Oh yeah. And the way he's just brooking no argument, and Sam gets furious and slams his cast ... BOYS.

The end of Hunted is well worth it for that dynamic, too.

And Sam cries all messily and stuff...yeah, it was glorious. Definite rewatch material. I sense I'm going to own the DVDs before too long.

I got 15 minutes into Hunted this morning. Can't wait to wrap it up.

I am watching Croatoan now!

AIFG

I had forgotten that Dean was going to sit down and die with Sam in Croatoan.

Oh yeah, that whole "I can't go on living in this world without you" dynamic was established early on. The two of them take turns proving that they'll go to superhuman lengths and be willing to sacrifice themselves over and over so as not to be alone.

Ah, Nightshifter! Ronald Reznick's death saddened me as much as any guest star's. And the sense of doom the episode brought on. Marvellous.

And Playthings yesterday--I think JP didn't play the drunk scene quite right, but I really like what they were going for. And I can see where a legion of Wincest fics sprung up.

The two of them take turns proving that they'll go to superhuman lengths and be willing to sacrifice themselves over and over so as not to be alone.

And I can't get enough of it.

I read that Sera Gamble described the series as "the epic love story of Sam and Dean." In a totally non-sexual way, that''s what I've signed on for.

Ronald Reznick's death saddened me as much as any guest star's.

His face, when Sam said he would tell him the truth, was just perfect. And then the way it fell when Sam said none of it was real, it was just people -- the disbelief and dejection and betrayal! He was WONDERFUL in that episode.

I think JP didn't play the drunk scene quite right

That scene's hard for me to watch, because while I know playing drunk must be hard, JP missed the mark by a mile. But he was trying! And I do love it when he says, "You're short."

I read that Sera Gamble described the series as "the epic love story of Sam and Dean." In a totally non-sexual way, that''s what I've signed on for.

It really, really is.

JP missed the mark by a mile. But he was trying!

He was. And the bit when Dean tossed him onto the bed and he snuggled into it was very cute.

I admit, I did get defensive when he called Dean short, but then Dean calls Sam Sasquatch, so it worked out for me.

I loved that it had that drunken air, that naughty-little-boyness to it. Because you know sensitive!Sam has probably never said that to Dean before.

I am also a fan of the flopping and the snuggling into the pillow, yes. And the very real way he sort of pawed at Dean's face to make him pay attention.

Nodding like a nodding thing at the Playthings notes. This is the first time "Sasquatch" made it onscreen in SPN. For me it recalls JA as Alec calling Kevin Durand sasquatch as Joshua in DA. JA always credited Kim for calling JP that. The ep director for Designate This was Jeff Woolnough (thanks, IMDB), so I'm inclined to think it was JA feeling loomed over.

For an episode that I really didn't like all that much, Playthings advanced the storyline quite a bit in several details, and gave us "antiques dealers," "You're short", and "Not gonna poke her with a stick!" scenes, as well as wet Rescue!Sam. I should like it better.

All my affection for Vincent of Cafe Diem comes as resonance from Ronald. And I can't think of a single ep ending, with the possible exception of The Message, that hit as hard as the Renegade. It seemed, even at the time, a turning point for the series; you could almost feel the compass needle swing.

I can't think of a single ep ending, with the possible exception of The Message, that hit as hard as the Renegade.

It was a definite gutpunch. The hunt was a big fuckup, even though they did eventually get the shifter, it was at a high price.

The sense of things unravelling without a fix in sight...delicious.

I didn't realise it was Cafe Diem Vincent until his apparition reappeared, but it all snapped together then.