Wynne88

I actually dreaded this episode - so often, when they tell us how much we are going to love something, I end up disappointed. And they told us we were going to love this one a lot! Except I kinda do. One thing to add to all the other positive stuff others have posted - boys in t-shirts! No layers, no coats. How often have we seen that?

If that's the case, then the writers really do suck because Sam almost always fails. That's not a hero in my book. In fact, I think they portrayed him for years as such a whiny, self-centered person, he really became unlikable. I've found Dean depressing at times, and occasionally infuriating, but I don't think I've ever actively disliked him because even when he is wrong, they've gone to the trouble to show his viewpoint. Letting Gadreel possess Sam, for example. I really WANTED to dislike him for that, but couldn't because I understood why he did it and I knew he was suffering over the decision every time he lied to Sam. With Sam, on the other hand, it's all too often sheer guesswork, such as his choosing domestic bliss with Amelia over searching for Dean. At any rate, I think our viewpoints of these characters vary greatly, which is fine.

I hadn't thought of that, but I bet you're right! Cole is another John Winchester in the making, although his kid is lucky enough to get to stay home with mama. But that DID happen in reverse, when Dean deliberately sidelined Sam first to kill Abaddon, then to go after Metatron. The second time was really a slap in the face, since Sam had already agreed to play it Dean's way, even if it meant Dean's death (and at the time, I think he was sincere). But the story needed him out of the way so Dean could have that face-to-face confrontation, and although it offended me for the sake of the character, I eventually understood it was done that way for the sake of the story. As far as Sam being the great hero-hunter simply because he killed the vampire that Dean was struggling with, how many times has Dean saved Sam in similar circumstances? I can remember a number of times where gigantor Sam was being strangled or threatened by a gun or knife and big brother came to the rescue. This is one of the rare times when it's gone the other way, so I'm okay with it. There's been a lot of discussions over the last few years about how both Sam and Dean needed to grow up and quit going in circles character-wise. These last couple episodes are the first concerted effort I've seen to make that happen for both of them, so I hope they follow through. I'm not sure where they plan to take it, but I'm absolutely sure a wimpy, house-wife-ey Dean isn't going to be the end result.

It IS a nice opening sequence!

I went back and listened again, and there's nothing about apologizing from either of them. Sam admits to rubbing/punching hunters the wrong way, but says he saved his best stuff for the bad guys. Then he talks about carrying Dean's corpse to his room and Dean says that he left the note in the hope it would fill in the blanks. Sams says (sarcastically) that it was really informative, and adds 'thanks'. After that Dean talks about how everything was embarrassing, they do the running gag about how he was a demon, then Dean tells Sam that he never said thank you and Sam says he doesn't need to. That's pretty much it. At this point in the show, I don't know that apologies would be a useful thing anyway. They've both done so much to each other and to other people, where would they even begin or end that wouldn't still leave something left unsaid? At any rate, this episode didn't even try to tackle it.

One small detail I liked was when Dean told Kate there was a cure for being a vampire, and other than one quick glance, Sam silently backed him up. No eye rolls, no interruptions, no exasperated 'Dean . . ." He maintained eye contact with Kate, his expression as serious as if there was a cure. He didn't agree with Dean's approach (let's kill them both), but he saved it until they were away from Kate and even then it was a discussion between the two of them, not a yelling contest where neither was listening. I think that was what I liked overall about the episode - they were talking . . . AND listening. Or trying to anyway, although I don't think they are in tune enough yet to be able to really see each other's point of view. They're trying though, which is worth a lot. It was weird seeing Sam in the back seat of the Impala. I got bored at times with the vampire story, but would rather have it (since at least it did connect with Sam and Dean) than more of Castiel out there on his road trip with the lady angel. I like Castiel, I like Crowley. But unless their stories are interwoven with those of the boys, I'm really not interested.

I don't think that's what he said. I believe the line was 'You don't ever have to say that. Not to me.' And it came after Dean thanked him for curing him of being a demon. It didn't have anything to do with apologies.

I was really impressed that it was so clearly Dean once the cure had taken effect, without him even saying anything. I hadn't realized exactly how different Demon Dean was in very subtle ways. Jensen did a super job with that. I'm glad that Sam finally got to save Dean, even if he did need help from Castiel.

The second one is a very old folk song call the Wild Mountain Thyme from sometime in the 1800's, I think. He certainly has a wide range of music he likes to sing.

I was surprised that Dean wasn't chasing Sam down with the first blade.