Paint It Black

• Now that Rowena knows the Men of Letters are responsible for destroying the Grand Coven, will she try to kill the Winchesters (since she now knows they are Men of Letters) against Crowley's orders?
• Does Olivette still have any powers (now that she's a hamster)?
• Dean seemed to be in pain and feeling ill at the very end of the episode. Is it because he hasn't killed anything recently, so the Mark is making him sick?

• Dean has apparently never been to confession
• The Men of Letters are primarily responsible for destroying the Grand Coven and taking their powerful magic books and objects
• If the Grand Coven were still in existence, Rowena would be forbidden from practicing magic, but now that she knows they are powerless, there is nothing stopping Rowena from doing whatever she wants.
• Rowena feels her powers are limitless
• Apparently, Sam can read Italian
• Based on the discussion between Dean and Sam at the end of the episode, Sam believes that Dean can beat the Mark somehow, but Dean doesn't believe that's possible anymore.

• Sam commented that there are a lot of Catholics in Massachusetts. According to Gallup poll data, Massachusetts is the second most Catholic state in America, with 48% of its residents being Catholic. Rhode Island is the most Catholic state in America, with 52% of its residents being Catholic. New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York complete the top five list of most Catholic states.
• This episode takes place in Worcester, Massachusetts
• When Dean and Sam are talking outside the church, we can see a sign over Dean's shoulder that says "Nelson". There is a church on Nelson Street in Vancouver called Saint Andrew's Wesley United Church. This appears to be where some of the church scenes (at least the ones outside the building and in the nave) were filmed.
• This episode dealt with ghost possession, but we didn't see ectoplasm associated with any of the possessed people.
• Isabella originally lived in Florence, Italy in 1520
• Teryl Rothery, who played Olivette in this episode was also the medical examiner in "Heart" (season 2)

• The episode title "Paint it Black" is from a song by the Rolling Stones
• Dean and Sam use aliases "Allman and Betts", referring to members of the Allman Brothers' Band Greg Allman and Dickey Betts
• Dean jokes about how violent murder "brings out the Grinch" in him. The Grinch is an animated character from the popular Dr. Suess book and animated film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The main character in that story was a cruel individual who tried to ruin Christmas by stealing everyone else's presents. Calling someone a "Grinch" generally means the person doesn't have the holiday spirit or is being particularly cranky.
• The chuch in this episode is called Saint Philomena's church; Saint Philomena was martyred in 304 AD at the age of 13. Little is known about her life, but she is the patron saint of infants and children.
• The marquee outside the church says "He ain't heavy, he's my brother" and "The Hollies and Jesus". The song "He ain't heavy, he's my brother", by The Hollies was released in 1969.
• Sam was correct when he said nuns are "married to Jesus"; when nuns take their final vows, they become brides of Christ and receive a wedding band
• Rowena tells Olivette that Crowley's rise to power is a "Cinderella story". This refers to the Walt Disney animated film "Cinderella", in which a poor girl eventually meets a prince and lives happily ever after. A Cinderella story normally refers to someone who rises from humble beginnings to achieve unlikely success.

• "Scotland the Brave"-- Scottish patriotic song (Rowena hums the tune while preparing to cast a spell on Olivette)

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EPISODE 1017: Inside Man