Whew, averted that trauma. I wasn't home so I was relying on another's dvr. By the time I actually felt comfortable (not completely rude) watching the episode, the only thing that showed was a black screen. After 5 minutes of pressing FF and other combinations, LAV started to play. Oh sure, there is iTunes, but I was caught up in having waited two days already and it not being there. So I just watched it. Yay!
I have to say that Jared blew me away with how much he was Sam again. From the very beginning, it was like a completely different person.
I don't know why he wouldn't hug Cas. Except for our benefit and the comedy. Misha was pretty hilarious with his awkward stance. But he was going to hug the "abomination"!!! Cas loves Sam. Not like he loves Dean, but still.
I was saying that Sam was missing something that he had (at the time of Heart), but no longer has. He had been hardened. But then in LAV, he was back to the Sam that didn't approve of looking through a diary (or poking a dead woman with a stick). I felt like I had Sammy back, and I was only a little less happy than Dean. Oh Boys--I join in your hug.