::nodding along with Austin::

Sam was taunted with a wish to let Dean go, not to have to protect his weakened brother, give up responsibility for him. And now Dean's getting the same temptation. It hurt so badly when hallucination Dean called Sam a monster, and I think it actually took some of the awful sting out of it when real Dean said it later. It didn't hurt, it made Sam angry.

And Colin Ford is just a marvel. JP said they did spend some time together working on lines, and that would have been fun to watch, I think. Two professionals. The kid is so good.

"Grow up." "Boo hoo." Oh, Sammy.

I have to admit that I'm amused to have been so entirely wrong in my theory about Sam going bad: instead of getting angry and going off to join the bad guys, Sam is competing with Dean to be the one who stops the apocalypse.

"I get to!"

"No, I get to!"

Very eight years old, really.

And of course Sam hasn't (apparently) figured out that he's being strung along, that what Ruby's asking him to do will probably start the apocalypse. Because that's it, isn't it? Lilith's death at the final seal is what opens the final seal. Which is why Lilith's not wrong when she says she's not going to survive.

I haven't yet figured out how Dean's being misled, but it's clear he is. Perhaps the idea is that whoever kills Lilith at the final seal gets a leg up on the other party?

The whole Angels vs. Demons thing is reminding me in some ways of a Cold War spy novel, especially in regards to what's happening with Castiel as Dean's "handler."

Because that's it, isn't it? Lilith's death at the final seal is what opens the final seal. Which is why Lilith's not wrong when she says she's not going to survive.

Hah! This sounds extremely plausible.

I'm glad to see glimmers of original Cas remain, in the scene with Dean and especially in the scene with Anna, where he just looked wrecked.

Oh boys. I was crying when Sam was hallucinating Dean while Dean was drawing his line in the sand with Bobby.

Lucifer's first - why do I not believe that refers to Lillith?

Lucifer's first - why do I not believe that refers to Lillith?

That same niggling thought occurred to me. Ruby never confirmed Sam's assumption outright. I'm still mulling over whether Lucifer's first was Ruby.

I was wondering about that too. Perkins "Supernatural 2: Why is it our job to save everybody?" May 7, 2009 10:10:11 pm PDT

I wasn't 100% serious, but I also thought we weren't supposed to be sure that the first demon was Lilith.

I'm skeptical the Ruby is Lucifer's first. But it would not surprise if Lilith isn't. Though I like the idea that she is Lucifer's First, but that she has to be sacrificed to open the final seal. It looks to me like the way the story really wants to go. The writers may have chosen a different path, but I get the feeling that if they did they fought their muse to do it.

If Ruby is Lucifer's First, though, that sort of screws with her story of remembering being a human (by which I mean stuff like Happy Meals and Manchester United, not just ... being mortal on the earth). Not that Ruby is the most reliable narrator.

Of course, I keep somehow conflating Ruby's "I remember being human" with pilgrim!Darla the whore (or whatever she was).

I have been taking lots of Sudafed, though.

If Ruby is Lucifer's First, though, that sort of screws with her story of remembering being a human

Yeah I'm with you. Ruby may not be a reliable narrator, but for this to be mostly false really feels wrong. I always think it would be great storytelling for Ruby not to be lying. Cause if the Apocalypse is averted due her deliberate actions, she is so screwed. Heaven and hell will both be after her. You could have a very angsty conclusion where Sam destroys her soul at her own request to save her from being dragged down to hell and tortured forever.