I loved the energy of the ep, the movement, the lighting, the freaking music (although, chill with the weepy pianos), the way the camera rushed up to Sam and Dean as Bobby and Rufus drove towards them, that whole scene where they greeted each other and oh my god they were happy! I knew something awful was coming after that scene.

Dean striding right up to kill Samuel was one of the hottest things I've ever seen him do.

I kept thinking that Samuel would scratch Sam's wall, that Sam would be a shivering mess on the floor, getting infected by the wrath of Khan, and the only way to keep him from turning back into a puddle of goo being to let the thing keep possessing him...

Honestly, I hated the Campbells, and not in a "they're fun interesting characters who are awful people", and I'm glad to see them done with and not lingering in the background waiting to attack the story with their badness. I'm sad that Dean didn't get to kill Samuel.

Was NOT expecting Sam to up and do it. I jumped. And then his sad beautiful face and just the quiet after.

Rufus going from happy goofy to "change the fucking subject" was wonderful. Did not like evil!Bobby.

Okay, I need to find that promo again. I need someone to make screencaps and gifs, STAT.

There was something that Bobby did in Omaha that was unforgivable

The implication was that whatever he did got Rufus's wife killed. Or not saved, at the least.

Why the hell did they bring back the character?

To give Sam someplace to be rather than on his own for a year, so someone else could tell the stories, for one. (Not that Samuel told many of them.)

For me, if you think about what Crowley's game plan was, it makes sense that he brought Samuel back along with Sam. Two excellent hunters, and one determined to do whatever he had to for the reward Crowley promised. And it provided some suspense in the beginning, to know this was family but to be unsure if he/they could be trusted.

Juliebird, I'm totally with you. I didn't like the Campbells either. Samuel's familial obligations ended with his daughter. However, as Anne said earlier, RoboSam didn't exactly tug at grandpa's heartstrings or allow for any family bonding.

I loved the big brother moment when Dean put himself between Samuel and Sam when Gramps was about to share the things Sam had done.

I actually gasped when Sam shot Samuel -- did not expect that. Brilliant! Sam (and the writers) totally suckered me into a different outcome. And Sam's expression and remorse and uncertainty -- I really liked the pacing with Sam's struggle.

It was also touching to see Sam turn away when Dean made the decision to try to save Bobby or kill him to free him from the Khan-worm. I liked the humanness of that moment.

I will miss Rufus. He delivered the funniest line of the night. "Okay... I'm not a doctor, but I'm gonna go ahead and call this one."

I don't think we'll see the last of Gramps. The question remains as to how Sam met up with the Campbells, not to mention the things Sam had done. I think Sam wants Dean's blanket forgiveness to be enough, but something is probably going to scratch at that wall and open up that year with Samuel.

Skipping to the end for my own w&p--the trucker is the actor who played Scotty of Scotty's Cafe in Scarecrow.

NOOOOOO. That was an excellent ep, but why the hell did they have to kill Rufus?

I have not been that tense during an episode of Supernatural in forever. That was gross and gripping and oh my god.

I can't believe Sam shot Sampa, but I totally can. The family shit was off the charts this episode. I'm with you, Amy, on "Welcome to next time." The brothers were totally 150% back tonight.

Rufus! I was exaggerating when I said only three of them would make it out alive! I'm sorry! God, what a bloodbath.

I really liked this episode, but shit.

And the promo! Cowboys! Sheeit, show!

Good episodes overall. But "we lost 200"? How many freakin hunters are there anyway?

Also (from memory) "We'll keep your young in cages, eat them and call them veal." So, the Mother of All is with PETA?

I'm pretty sure they said "We lost two hunters".

I just watched the promo again on slow forward. Dean! Shootout! Duster! Sam! On a horse!

Thanks ita. That makes more sense.

I liked Gwen. Even if she was a Campbell.

And yes, dusters!