Sam's death effectively killed him. I can see in his view how the deal's just a one year extension on what would've happened without Sam.

Oh, yes. i really feel that in a way, we got to see Dean die a little by little throughout S2 as he was weighed down with the knowledge of what he might have to do to Sam. Even though he's got an expiration date, I have a feeling that he'll be a lot more relaxed in S3 (depending on how bad the new plague o' demons is, and how ragged it runs the boys) than in S2. Sam, on the other hand... I think Sam is going to start feeling some of the sense of responsibility that had been dragging Dean down for so long.

I think Sam is going to start feeling some of the sense of responsibility that had been dragging Dean down for so long.

I'm sort of with you there, but I think he's going to fight it with a fired-up "getting things done" streak.

I'm kind of consumed with the idea that Sam came back, not wrong, but a little different. All the soft edges burned away.

Speaking of Sam coming back wrong, changed, or otherwise, any thoughts as to whether or not the visions will continue?

(I had an idea for a fic in which the children chosen by the demon were inherently gifted, but the blood amplified things and also allowed the chosen ones to take on additional powers once they'd offed the competition. The fights to the death weren't so much a test as a way of creating a super-soldier. Andy's abilities increased after he offed his twin, after all.)

I had an idea for a fic in which the children chosen by the demon were inherently gifted, but the blood amplified things and also allowed the chosen ones to take on additional powers once they'd offed the competition. The fights to the death weren't so much a test as a way of creating a super-soldier.

Andy's abilities increased after he offed his twin, after all.

I mean, Andy was good with the powers he had and loved his life until his evil twin and those pesky Winchesters showed up. Until then he had no motivation to - or reason to even consider - improve them.

I mean, Andy was good with the powers he had and loved his life until his evil twin and those pesky Winchesters showed up. Until then he had no motivation to - or reason to even consider - improve them.

Good point. I'm just sort of casting around as to how the demon blood might have affected the chosen ones, and what sort of lingering effect it might have on Sam, or what Sam's death and/or the demon's death might do WRT the whole powers issue.

One thing is for sure. Now that the demon planted the idea in Dean's brain, Dean is not going to be able to get rid of the idea, is he? Which kind of kills my earlier thought that we might get a more relaxed Dean this coming season.

Each brother is hiding something from the other: (I think) Sam doesn't know what the YED said to Dean, and Dean doesn't know about the vision the YED showed him of Mary's death.

Nice work, Kripke.

Excellent points, Ailleann. No, the YED storyline didn't end with his death, did it?

Question: Some people on LJ call YED Stan--why?

Was that the name on his janitor's uniform, maybe? (goes to check)

Nope. It's a name tag, and I can't read it.

I want to say that that's Refur's fault. I shall go and check.