The part where Dean offered to let Sam take the Impala just about gutted me. Somehow the fact that the separation is out of sorrow and love more than anger makes it hurt all the more.

On a different note, if one of the horsemen drives a white Bronco, I will laaaaaugh.

The part where Dean offered to let Sam take the Impala just about gutted me. Somehow the fact that the separation is out of sorrow and love more than anger makes it hurt all the more.

YES, this. And when Dean had to stop himself from just charging out to find Sam, and think a minute.

And when Dean had to stop himself from just charging out to find Sam, and think a minute.

Perzactly. They did such a good job of getting across the idea that while things are not at all right with the boys, that bond is still very much there. Strained, but there, and likely to be all the stronger in the end.

I'm also having some thinkiness about how Dean has had to entrust the amulet Sam gave him to someone else for an undetermined while, with no absolute guarantee he'll get it back. That, to me, carries far more weight than the idea that the thing turns out to be a God detector.

Yeah, just that automatic, growled, "NO." God, that was so telling. And calls right back to Sam putting it back on him in Lazarus Rising, first thing.

If you remember, he'd even forgotten about the Impala (sort of).

he'd even forgotten about the Impala (sort of).

So many of Dean's reactions to things in Lazarus Rising make so much more sense when you realize that to him, it had been forty years since he'd seen them.

It would have been interesting if Sam had taken the Impala, though. Then, Dean would have been without the other major item associated with him, and without the main physical reminders of his relationship with his brother and with his relationship with his father.

So many of Dean's reactions to things in Lazarus Rising make so much more sense when you realize that to him, it had been forty years since he'd seen them.

God, yes. I hadn't even thought about it that way.

I just think if Kripke really had a five-season arc in mind, this separation makes so much sense. I mean, GUTTING, HEARTBREAKING, yes, but necessary.

They started off as family without any choice, especially for Dean, and this is the chance they've never had to decide if that's what they *want.* If what they mean to each other is more than just blood and drummed-in loyalty. Even though Sam had that chance before, at Stanford, everything that happened after Jess's death only reinforced that he has nothing but being a Winchester, and I think now it's just as important for him to figure who he is apart from that as it is for Dean.

I think now it's just as important for him to figure who he is apart from that as it is for Dean.

Very much so, yes. I do wonder, however, how much they'll be in contact with each other during the separation. They do have cell phones, after all (which the show has already set up as the way Castiel will get in touch with them), and the circumstances are by no means the same as they were when Sam left for Stanford.

We made the Mt. Doom joke, about 2 minutes before the show did.

What do you even do with War's ring? Seems like a heck of a thing to have.

I'd love to see a Bronco, a Pinto...I don't have a third there, though.

So did I, DebetEsse!

A Charger!!

I loved, loved, loved the episode.

Cranky, bitter Bobby? Love!

Use of the amulet? LOVE! (But why did Bobby think John needed it? Did BOBBY know what it was for?)

Both boys figuring out separately what was going on? LOVE.

Dean girls can't say that they're making Dean look stupid - because he sure didn't.

Rufus, Ellen and Jo! Love.

More music - two, two, two songs in one episode - excellent. I hope that won't be it for the season.

Man, Dean OFFERING Sam the Impala!!! And SAM turning it down - loved both of those things.

Both boys figuring out separately what was going on? LOVE.

Oh yes.

Actually, yes to everything you said.