I liked last night's episode a lot. I went into it knowing Dean was coming back (stupid tv listing description spoiler), but not knowing anything else. Naturally, I had a lot of Buffy S6 ("She Lives") anxiety, and it didn't help that Dean emerges practically the same way. Now why Castiel resurrects him and then Xanders him in the casket to dig his own way out, is anyone's guess. What if he had died again? Or maybe Dean has this temporary immortality as long as Castiel needs him. That would be cool.

Shades of BS6, I was also wondering if Dean remembered Hell. First out of the ground he seems shaken - probably from waking up underground in a casket. By the time he hits that (very) convenient convenience shop, he's ready for porn. Not a typical reaction for a guy back from 4 months of pain and torment. He also says he remembers nothing, so Castiel must have blanked out his mind, except cracks are coming back. I bet we get an episode where it all crashes through, and we find a very different Dean having to recover from his trauma.

Rather than focus on how to bring Dean back, Kripke and company flip it into who brought him back, and why. Nice move, but I still feel a little cheated. BS6 made the gang pay for the resurrection, and hopefully they'll be a heavier price on Dean than just God needs your help, dude.

I doubt Castiel's stated intentions too. He plays all angel of the Lord, but worldly interference has never been a policy of Good on this show, and if they didn't change that policy for the last few apocalyptic showdowns, why would they start now? I think he's planning something far more sinister, like making a play against Lilith. Also if a demon can go good (Ruby) then an angel can go bad. See also Lucifer. I think Dean's going to find he's working for an evil angel, and Sam's using the powers of darkness to do good. I can't wait.

Ruby and Sam are doing it, big time. No way she's platonically prancing in her panties in Sam's room. Their cover story was cute, and I bought that it was on the fly.

Given that symbolism in this show is somewhat ... simple minded ... maybe the black feathers on Castiel's wings are a hint.

Were they black? I thought it was just supposed to be a shadow.

No actual feathers, beyond the silhouette of primaries, just illusory wings.

I also enjoyed Dean taking necessities from the convenience store - food, water, chocolate, porn ....

I thought it sort of telling that he didn't go for the primary colored "sports" drinks to go with his ho-hos and candy, but multiple bottles of water. Telling *what*, I'm not sure.

I thought the convenience store scene was intended very much to illustrate that Dean has no idea what's happened to him, that he's focusing on immediate needs. (For Dean, as we know, that generally includes porn, of course.) Those brief flashes of hell were all we got, and I'm assuming all Dean has, too.

I don't quite see them making Castiel downright evil, even if they are working the shades of gray with Sam going darkside for the good of mankind, or what have you. But I can see Castiel not being any kind of fluttery, sparkling, beaming Clarence very easily -- more of a soldier of Good than a Hallmark card angel, for sure.

Archangels are notoriously grubby, at least in popular lit and film. Michael, for example. And the angel in Constantine. Angels in The Prophecy movies.

While not being a huge Travolta fan, I did love the reaction his Michael had to "Battle!"

I think in Western culture we've become too used to sweet, pretty, passive, feminine angels, or cute baby cherubs. Angels, as I recall, while not masculine as such, are stern, powerful, forbidding, frightening in countenance. I would not be happy with a placid angel, nor a cuddly one.

Archangels are notoriously grubby, at least in popular lit and film. Michael, for example. And the angel in Constantine. Angels in The Prophecy movies.

The Metatron in Dogma was not the most kempt (or pleasant) of creatures.

(I have such an unholy love for that movie. I also really liked Michael, while also not being a Travolta fan.)

Archangels are notoriously grubby, at least in popular lit and film. Michael, for example. And the angel in Constantine. Angels in The Prophecy movies.

nods

Yep. Angels, and especially archangels, are not necessarily nice creatures.

(The mention of Constantine reminded me: when Castiel walked into view, with the shirt, tie, and tan trenchcoat, I exclaimed "Of course! John Constantine saved Dean!")