Wait, Mercedes McNab vamp was Mercedes McNab?!

*checks IMDB*

Damn. She needs to pay her plastic surgeon a late-night visit. And WOW this episode had a lot of footage for "Women's Work 2", didn't it?

I'm sure there were plot holes and techical glitches and socio-political incorrectnesses, and you know what? I don't bloody care.

There was nothing about this ep that I didn't love. I thought Harmony (Mercedes) completely sold the character's belief that she'd taken a drug and wasn't coming down from it. The slow reluctant conviction that it was something far worse was well done, I thought. Plus it was fun to see her again.

I've loved Gordon Walker--even with all the social and racial baggage he brought--as a character, even as I had a visceral dislike of him. He's the character I loved to hate. Brown inhabited Walker, gave him a wonderful solidity, and I'm going to miss him. I'd have loved to keep him as a recurring nemesis, because I think he's just that strong. And, you know, maybe one day we'd have gotten to the shirtless part.

But the confrontation! The talk! The throwdown between the brothers! Meat, finally, after a lengthy wait and enough evasion to be more than annoying. Both actors shone, these are the characters I know and have been waiting to see since M7. JP knocked Sam's appeal out of the park. He's getting more across by doing a lot less. And JA's response was similarly restrained, soft, gentle. Considering the deadly import of the subject and the emotions involved, this is a wonderfully toned-down way to play this out, and it makes me so happy I'm giddy to see it.

Handing over the wrench to Sam, passing the torch, heartbreaking. Sam understanding and accepting, just as wrenching. And then Dean sitting down so as not to hover. And still, still Dean: "Put your shoulder into it."

Oh boys. Oh show.

There was nothing about this ep that I didn't love. I thought Harmony (Mercedes) completely sold the character's belief that she'd taken a drug and wasn't coming down from it. The slow reluctant conviction that it was something far worse was well done, I thought. Plus it was fun to see her again.

I'm only this far into it yet, but--wow Dean. That was way harsh. She said, "please."

Also, just an aside--this was the ep being filmed when several of the LJ girls visited set on a Friday evening and got to watch the alley scene.

Oh cool.

Even though I'm only 20 some minutes in, it's already a GREAT episode. Really enjoyed experiencing Gordon's POV after changing. Liking Bela/Lilah even more. Just everything is quality tonight.

Okay, the "just 'cause" -- best of JP's career to date. Nice job kiddo.

I stayed up with the West Coast... anyone here?

I am now, but not for long. I was running late, so watched a little delayed.

Now that I have

OMGSHOWILOVEYOUSOMUCHSHOW
SHOWSHOWSHOWSHOWSHOWSHOWSHOWSHOWSHOW

completely flail

eta:

I think Bobby is perfectly plausible as a character.

Of course you do!

1) I take it that Bela is a skilled thief rather than a clever thief. Because it never occurred to her that selling the Winchester location to a dangerous psycho killer was something they would hold against her?

2) Destroying the cell phones: Depending on the type of phone the GPS could be tracked even with the cell phone turned off. Of course you don't need to destroy the phone: removing the battery would do.

3) Yeah Sam probably did get some blood in his mouth (though he was trying not to.) But remember, we already found out in a past episode that Sam is immune to a lot of demonic infections. (Someone working for the YED basically took out a whole town to prove this; though I suspect taking out the down was seen as an additional bonus, not a cost.)So he may just be immune to the vampire virus.

Why is Dean carrying the Colt around? (Also, nice to know it works on vamps too...)

Somebody needs to watch "Dead Man's Blood" - and they'll realize where that scene that was in fifty quadrillion "previouslies" came from.

LOVED the episode -- Sera Gamble gives excellent birthday gifts. Watched twice - and despite my digital cable I have lousy reception so I've been promised that I'm going to get to watch again on HD over Thanksgiving. There's reason enough to give thanks.

I will admit that the second time through there was a moment were they lingered on Sam and I looked at his hair and though, "Sam, your hair is making crazy animal shapes. Get it cut."

Typo Boy - I wondered about the destroying the cell phone thing.

Man, she integrated the arguing into the body of the episode, the pacing was excellent and the scene at the end with the car!!!!

Plus, Gordon got the excellent death that he deserved.