Best Regards,

Sylvia

As for the episode, yep, it was a goodie but like you I kept being distracted by how goddam PRETTY both the boys are. You know, season 1 and most of season 2 it was all Dean, Dean, Dean. Now I have Sam to contend with as well. That's twice the yum and twice the distraction. It's awesome!

On a more sobering note I did feel that this was one of the darker episodes we've had in a while, and the fact that I know its only going to get worse before it gets better gives me ants in my pants. I can't stand how the boys are drifting apart and yet I LOVE it. It works and its the only way for Show to go without things stagnating. The characters have to grow and change – they just better come full circle and end up back together again. In a totally platonic, brotherly way of course. I must say though that while Sam's story is thrilling and scary and OMG!, I really am feeling for Dean in a big way. The boy is a mess and he's barely hanging on and he's got no-one to hang on to, not even Sam. He's being used, he's being lied to, he's being shoved around like a pawn on a chess board and I don't know how much more he can take. Heck, the guy still has PTSD from Hell! Dammit. Such man pain and angst…. *sigh*

Lovely review Sylvia, and I absolutely cannot wait for Thursday! *is on tenterhooks*

Regards,

Sylvia

I think the lie comes in not with Sam telling Cole he can stay and be with his family, but in not clarifying. In not telling him what Dean told him later, that his family will have moved on and he'll be all alone. Plus, Sam didn't tell Cole what Tessa had told Dean, that eventually he'd go mad. So, yeah, the truth is, Cole could stick around. The lie is in the omission of the toll that would take on him.

Regards,

Sylvia

Joan

For me, the emotional highlite of the episode was the dedication to Kim Manners at the end. Lisa and I both got a little choked up.

This episode rocked. Seriously, I know I sound like a broken record but this season has been so delicious, so satisfying and so un-freaking believable. This episode exceeded all of my expectations, and then some. As always, I was completely spoiler free so the surprises were so incredibly rewarding. Oh, let me count the ways:

1). The return of Tessa. I love this woman. She and Dean have such an easy chemistry. I have to say I missed her.
2), The return of Castiel. Oh my, I didn’t realize how much I missed him until he was there. I actually screamed out loud. He is a ‘fine’ soap angel…for sure. 
3). “Dude, get out of me”…”You are such a prude”. OMG!!! That was hilarious.
4). The return of Pamela. She was uber-cool and she liked Sam’s derriere. I hated seeing her die.
5). The return of Alistair.
6). Sam has refined his demon exorcism techniques. Wow, I have to say that scene in the graveyard was a dozy. I did not see that one coming. Sammy has been working overtime.
with Ruby who is a BAD influence on our Sammy.
7). Sam has learned to lie way too easily
8). Yes, Sam looked way too fine in the epy. Yum is all I can say.
9). Dean looked fine as well.
10). LOTS AND LOTS of brotherly angst.
11). The diner scene alone was worth the price of admission. Dean looked like he was going to choke on his own cheeseburger when it was time to leave
12). The older brother/younger brother dynamic sure has changed since Season 1
13). Dean’s confession to Tessa. Oh my. That one hurt. I swear that man has some deep-seated issues.
14). The lies keep on mounting…Will they ever stop?. I did enjoy Dean calling Sam on his ‘lies’.
15). Sam seemed a little put-out that Dean didn’t mention Tessa before but Dean didn’t remember her which brings me to the last item on my list
16). Kudos to the writers for storyline continuity. (Jeremy Carver – you redeemed yourself! I can erase ‘Family Remains’ from my memory now). Dean did not dismiss the painful conversation, from the previous episode and when Dean woke up from his coma, in the ‘In My Time of Dying’ episode, he said he didn’t remember anything.

I have already watched this one twice and I am sure I will watch it again. I loved all of the twists and turns. Sam and Dean becoming ghosts was a stroke of genius. Kind of gave them a new perspective huh? Great one-liners. Awesome returning guest stars. I even enjoyed the child actor. Plus, the new actor playing Alistair hit all the right notes. Dean really and truly despises that man.

Sam is so matter-of-fact about everything now. He is so detached and it bothers me. In addition, he has grown up and he doesn’t rely on Dean like he used to. The brother angst was front and center. And, it seems to bother Dean a lot more than it bothers Sam. The walls are growing taller and the distance is becoming greater. I never thought I would live to see the day when Dean and Sam were at odds with each other.

I loved both scenes, in the end, when Tessa spoke to Dean and Pam whispered in Sam’s ear. Kripke is setting us up for a heart-stopping season finale. And, the journey to get there, I am certain will be a rocky one. I don’t know if my heart can take it. I mean seriously, the foundation of this show is the relationship of the brothers!

You know me Sylvia, I could write a book about this one show, but I need to get back to work. I know when an episode is good because it lingers with me long after it is over. I pick it apart. I savor it. And, I find myself thinking about it again and again.

The hiatus was painful but when the Winchester boys return with an episode this
gratifying…it makes it all worthwhile. Plus, when the boys return, I get to reconnect with you and I get to appreciate your fabulous reviews again.

Until next time….Take care Joan

"Dude, get out of me." Laughed until I thought I'd puke.

Sam's quick outburst of laughter during the fight lessons with LGB. Why do I have this awful feeling that I'm gonna have to hold that laugh in my heart because I'm not gonna hear it again anytime soon?

Pamela. Never wanted to slap a dieing person before. Wierd.

Loved this ep, but it's left me one nervous lil' Samazon.

At least that's the way I saw that scene.

Take care Joan