What Bev said.

eta: Okay, maybe I've rewatched more than twice.

(I am so not mad at Sam. I think he's wrong, and I'd slap him, but I'd never cut him off)

I can't make up my mind how I feel about Sam because I still have no idea what the heck is going on with him, or if that's even him. I think if he is really himself and there's nothing else supernatural (heh) going on with him then yes, I'm mad at him. But I'll be surprised if that turns out to be the case.

What ita said.

I just rewatched, and I'm not sure he's "wrong" anymore, in the sense of not being 100% Sam, but clearly something's changed, whether it's his time in the cage, or the year back, or the Campbells' influence, or a combination. I saw more "Sam" this time through, but got the impression he's trying really hard to maintain a balance, or that he's trained himself to independence without Dean, or something.

I'm not mad at him at all, although I was peeved at him making fun of the golf clubs, when before I think it would have amused him. I'm worried about him. I miss the old earnest emo Sammy, too.

I second what Bev said, especially this

I want Dean to have a chance to make his own choices

Because damn is everybody in his face about how he ought to live his life or mocking him. Except for Lisa, who's all "I don't regret you being in mine, please don't sully that."

I am also mucho curious how Cas fits back in, and what that reunion will look like (I want hugs or something, maybe even a punch to the face, something passionate).

Maybe now we are seeing why Mary never let John meet anyone from her side of the family. Yeesh.

Bobby, I am the least preterbed with of all. I really believed him when he said, "it meant not getting your guts ripped out at thirty." I think as a father figure to the boys this is a real concern for him. He couldn't do anything for Sam, but here was an opportunity with Dean and he took it. I completely understand his part in the silence and that one sentence from him made me forgive all.

random aside: The thing that bugs me about the golf clubs is that it's become such a blue collar sport/past-time in the past decade or so. But I think the short hand used in show was mocking the more old-school snobbery and country-clubness that surrounds it. But all my budlite-swilling, flannel-wearing, minimum-wage dudes play it.

Golf is fun!

Golf is fun if there are windmills and model dinosaurs involved.

And Theresa is me, WRT why Mary kept her new family away from his extended family. Me, I'm thinking that a good chunk of what's different with Sam is due to Campbell influence.

I saw more "Sam" this time through, but got the impression he's trying really hard to maintain a balance

yay for rewatches and new takes! I can't believe how pissed I was at Sam the first viewing, and how much I turned around with mulling and a rewatch.