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. :-)

Someone asked earlier and I didn't see an answer. Is it okay to talk about the preview for next week's episode?

The aired preview is okay - anything you've seen anywhere else no.

I edited the header to specify promos on TV. It's hard to tell with web promos. Mostly they're stuff that's aired on TV, but before a season starts it's hard to know. But luckily that's not a problem with Supernatural anymore!

I wish there were a third side in the big cosmic confrontation that could have been present to snark at Zachariah "deceptive ruses, torture, threatening loved ones to get your way... are you really sure your side should be making war against Lucifer rather than appointing him your general?"

(To be honest, I still haven't completely written off the option that Zachariah DOES work for Lucifer...)

At the end of the episode Dean quite pointedly gets in the car while Sam is standing motionless.

Just because he can't trust him doesn't mean they're going to break up, does it?

Our stupid affiliate here delays the network feed for an hour then inexplicably cuts off next week's SPN preview for a Gossip Girl one, so I can't say if the short 10 second preview I did see on the web is the one that aired. I'll err on the side of caution.

I had to explain Wincest to someone today who thought it was an out there thing Kripke'd made up.

Ahahahaha.