I wouldn't call it happy, so much as the knowledge of an absence of pain, guilt, shame, responsibility, hunger, anger, frustration. While still being tied to emotional words, the closest thing I could say Sammy might be feeling is "relief". But then he also has the memories of the good stuff, and then what he'd be experiencing is "loss". I'm sure someone could phrase that better, using non-emotional words.

It's pretty clear that he can enjoy things in the moment, although abstract happiness is a dicier prospect.

Huh. Now I'm worried show is going to have Sam somehow have Lisa and Ben's lives in his hands. Will he use them to manipulate Dean? No reason in his mind not to. He's said as much.

The gag with the ball served no other purpose than to amuse himself. I think he's having a relatively good time. I bet, when the time comes, he won't be too eager to be reuinted with his soul.

If soulless Sam is more happy (or whatever's the equivalent), why is he trying to change his state?

He's not trying too hard to change his state. But I'm sure he doesn't like the idea of his soul being stuck in a cage forever.

I think Sam sees getting his soul back as necessary. He recognizes somehow that he's incomplete.

That said, I wonder what end game souless Sam might be playing if that's not his objective.

What do you mean he's not trying too hard? He's the one complying without question to the terms, and sticking with Dean is about nothing else. He's certainly trying as hard as Dean is. It would be much simpler for him to be off by himself and not trying at all, but he's chosen something else, something harder.

Webclip. Oh, Sam. Poor Dean. Welcome to...you know...the other side.

I am getting such a kick out of Dean being Sam's moral compass.

I'm curious to see which direction they take with faerie. There's old school creepy, and there's skewering the modern cutesy perception. I'd be pretty happy if they did both.

And it looks like we have the funny!