, I wonder if Sam - rather than being repelled by the whole demon thing isn't (at some level) trying to figure out if the demon blood made him demonic in some way.

Oooh, smart thinking. Or... I suspect that Sam is at least consciously repelled by the demon thing because he knows he's supposed to be; but that he's also attracted, and he's wondering if that is because of the demon blood thing. And, as you say, also if that is more evidence of his demonic nature.

Poor Sam; to be wondering about that and then have the angels be all "ptooey" at him. It's gotta burn.

I finally had a chance to watch last night.

The thing that bothers me about the new Ruby (who I like much better after this episode) is that her lips seem unnaturally poofy. It's distracting.

I find I'm not as bothered by Sam sleeping with Ruby as perhaps I should be. The big thing is that Sam knows she's inhabiting vacated property, and that she did so because he asked. Yes, he also knows that she's a demon, but he was also desperately alone and pretty much without hope. He was looking at offing Lilith as a suicide mission, after all. It makes sense to me that he'd get to a point where he was willing to grab for the one scrap of comfort that was offered to him.

Now that I think about it, Sam knowing that Ruby isn't holding the rightful tenant of her body hostage might put a different spin on his encounter with Ghost!Meg. Too bad--looks like I'll have to re-watch.

That is food for thought, Anne, given that both Meg and he were possessed by the same demon.

I keep seeing Sam's little face smirking at Henriksen in Jus in Belo, "You were possessed. Now you know what it feels like." It's a small, exclusive club, the living ex-ridden.

As much as I love Denny, I don't want to find out that Izzy is insane.

I'm guessing you missed the entire third season of the show, in which she was BATSHIT CRAZY? Hallucinations do not seem the less likely possibility to me.

I'm torn on the empty vessel for Ruby thing. On the one hand, it seems like fanservice on a meta level, and has the vibe of Sam "taming" her like Major Nelson did with Jeannie or Darren Stevens tried to do with Samantha. On the other hand, Ruby is sarcastic and petulant enough that it kind of makes sense for her to go go to extreme lengths so she can give him the "Are you satisfied now?!?" treatment walking in the door.

I thought Sam's initial protest to Ruby's come-on was genuine -- "You're a demon!" But at the same time, I thought he caved (partly) because he's giving her, and has been giving her, the same benefit of the doubt he wants for himself. He's got demon blood, yes, but he's trying to do good. Ruby is a demon, but she's been helping him, she saved his life once already, etc.

Okay, I'm rewatching, and I think I'm back to the fuzzy time math.

Six month ago: The CRD tells Sam "You don't look too good. I guess burying your brother is no fun" (or something like that), suggesting that this is something that just happened.

Next scene, still six months ago by the caption, and Sam is wearing the same clothes he was with the CRD, Ruby shows up wearing the blonde.

I don't see the line from the CRD as indicating that he just got back from digging a shallow grave, and boy are his arms tired, though. Recent, yes, just done, no.

But then wouldn't CRD have said "life without your brother" or something?

You've got to let it flow over you!

I really didn't have a problem with it. But then I always sort of approximate dates and times.

I just assumed he couldn't take it anymore a week or so after Dean died, and that's when he went to the crossroads. And if Ruby was in hell for a week or so, that's at least a year or something, which seems like plenty of time for a fast-talker like her to make a deal with Lilith.

"SUPERBOY PRIME PUNCHED A HOLE IN REALITY, BITCH!"

I forgot.