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.*

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.

I'm not entirely afraid of it. I can see the attempts to detox him leading to an Incident where Bobby gets put into a pie my Mrs McGregor, which would perhaps fall under that category, but they've been pretty clear from the beginning of the show that this is a world where people do awful things on that primrose path of good intentions, and that even if you WERE NOT responsible, there's still guilt. They don't really follow the get out of jail free he has a soul now pattern that Certain Shows did.

(They're more like Angel [nods to Suela] in that regard. Room full of lawyers, alienation, grim grim grim vs. the yellow crayon.)

I hope they're more like Angel. That's my operating assumption, anyway; certainly the theology we've seen doesn't seem to indicate that absolution comes easily. I think whatever redemption either of them get has to be earned.

Dean's been trying to earn it, this season, although it seems kind of by-the-numbers for him. Although it does kind of remind me of season 2, when Sam was all, "I must save people or I will go evil." Sam's not worrying about that, anymore.

But yeah, Angel, not Buffy. Though to be fair, there was some angst and struggle for Willow, although we never got the sense she felt the way Faith had about what she had done.

Oh the Faith angst. That was good angst.