"Well, you can't!"

(…shades Mal & Jayne in Serenity)

I still think that Dean willingly, and quickly, not just letting Sam leave, but encouraging him to leave, is one of the most hurtful things Dean could do to his brother, no matter if Sam brought it up first or not. Sam never in a million years imagined Dean would let him leave without a single word of protest, much less with easy agreement. I think Sam definitely meant what he said, and believed it, but after all the times Dean has told him that they're stronger together, and made it clear in the past that he didn't want Sam to leave, it had to have been quite a sucker punch for Dean to react the way he did.

So I've always like to look on the strangulation as something he did to make sure Dean wouldn't come after him. I can see your idea that he hated the words Dean said so much, confirming his own fears, that he tried to shut Dean up and then realized what he was doing and pulled back.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens tonight, it should be interesting. Of course, what I'm eagerly awaiting is the episode where the boys re-unite. And Kripke better give us a hug without others there – I don't want to see reaction shots of other people – I want all the attention on the boys.

Dean continues to act as though he had absolutely nothing to do with the destruction of their relationship. You can't control other people, but you can control yourself, and the way he did that over the course of the last season was not in a manner that was conducive to a continued relationship with his brother. Yet he's perfectly content to sit back in judgment on Sam for what happened, and pretend he had nothing to do with it.

Dean was hurting. Overwhelmed. I understand that. What he doesn't seem to understand, nor do his legions of fans, is that Sam had to be feeling much the same way last season (and now). If Dean doesn't want to cut Sam any slack for his pain and suffering and how it affected Sam's ability to handle the things that went down between them, then Dean himself shouldn't get any slack either.

Sam followed Ruby's lead, and went willingly, if misguidedly, down that path he thought he had to follow. In the process he hurt his brother, and let him down by lying to him and not being there when Dean felt he needed Sam. Dean is following Castiel (and to an extent the other angels) lead and willingly, and most likely misguidedly, going down his path he thinks he has to follow. In the process he's hurting his brother, lying to him, and he's not there when Sam needs him. But for some reason, it's okay for Dean to do it. Not just in Dean's eyes, but in the writers', and fandom's eyes. THAT is why I cry foul.

Clearly you're entitled to your opinion on the offer of the Impala, and the rest of these issues, as I am also entitled to mine. I never said my opinion invalidated yours, though you couldn't refrain from doing so to mine. I don't have to see it your way, and you do not have to see it mine.

Dean was weak after his return from hell and Sam wanted to step up and get the job done to help out. Dean was always there for him and he wanted to do the same however misguided he was. As for pathetic, Sam loves Dean too much to ever think that of him.

Everything that has happened to Sam starting by being fed demon blood when he was a baby and most vulnerable has always been out of his control … his mom being killed, Jess being killed, Dean selling his soul for him, living a life he hates, etc. So yeah I totally understand Sam wanting power and control. But the whole reasoning behind that power is so he can protect those he love and stop demons from hurting them.

But I do agree that Dean offering the Impala was an act of love. It was a beautiful gesture.

I also don't feel Sam was pushing Dean at all. He only made Dean admit what he knew he was thinking. He was trying desperately to make Dean understand and come with him. It was only when Sam admitted that Dean was not up to killing Lillith that Dean's pride took over. The smart thing for Dean to have done would have been to go along with Sam and Ruby.

I understand the strangulation totally. The biggest fear for Sam since finding about being fed the demon blood was in thinking he was a monster. Dean saying those words out loud of what he was really thinking anyway was the last straw for Sam. The strangulation was the sum of all his frustrations and fears. He thought Dean had always believed in his goodness and now when he felt he was going to kill Lillith and maybe die to get revenge for Dean but also to stop the Apocalyse, Dean denounces him. I think his choking Dean was a heartbreaking attempt to try and choke back the words because his intentions were good however misguided and he tells Dean, "You don't know me, you never have, and you never will."

Unfortunately, those are actual quotes from Kripke. I think it was a TV Guide interview at the beginning of this season. Also I think he said the same at the Comic Con in San Diego.

Anyway, I really am enjoying this discussion with you, Robijean. You bring up many valid points and make my head all thinky which is good.

Are you saying that they're underplaying Sam to garner the sympathy vote??? Interesting! I doubt that Deangirls could be swayed by that, but they might be swayed if Dean comes across as cold and uncaring….

And thank you, I'm glad that you liked the review. : D

I've said it before and I will say it as many times as it needs saying: There's NO such thing as too much Dean, but there is such a thing as NOT enough Sam.

You really think the Soap Angel is blaming Sam? Or is he just continuing to ignore Sam like he always has…and one phone call doesn't count, even if it was Sam's cell!

I think the Jessica thing will be interesting. Yeah, I'm concerned about Sam and pretty much convinced that this will tear him some new skin, but the gal who plays Jessica brings her to life and I'd say it's high time we had her back on Show!

It's amazing how much Sam is pushed to the side, it looks like everyone has discussed it to death, but it's still true, what ARE they thinking? He's so beautiful and wrecked and suffering – no one does The Face like he does!

I also like the idea of Rufus and Dean together, didn't even think about that. They were so good in the one ep they shared in S3, but I think I got carried away by Jo having someone who could teach her about Hunting. I think Ellen is aware of hunting, but I always got that Bill was the hunter and she kept the bar, and that her involvement was only along the edges. I could be wrong of course, but I don't think she's the best teacher for Jo, as much as I love her.