I don't see any "psych!" going on in Show, especially in regards to the actual brothers, let alone the Dean/Cas bromance.

The show definitely doesn't imply anything between Sam and Dean, so it's not taking anything back. And it's just saying "feelings" between Dean and Castiel, and hasn't actually teased anything non-platonic that they'd need to retract. They have a profound bond. You are welcome to take that as you wish, but they're not cheating on it afterwards.

I didn't pay as much attention to Shut Up, Dr. Phil the first time round as I had to any of the other episodes, I think, for some reason. And now that I've rewatched (reflexively I was going to wait until 9-whuhuh?) I don't get a lot of it. Like, WHY ARE THEY STILL ALIVE? A lot of people died, and Sam and Dean let them both walk? On the flip side, they can neutralise Leviathans, and Sam and Dean aren't working with them? They should be on one side or the other, shouldn't they?

I don't get that. I wish the show had Sam and Dean take a clearer stance on witches. I know they're human, but don't have them as villains if you're not going to have them punished in any way. It's frustrating, dammit.

Do you think that's fair? Do you think Show yells "Psych!" and takes a step back from having done something with gay overtones?

I think it does sometimes with interaction between Dean and Cas, but it strikes me as being done in a spirit of fun rather than Lucy yanking the football away from Charlie Brown. And it seems to me the show has pretty seriously and respectfully set up a dynamic of Cas being in love with Dean in unrequited fashion, even if it doesn't necessarily include a sexual component.

In that instance, Matt, I think that it doesn't fit the second criteria of the show shouting "no homo!" (and how I hate that phrase).

I'm also still not getting the "shame on you, fans" where we supposedly call it progressive.

Dean seemed to get a bit sensitive about it toward the end of Season 6, but it wasn't obviously gay panic rather than "OMG, the friend I've been jokingly flirting with is actually in love with me!" There didn't seem to be any condemnation as far as I can tell.

"Cas, get out of my ass!"

Honestly, what little I see in the show seems to be the writers responding to fans inferences and playing it up, either as a fanservice or a whack on the head. Though someone on the show has to bear the brunt of responsibility for making the D/C so easy. I'll blame (thank) Misha.

(I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore).

"no homo!" (and how I hate that phrase).

Oh, god, me too.

My last year of teaching, that was a BIG thing. Guys would say "I love you, man" and then follow up with a "NO HOMO!" and every time I heard it, I would flip out like a ninja.

At the end of the year, some of the worst offenders participated in the "Day of Silence" for gay rights (which, take the day as positive or not), I was incredibly proud to see some of my previously "NO HOMO" spouting jocks walking around with t-shirts and placards around their chests stating, "I am choosing not to speak today in support of gay rights."

Later, after that day, one confronting a "No homo" speaking teammate, rolling his eyes and saying "Man, just love on your bro. You don't need to say that! That's some hateful shit, yo! Y'all bootsie."

Nothing to do with SPN, but I was really proud of that kid, and I pulled him into the hallway, gave him a side-hug (the most teachers were allowed to have contact with students) and told him how proud I was.

And...I did not know about that usage of bootsie until I just googled it. Motherfucking old, man. OLD.

has anyone posted this yet?

Hmm, before I would say it wouldn't be narratively possible, but with Bobby . . . if the stars aligned in reality, I don't think I'd be averse to seeing him again. Narratively, I kind of feel that it would have to be the final season for that to happen, series finale kind of stuff.