Bravo. Great review! I have to say you're more tolerant of the plot holes, blabbery exposition, flip-flopping characterization, needlessly convoluted back story, and the level of cruelty and violence in this episode than I am. However, I did enjoy the laughs and appreciated the gorgeous shots of Bobby and the boys in the Squamish sunshine. :)
I especially liked your insight into Sam's behavior as a form of self-protection. I was attributing his detachment to suppression and denial and not having truly dealt with Dean's death, therefore, not being able to experience EMOTIONALLY Dean's return even though he knows intellectually he's back. Poor, damaged Sam.
I absolutely agree that the boys ultimately have to CHOOSE each other, not be tethered together out of NEED. Only then can they truly be each others' strength and not a weakness. Not to mention it takes a certain kind of fortitude to pick up the pieces and carry on alone instead of instinctively grasp for straws and try to recreate the past. I think a big theme in the latter half of S4 and early S5 will be healing ... something that needs to happen if these boys are going to remake their relationship into something stronger and DIFFERENT than before.
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I especially liked your insight into Sam's behavior as a form of self-protection. I was attributing his detachment to suppression and denial and not having truly dealt with Dean's death, therefore, not being able to experience EMOTIONALLY Dean's return even though he knows intellectually he's back. Poor, damaged Sam.
I absolutely agree that the boys ultimately have to CHOOSE each other, not be tethered together out of NEED. Only then can they truly be each others' strength and not a weakness. Not to mention it takes a certain kind of fortitude to pick up the pieces and carry on alone instead of instinctively grasp for straws and try to recreate the past. I think a big theme in the latter half of S4 and early S5 will be healing ... something that needs to happen if these boys are going to remake their relationship into something stronger and DIFFERENT than before.