Anyone else see this Castiel heading toward the sex & drugs cult leader version even faster?

I can see the potential of something similar happening, but I don't think he'll abdicate easily. I'd really love to see a canon story of his Fall handled more clearly and fully. In "The End" it wasn't his choice, and it was the angels abandoning Earth that really did him in, the final nail in his angelic coffin. But now we have Balthazar to contrast against. So I think, if anything other than Cas steadfastly fighting for what he believes in happens, it shouldn't be a slow fade like before, or a deliberate turning of his back while remaining an angel like sexy sexy Gabriel Balthazar.

But, dude is seriously stressed out already, something's gotta give.

goes back to staring at screencaps of shirtless Sam

dude is seriously stressed out already, something's gotta give.

Like his virginity!

Like his virginity!

I had thinky thoughts, but that made me snort tea up my nose.

Yes please.

Handprint: Reading elsewhere, a point was made that Dean's bare shoulders were in a dream. So until we having waking evidence, it's still there, damnit.

I, personally, was totally creeped out by a sex worker who seemed to be offering free sex on a return trip and maybe was leaving without pay. Because it's a business transaction for her too.

Not just you. I see what they were trying to do there. A montage of how different the boys' lives are and how cut off and callus Sam is, but...

Using a hooker to illustrate the point is, to me, fraught with problems. To have her "forget" about pay, setting aside how smugly Sam offered it up, was offensive, particularly since the scene was intended to be short-hand for Sam's head space. Jesus, really he was so hot to a hooker she forgot why she was there? No, no no. It also complicates the message. If he's a cold-assed son of a bitch who wants complication free sex, notes and additional invitations just create unnecessary complications.

Jared/Sam did look mighty fine. He looked so good I felt vaguely uncomfortable. I'm not entirely sure why, perhaps it was the general exploitive nature of the scene overall.

I don't want another apocalypse and I'm so disappointed they even hinted at one. On the other hand, I am okay with rogue angels and loved the sawed off Moses staff. I think the potential dangers of reliquary could be highly entertaining.

Cas said he and Dean share a close(er) bond! Mmm, socially clueless angel how I love you so.

I'm glad to have them back in the same car but like some of you I mourn for Sam's car too. It's stark, this season, the contrast between what the boys have and hold on to. My heart is breaking for Sam.

ETA: I'm very curious about the conversation Sam and Dean had about Hell and what it means. I am torn about whether Sam is desparately repressing or is actually not!Sam. I still get a cult-ish brain-washing vibe off the Campbells.

He looked so good I felt vaguely uncomfortable. I'm not entirely sure why, perhaps it was the general exploitive nature of the scene overall.

Yes, this. I mean, Sam looks disturbingly hot in his sex scenes in general, but this was exceptionally provocative.

Me being all aflutter about it confuses my reaction to the prostitution. On the first reading I totally get what they were doing, but it has nothing to do with, you know, prostitution. It's not quite a Pretty Woman scenario.

Sam worked his "I'm a sexy beast" thing hard last night, and it hit me where it was supposed to. But I still loved Cas the most. For the air quotes and the apologising to Dean for telling Sam about their bond, and for his earnest need to fix heaven, and his despair.

Also, poor Dean.

The air quotes were funny because they just kept going and were used so ineffectively. I wonder if Misha decided to just keep doing them or if he was directed to do so.

The air quotes were pure love. CAS.

Not for nothing, but most professionals get their money up front, not the morning after, too. It was all a little clumsy, but meant, I think, simply to point up the differences between Sam and Dean -- Dean, notoriously Mr. One Night Stand, dreaming of his at-home girlfriend and comfy, familiar morning sex, and Sam, who used to be the earnest emo one, blandly paying for a night of anonymous sex and deliberately axing any personal connections.

I think JP is a bit of an exhibitionist, too. He certainly never seems wary about showing the goods. It was a tiny bit mottsy, but mostly I was ... salivating.

My one complaint was some of the camera-work. Especially that which served as the special effects of Cas bamfing around and the quick zooms that seemed, since I'm not a film buff and don't know the terms, too cheesy grindhouse/Tarantino-cribbing-from-some-other-cheesybad-movie. And some of the edits seemed clumsy slow on the action (like when Cas appears to take the sawed-off from Aaron).

Juliebird, I noticed the clumsy shots too.

I am very excited to see what Jensen does next week.