astri13 | Bring it on.

Here be my episode review of

You know last year after ep 1 I was crushed because I pretty much found it to be a pile of dreck. I'm happy to report that this year my feelings are completely the opposite. Oh, excitement my old friend.

Okay, first off, it was not the emo-porn, love-fest that IMTOD was. In fact the brothers were prickly with each other, awkward and a bit standoffish. You could see their bond in the hug though.

Usually, that would bump an episode to the bottom as the brotherly love is my "anchor". But for the first time in a long, long time I' freaking excited for the storyline potential. I like that they're both having individual storylines. I like that Dean has a place in the myth-arc now and a mystery that is about HIM - which hopefully it will stay and not turn out to be that even G.O.D. only sees value in him as a tool to get to Sam. Would HATE that.

I wanted for so long for him to have a direct, individual tie to the overarching story to achieve balance and I'm freaking ecstatic that it looks like I'll be getting that. So please, El Krip, don't take it away from me. M'kay?

I fully realize - with the writing on the wall - that the brothers are going to be pulled apart from some time, possibly pitted against each other. However, I do look forward to see them growing into individuals more, becoming stronger in themselves. And THEN coming back together. The near Stockholm syndrome stuff was cute for a while but long-term I want to see it go.

But back to the episode at hand.

Loved the beginning with the Lazarus imagery. Now that is the kind of subtle unsubtleness I love. :)

The Dean-Bobby reunion was so touching. And the holy water splash incredibly funny.

The Sam-Dean hug was touching as well but you could sense from the first moment that something between the brother's is off. They're out of synch. And while that IS painful to watch, I believe it to be realistic and necessary for now.

I kinda hope Sam is not banging Kruby. Because I like darkness but rape or necrophilia don't need to be on the call-sheet, honestly.

Some funny bits with the Impala. And to break a lance for Sam here, I think he is trying. To be agreeable. He offered the keys back right away and his justification about the i-pod port wasn't mean or something.

Jason Manns. Hee.

Pamela rocks. First chick with the brain to invite them to a threesome. Aww, Dean, don't be a spoilsport. You know, you want it. :-p

Poor Pamela.

The diner scene rocked. Dean has balls of steel. And smarts too.

Loved Sam's protective little flinch at the threat towards Dean.

Their following "argument", minor as it was, well, interesting.

Not so hot on the secreths and lieths parts but I know Kripke is excited about that. But boys, this will set you up for some epic manipulation by anybody with half a brain.

In lights of the recent Dean-development, I don't mind super-powered Sam as much I would otherwise have. Which is to say, as long as Dean can usefully contribute on an equal base - and not just as a human side-kick who is sometimes given something to do aka Xander - I can deal. Hopefully, they don't go too overboard because the thing is, you need suspense. You need to worry about the heroes. If they have powers, you need matters to depower them or make supervillians. Catch in every superpower-story.

Kruby is hm. Neither here nor there. She gives the meek and sweetly supportive act to Sam. Which makes sense because why else would he listen to her? Surely not if she were a raging bitch. Still believe she is out for number one and number one only.

Castiel's entrance = thing of beauty.

I don't give half a shit if it was/is cheesy or the ZOMG!religion makes people groan, I love Castiel for being the first threatening entity in a long, long, long time. Way back in Season 1 demons used to be that. Since then they have become mundane and boring to me. But Castiel is so otherworldy and alien to the world and as an angel, he is a religious fanatic. Meaning there is NOTHING he won't do in the name of his mission. That makes him so much more scary than twenty girlishly Lilith's combined.

When he said "Because GOD commanded it" with the utter belief in his eyes... *goosebumps*

Also Misha Collins and Jensen Ackles have crazy on-screen chemistry. *smishes them together*

Now, does this storyline have the potential to fail epically? Sure. But then I thought Season 3 failed epically so I'll rather try my luck with this.

That, in my usual succinct manner :-p was a way of saying I LOVED the episode. It wasn't my favourite of all time but it gave me my show back. And for that I will kiss it and cuddle it and call it George.