Okay, here are my season top 5s, in no particular order. Because that would drive me to distraction. As if this wasn't hard enough.

S1:

• Skin: This might place just because of the look skinwalker!Dean gives the SWAT team during the Innagaddadavida sequence. It's so completely terrifyingly not Dean. Many of my initial-watch S1 memories are fuzzy, but I do remember having *no* idea what was going on here, but being deliciously titillated. But other than that, I loved Sam spotting "Dean", "Dean" telling Sam his issues, Sam being tied up, Dean killing "Dean", the revelation that Sam's a big old softie who can't break ties, and the verification that Dean has no friends. And their exposure to the law.
• Faith: What can I say? Totally Dean!Girl crack here, plus Sam's unquestioning devotion is ♥. And Dean's conviction that it wasn't worth it.
• Shadow: John. The reunion with John gets me every time. Dean's going straight to him, and Sam holding back, but still getting the hug in the end. Plus great Meg action.
• Salvation: Sam and his visions and Dean standing up to John. John being crafty. Dean saving Sam and telling him about the costs he's not willing to pay.
• Devil's Trap: Stab me in the heart, why don't you, Kripke? But before you do that, have that amazing scene in the cabin, where Dean knows his Dad wouldn't be nice to him about saving Sam. And have the moment where Sam gets Dean's point and won't kill his father, and tells John that to boot.

S2 (god, this is nigh impossible):

• In My Time of Dying: Sam's devotion to Dean. Dean almost giving up. John's devotion to Dean. That wonderful, wonderful moment JA gives where John is telling Dean the secret at the end of the ep. JP's marvellous moment where Sam discovers John.
• Crossroad Blues: Great story of the week, plus everything it set up for the series' ongoing mythology.
• Croatoan: Dean's devotion to Sam. Dean almost giving up. The sense of impending doom with the late demon reveal, and finding out that Dean should have shot his ass in the first place. Great performance by guest stars.
• What Is and What Should Never Be: I don't even know what to say. Full on heartbreak. I forget to cite this when I talk about scenes that make me cry--Dean seeing his mother breaks me hard.
• All Hell Breaks Loose: Okay, cheating here. But they gave them the same title, so I'm calling them the same episode.

I'm trying to be good and not list my almost-made-its, because what's the point if I do? But it did hurt to cut them--all five of them I also rated a 5 for the season. You probably know which ones they are--they're probably on your lists instead.

S3:

• Bad Day at Black Rock: This is funny and painful altogether. "I'm Batman." "I lost my shoe." AND SHE SHOOTS SAM.
• Fresh Blood: Damn, Gordon. Damn, Sam. Damn, Sam killing Gordon. And more devoted brother action.
• A Very Supernatural Christmas: Boys! Weechesters! Samulet! Dubious parenting!John!
• Mystery Spot: Oh, the pain. I'm not one of those people that really thought Dean's deaths were funny, because Sam didn't, ever. I totally felt for him every time. And the Wednesday? One of the more chilling things a chilling series has ever done. I can so easily replay him stitching himself up and him killing Bobby. And, of course, the hug. God, man.
• Jus In Bello: Oh, Victor. That we had to lose you. But you went out so well. Rocking exorcism trick, scary Sam wanting to kill the virgin.

This was harder than I'd thought! I guess I really like what I like in this season--I had 6 rated 5 stars, and picking one to lose felt really like lying.

(continued...)

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S4:

• Lazarus Rising: Chocolate covered Dean? Okay, deeper than that. The reunion alone, with Sam, makes this for me. And the throwaway Ruby, that we didn't yet know was the bollixing up of everything...
• In the Beginning: Mary! Woobie!John! Ah, Dean, learning these things about your family. More heartbreak, and I can't get enough of it.
• It's a Terrible Life: AU gold. I'm a bit dissatisfied with the end, because we never get to see Sam learning the truth, but everything else was magical. Up to and including hair and wardrobe. Just hysterical and lovely.
• The Monster at the End of This Book: And now that we know the payoff to this little thread...but so freaking funny, the meta, it burns. I adore the idea, and I adore the execution. Slash fans, indeed. I only wish they could have read Dean/Castiel at some point.
• Jump the Shark: Boys! Three boys! They couldn't have tempted fate and done better. The revelation of Adam showed so much about John and revealed more about Sam and Dean without ruining a thing.

This was a hard season too. I didn't have as much rated 5 stars for it, but about half the season I had rated 4. I won't say which is the four star pick, but picking it? Rough.

S5:

• The End: So fucking depressing, so fucking funny, and JA on total fire.
• Changing Channels: Makes me weep with laughter, as well as having the big retcon reveal that actually started to make sense.
• My Bloody Valentine: SAMMY! So strong. Dean--so gutted. Also, gross and hysterical at the same time.
• Dark Side of the Moon: Oh, god, the pain. And the devastation on Dean's face at Sam's death, and the repeat devastation at Sam's memories, and the tossing of the Samulet. Plus, Sam coming to understand so much more, and Cas cursing his Father.
• Swan Song: Love letter to love. Great farewell from Kripke. I hadn't thought to read the title as Kripke's swan song until just right now. Don't know how it took me this long. But I think he let them go with such affection. In tears multiple times, and still feel the warmth of the whole thing. And the nervousness. It has more flaws than the rest of the five stars on this whole list, but the emotional high points were so damned high it needs to be here for me. Plus amazing performance from JP, and standard greatness from JA.

God fucking damn, S5 was almost as hard as S2. Fewer five star eps to cut, but I think I liked the ones I liked much more.

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I have to think about my lists of season top fives. For a good little while.

Oddly, I don't think I have a wish list for S6, mostly because some of it is going to happen no matter what. I really can't see Sera helming a show where the brothers are separate for a whole season, or there's no resolution to their story in the end. If anyone is about the Epic Love Story of Sam and Dean, it's Sera Gamble.

Plus, meta reasons always get in the way for me. Both boys are signed, both boys are going to want a certain amount of screentime. They're the stars, they're the draw.

I also ... just want to see what story they choose to tell us. Sometimes at the end of season I've wondered how they would resolve something (like Dean's get-out-of-hell card, for instance, or after the car crash), but I've never really speculated about what I want to have happen. I can do that in fic, and I think (for me only) wishing for something specific to happen on the show would set me up for disappointment.

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OMG I cannot believe I forgot a very important punch list item.

• I wish for the Samulet to be hanging around Dean's neck again.

ita I love your list and would probably only substitute Jump the Shark for another ep.

I love your reasons for loving Skin. It makes me want to go watch it again.

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For a good little while.

No! I want lists NOW. Lists of lists. Lots of lists. Sheesh, people. Feed me.

I wish for the Samulet to be hanging around Dean's neck again.

God, yes! The apparent impending demise of the Impala made me realise that I fetishise the symbols of the boy's life and togetherness over the actual other people in their life, because I was willing to trade Cas for the Impala, if push came to shove. And the Samulet? Second only in thing-age to the car.

Though, really, if it's hanging off Sam's neck right now, I'd plotz too. I don't care if they have to asspull it out of another dimension. Or he just had it in his pocket for their final Hail Mary. WHICHEVER. Feed the sentimentalists among us.

ehab, Jump The Shark was the lowest rated episode of S4, so you're probably not alone in that.

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God, yes! The apparent impending demise of the Impala made me realise that I fetishise the symbols of the boy's life and togetherness over the actual other people in their life

Me too.

because I was willing to trade Cas for the Impala, if push came to shove.

I was willing to trade Bobby. I was already ready to sacrifice Cas for the greater Winchester good.

I have no lists to give. Certainly not until I watch the finale again at least.

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I need to watch the rest of S4 and the beginning of S5 before I can make sensible lists.

On the ill-informed side of listmaking, here's what I'd like to see.

1. Sam comes back as Sam and interacts with Dean.

2. Lisa and Ben get decent character arcs.

3. Cas comes back after a few episodes as a semi-regular.

4. We get more kick-ass middle-aged women like Ellen.

5. Something that shows the boys working toward long-term future goals. Now that the apocalypse has come and gone, it seems like they might be able to have some.

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long-term future goals. Now that the apocalypse has come and gone, it seems like they might be able to have some.

Hunting forever and then moving in together into Bobby's house after he dies peacefully in his sleep of old age!

I will brook nothing else.

And I know I'll be disappointed.

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I wouldn't object to a few episodes of Dean and Bobby having to get rid of Lucifer (or perhaps someone else) possessing Sam. If Cas was involved that would be gravy. After that I would be very happy to never again see another demon. If there were some way for Sam & Dean to hit the road after normal old ghosts again I would be very happy.

Did anyone else catch the name of the Impala's first owner? Sal Moriarty. I've always wondered if Sam & Dean's names were a nod to Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty from On The Road.

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On the ill-informed side of listmaking, here's what I'd like to see.

Just to be clear, I don't think it's ill-informed! I just don't do it? I never read books that way, either, unless it's a mystery and I'm trying to figure it out.

Whenever I realize there are specific things I want for the boys, I usually write it. But canon and whatever fic I come up with is really separate in my head.

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