It really struck me after last night that there are only two (::sob::) episodes left. I know it's the writer's strike, and I know there's not a lot they can do about it, but I was waiting for *some* kind of revelation last night, I think. More proof of Sam's powers, something.

I can only imagine that most of the big questions from this season are going to be addressed *next* season, and the cliffhanger is going to be a ginormous one. (Although ... the preview for next week doesn't look arc-y at all, does it? Which, damn it. A single jam-packed cliffhanger could be a trainwreck, or at the very least a little overwhelming on the angst meter.)

I think it's hard to say where they should be at, because they've changed direction post-strike. But I would guess that these few episodes (probably with some modification, now) are the ones that would have been the "mid-season slump." It's also hard to say what plot points got truncated because they don't have enough episodes.

There was an interview during the strike, I forget if it was with Kripke or with Sera Gamble, but they had said that there was a possibility that they would actually resolve Dean's storyline in the beginning of S4. So I'm expecting an epic cliffhanger.

I do think we got a little bit of character development, or at least some foreshadowing. I thought Dean was a little more cruel than usual toward Sam. I think he's frustrated at his own fear, and that he's going to show that frustration by lashing out at Sam. There's even a possibility that they could use that to drive a wedge between them, causing one or the other (probably Dean) to strike out on his own.

I think Dean's fear and honesty was well-developed here, and yes, if it's foreshadowing some kind of rupture between them, then it worked. But I think the end of the episode, for me, brought the balance back. Dean was still snarky, but that's Dean. Sam is still going to help him.

I think the depending on Dad thing, which someone remarked on elsewhere, was a little surprising, given Dream a Little Dream. That said, it would be a huge shock to hear from your DEAD father, and I don't think the habits of a lifetime are easily broken. Just hearing that voice had to be such a relief to Dean. ::cues up "Oh, DEAN"::

The possibility of them separating is horrifying. I mean, good TV, great conflict, but NO! ::trembles::

I think it's hard to say where they should be at, because they've changed direction post-strike. But I would guess that these few episodes (probably with some modification, now) are the ones that would have been the "mid-season slump." It's also hard to say what plot points got truncated because they don't have enough episodes

I'm trying to take that into consideration. I just feel that, even if they can't resolve Dean's story with only four episodes left and they had to change direction, then that direction should be taking me for the ride of my life. Not down a slow country lane on Sunday with the dog hanging his head out the window.

Honestly, I'm not all that crazy about the relentless gloom of counting down the days until Dean's contract is up—while a neat idea in theory, in execution it's pinging me as far too similar an experience to watching the last two seasons of Buffy. I kinda wish Season 3 had been The Adventures of Dean and Ghost!Sam instead.

The unusual shooting style of last week's ep masked it a little, but I thought I detected a little lack of synchronicity between the actors last night. The same sort of thing it usually takes an episode or two to shake out after hiatus until they settle back into tandem harness.

Or, it could be actual writing, and acting, reflecting the growing fracture lines between the brothers. I'm not sure which. More episodes will tell.

I do think it's unfortunate that the strike put the arc's momentum in the crapper. I just hope the actors get what they want at negotiations in June and a SAG strike doesn't delay the start of filming for the fall season.

My favorite scene from last night's ep? The early one in the rain: You want to talk about who's keeping secrets? Yeah, let's get into that, I want to see that donnybrook.

Honestly though, since Dean's deal had a stipulation about attempting to break his deal resulting in Sam's (re-)death, you'd think he'd remember that Sam has a good reason to keep him in the dark about any plans along those lines. "How dare you keep secrets from me... as opposed to dropping dead if you reveal them and I sign on!" just doesn't make a lot of sense.

I do think it's unfortunate that the strike put the arc's momentum in the crapper. I just hope the actors get what they want at negotiations in June and a SAG strike doesn't delay the start of filming for the fall season.

It is already going to hell according to the latest reports.

Honestly though, since Dean's deal had a stipulation about attempting to break his deal resulting in Sam's (re-)death, you'd think he'd remember that Sam has a good reason to keep him in the dark about any plans along those lines. "How dare you keep secrets from me... as opposed to dropping dead if you reveal them and I sign on!" just doesn't make a lot of sense

Though most of Sam's secrets aren't about working on the deal-- they are about Lilith (and Mary, though Dean doesn't know that yet)

(and Mary, though Dean doesn't know that yet)

Which is that?

And what does Sam know about Lilith? The only secret I can think that Sam has is that he killed a Crossroads Demon. Or did he tell Dean about that?