I'm kind of craving a fanfic where the apocalypse is done and Dean has a home base with Lisa & Ben (but still hunts with Sam). Mostly I just want Dean's 90% hardcore lifestyle to come up against domestication in hilarious ways. I cannot see him settling into normal home life smoothly.

Pistol under the pillow
Jack in the bathroom
Inappropriate language around minors
Bloody returns from hunts - startling the neighbors
Making Ben's lunches in the morning
Going grocery shopping
Coaching little league or attending a boy scout meeting
Dexter-like shed in the back

Yes, I might be craving a funny schmoopy fic. I need an escape from the bleak. It's promising to only get bleaker.

Finding the sneaks seperately:

Sneak 1
Sneak 2
Sneak 3

The sneaks rock. . . I can't decide if my favorite is the 2nd or 3rd one.

I don't mind that the show didn't earn that moment with Lisa. It was short-hand and all they had.

I think maybe in their inept way they're giving Dean the rebellious adolescence he never had. He's rejecting his family and responsibilities, becoming more fully self-realized. Like Sam, for the Winchesters, this never seems to lead anywhere good long-term.

I'm surprised everyone is so surprised, and riled, about Lisa. She's a *symbol* to him. A real woman, too, yes, and it's clear he's fond of her and Ben, but I don't think he's trying to convince himself she's his true love. She's simply the road not taken, and it's very Dean, imo, to try and save specific people, to spare them hurt. I also think it's a way for him to say out loud what he maybe can't say to Sam right now.

I really like the parallel between this season and last -- last time Sam was determined he was the only one who could do the work, and charged off to do it alone. This time it's Dean. I think Dean is less determined than resigned, but the parallel still works for me.

She's simply the road not taken, and it's very Dean, imo, to try and save specific people, to spare them hurt. I also think it's a way for him to say out loud what he maybe can't say to Sam right now.

She's also a means to communicate what he's thinking to the audience. Otherwise, we'd have no insight into what's going on in his head.

See, I think you can use the shorthand in a way that makes sense, but this felt like a stretch. I can see where they were going, but this went Step 3 Profit.

Lead up to what, though? Here's the thing--I don't think Lisa is Dean's true love. I don't think he can settle down with her at the end of the series for true happiness, not without some extra work on the part of the writers.

Lead up in showing that he does, in fact, actually still think the what if about them two years later. Hell, a mention to the "shrink" in Sam Interrupted would have worked.

So, her being in his dream back in episode mumble-mumble isn't enough to show that she is on his mind and where he goes in his head when he needs that safe place? I think that was just as shocking to him as the confrontation with his demon self at the end of the dream.

I think Lisa was a chosen because she comes with Ben. Dean has a compulsive caretaker personality. If it's not Sam he's watching out for, then he's going to find a way to channel that need elsewhere even when he's despondent.

This episode left me feeling hurty for Sam. When he stood there staring at Dean drive off (in the Impala, no noble leaving it behind) he looked so sad.

I really like the parallel between this season and last -- last time Sam was determined he was the only one who could do the work, and charged off to do it alone. This time it's Dean. I think Dean is less determined than resigned, but the parallel still works for me.

Ooh I like this too. Dean's "saying yes" is Sam's blood addiction.

last time Sam was determined he was the only one who could do the work, and charged off to do it alone. This time it's Dean

Yikes. I need Sam to get there in time, though.

Looks like, from the trailer, that at least Cas gets to him.

And whups the living tar out of him.

I'm going to have to track down Sam/Cas codas for this week.