I missed the beginning of Faith in aired eps, never saw it till the dvds. It made a world of difference to my understanding Sam's guilt and anxiety and determination. Not that it didn't make sense before--it just was more poignant after seeing the opening scenes.

This is very true.

Dark Angel will be re-released in Slimsets on June 5th.

Nutshell Winchesters

• John Winchester (present in his absence in S2), the father they'd set out to find in the pilot (with the ghost who wanted to go home): ex-Marine, husband of Mary (deceased). Strong believer in the notion of the need to know basis, hell-bent on finding the thing that took his wife and tore his family apart.

Of course, when he does, things go from bad to worse, the Yellow Eyed Demon (YED for short, the one who killed Mary and has plans for Sammy, and all the other children like him) possesses him, and in what's coming to be a fine Winchester tradition (see: Sam in Aslyum, when possessed by the nasty ghost), tortures Dean, physically and emotionally. Then, when Dean is hovering close to death after a possessed truck driver whams their car, sacrifices himself (and the gun that they have with the only known way to kill the YED) for Dean's life. But not without first extracting a promise from Dean: either save his brother (relating to YED plans), or kill him. Much to Dean's chagrin/angst/outrage. Which means it's time to explain Dean.

• Dean Winchester, eldest son of John and Mary. Good with freaks and children, not so good with people. Four going on five when his mother is killed. Hypermasculine facade that contrasts with his pretty strongly coded feminine/mother role in the family. Since Mary's death, Dean's life has revolved around keeping what's left of his family together. Pretty much considers himself the expendable one, and has willingly (at times cheerfully) sacrificed any possibility of a normal life at the alter of family. Much to the dismay of Sam.

• Sam Winchester, youngest child, the one who challenged John and struck out on his own in search of a normal life, only to have that go up in smoke. Has visions of things tied to the YED. Possibly slated to go evil. Contains floppy hair and emo. Hugely tall. Unlike Dean, contains social skills. Frequently at odds with John, due to overly-similar personalities. Has now twice tortured his older brother while possessed. (Torturing under the influence?)

Spicy, spicy brains.

Though you left out the part about how Dean will hit on any female (human is not a requirement, I don't think) within a five mile radius easy as breathing, and is successful more than he isn't. (Though that is part of the hypermasculine thing...)

It's killing me--I'm blanking on the first instance of Sam torturing Dean while possessed?

I wouldn't call it torture, but the first thing was in Asylum, when he shot him with rock salt and an EMPTY gun. (He pulled the trigger! Multiple times!)

There might be something else in S2...

Okay, remember: John Winchester HOT FATHER of TWO HOT SONS.

And they use weapons.

Don't forget Metallicar and Classic Rock!

HOT FATHER of TWO HOT SONS.

Do not make me picspam, because I will. Oh yes, I will.

I wouldn't call it torture, but the first thing was in Asylum, when he shot him with rock salt and an EMPTY gun. (He pulled the trigger! Multiple times!)

Not physically (except for the rock salt), but certainly mentally, and yeah, that's the one I'm thinking of.

Oh, did I forget to mention the part where Dean's a sucking chest wound of abandonment issues? Because there is always that.

note how I'm being VERY GOOD about not just falling back on the And He's VERY PRETTY aspect.