That change started during the year he was trying to figure out a way to break Dean's crossroads deal. He became more coldly pragmatic the more frantic he felt. He was focused on his goal and had less patience for the fuzzy issues around the edges... Dean's the one who soothes victims' families now during interviews, for example. That used to be Sam's role.

I'm wondering why Dean didn't notice his damn phone was MIA. And why Sam didn't call Bobby for help, or at the very least, moral support.

That used to be Sam's role.

[Sigh] I do miss the old Sam. Sure wish he'd lay off the workout, too. Don't like beefcake. At. All.

He was focused on his goal and had less patience for the fuzzy issues around the edges

I think that the whole demon blood addiction thing has changed him a lot too. Suburban life can't seem like an option after all of that. I don't think Dean thinks he (Dean, not Sam) deserves it either, but I think they're coming from very different places. I think Sam thinks he's all wrong because of Azazel and the meatsuit dealio. Dean thinks he just doesn't belong because he has never belonged, because he has a job to do. Less to do with direct arcane influences or taints.

Salvation is today's TNT episode. I got as far as John throwing the fit when he finally finds out about Sam's visions, mad because they never told him. Dean points out that they called him during rough times (oh, like deathbed) and he never responded. It takes a big fanwank to make him a decent parent in retrospect--he cops to being in the wrong, even as he chides Dean for tone.

Oh, and I love the "Carry On My Wayward Son" at the start. It's better than a montage. It's a vid.

Alpen:

Sure wish he'd lay off the workout, too. Don't like beefcake. At. All.

I love this picture of JP. The coffee cup is so small. He is so large.

I'm quite amused by the beefcake. I have to remind myself that JA is neither particularly short nor skinny. Just much shorter and skinnier.

Heh. Sasquatch.

He may have beefed up extra hard for the Conan tryout, maybe.

I figured Dean didn't miss his phone, because it was only gone after *Sam* was with him at all times -- since the hunt was easy and they didn't need to call Bobby, and he didn't have to call Sam, he had no reason to use it.

And Sam didn't call Bobby because ... Jim Beaver wasn't contracted for this episode? I can handwave by knowing they're all the way in Massachusetts and Bobby is presumably at home in South Dakota, and Sam's immediate concern was getting to Dean, since he didn't have any of his usual books or weapons or whatever with him. And he didn't know where Dean was once he heard Leather Jacket and Sasquatch had checked out of their motel.

I don't usually love beefcake, but JP is tall enough to carry it without looking like one of those freakishly pumped bodybuilders.

Oh, I do send JP lots of good vibes for the Conan tryout, and my God, that coffee cup is almost a Dixie cup. Jeez!

I think that's a show of change in Sam, though. He doesn't really care much anymore about BSing, or covers. He wanted info, and he was going to get it, and he didn't really care much if the parents thought their kid had gone crazy.

I just think he could have gotten info *much* easier (and potentially with one less tranq dart to his neck) if he'd stopped being a bratty, petulant child and behaved like ... a hunter. There's a chasm between "emo hunter sad because of what he's done" and "bratty, petulant child who'll shit on anyone."

Oh, and I love the "Carry On My Wayward Son" at the start. It's better than a montage. It's a vid.

I am always so amused when they open with a vid.

if he'd stopped being a bratty, petulant child and behaved like ... a hunter

OMG. THANK you! I couldn't put my finger on what was bugging me about this episode besides Moody Dean. That's exactly it, Cass!

I think Sam is too on the edge right now for that level of dissembling. Rage issues, after all, tamped down inexpertly.