If we start to now say places are too far apart to rush between, the entire show falls apart under our hands.

I said it in S3 when Dean was supposed to driving from Buffalo to Queens in three hours. That's a day-long drive, easy.

I'm not trying to nitpick, I just thought it was a little odd that Sam would take off that way without a word to anyone, because I *don't* remember him doing it before, and it's not like he was just going down the road.

I don't know, I imagine to a Winchester one state over is pretty much like just down the road. Even if it's a big state.

If you've only said it once in 7+ years, it's too late. You're complicit, just like the rest of us, in South Dakota being around the corner from everywhere.

Which is to say--I don't think the text cares about the distance, in a way that's even more difficult to work around than strange Stanford rules. They apparate just outside city limits in the Impala. That's how it goes. Distance is not a motivator in the narrative, pro or con. At least, I can't remember much "it's too far!" or "let's do that, it's close".

When?

Mystery Spot and about every other episode of Season 4.

I'm pretty sure Elizabeth was the mom who tried to drive her kid into the lake in The Kids Are All Right, but she's not listed on IMdB yet.

Yep. It definitely was her. Also Samandriel is the kid Matt in Bugs.

To me, the text message to Sam was Dean keeping Sam away from Benny. Dean is convinced Sam wouldn't survive an encounter with post-Purgatory Benny. Plus, I think after being clocked by Martin, Dean didn't care about turning Martin loose. I kinda heart Dean a lot for still looking out for his brother.

I also don't read any more into the soft lighting in Sam's memories than an awkward means to underscore the very different lives the boys led over the past year. Dean's experience in purgatory was gritty and stark and bloody and raw. Sam's existence after finding Amelia was uncomplicated and hopeful and pleasurable and safe (something he'd always wanted).

I do agree with ita ! wrt the LENORE issue. Under Gordon's influence, Dean declared that their job is to hunt monsters, and Sam responded no, their job was to hunt evil. Dean should have been throwing that in Sam's face.

Dean is convinced Sam wouldn't survive an encounter with post-Purgatory Benny

I didn't get that at all. I thought Dean was protecting Benny from Sam.

Mystery Spot and about every other episode of Season 4

After Dean died I don't really count, but I can see it. When he was meeting Ruby, though, was generally when Dean was asleep. And if not, I still think it's different than being in the middle of a job -- not just a job in general, but the critical about-to-be-battle -- and disappearing. He's never done that with Dean or Bobby that I can remember, unless he was injured or kidnapped or tied up, which isn't the same thing.

I didn't get that at all. I thought Dean was protecting Benny from Sam

I think that was played sufficiently down the middle that I don't feel I can tell what the text intended.

If I want to keep attributing creepy tone deaf Sam characterisation, Sam is "always" the one who "abandons" Dean, so it's perfectly predictable, right?

I realise I love the arguments between Sam and Dean, and how they're sniping and flaying each other, because it really feels like really ugly family stuff. Doesn't every epic love story need a bit of this?

I do not like the execution of Amelia (although I hope that isn't literal) and I'm not going to lie--I worry about how they resolve it, because chuck-fuck-or-marry, Sam's great on the case, and satisfying whether he's watching Dean's back or sniping to his face.

So far, mid-season-wise, I'm more happy with more of Dean--obviously his side of the horrible state with Sam, he's also great on the case, and although I'm enh about Benny, Castiel's been very rewarding to date. I am a bit nervous about what effect Benny may or may not have--he's a wild card.

Basically what Sam, Dean, and Cas do to (not like that, although I really wish that epic fic I just finished had been finished--I am stronger than those leftover feelings) what they do to each other I tend to like more than someone else having the same effect--like, if Benny drives a wedge between Dean and Sam or Cas I will be grumpy, but if they drive the wedge themselves then basically it's just really sad, and then creys, not grumbles.

So let's see how that goes-if they can use the new guys (Kevin and his mother are legacy to me too, and I'd be surprised if they had a dramatic differential impact) to heighten and highlight, good. Right now, Dean is acting like Dean about Benny.

I don't who Sam is when it comes to Amelia, and I am reduced to making guesses about authorial intent. I don't like guessing about what the present means.

I don't even remember this moment clearly: [link] I should rewatch.

That fan is an Amelia!Girl. Amelia's been written well enough for viewers to like her?

Huh. For other reasons, I stumbled upon this piece on the anime, and not only is it misleading (JENSEN DOESN'T VOICE MOST OF DEAN), but at the end she reveals she's been hired by WB to promote it: [link]

They do that? Hire bloggers to promote, as opposed to giving them free stuff and crossing their fingers?