkeeper with his eyes burned out.
Later, Gadreel catches sight of Sam skulking in an alley. He’s about to attack when Dean drops a lighter to trap him in a ring of holy fire. The brothers lock Gadreel up, and Sam’s ready to have a go at him — to get vengeance for the violation he suffered — but Dean sends him off to time out find the MIA Cas instead.
Once Sam is gone, Dean taps into his torturing skills. Gadreel, meanwhile, shares Sam’s supposed unflattering inner thoughts about Dean. Dean comes within inches of killing Gadreel but realizes he wants to die so heads to the bathroom to cool down. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the broodiest of them all?
Meanwhile, Sam pulls up at Cas’s motel room, where he finds Cas’ phone but no angel — that is, until Metatron appears and calls for a trade: Gadreel for Castiel.
All the world’s a stage
The next day, Metatron lets the brothers set up a trap then exhibits powers far beyond even an archangel by blowing out holy fire and erasing anti-angel warding. They then exchange prisoners, and Metatron says he’s going to enjoy watching the trio trying to stop him.
As they regroup, Cas notices the Mark of Cain and is angry Dean would take it. Dean brushes him off them and, after Cas tells Sam to look after Dean, they part ways.
Back at Metatron’s, Gadreel confirms the door to Heaven is safe. He also asks whether Sam and Dean taking him was part of the plan. Metatron calls it a good twist. In his story, the only thing that matters is the characters reaching his planned ending. Gadreel leaves, looking less than convinced.
The episode closes with Sam giving Dean concerned looks as they drive through the night. Cas, meanwhile, uses the angel siren to draw Hannah and the rest of his flock to him.
“To be continued…” Metatron types.
