I'm struck, pre-rewatch, by the town's accepting melancholy. They definitely knew something was up, they had to know it couldn't end well, but they were so willing to pretend things were normal the sheriff called the doctor when her dead son spiked a 111° fever. They were just going to keep going.

Yeah, even Bobby, who really did know better, just went along with it.

I wish they had thrown in a line or two about there being some kind of spell or compulsion involved.

Sam killing the sheriff's son was awful, and very much a callback to Heart for me.

I think in terms of next week's episode, outside of the meta of JDM not having time to appear, Mom is the one both boys would want to see. She was the one they missed; she was the Sam never even got to know. Dad, on the other hand, was with them until two years ago. I think "home" and "Mom's cooking" etc. are more the fantasy heaven they might dream of than getting to hash out demon deals and bad choices with Dad.

I wish they had thrown in a line or two about there being some kind of spell or compulsion involved.

I like the desperate sadness and the informal collusion this way, actually. It makes me think of how Lucifer gains hold, not through overt misdirection or magickery, just through human wants.

I think "home" and "Mom's cooking" etc. are more the fantasy heaven they might dream of than getting to hash out demon deals and bad choices with Dad.

Do you think it's fantasy heaven? I have no logistical explanation, but I assumed it's real heaven. And in real heaven, John and Mary are together.

Not sure. I guess once I saw Zachariah, I assumed it was just another trick, but we'll see.

So I just got another person hooked on SPN. And this person happens to be a classic rock aficionado. And pointed out that in "Hell House," when Dean's pranking Sam, the music is a Blue Oyster Cult song. Which of course goes along with the symbol.

But it's "Fire of Unknown Origin" - which is about the last song you'd sing to Sam. (Fire of unknown origin / Took my baby away)

Speaking of Zachariah and tricks, what was the final word on The End? Trick, or glimpse of the future?

I like the desperate sadness and the informal collusion this way, actually. It makes me think of how Lucifer gains hold, not through overt misdirection or magickery, just through human wants.

This is me. I would know it was wrong, but I don't know if I could not try and protect a loved one that came back. Even after seeing them try with Joyce. Even after Pet Cemetary. A random zombie is going to be much different than one you gave your heart. The sheriff would have been desperately holding on to having a child back from what would have been unimaginable grief.

I guess once I saw Zachariah, I assumed it was just another trick,

This is what I was thinking as well. There has to be a twist, otherwise Sam and Dean won't leave and the Earth wont be saved. Again.

So I just got another person hooked on SPN.

Woot! Start filling out the toaster form.

I think Dean is looking at The End as something that will happen, but I'm not sure that he's right about that.

And I agree about the town's collusion in the zombie rising. When your loved ones are coming back to you, and not necessarily bloodthirsty from the word go, I think the human pull to hold on is so strong, Lucifer or Death wouldn't need spells. That's the beauty of Lucifer's take on human desire and need, and the reason he got Nick, at least, to agree to be his vessel.