I'm surprised that Michael Shanks didn't get the preacher role instead, since it seemed to have more prominence. But in interview he described it as small, so it was just a theoretical surprise.

I think they definitely teased our gaydar. "Covered Rob's ass" indeed. But I think the closeness between them, slashy or not, was to underscore the good people gone very very badness of the whole thing. They weren't just neighbours, they were compadres, but the promise of reunion with his son was just too much.

I do agree that the boys (Sam at first, then with S4.5, Dean) have been pulled out of society more, but I do still think that the people they encounter stick with me as much as they did before. There were duds before, and there are wins now. It's still a crapshoot. I mean, we got Sheriff Mills a couple weeks ago, reminiscent of Officer Kathleen from season 1.

I have no idea who Michael Shanks is, or where he's from, so it didn't ping me.

I think we're still getting good examples of Sam and Dean saving people, normal people. The family in Family Remains, for one. Even Gary in Swap Meat, and the pretty bartender from Free to Be You and Me.

I also don't think it's unusual that we don't get as much of that now -- while they're dealing less with everyday people and more often with bigger, badder evil, the focus is also turning inward, to *them* and what it means to do this job, to battle that evil, what their choices are when everyone is telling them their destinies have been already been determined.

I have no idea who Michael Shanks is, or where he's from,

He starred on about nine seasons of Stargate: SG1, so he's pretty huge in the Vancouver sci-fi community. Until I read the interview, it hadn't crossed my mind he'd have less than the largest guest role. He's Daniel Jackson!

The show and the characters have become more insulated though, from everyday life and the people who live it. They're more rarified creatures, heroes rather than blue-collar workmen, legendary figures rather than guys who can be flirted with, or engaged in conversation.

When was the last time we saw Dean flirt? Really, the last time he played pool? The last pool table I recall was Sam running a game in S4, when Ruby showed up.

I get that the writers are exploring the interior of their heads. I'm just saying that could happen without an apocalypse to set the Winchesters apart as saviors or the ruination of life on earth. The scope is too big to allow for identification with those characters, certainly carried over several episodes. Carried over three seasons? They're coasting on the good will and familiarity built in S1 and S2.

I just think they've taken entirely too long building up to and resolving the whole armageddon thing, if that's how they're determined to go. I'm bored with it. I want to know what happens *after* all the thrilling heroics, I guess.

I may regret these words, but I'm looking forward to the apocalypse ending.

Dean made eyes at Leah, or enough to set her father's radar off. I'm assuming they're still running game, because they're still spending money. We're just not seeing it. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Dean's not getting as much tail as he apparently got (because we didn't really see that much) because he's in a much more bummed headspace, and he's probably only getting his jollies when he's sleeping.

The scope is too big to allow for identification with those characters

Identification with Sam and Dean? I don't feel their plight any less keenly now than I did before. They still break my heart like they did in season 1.

I don't see them as heroes or legends, either. I see them as outcasts and outsiders who have to operate even further on the periphery of society than before, because they've been tainted by their apparent destinies. I don't see them as elevated in any way. I see them as dragged down by the weight of it all.

I see them as outcasts and outsiders who have to operate even further on the periphery of society than before, because they've been tainted by their apparent destinies. I don't see them as elevated in any way. I see them as dragged down by the weight of it all.

I have to agree there.

The "elevation" comes from outside agencies trying to convince them they are more better specialer than ordinary people.

And on that note, the whole predisposed bloodline thing has not been explained to my satisfaction. "It always had to be you."

Yeah? Why?

Um, well. 'Cause. Because it had to. Be you.

Says who? Where is it written, and by whom. Produce the paperwork. Because I'm not feeling it.

Yeah, well - Castiel has all the prophets names memorized. Cause...umm.... Why didn't he warn them about Chuck?

From earlier....

The only thing that we have to dispute that Ben isn't Dean's is Lisa's word.

**blinks**hmmm... And the only thing to say that Ben is his son is the word of oodles of fangirls. Lisa is his mother, I would think she'd know. Apparently in her self-proclaimed wild days she was in the habit of taking home strange men for weekends of sex, and she had a physical type, and Dean fit that type. Some might think that Lisa holds a special place amongst the throngs of women Dean's supposedly been with (even though we've been told before that Cassie was supposed to be his one brush with an actual almost-relationship) but there's nothing to say that he holds an equally high status in her memories. ("Best sex I ever had" for one weekend 10 years ago does not equal love of my life forever after I want him to be the father of my child and build a life with me.) Or as has been suggested, she might be in another relationship.

Also, since we've been beaten over the head with the "Winchester blood is so special" anvil, if Ben were a Winchester both the angels and the demons would have set up housekeeping across the street to watch his every move from the time he was born.

I have no idea who Michael Shanks is, or where he's from, so it didn't ping me.

Also, in addition to SG:1, he's Mr Lexa Doig. You know her from The End.