The special kids would have been a whole other show. Plus, if they stopped to look at the details, the special kids were never meant to be an army -- they were the people Azazel was throwing at the wall to see which would stick if Sam didn't work out.

I love how Dean threaded his fingers through hers.

He also looked unbelievably beautiful in that scene. I don't if it was the lighting or they had him more closely shaved or what, but he looked like a much younger Dean, much less grizzled and angsty.

He was ungodly lovely that whole episode. But, with eye crinkles. Best of both worlds.

I think they must have given him new lip gloss, or something. I couldn't keep my eyes off his mouth, with a whole new level of prurience.

His bottom lip especially...

Maybe it's just a matter of presentation, but Kripke's interviews give the impression that he was more about "wow, dumping that bucket of blood over everything would be KEWL!" fanboyish thrill-seeking rather than a thoughtful and considered approach to Winchester family relationships. I assume that the deeper level planning had to be there somewhere as it's unlikely that someone could accidentally stumble into good writing and characterization over the course of several seasons, but I can definitely see how people could walk away feeling he lucked into it.

The other thing is, a lot of writers aren't great at speaking. Not that Kripke wasn't thrilled by the chance to have monsters and blood and car crashes, but I think there was more to his vision of the Winchesters than that, even if he doesn't/didn't express it very well in interviews.

Whether he lucked into it or not, or farted it out after an especially ripe dinner, it's still his (now Gamble's). We take what we can from it, but it's *his*. The people I read bitch like they own the Winchesters, and Kripke is some sort of cockblock in the relationship, as opposed to the person who facilitated the fuel for our fervent imaginings. It's not perfect, but it's also not ours.

I can definitely see how people could walk away feeling he lucked into it.

I'd like to see someone who's run a show say that, though. Backseat quarterbacking is easy (I do it to ficwriters all the time, and I can't write for shit), but come on. This is a whole different level of "it's not that simple" and "how many of us could do something comparable?" Voting with your tumblr doesn't count. Your feet is what you have.

I'm not saying a show, this show, any show is above criticism. It's just about apparent expectations.

I'd like to see someone who's run a show say that, though.

Something along the lines of "I am not your bitch."? Well OK, that was series of novels not a show (though now it is also a mini-series).

Wasn't it "he is not your bitch"? I mean, it was Gaiman talking, right?

But if a showrunner does it, it would have to be "I".

No, my point is saying it on someone else's behalf. I'd like to see someone else in the business criticise like the fans do. Or defend. Like Gaiman did.

Right - Gaiman saying on Martin's behalf.