Supernatural - Fallen Idols

Episodes like Fallen Idols are a means for fans of the show, enduring the intense mythology of Lucifer’s release, opened seals, and the near Apocalypse, to exhale, to take a deep breath and smile. It was obvious the moment Paris Hilton’s name was mentioned, I just knew the screenplay would get in “House of Wax” (2005). It was just guaranteed. Those who know the movie, realize Jared Padalecki’s connection to Hilton is destined to find its way into Supernatural at some point. Including Hilton in the show was inspired to say the least. As was Lincoln, Gandhi, and James Dean. The idea that some vain god would use the likes of Lincoln (his hat), Gandhi (his glasses), and Dean (his key chain) to attack their “super fans” once introduced to their wax likenesses at a museum in Canton, Ohio, fits the tone of the show’s lighter efforts. Not every episode can feature Dean and Sam at odds with each other or demons influencing them to do very bad things. Why not Dean and Sam—reunited and trying to salvage what was lost during their time apart—battling a god using the forms of historical figures quite beloved? I mean Gandhi hopping on Sam’s back trying to bite him has to be seen to be believed. It is quite a sight to behold. Dean under the faux “Little Bastard” Porsche trying to get an engine number as he exudes the anxiety of the experience is palpable. While there are conversations between Dean and Sam about previous drama that put a wedge between them—and this negotiation that happens where they decide to find common ground, updating how they had been in the past and should treat each other going forward—this episode allows them to focus away from all of that temporarily. Paris Hilton also gets to have some fun with her image and seeing Sam hacking away with an iron bladed ax on her, along with the decapitated head, allows those that don’t necessarily like her to vicariously live through him as the blood sprays across his face. The small town keystone cops shtick with the sheriff and the bizarre murders occurring under his watch (nothing is as simple as he wants it to be) is fun, as is the investigation for James Dean fan, Dean Winchester, seeing the image of the actor in a brief reflection while scanning footage on his computer. Sam’s revelation regarding his affection for Gandhi and Dean’s rather flippant remarks about this does surprise me. Gandhi is a figure worthy of such admiration I’d think, but Dean is always rock-n-rolla so he wanted his brother, for a change, to lock on a hero worship towards someone he’d also have great fondness for. Fruit seeds found in corpses from a tree that no longer exists providing the clues needed for Sam and Dean to vanquish another supernatural foe is par for the course for this show…a god that longs for worship, tells this to Sam and Dean who are tied to trees in a room of a wax museum currently in renovation, lamenting the celebrity worship that now exists, fits Supernatural like The Fonz’ coat on the museum curator. If only we’d seen Henry Winkler going on the attack as the curator of the museum was unexpectedly provoking him just by wearing his character’s coat…now that would have been rad!