I'm confused as to how Bobby lived. I thought stabbing with the demon knife killed the host and demon both. Or is that because they always seem to stab the host fatally?

Or is that because they always seem to stab the host fatally?

Yeah. Killing the host with the knife seems to kill the demon too. Same as with the Colt: Sam shot John in the leg, and the demon just left, wasn't killed.

You'd think they would stab more hosts in the arm instead of the damn neck and gut.

After Bobby had admonished Dean for sounding like their dad in Lucifer Rising, I knew something was fishy with Bobby's comment tonight that maybe John was right about killing Sam if he couldn't be saved. (I found it strange that Bobby knew this, that either of the boys would have told him.)

I've been thinking for a long while there's something unique about Bobby. Having no information and simply speculation on my part, there just seems to be much more to Bobby than just a well-read, multi-talented, multilingual go-to-guy owner of a salvage yard. His day job has a certain allegorical quality to me.

Then again, I thought Bobby was going to die tonight. Hmph. Anyway, I'm very glad to be wrong.

So with Zachariah being the one to have manufactured these prophecies, is Chuck still a prophet of the Lord when he's not prophesying God's word? Seems odd.

The plane, Sam's aborted withdrawal, Sam's powers gone(?), Castiel raised from the dead, Zachariah fearful... Someone suggested a new player is in the game. I'm putting my chips on that.

I love Kripke. I've spoiled the crap out of myself and I still am completely taken by surprise. The man's a genius.

Can someone let me in on why it's odd that the vessel's name is Nick? Cause I don't get the reference.

"Old Nick" is a name for the devil.

Aren't you glad they decided to not name him "Scratch"?

What about Bub?

I am just fast becoming a huge Zach fan. The more I think about heaven being a hotbed of various factions, each with their own agenda, and rife with infighting and sabotage, the more brilliant I think Kripke and Co.'s brains are. The actor is damned good, too. All fresh-shaven, blinding white collar and crisp suit, and that blandishing air of superiority and assumption of his own power.

I could watch that confrontation between him and Dean about a billion times, both for the clash of philosophies, the crossing of spinal steel, and the actorly performances. If the rest of the season lives up to the opener, it's going to be a fabulous ride.

I love Castiel being a badass again, filled with the light of true righteousness. It's a glory to watch, after the conflicted ineffectiveness of last season. And I do like the way they've set Nick up as the vessel. The lack of anvils is appreciated.

Kurt Fuller was fabulous as an ethically-challenged pastor/lawyer in an episode of Boston Legal.

I was watching Sam's reaction to Dean's confrontation with Zach. I think Sam is still a little timid about the angels, but he's definitely fine allowing Dean to take charge when it comes to dealing with angels.

Castiel totally rocked my world last night. Anne can tell you I scared her cat (and maybe Anne a little) when Cas swooped in to save the boys. Like Sam, Cas was duped and played a part in the Apocalypse by setting Sam free at Zachariah's orders. I see both Sam and Castiel working at trying to make things right this season.

I think it will make for interesting television in that they chose a very sympathetic character to be the vessel for Lucifer.

Fantastic start to the season. I've even downloaded "Thunderstruck" to my iTunes library. :-)