I have to say, I hope that this attitude of complete unconcern that Dean's got going on concerning his imminent demise is an act for Sam's benefit (because he thinks that he needs to keep Sam from trying to break the deal, or keep Sam from worrying or grieving prematurely). Because other than that, I have difficulty understanding it. He's been a balls-to-the wall fighter for as long as we've seen him, and this role reversal where he just gives up is harder to understand. I know he did it for Sam's sake, but when Sam is trying to offer him hope and the possibility of a way out, and Dean is actively arguing against it, it's getting hard for me to accept.

We'd wait until he was drunk instead of us.

Not too drunk.... remember what happened last time. Boy's a lightweight.

::sneaks off with Dean when no one's looking::

this role reversal where he just gives up is harder to understand

My thought: Dean made his bed. He walked into that crossroad knowing that he wasn't walking out a free man, no matter how long he got. His whole life has been about protecting Sam, and this is the ultimate version of that protection.

(Does that mean I think his ultra-cool isn't a huge act? Hell no.)

Morgana - I totally think it's a front. You know he thinks that if he at all encourages Sam to look for a solution that Sam's a goner.

This episode felt unbalanced to me, like someone let their inner 10-year-old boy out to play a little too freely (and I GET that Dean is sometimes crass, but jesus, hit us over the head with that and the "Dean's dumb!" shit some more, huh?).

But that last scene? That ... I don't even know how I feel about it. I want to smack them both, and hug them both, and I want Dean to at least admit ONCE to Sam that he's a little bit afraid, you know? Or wistful. Or something.

And, wow, even though I don't usually nitpick, I'm going to go ahead and say I wish they'd find another way to have the boys communicate instead of a tacked-on conversation in the car at the end of the episode.

Oh, and I love that Bella gets to call the boys, "lads."

I wonder if Dean encouraging Sam would count as Dean trying to break the deal? Maybe he thinks (and might even be right) that he has discourage Sam, because he has to make sure that nothing he does counts as encouragement. But he is counting on Sam to ignore him...

ETA: X-post with Sumi

Next time we see her, I hope she calls them "blokes."

Next time we see her, I hope she calls them "blokes."

Or "cheeky monkeys."

Oh, I like blokes.

The exchange between Bela and Dean was good. I'm surprised to find myself thinking I could actually see them together.