So, what sort of resolution would both Sam and Dean find acceptable? If Dean's willing to bargain, but Sam's not, and if Sam isn't any more willing to live with his life being bought by another's sacrifice than Dean was in the beginning of the season, what options does that leave?

Does Dean take on the devil and force him to rewind recent history? Does he make good on his promise and march into hell to kill every demon he can find, and bring back his brother, and maybe his dad too?

I'm up for speculation on the way peeps think it will play out in AHBL2, given that resolution is unlikely since there needs to be something to hunt in S3.

In some print interview some months back, Kripke said that the John-in-hell, YED situation would be resolved in S2, and that the brothers would find other things to fight in future seasons. I don't know if that projection has changed or not, but it sounded like a definite plan, at least at that time. And no, I'm sorry, I don't have a cite.

He's stated outright that he's frightened himself with the extent of how far he's willing to go and how easily he's willing to kill to protect his family. So I would accept the thought of him making a deal to bring Sam back.

Ooh. Good point. I'd forgotten that.

So, what sort of resolution would both Sam and Dean find acceptable? If Dean's willing to bargain, but Sam's not, and if Sam isn't any more willing to live with his life being bought by another's sacrifice than Dean was in the beginning of the season, what options does that leave?

Excellent question. Another thing that's been running through my mind is that they've had dealings with a trickster this season, one that played on people's on venality to bring them to ruin. Maybe Dean (with help from Bobby, of course) will be desperate/crazy enough to try to trick or outwit the YED in some way--preferably by using its own nature, plans, pride, etc. against it. That could work, and would be narratively satisfying as well.

In some print interview some months back, Kripke said that the John-in-hell, YED situation would be resolved in S2, and that the brothers would find other things to fight in future seasons.

This is a relief to me, from a storytelling point of view. I was worried that by bringing in the big guns, so to speak, at the end of this season -- the YED talking about an army of demons coming to fight or take over mankind or whatever his Evil Plan of Doom is -- there was nowhere left to go. (Short of Sam & Dean gearing up and actually marching through Hell, that is.) Because after an apocalyptic battle, are they supposed to go back to the potergeist/haunted house/wendigo of the week?

Morgana, I've been meaning to ask you--are you on LJ? And do you mind sharing your LJ name? I'm arliss there.

I kind of miss wendigo of the week, actually. I look back at S1 and find it charmingly naive. Sort of. And I miss the saltslingers riding in to chase the bad spooks away and save the townsfolk.

Beverly, insent.

If Dean's willing to bargain, but Sam's not

...Kinda where John was with Dean in the season opener, no? If Dean had known about that bargain in advance, he would have nixed it, or at least had a hissy fit over it. With Sam pining for the fjords, he has no say in what Dean does.

Weirdly enough, this means that for once Dean is in charge of the Winchester Family Circus -- not just the one making the decisions, but any steps he takes to get Sam back are really What Dean Wants. Like, I'm sure Sam, if polled, would prefer to live at this point; but Dean's the one who has everything invested in Sam's safety, and he's liable to go do something dramatic to get what he wants.

Which, we've seen Sam as unilateral bossypants, and John is the original die from which all future bossypants are struck, but seeing Dean step into those pants will be... interesting.

and if Sam isn't any more willing to live with his life being bought by another's sacrifice than Dean was in the beginning of the season, what options does that leave?

This presumes Dean actually cares what Sam would or wouldn't want him to do. I mentioned in someone's journal the other day: wow, wasn't the demon stupid! If he'd picked Dean as his general instead, with Dean's flexible ethics and single-minded attachment/weak point, he'd have a real weapon on his hands.

(And while I think it might be cool for such a switcheroo to occur in canon, I think it would also be an incredible WTF and unsuitable for the storyline.)

Beverly -- I opened a LJ account (morgana_st) so I could comment on all the SPN fanfiction I found myself devouring. I'm still kind of fumbling my way around there, so I don't have a LJ page set up yet, and I don't have the profile all filled out. That's all on my "to be done eventually" list. Right after "write more cover letters and send out more resumes, dammit!" But what I do need to do soon is friend all the Buffistas who've revealed their LJ names.

Morgana, I'm sophiap over in LJ land (it's based on my nom de fic).

Got it, Morgana, and thanks. I don't fic, and I rarely meta, and I've been uncharacteristically silent about RL of late. But I do comment on fic and meta and posts on RL wherever I find them, so.

Backflung, Anne.

If he'd picked Dean as his general instead, with Dean's flexible ethics and single-minded attachment/weak point, he'd have a real weapon on his hands.

I had wondered if all the Sam manipulation hasn't been just to get Dean to the point he'd do the demon's bidding to rescue his family, because yes, Dean would be a less hesitant and more effective tool. Was it you who called Dean John's killing dog, that Sam had inherited? Because that description has stuck with me, I think it's apt.

But now you've mentioned it, I'd really like to see Dean modeling the bossypants.

Was it you who called Dean John's killing dog, that Sam had inherited?

That sounds like something Hossgal might say. I don't really disagree, or not all the time; and the drama of the season ender for me will be seeing what he does when he's the one giving himself orders.

And, I thought it was our goal in life to see him more extensively without pants at all?