The funniest thing to me about that outfit he had on in Vancouver was his shoes. He had on boots. With HEELS. Like an inch and a half or so. I was boggled by that. Jensen was picking on him, in a cute way of course, for it later, during their panel.

I hope Dean doesn't look at Sam any differently. He watched Sam pull Samhain, so he had seen Sam use his powers before. If he starts treating Sam differently because of this, then we'll be back to square one with the brotherly bond and I really can't stand that. I'm so very, very tired of them being on the rocks, or even just barely off the rocks the way that they were to this point. As you said, and I totally agree, Dean's rejection is one of Sam's greatest fears, if not the greatest. I really hope Dean doesn't make Sam face that fear this time.

1) He wiped off the blood close to his nose, but not the other parts (??).
2) He used a napkin between the two snacks, thus the different stain.

Neither makes a lot of sense. It’s a detail, but it won’t hurt the makeup team to pay some more attention.

Hi! I can't believe we have to endure yet another long hiatus!

Anyway, I really enjoyed this episode. Yes, I am twisted that way. I love it when the Winchester's lay on the angst!

1). Oh so much pretty in this episode. I am glad you got that out of the way first.

2). Let me say that opening scene was the most disgusting and vile things I have ever scene on my television but so help me I couldn't look away.

3). Loved our in sync our boys were this episode. It felt good and right and just made me feel all warm and cozy. Loved all the dithering.

4). Oh I just love when Sam takes charge and gets pumped up on Demon Blood. And, he used his powers for good. Wow!

5). Honesty has crept into our boys conversations and I for one am so glad. All those lies, in the past, only damaged their relationship.

6). The cell phone exchange was priceless. I was giggling like a school girl.

7). Cupid and hugging…talk about invading Dean's personal space! I can only imagine what he was thinking.

8). Ben Edlund is on sick, twisted individual!

9) Famine was one creepy dude.

10). Poor Dean! I never ever thought we would see him so broken and empty. Just thinking about that final scene hurts me to the core. I knew he was depressed and I knew he wrote the book on self-loathing but I never imagined him reaching out to God and begging for help.

Oh how I love this show. I don't think I will ever grow tired of the pretty or the comedy or the drama or the angst or the closeness of our Winchester boys. The passing of time has only made them more engaging and sexier and rugged and smoldering. They are my weakness! Seriously! I am obsessed with them!

I will see you after the long hiatus ends.

Take care, Joan

But even if I go with what you saw, I have a problem. I don't think that this one relapse shows that Sam's soul is in any more danger than it was before this episode. As you said, Sam fought so hard. And he didn't take the easiest way out, he didn't drain those additional demons Famine gave him. Plus he saved Dean and Castiel. It's not like Sam just randomly went rogue and started sucking back blood because he wanted to. He was pretty well forced into it. So yes, his soul is endangered, but this particular instance doesn't make me think his soul is more endangered. It certainly wasn't a good situation, but it could have been far worse. I'm not saying you're wrong about what you saw, not at all.

I think you're probably right, the lack of earlier panic room use is probably a plot device, because they needed Sam to save Dean and Castiel, and I'm glad that they did give him a chance to save the day. I just wish they hadn't knocked him off of the wagon to do it.

I also agree with the part about Sam asking for help. I was thrilled to see that, and in that instance I liked Dean's response very much. He was angry but it didn't seem directed at Sam and he was concerned. He wanted Sam out of there, now, and that concern carried over into the whole locking Sam down scene too. And you're right, the fact that Sam asked for that help, and the response he received, indicates that their bond is fairly significantly repaired from where it stood earlier in the season. Which is awesome.

As for Sam, they fully addressed his addiction, yes. But I think the script made him justice this time. It showed that he won’t give in without a fight and if he does, it will be for a good reason. Why didn’t Castiel beam him straight to the panic room? Good question. Why, indeed? I suppose that for no other reason than his having to pay Famine a visit and save Dean.

As for the rest, I was disappointed with Ben Edlund’s previous episodes this season, so I received this one with low expectations. Ok, another one with Sam as set decoration, I thought. So I wasn’t prepared to like it the way I did. To start with, the performances were top notch. And most importantly, for the first time in a long, long time, I saw unmistakable signs of their bonding healing. There were displays of reciprocal concern throughout and I cheered at how Sam turned to big brother for help. And as I commented in another post, Dean seemed more receptive this time.

I saw what I saw, and probably my reaction was partially based on the way Dean reacted to Sam's addiction the first time around, which was, granted, a little different situation. But nonetheless, he was very judgmental, and since they didn't give us a reaction scene this time, all I can base my opinion (and that's all this is) on is his facial expressions in the end of the scene in the restaurant. I see one thing, you see another. I'm not going to tell you you're wrong on a matter of opinion.

You can assume anything you like. I can't stop you, and nothing I say is likely to change said assumption. I don't think Dean is a horrible person. But I do think that since Hell, he tends to automatically see the worst in his brother, and therefore reacts in a less than compassionate way. Again, my opinion. But in that final scene outside the panic room, I saw more concern in Castiel's expression, voice and body language than I saw in Dean's.