Ok, now that I am rested, let me think.

The Impala thing...well, think about the last time we saw the Impala. The huge sybolism of it that was used in "Swan Song." It symbolizes -- has been quite deliberately drawn to symbolize, explicitly -- the boys' emotional connection.

So when Dean offered up the keys, that was Dean acknowledging that Sam had grown up, that was him also making this huge gesture, not just that he is going to try to devote his life, as much as he can, to HIS growing up; protecting the family he has tried to create rather than Sam, or the world at-large, but more importantly, of basically, "here is our brotherly love, our history, our connection. Take it and protect it, value it."

Sam saying he's got his own car tricked out? Now, yeah, I can see it posssibly as a symbol of independence, but the casual way he was all "Nah" was indicative of emotional rejection. Saying no to the car was like a denial of Dean -- a denial of their relationship, their whole relationship and history -- a denial of the thing that brought him out of thrall to Lucifer and allowed him to summon up his own agency.

Sure, I get that being Lucifer's holding cell in hell would cause a little trauma, but c'mon. Dean was down there 40 years. Sam was (if we can trust him) there for...what, a day? A week?

And when Dean asked him about the cage, it seemed like he was trawling gently for verification, and frankly, it seemed like Sam was lying.

Also...the tests. Um. Sam cut HIMSELF with his own knife, poured something that was white into water and gargled with it. There's nothing I've see with my own eyes that anyone HAS tested him. Did he do his own self-tests for Bobby?

Sam is flat as hell. And Sammy is not a calm boy. He was saying the right things, but his aspect was off. That's why I don't buy emo trauma; his facade just isn't good enough to pull of dead-inside when it comes to Dean. There's something else.

Lisa's life must have sucked pretty good if a year of a whacked out, grieving, drunk, traumed out Dean was the best. Granted, he's a delicious mess, but still.

I do love that Mary's family was killing vamps on the Mayflower.

Also, Bobby and Sam keeping it from Dean for a year so he could have a chance at a normal life? That's appalling. He could have had the chance for a normal life -- if he truly wanted one -- while knowing Sam was alive. I think Sam was trying to force Dean into a chance for what SAM wanted, not necessarily Dean. And Dean could have made an informed decision, knowing Sam was alive.

Also, it was reckless of Bobby and Sam. "Hey, I've been pulled out of Hell, where I was SATAN'S PACK AND PLAY! The PTB have been jerking my bro and I around for generations before we were born! But let's let Dean have a woman and child around to get emotionally involved with, and not let him know of the EXTRA ADDED DANGER DANGER, because he deserves a chance at a normal life."

What they forgot was that "normal" for Winchester's adds up to dead families. SMACK.

To Sam, I'm guessing the Impala is just not home without Dean driving it. And I wonder if his history alone in the car while Dean was in hell is something he doesn't want to relive.

Plus, he probably thinks Dean is going to need the trunk and everything in it to protect his new family.

I do agree that keeping Dean in the dark all this time was cruel and sad-making, but I think Sam just sees himself now as destined to serve as a hunter, and wanting Dean there to help keep Sam human.

I'm not sure about the Campbells. There's a deeper level of hunter than the average hunters out there. This is more intense. Not sure I like it.

keeping Dean in the dark all this time was cruel and sad-making

Sam had to live without Dean for about as long. Perhaps from Sam's perspective, Dean didn't live through what Sam himself hadn't.

Can't explain Bobby tho.

Plus, he probably thinks Dean is going to need the trunk and everything in it to protect his new family.

I'll grant you that, but I still think the rejection was more symbolic than practical.

Is it wrong I wanted to see more of Dean's neighbors find him ridiculously attractive, deliciously mysterious and a bit unnerving? 'Cause I did. He was so young looking in that opening montage.

I agree with Jilli, this felt like a whole lot of set-up. I like the new glass breaking theme and the idea that everything feels "through the looking glass", was it Cass that said that? Kudos. Also, it can't be a coincidence that the first MOTW is Djinn. The children no less of the one Dean killed. Lot's of family themes here.

Something is off in the hunting world. The Campbell Clan feels very cultish and a bit like a vampire pack, hunting together.

Bobby! He was not behaving normally, he was too clean-cut & way too trusting.

It is weird how Dean didn't ask about Lucifer or Adam or the details on how Samuel appeared. Also, his eyes glowed red on my tv a number of times, I am going to re-watch on the pc and see if that was just something quirky about my tv.

Lisa was just okay for me so far, though I dearly loved when she deadpanned something like, "Did you just almost shoot a corgie?"

I kind of felt the same as Morgana generally about her passivity with only the stairwell conversation improving my opinion of her, though I think it's interesting she sublimated any of her own feelings into Dean being a "good dad" for Ben. I kind of wish, for the purposes of that conversation, she'd left Ben out of it. Also, I think they have very different perspectives on the last year. Did Dean decide to stay partly because of his need to be needed?

Sam is creepily unemotional(is the Campbell Clan manipulating him somehow?)

They're definitely providing a mirror image of the pilot which begs the question what's really going on and how will Team Free Will assert themselves to change it? I can't help wondering if Sam had the 2nd chance at a normal life, what might happen...

I wish they'd let actions speak louder than words with Sam and the "I wouldn't have saved them speech". It was heavy-handed and is the type of thing they trusted Jensen to deliver without words in s2. Give Jared the same chance guys.

I'm sure I'll have more thoughts after re-watching. Yes, I may have watched the opening montage twice already.

Dean did ask for details on how Sam reappeared, didn't he? Sam told him he didn't know.

My big fears about Dean falling into twu love after a bendy weekend are mostly assuaged. It seems a tender caring relationship, and I'm okay with that. I think it's unhealthy of Lisa to be be plugging a father figure for Ben so firmly into her life like that, but Dean's kinda of a good choice (and kind of AWFUL), so I think it's plausible. If I hear either of them say they love each other (as opposed to can work well together) I will reconsider my happiness.

Dean did ask for details on how Sam reappeared, didn't he? Sam told him he didn't know.

Yes, but he didn't ask about Samuel, at least not on screen.

If I hear either of them say they love each other (as opposed to can work well together) I will reconsider my happiness.

I'm willing to let them earn it this season or not. I'm easy. Just keep her interesting and alive.

Speaking of, the actor playing Ben is at that awkward self-conscious age. I wonder if that's why we haven't had much interaction with him. It's a little odd given how full of personality he was in the Kids are Alright.

Didn't they just up and explain (not) Samuel after Dean expressed his confusion? Or do you mean he should have been tested too?

Must rewatch.

Okay, I was wrong. Dean did ask.

Samuel: A lot of resurrections in your face today. It's alright, take a minute.

Dean: It's gonna take a little more than a minute. I mean what the Hell. How did this happen?

Samuel: We're guessing whatever pulled Sam up pulled me down.

Sam: So whatever this is, we're both a part of it.

I thought I remembered something like that.

This, by glorious spoon, is the first story that I've read incorporating premiere canon (read, Sid), and weirdly, it has Dean giving up drinking. Which just serves to preoccupy me with why he'd have started again on the hard stuff by the time the year rolled around. Because that's extra depressing, instead of thinking that he'd reached some sort of equilibrium.