Oh that is an awesome thought Bev. It would also be a way to show that they lost a brother they never knew they had and even though they naturally won't talk about it, it did have some effect.

Also...

Plei and Perkins are Evil and so is Anne for her alternative version. Jilli is the only one who speaks the truth.

Remember the Friends episode where Joey was reading Little Women and they would put the book in the freezer when it would get to a part that was upsetting him like Beth's death? I wonder if I can just tape the next two weeks and put the tivo in the freezer?

For the sake of the narrative, I completely understand why Bobby's death is necessary. I really do. I just don't WANT it to happen.

Also, yes, Perkins is evil like an evil thing.

Okay, since I brought up Bobby's death: I see Bobby's death as narratively necessary because at the end of every season the Winchesters have to lose something.

S1: John died (Dean told he might have to kill Sam)

S2: Sam died (Dean made the deal with Lilith)

S3: Dean died (Sam started working with Ruby)

What's left to lose but Bobby? You can't kill either one of the boys again with the same emotional impact. But if Bobby dies, he's not coming back: that might be one of the things Adam's death told us. In the end, it's only going to be Sam and Dean.

Which also plays into the whole coming-of-age theme of the show: they have to learn to stand on their own, do their own work, make their own choices--so long as Bobby's there fixing things for them, they're not full adults under the terms of the narrative.

Additionally, if they're really playing out this addiction storyline for Sam, he's not yet at the point of agreeing that the cost of the addiction is too high compared to what he's getting out of it. In other words, he's not going to agree to go off the stuff, not without going further down, hitting bottom. And he's going to be feeling utterly betrayed by Dean and Bobby.

So one way to have Sam hit bottom is to have him kill someone who matters (i.e., not the nameless possession victim he murdered last week), and as above, it can't be Dean. Who's left but Bobby? It doesn't have to be on purpose, could be kind of accidental, but I think that's what is going to happen.

Anyway. That's my thinking. I don't want to see Bobby die, but more and more I'm not seeing any way out of it.

I don't know, just looking at that list, going John dies -> Sam dies -> Dean dies -> Bobby dies seems like stepping down the emotional impact.

Not to say that's not where there going, but it doesn't seem that compelling to me.

John dies -> Sam dies -> Dean dies -> Bobby dies

John dies -> Sam dies -> Dean dies -> EVERYONE dies

How's that?

seems like stepping down the emotional impact.

True, except my theory involves Sam killing Bobby.

True, except my theory involves Sam killing Bobby.

Oh, yes. That would ramp things up considerably.

The only problem I would potentially have with that, from a narrative perspective, is how they would handle any possible redemption for Sam. My fear in that case is that the writers would try to keep Sam redeemable by pulling the "the demon blood made him do it," and that would piss me off in much the same way the "magic is crack" storyline in Buffy Season Six pissed me off.

On edit: Just to clarify, I do like the way they're handling the addiction angle in the show--so far. It's been earned rather than appearing out of left field. I just don't want to see it wind up being used as an excuse to wipe Sam's slate clean.

My fear in that case is that the writers would try to keep Sam redeemable by pulling the "the demon blood made him do it," and that would piss me off in much the same way the "magic is crack" storyline in Buffy Season Six pissed me off.

Yes, THIS.

I can see Sam being responsible in some way, though. Not getting there in time to save him because he's off being dark!Sam, or whatever.

Either way, one or both of the boys has to be able to feel guilty about it to make it resonate.

My working denial theory: Harper's Island is canceled. Bobby lives. Dean kills Ruby. Season 5 rift commences.

I AM A DELICATE FLOWER. I CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH PAIN.

Or something.

::clutches boys to chest::

Amy, somehow I doubt that your clutching intentions are completely for the benefit of the *boys.*