I keep seeing crazy fen people talking about how OOC Dean was in this episode, and I can't even read the reasons. Dean was DEAN, stubborn, in denial, practical, afraid of the depth of his feelings, liberally liquored, and hurting. How is that not Dean?

Amy, from what I've seen, I think some people feel that Dean should have been more balls-out trying to save Cas. Upthread, Julie said that her ship is not rocked by canon, but I think for some people, it has been, and badly. I think the accusations of OOC are out of disappointment and entitlement more than anything else.

As for the Lucifer-in-Sam's-head thing, I'm wondering if it's some middle ground between passenger and figment of Sam's (literally) tortured imagination. Maybe it's more along the lines of a post-hypnotic suggestion that makes Sam into Lucifer's Manchurian Candidate or some such. I just hope they don't resolve things too quickly or neatly. I'd love it if they could draw out the mystery for a bit.

The way Dean was treating Cas and reacting to him here in 7x01 is almost the same way he was acting at the end of season 6: so unbelievably betrayed that he shut down. The *depth* of what he felt for Cas was so, for lack of a better word, profound, that Cas' actions hit him in a devastating way. So he shuts down, pulls back, hides how much it hurts, to the point that he was unwilling to call Cas to save Lisa and Ben. Sam doesn't have that much at stake, so isn't as hurt, and is able then to call out for Cas, and is able now to call out for Cas. To me, it all just speaks of how much Dean had invested in Cas, and the more removed he got was telling of how much he cared, and was hurt.

For me, the First Rule of Dean Winchester is: Take Care of Sam. That's it. Dean will choose Sam every time. No matter how hurt he was that he was losing/had lost Cas, Sam was still alive and that's what mattered.

Not for nothing, Cas was also the one who fucked Sam up. Twice. So not doing more to save Cas was not at all OOC for me, even if it was killing him to lose someone he had loved in whatever way that was.

Sam doesn't have that much at stake, so isn't as hurt, and is able then to call out for Cas, and is able now to call out for Cas.

Yes. Also, Sam is coming from a place where he understands what can drive someone to that kind of massive betrayal. I'd also imagine that seeing Dean's hurt and anger over Cas probably puts some more context around Dean's reactions to Sam in S4.

Completely agree, Julie. Sam likes and cares about Cas, but he wouldn't feel the same level of personal pain if calling Cas worked to get him there but then they failed to "save" him. Sam loses a friend and powerful ally; Dean loses someone he has told feels like a brother to him. And we know how Dean is when he loves someone like a brother. Dean wasn't going to risk trying that, the way he was feeling. The potential pain wasn't worth the risk to him.

And, yes, there's Adam, who actually is a half-brother. But... my take is that Adam doesn't feel like a brother to either one of them. That takes time that they haven't had together. I do hope the show addresses Adam somehow, though.

Not for nothing, Cas was also the one who fucked Sam up. Twice.

Point.

So not doing more to save Cas was not at all OOC for me, even if it was killing him to lose someone he had loved in whatever way that was.

Yes. And I thought JA's acting made it very clear how much Dean was tearing himself up inside. Plus, all the focus on the car as something he could fix... (sniffles)

YES. Practical Dean, wanting something he can touch and bend to his will.

I feel a HUGE meta post coming on, but I think I have to nap first.

Plus, all the focus on the car as something he could fix... (sniffles)

Yes, yes, yes.

Nap well, Amy.

My TV just went black again.

What the hell?? I was watching that game. Sort of. OK, it's back. Geez.