In this plane episode out fly the 'jokes' about the odds of crashing at 20,00 feet. The flight attendant notices the passenger's black eyes, who asks how long they've been in the air, reply being 40 minutes - so he opens the door enabling the plane to crash.
We discover Dean (Jensen Ackles) sleeps with a knife under his pillow, just in case he's attacked or ambushed in the night by ghosties and ghoulies. Which reminds me of a comment I made in a season 5 episode - but that'd be jumping the gun on my part. Sam (Jared Padalecki) meanwhile can't sleep. So he's watching an Info-mercial: thought only Dean was into TV, well in the early episodes he was more than Sam... Unknown to Dean, Sam is having nightmares about Jessica (Adrianne Palicki) . He finds the 'job' gets to him. Not so for trusty Dean - who is not afraid of anything - ever and shows Sam his reliable knife. He doesn't acquaint being prepared with being afraid.
A friend of Dad's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Jerry (Brian Markinson) whom they helped out in the past with a Poltergeist problem, calls Dean for help again. Jerry tells Sam how Dad was proud of him. He plays them the recording from the plane's flight recorder, on which can be heard a "roaring sound." Only 7 survived the crash. NTSB has the salvaged parts in a hanger. Thus Dean has to make false IDs for Homeland Security. Cut to Dean in a copyshop. As it was a plane crash, Homeland Security would be involved. Dean also remarks that since the ID is fairly new, it won't be familiar to people.
Sam researches death omens on planes and spirits, known as 'Phantom travellers' (hence the title). He alludes to Flight 401, from which salvaged parts were used on other planes. Subsequently, these planes were said to be haunted by the spirits of the pilot and co-pilot. He mentions the Ghost of Flight 401 - the movie (1978). I recall watching that several years ago, it's not shown anymore these days. Interesting movie - but then I like anything to do with planes for some reason.
Max Jaffe (Kett Turton) one of the survivors is at a psychiatric hospital. Dean questions if he saw anything unusual. (This is one of Dean's noticeable traits when questioning people on their hunts. He always comes right out and asks if they saw anything strange and unusual.) Max describes the man with black eyes and they conclude that only something non-human could have opened the plane door in-flight as it requires great strength. Sam and Dean buy black suits (with stolen credit card courtesy of Dean!) This was the first time we saw them in these suits - which became a regular part of their wardrobe in most episodes and seasons. Dean: "Man I look like one of the Blues Brothers." Sam replies he looks like he's at his first dance. Probably since the cut of his suit was so ill fitting.
It's the first time Sam's seen Dean's EMF reader - which he questions stating it resembles a Walkman - as that's what Dean made it from. Sam takes a sample of trace from the door handle, in our first "ghostly" Supernatural crime scene. Real Homeland Security arrive and to no one's surprise, they wear the same suits too! Dean: "These monkey suits do come in handy" for when he has to scale the fence.
The trace Sam found was sulphur, left behind as a result of demonic possession. Thus posits Dean, the man had the ability to open the plane door and makes reference to the "barfing scene" from The Exorcist (1973). They've never heard of a demonic possession crashing a plane before. There follows some exposition on how every religion has some form or another of demonic possessions. (But it was great exposition none-the-less!) This job is huge and makes Dean wish Dad was here. Well Dean, you've gotta go it alone - as he's been doing in the past - even without Sam back then. It shouldn't be difficult for him to handle since he does have Sam now.
Jerry mentions the plane went down near Nazareth after 40 minutes. Dean: "I'll try to ignore the irony in that!" Dean leads in with the concept of "Biblical numerology" the significance of certain numbers, such as it raining for 40 days and nights, 7 plane survivors. 7 is a Biblical number (so there should be at least 7 seasons of the show, in my opinion!) Out of the 6 plane crashes, there weren't any survivors, until now. Leading Sam to believe the survivors are being targeted.
Amanda the flight attendant (Jaime Ray Newman) is returning to work. Dean attempts to call her but to no avail. Her flight will depart from Gate 13 (!) Sam's plan is for them to board the plane - whereupon we discover Dean's afraid of flying, or should I say, Dean's irrational fear of flying. "Which is why I drive everywhere," in his baby - his Impala. If he's never been in a plane how does he know he's afraid, watching that one too many plane disaster movie Dean! So how come he hasn't watched the Ghost of Flight 401.
There was Dean in the beginning of the episode telling Sam he doesn't fear anything. How could they get past airport security with some of the things in their bag. Mostly it was religious paraphernalia, holy water, Dad's journal,which isn't religious, but more of the 'demonic persuasion'. Sam wants to board the plane by himself, but Dean won't let him. (Of course if they crashed that'd be the end of the show, unless they survived, boy that sounds morbid.)
They say the name of God in Latin (which NB is not Christo) to find the 'possessed person;. Dean can't calm down which makes him susceptible to possession - as the demon preys on fear. Sam tells him they'll need to use the Ritual Romano to exorcise the demon when found.
Another X-Files reference with Dean saying, "we don't have time for the whole 'truth is out there' speech!" They hone in on the demon and douse him with holy water and tie him up, whilst Sam attempts to perform the ritual. A fight ensues and the demon tells Sam how Jess burns and was in pain. Sam loses the book and dives for it in the aisle. These passengers must be asleep or deaf - since no one heard what was going on and also when Sam read from the book on the floor! being struck by lightning they thought was normal. Dean's hair standing on end was funny. The black smoke (as the demons are referred to) escapes through the vent.
Sam tells Dean the demon knew Jess and Dean replies "demons lie." (An oft used phrase in future conversations between the two.) Jerry got Dean's number from Dad's voicemail, telling him to call Dean and Sam finds this confusing. "This is John Winchester. I can't be reached. If this is an emergency call my son Dean 785-555-0179. He can help."
A blast of an episode and not just my fondness for plane episodes either. More insight into some of their personal lives: Dean's fear of planes (See 5.1) Sam's fear of the demon knowing everything about Jess. Well it would wouldn't it - she died an unnatural death - like Mom (Samantha Smith). There's more behind it than just some "normal" occurrence , something supernatural had to be involved, it's the only feasible explanation. As we'll learn later, the demon fraternity is wide and closely related - like a demon grapevine spreading evil.
Great to see Dean making fake IDs, since he's already got them ready when they have used in the past. Also when they realize Dad left a message for Dean to be contacted, strange this was the only call for help they got and the only one of Dad's friends to contact them like that. Dad left the message on Dean's voicemail because he didn't think Sam would come back to hunting and would never even have contemplated it, since he left on bad terms. Jerry tells him of Dad being proud, maybe he thought Sam would be better off in a life of his own choosing. The message was left 6 months ago - but in the Pilot, Dean said he's been missing for 3 weeks. Dad must've anticipated going AWOL.
Were you glued to your plane seats? Or asleep like the passengers! Also here's where we deal with Sam's nightmares - which will become a heightened focal point in this season.
Critics associate this episode more with Final Destination (2000); but the similarity ends with 'Death' stalking the survivors as this was different enough to give the episode a story of its own!
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