I thought there was a difference, because he said it *wasn't the psychic thing* that bothered him. So there must be something else she wants him to.

But then, I had very little sleep last night and am not fully coherent today.

Amy, that's what I thought too.

What did he manifest before he discovered he could out demons? I'm a bad fan, I don't remember.

He had precognitive dreams.

I think that whatever evil thing Ruby has him do is something to alleviate the psychic powered headaches he was getting.

I'm not so sure - the problem with Alistair wasn't that it hurt him, it was that he didn't have the power needed.

I guess it's too much to hope it was the precog dreams he didn't have the problem with.

The idea of Ruby meaning human sacrifice and him going along with it would really alienate me from the character unless handled with extreme delicacy.

Not sure I trust this team.

I got the feeling that we were supposed to think that there was something else he was doing that we hadn't seen yet.

(oops; I meant to agree with Sumi and Amy earlier, but I got delayed in posting)

was that John Rubenstein's son playing the newly reyounged Charlie?

Oh, I have no idea who that is, but probably. I saw two Rubensteins in the credits.

Huh, because it *was* John's son Michael, but I know him as Michael Weston (wished he was still on House!). Quick check at imdb says he had his named changed because of duplicate issues. So, eeenteresting that they used his real name in the credits. Maybe the other dude died?

I know I fail on the pop culture part of the test, but I still don't know who Chris Angel is. I am guessing a magician. Who is a douche bag.

Barry Bostwick stole my heart and I can honestly say that he has never done that before. I thought he played the part with such honesty and sadness that it was almost disconcerting. The look on his face when the waitress said to leave the old guy alone--just gutted me. The brother interaction interspersed in the episode worked because there wasn't really any edge of your seat type suspense that they were disturbing by weaving it into the show. It was a good movie of the week. It won't be on my favorites list, but it would definitely make my noteworthy episodes list if just for BB's performance which was worth the price of admission.

As far as Sam's situation, I was thinking the thing that was squicking him was using his powers (not the psychic part of it but the demony origin part of it), but the only way to make his powers stronger is to use them. I never got an impression of human sacrifice and would be confused with Sam's character being complicit in anything most people would find objectionable. Then again, I was shocked when his character stated he wouldn't wish for Jess back. Besides avoiding any wish-strings attached, he said that the old Sam of Sam/Jess didn't exist anymore. I haven't journeyed far enough with him to see that, but I can hand wave it.

BB is completely awesome, and clearly needs to work more.