3x02 The Kids are Alright

[ciderdrinker]

Now there's no way I'm gonna get into as much discussion as some of you here, but I thought I'd get the ball rolling....

Firstly I have to say that I totally LOVED this episode. Way more than the premiere - which was a bit "Meh" to me. It was very very creepy, and I had a couple of hands over the mouth gasp moments, which is always great!

The main girl (whose father was killed in the teaser) was excellant and I really got the chills up my spine whenever she hugged her mother or called her "Mommy". Maybe being a mother myself that hit home more.

I loved the way this episode played with the fact that Dean may have been Ben's dad. I knew all along that he couldn't be (way too obvious) but I really appreciated that Dean thought it and how it affected him. At one moment I could see him thinking that having a son may give him a reason to try and get out of his deal. How heartbreaking was it when he found out that he definately wasn't the father?

Not quite enough Sam in this episode for my liking, but what was there was meaty stuff. I'm a bit disappointed that this new chick (Ruby? Bela? Can't remember) knew more about Sam than he did, and that Sam found out all the info he needed about his mother in the space of about 10 mins (too convenient) but it was gold what he found out.

Funny, I thought during the diner scene between her and Sam that she really reminded me of Meg (intonations in her voice that sorta thing) I wonder if that was on purpose?

So overall an excellant ep - the kind that makes me fall totally head over heels in love with a series (when I only liked it a lot before)

[Jenni Lou]

Funny, I thought during the diner scene between her and Sam that she really reminded me of Meg (intonations in her voice that sorta thing) I wonder if that was on purpose?

I have to agree. It was that bitchy, snotty sort of "I am so superior to you and by the way you're stupid" voice. I actually hadn't made the connection but I did think there was something about her that seemed....familiar. I, too, now wonder if it was a purposeful thing.

I have to say though that I haven't read spoilers so I has no idea she was a demon. I know she was being introduced in an antagonist's role but I though eventually she might move away from that. I am curious to see where this will lead, what Sam will discover, what Ruby wants, and if he will be able to save the innocent inside later down the road...

[galathea]

I was expecting some changes for season three, after they effectively brought closure to most of the main driving forces behind S1 and S2 and so far season three seems to confirm that. Admittedly I am having some troubles adjusting, although so far the characters and the storylines make sense. It's more a question of comfort level for me, than a problem with the story in general. Sam and Dean's closeness (even when they were fighting) has always been my safe place throughout all troubles they encountered and at the moment that safe place seems to be a labyrinth, with secret doors and hidden traps. This episode only cemented that feeling further and I am nervous about where it leads us.

Anyways, onto the review:
While Dean is still in his hedonistic phase, his overall behaviour is enthusiastic but not out of control anymore. Openly laying out the terms of the demon deal and his own stance at the whole issue to Sam, seems to have calmed him down considerably, even if he does still tease Sam about his own death, but it definitely lost its bite here. Sam seems to be more than willing again to let his brother follow his urges, although he might be motivated by other reasons than granting his brother ?dying wishes'. More on that further down in my review.

A very interesting detail about the brother's opening conversation in the diner is the fact that Dean took a ?5 states, 5 days' road trip on his own, leaving Sam and John alone to wrap up some case. Sam was 15/16 yrs old at that time and as far as we know probably already in his problematic teenager phase, squaring it off with John constantly. Makes you wonder if Dean needed some time out from the family drama or simply wanted some time for himself. I already see plenty of fanfics sprouting from that small information!

What bothers me most about this episode is that we get roughly three scenes with Sam and Dean together, most of the time they are working apart. Even the questioning of the victims Sam seems to handle alone and I don't recall an episode at the moment where that has ever been the case before. It's really disconcerting to me, probably because I thought Dean's limited time would rather lead to them being closer than ever. There seems to be a deep chasm between Sam and Dean at the moment, that I didn't expect this season and that throws me slightly off. It's created less by an emotional fallout than rather by the need of keeping secrets and having different agendas and they seem farther away from each other than even in the beginning of S1. They talk to other people, but not to each other and that worries me greatly.

It started out with Sam keeping the YEDs information about Mary and the demonic ritual performed over his crib to himself in AHBLII and it seems unlikely that he is going to tell Dean about his run-in with Ruby and his newly found information about the Winchester family history. Why he feels the need to keep the circumstances surrounding Mary's death hidden from Dean is still not completely clear to me. Is he afraid of Dean's reaction to the demonic ritual? Dean has never given him any reason to think that he would resent Sam, no matter how his involvement with the YED would turn out to be. Is Sam trying to protect Dean, trying to keep Dean's obvious worship for his mother intact? Does he try to indulge his brother, not wanting to burden him again, now that Dean seems to be at peace? Whatever his exact motivation may be, as soon as Sam's secretiveness will be out in the open, I see a similar fervid controversy ahead between the brothers like the one in Hunted, when Dean revealed the secret he kept from Sam.

As predicted after TM7, Sam now also keeps his efforts to get Dean out of the deal hidden, which may explain why he so easily sends Dean off for his ?escapades' and spends more time on his own, so he has more opportunities to press ahead with the research. Sam and Bobby conspiring against Dean's direct wishes to not mess with the demon deal, gives further explosive material for the future, if Dean ever learns about it. Though I have to say that Sam's effort to cover up his activities in the beginning of the episode when Dean nearly catches him decoding the scripture, was clumsy at best and very transparent. Either Dean didn't really pay attention or he subconsciously puts a blind eye to Sam's obvious secrecy.

I was really looking forward to this episode, because, okay I admit it, I have that really soft spot for Dean and kids, ever since Dead in the Water. The way he easily connects with children, treats them with care and respect and opens up to them was always one of the most endearing Dean character traits for me. The childlike qualities in Dean's own character mixed with his parenting abilities that he acquired while caring for his baby brother, really shine when he is confronted with kids in distress.

The Kids Are Alright is no exception in that regard. He easily connects to Ben, relates to his troubles when being bullied and while he is startled for a moment when he comes to the realisation that Ben might be his son (although they played a tad too heavy on the supposed similarities between the kid and Dean, most 8 yrs old I know are in the 'Ewww girls are stupid' phase), he very fast adapts to the concept and visibly enjoys the thought after a while. As a side observation: It's a lovely consistent character trait in Dean, that just like he dropped any hint of flirting with Andrea back in DitW, when he found out about the tragedy that hit her, he just as easily forgets about his initial motivation to visit Lisa, when he is confronted with Ben. Lisa rapidly changes from ?gumby girl', someone with whom he can blow some steam off, to a single mother with a life of responsibilities in his mind and Dean adjusts his attitude at her instantly. I love that about him!

It's easily understandable that being confronted with the possibility of having a kid sets Dean's thoughts about his own mortality and what he leaves behind in motion. He sees a kind of future that he will never be able to have, probably never even expected to have before he made a deal for his life. Again he is questioning what he achieved and what his life was worth in the end. He kind of reiterates the sentiment he expressed to Bobby in AHBL II, that the only meaning his life holds, lies in Sam being safe and sound, and that he can't see beyond that. I liked how Lisa's answer to that parallels Sam telling Dean in Crossroad Blues and What Is and What Should Never Be that the people they saved are worth the sacrifices and that this is John's legacy as well as it is Dean's, the tremendous impact they had on other people's life.

I loved that parting scene between Lisa and Dean! Ackles again really shined in a quiet moment like that, with all the different emotions he displayed in that short exchange. Part of me wanted that exchange taking place between Sam and Dean, but I see why this is impossible at the moment. The separation between Dean and Sam, initiated by their different agendas, shows very clearly here. He can't talk with Sam about this, because he wants Sam to let go of him and how could Sam do that if he sees Dean struggling with the reality of his deal? Towards Sam he needs to have his carefree game face firmly in place, there's no room for doubt. Still it saddens me that Dean's deal in the end drives them further apart after they were so close in S2.

Which brings me to our mysterious guest star from The Magnificent Seven. Hello Meg No.2! I enjoyed Ruby a lot more in this episode than I did last episode. Her interaction with Sam was interesting, the actress did a pretty convincing job to me, now that she had the opportunity to actually act like a person and not only as a convenient tool. I am not so sure if the whole ?demon girl' and ?magic weapon' won't be very repetitive (considering Meg and the Colt in S1), but I try to keep an open mind about it.

While I was at first very annoyed at the fact, that Ruby seemed to know all about the Winchester family history whereas Sam and Dean don't have any clue about it, the fact that she was revealed as a demon with an unknown agenda, partly reconciled me with that detail, since it makes a lot more sense to me that a demon knows more about the YEDs plans and activities than some random hunter chick. We've been shown in the past that the demonic grapevine is pretty active, like with the demon who told Gordon about Sam and the coming war, the Meg demon who seemed to know all about the Harvelle-Winchester hunt (if she didn't lie, that is) or the Pride demon who knew all about the YEDs plans for Sam.

Sam and Dean's lack of knowledge about their own family history is bothering, but not completely surprising. We know from Home that although John's focus was on hunting the thing down that killed Mary, Sam, Dean and John rarely ever spoke about what happened in that fateful night (the comic even mentions that Sam was told that Mary died in an accident and only learned about her real fate when he was 6). Sam didn't even know the most basic things about the event, back when he and Dean had this conversation in Lawrence, and the way Dean was visibly troubled talking about it even 22 years later, indicates that Dean and Sam never really broached the issue of Mary's death either, because it was too painful for Dean.

Dean also mentioned in Home that John never shared his theories with them even though they asked often enough, so even if John knew anything about the suspicious row of deaths that had befallen all of Mary's friends and relatives it would be unlikely that he confided with his sons. Given the way John dropped off the radar though, after Mary's death, it may very well be that he never caught wind of the deaths, too overwhelmed with the whole new world he suddenly found himself in to suspect anything in Mary's past being connected to the demon attack and researching that avenue. Although Sam's statement that everybody who ever knew Mary was wiped out is not correct, we know that at least the Gunderson's, who seemed to be close friends to John and Mary, survived the YEDs wipe-out.

Though now the question arises why the YED went through all this trouble if Mary's death was an unfortunate, random accident. Was he lying to Sam in AHBL I? It was also stated throughout the show so far, that there were no signs of the YEDs activities during that 22 year period, which made sense with the whole ?generations' revelation. Did it just slip under the radar? What about the other children whose mothers were killed in the house fires? Obviously the friends and family of Max's or Andy's mother weren't attacked. Ruby indicates that Sam was special, special in a way that separates him from the other children and not only in the way the YED pointed out to Sam, with Sam being more trained and sharper than the rest of them. So, the mystery around Mary's murder seems to be thickening by the minute and is very inconclusive at the moment.

Ruby obviously acts on her own agenda and is inscrutable at the moment. A demon offering Sam a way out of Dean's deal, that can't be a good sign. I have to admit that I would be really annoyed if Sam wouldn't find a way of his own out of the deal but relies on yet another demon's help to free Dean from his contract. I am still struggling with the idea of Ruby being too convenient if she is used as a uber-powerful ally to Sam, providing an easy tool to get him and/or both of the brothers out of complicated situations like in TM7, but I will see how that works out. Supernatural has always proved to be a show where hindsight changes the whole intake of story arcs considerably, so I have faith that the ride will be interesting.

What else is to say: This is the first SN episode in a long time, that I found extremely creepy. The story of the changelings, feeding off the mothers was seriously spooky and I honestly expected the children to be dead in the end. Especially the mother drowning her not!daughter in the pond and then finding her in the kitchen again, was extremely disturbing. The visual effects were really excellent, even though I could really, really do without any further chainsaws and garbage disposals. *shudder*.

In conclusion: While I really enjoy how they develop the mystharc so far, Sam's and Dean's relationship at the moment is far from my personal comfort level, which keeps me from squeeing over the episodes in my usual fashion. Even when they were totally struggling last season, they were at least struggling together and the way they are now hiding from each other hurts to watch even more than Dean's self destructive behaviour at the beginning of S2. If Supernatural stays true to its usual structure though, we will have a fall-out of all those secrets and hidden emotions around mid-season, resulting in Sam and Dean coming stronger out of the crisis than before and I really hope for that.

[chelsie]

I loved this episode. I felt it was stronger than this season's premier. (which I thought was weak)

Supernatural back on form imo.

I liked the evil creepy kids too. Not sure how I feel about little Dean. It was quite cute but kinda forced for me.

And we'll be getting to learn more about the Winchesters history or what the deal is with Sam..

I love love love the blond demon. Wherever she probably can't be trusted I know but I do think she will be an awesome addition to the cast. Unlike the awful Jo she promises to have more of a purpose.

Shakey 1st epi aside I do think that this season is going to be a banger. Awesome.

I just hope we see The Amazing John Winchester again. Adore him. I have a crush on JDM.

[Amantine]

Okay... this review's gonna be written with no influence from the above posts. Haven't read them.

Kay... first thing I wanna get off my chest: the teaser was freaky! It gave me the creeps *shudders* Way to go Kripke!

Love the way Sam's still trying to get Dean out of the deal and the fact that his brother's threat had no effect on him whatsoever. It's a shame that he has to do it all secretly and such. It sucked out of hell to be out of the loop before he found out about being dead and now Dean's setting himself up for the same thing by forcing Sam into a shell.

I'm a little worried about how the relationship between the brothers will progress from now on. They have no common purpose aside from hunting about 200 rogue demons and that's just professionally speaking. On the family matters, Sam's obsessed with saving Dean, Dean's too stubborn to let himself be saved and goes out of his way to make things uncomfortable with the whole 'I sold my soul' thingy. I don't think the continuous secrecy's gonna pay out. Sam's already lying by omission when it comes to what he's learned about Mary and I have a feeling he's not going to be willing to share the fact that Ruby's a demon with his sibling. Especially when said demon offered a little help with getting Dean out of the deal.

What I really liked about this episode was the interaction between Dean and Ben. He's a great guy with kids and we got to see a bit of regret for not being able to have a life *insert 'yay' choirs in the background*. Really hope that the following episodes will make Dean want to live a little more than just a year. Maybe that'll get him to accept a way out.

And Ruby... I am officially intrigued. I mean... wow! I never saw her as a demon. Witch maybe... But demon? Definitely not. She reminded me a little bit of Meg, though... The gestures, the way of speaking... Her quirky interest in Sam... *shrugs*

Overall, the episode was G.R.E.A.T.! It was really freaky and it sorta reminded me of a film I once saw. I think the title had something to do with children and corn. Kripke did a fantastic job on this one and J2 acted really well. *YAY*

*looks up* Well... not my best review, that's for sure, but after school, tutoring and spending all day away from home, I think that'll do

[Cori]

I really enjoyed this episode! It had a bit of everything mixed into it: it was scary as hell, it was hilarious at times, it had adorable Dean moments, it had interesting Sam scenes, it moved along the seasonal arc and it had a very cool twist at the end.

I have to say that the Dean we saw in this episode was much more to my liking than the one we saw in the premiere. We saw sweet, caring and vulnerable Dean again in this week's episode and that just made me squee. I didn't mind so much that it wasn't Sam to whom he was opening up but to his ex-one night stand Lisa, I was just glad that he let his carefree game face slip for a moment and opened up to someone about how he really feels. Lovely writing by Sera Gamble yet again!

Most Dean scenes in this episode were absolutely adorable. They were also extremely funny at times. When Dean first arrives at Lisa's house and they make awkward smalltalk, I had to chuckle a bit. And of course when Dean meets Ben and sees that the kid bears a striking resemblence in his behaviour to Dean. Ben saying "Yes, AC/DC rules!" and Dean looking flabbergasted cracked me up! Dean's facial expressions as he talks to Ben are just hilarious. Jensen's comic timing was really good in this episode. I also had to laugh when one of the female neighbours said:

"You don't know about Dean? The Dean? Best night of my life Dean?"

and then the women drooling over Dean! Nice shout out to the fangirls, Sera!

Of course Dean interacting with kids is always adorable! He just seems to get them and always treats them with respect and doesn't talk down to them. Dean's expression of surprise and almost pride when Ben said "Only bitches send grown-ups" was just prizeless! Also his proud smile as he watched Ben beat up that other kid who had stolen his game, just so funny! Ben hugging Dean and thanking him just made me melt, that was so sweet!

As Dean learns that Ben really is not his son, he is clearly disappointed, even Lisa remarks on it. And that's when he opens up to her:

Dean: "Some stuff happened to me recently. Anyway, a guy in my situation, you start to think, you know. I'm gonna be gone one day. What am I leaving behind besides the car?"

I loved that Lisa reminded him that if it weren't for him, Ben would not be safe right now.

I loved this scene, one of my favourite parts of the episode. Jensen played this scene with just the right amount of melancholy and longing and shined yet again!

Now as others have written above, the brothers did not have that many scenes together in this episode. However, this did not bug me that much (if it is only in one episode, that is) because I thought that both Dean and Sam had very interesting storylines on their own in this episode. What I find more worrisome though is that they are keeping secrets from each other. In s2 Dean kept a big secret from Sam, now they both are not completely honest with each other. I would argue though that the secrets Sam keeps from Dean are bigger and more serious (expressly going against Dean's wishes re his demon deal and working secretly with Bobby, what the YED told him about Mary, Sam's "demon blood" and now what Ruby has told him). I don't like that the brothers are not being honest with each other but I can understand why this came about. I just hope that they will open up to each other sooner or later because I don't want all these secrets to stand between the brothers.

As much as I enjoyed Dean's storyline in this episode, I also enjoyed Sam's a lot. I have to say I'm liking Ruby more and more, the way she half flirted with Sam in the diner scene and then gave him this hint re the friends of his mother was pretty cool. As several of you have mentioned, Ruby definitely has a touch of Meg about her, especially in the way she talks, which I guess should have tipped me off about her true nature but somehow it didn't. Anyway, so Sam starts investigating and finds out that all of his mother's friends are dead. He calls Ruby and understandably enough finally wants to know who she is. I have to say I enjoyed when he yelled at Ruby because she was being all coy and I was like "tell him already!". Fortunately for us, Kripke is not one of those TV creators who likes to drag things out for so long that the audience has stopped caring (unlike the Lost creators), bless him for that!

So Ruby shows Sam who she really is and I guess I was just as shocked as Sam. I was not spoiled for Ruby being a demon and I'm glad that I wasn't because this made for a nice kind of surprise! In hindsight, I should have guessed it of course but I'm glad that I didn't. I like this twist a lot because it opens up some very interesting possibilities, both for Ruby and for Sam. For example, is Ruby only pretending to help Sam and will actually try to lure Sam over to the dark side? If that is her agenda, it's gonna be interesting to see whether Sam will be tempted or not. As we have seen in BUABS, Jared can play the villain quite convincingly, so I'd love to see some sort of dark Sam. Or maybe Ruby is telling the truth and really is trying to help Sam. Then she would be a "good demon", a truly grey area character and I always enjoy those. Plus we haven't seen the good demon kind of character often on SN (apart from Lenore and her vamp clan in "Bloodlust"), so that would be an interesting addition to the show. Anyway, I find the fact that Ruby is a demon who wants to help Sam really intriguing. Way to go Kripke & co. for introducing such a cool storyline!

Just as I have recovered from the Ruby=demon twist, the next one is right around the corner. Ruby telling Sam that she can help Sam to save Dean is another very clever plot twist because now Ruby has something that Sam wants and this may give her the opportunity to manipulate Sam, if that's her agenda. Now, I really hope that if there's really a way to save Dean (and of course I deeply hope there is) that this solution won't just be handed over to Sam by Ruby. I want Sam to find the way out himself, maybe with Bobby's help. It should not be something easy because that would just not be very believable. Still, Ruby's offer made for a nice cliffhanger that I really did not see coming. I'm excited and very curious where Sam and where the show will go from here!

I guess I should also address the MOTW, which was the second MOTW in a row that I actually liked. Those kids were super creepy, they made for a very good excuse not to have any. Sera Gamble really was not kidding when she said in the AHBLI DVD commentary that she likes gore more and more. The scene where the dad gets killed in the teaser was very gorey and the special effects they created for the changelings were pretty disgusting and made me shudder more than once. I thought the actress who played the mother of the little girl did an excellent job, I could really feel her despair and terror. How the little girl kept saying "mommy" in every sentence really creeped me out, this was definitely one of the scarier MOTW.

I have one minor complaint about this episode: the music. Was it just me or did anyone else find the music in this ep really strange? I don't expect them to use cool rock songs in every episode (who am I kidding, of course I expect it! ) but if you're gonna choose instrumental music, then please something better than in this ep. I don't know, it just kinda bugged me.

But on the whole, I really enjoyed this episode and I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Rosely]

Like most others, I loved this episode!!
It was really really creepy!!! But I'm easily creeped out
Still this was one of those eps that *I* found hard to watch alone in the dark... but I did hehe
I think it took me 15 minutes to recover from the episode! haha, it was heavy stuff!

The little girl played so well! Her 'kindness' and stuff like that.. really creeped me out! The way she said: I love you mommy.. brrrr
The suspense of knowing something was going to happen.... having us wait a little, but not too long and yack..
All in all just really played out well.

I was surprised with the scene where Sam says he ordered pizza, and Dean clearly knew it was a lie, that he let Sam off the hook. Why didn't he question him more, that seemed a bit odd, I thought.

Sams willingness to let Dean go to some town far away, just because of some hinch and a hot night, many years ago, was clearly a sign of wanting Dean distracted to find out more about the deal and how to save him.
Which I think is good, I can understand Sam keeping this a secret from his brother, and I'm not perse concerned by the distance between them. Dean would stop Sam... that's clear enough, so he shouldn't know. It's only logical that Sam won't stop, in his mind he is the one that should be dead, not Dean.
And I'm pretty sure that in the end this all will make them get closer to eachother again. They just have to deal with this by themselves, they can't do it all together, especcially when it involves the other so much.

Dean and kids... clearly lovely! A part of me wished he was Ben's father... he was so sweet to him. And I loved that scene with Ben and the boys, where he kicks that guy in the nuts... hehe.
When he recognizes that Ben is not Ben.. sure it was obvious for anyone know how and what, but still

Then... Ruby...
When she was following Sam in 3.01, I thought she was a demon. But then, I mean, I thought she was one of those 7 demons. She gave me that demon vibe because of how she dissapeared when he looked behind him and all. It was the second time watching when I realised that it was Ruby in that scene, and not one of those demons.
So she had given me a demon feel, and she was Buffy-like strong..
Still, I was unspoiled, and her revelation that she was indeed a demon did take me by surprise! I was totally shocked and didn't actually see it coming! LOL
I do like it a lot btw. It explains much weirdness so far, and will be interesting to watch. Why is a demon teaming up with good? What is her agenda? And.. is she really teaming up with good? Or is this her plan to.. take over? or whatever?

Interesting start of the season!!! I am liking it!

[Llywela]

Woohoo! Loved this episode so much.

Okay, first ? theory number one totally confirmed: Glossy Blonde Ruby is an underling of Ol' Yellow-Eyes. Like Rosely, I'd suspected after The Magnificent Seven that she might be - it's the only explanation that makes sense of the glossiness! Or of her interest in Sam. Thank you, show, for cheering me up immensely with that reveal, nice and early in the season. The moment she started talking to Sam in the diner it was obvious - she's got the demonic attitude down pat, that combination of rudeness, superiority and lazy disinterest.

I'm really interested to see where they go with this one. Nice new twist in the show's mythology, after so much had seemed to be cleared up in All Hell Breaks Loose. Especially with the reveal about the YED killing off all of Mary's friends, following on from what it showed Sam, that Mary recognised it. And I love that the YED didn't keep its underlings in the loop about what it was doing or why, that's a nice parallel to John, leaving them behind to pick up the pieces of the mystery. Sam is still keeping the whole thing a secret, as well, not telling Dean about any of it ? not about Glossy Blonde Ruby, and not about what he's learned. You'd think the whole 'secrets are bad' message would have sunk in by now!

And the fact that Ruby is waving Dean's life in front of Sam like bait on a hook, that's bound to build up to something nice and juicy later in the season. I mean, it's the perfect temptation, and something the YED never really thought of. He was all for killing off loved ones, threatening their lives, to try to turn his special children into what he wanted them to be. For Sam, though, every death has just hardened his resolve; the temptation of being able to save Dean's life is potentially far more powerful.

Oh, and the moment we saw that little girl in the teaser, I knew we were in for a creepy kiddie episode. Always awesome. What is it about kids that's so freaky? Oh, and the power-saw. The moment something like that appears in a scene? That's the moment you cover your eyes, and then they dragged it out for so long. Gory!

This episode was not about demons. Except for that one, of course. But it wasn't about newly released demons, which is nice, because solid standalone monster-of-the-week stories are always entertaining as a break from the mytharc, and because it kinda implies that all those newly released demons are going to ground and doing their own thing, rather than forming an army. And that means that tracking them down is going to be harder, but, on the other hand, they'll probably be easier to take out one at a time, rather than wholesale. There's something so...solid about watching the boys working a standard job, and working it so well, so effortlessly, even with all their other stuff going on. They didn't share many scenes in this episode, which is always a shame, but still pulled off the case like clockwork.

I love watching Dean making flame-throwers! And I loved seeing Smart!Dean in action, figuring out not only what the clay was, but where it came from. See, this is where Dean's proclivity for sticking his fingers into icky things comes into play. Sam looked and thought blood; Dean touched and was able to analyse and identify. But more than that? It was another total 'I was right!' moment for me. When Sam first saw the stuff, the windowsill was inconclusive, but the stuff on the fence looked too pink to be blood, to my eyes. And I thought it would be unlike the props department not to get their fake blood right. So being proved right pleased me immensely. I can love this episode for making me feel clever as much as for anything else.

So, Dean's hit the nostalgia stage of the whole coming to terms with impending death thing, although this episode teaches the lesson that nostalgia doesn't generally mix well with the reality of here and now. I like that, after their showdown at the end of last week, Sam's still in indulgence mode, totally not going to say no to anything Dean wants to do, as long as it isn't life-threatening in any way, and I love that they both have a sense of humour about Dean and his 'last dying wishes', no guilt, no guilt-tripping, no rancour, just acceptance that it is what it is, make the most of now. And Sam's researching in secret - which is another good reason to encourage Dean to go off and enjoy himself - and has Bobby researching in secret, because what Dean doesn't know about can't kill anyone, can it? Or so Sam is presumably hoping.

Sam is really bad at dissembling if he hasn't had time to dream up a cover story. Almost surprising that Dean didn't call him about the obvious lie about who he was on the phone to at the start, but Dean has other things on his mind, and maybe doesn't want to know. They already had it out once, he's not going to want to go there again.

Dean and the kid. On the one hand, it was kinda predictable that it wasn't going to be Dean's kid. But on the other hand, I think they kinda tried a bit too hard to make Ben a miniature version of Dean. Was that just to sell the maybe to Dean, or what? And although the idea kinda freaked him out at first ? lifestyle not ideal for kids? No kidding ? he does genuinely like kids and relates well to them, has since early on in the show, so it provided an excellent opportunity to explore some of those wistful regrets that we already know he harbours. Even after Lisa initially told him that Ben wasn't his, right at the start, he still wasn't sure, entertained that maybe. Plus, Dean always does like to connect with the people he meets when working a job, so the fact that he already knew Lisa added even more motivation to solve the case and protect her and her son, even if Ben wasn't his. Ben might not be Dean's son, but you can bet he'll always remember him ? just another life touched for the better by Dean Winchester. And I especially loved that Lisa got it, at the end there. Even if she doesn't know the details, she recognised and understood the regret. You can bet she now regrets that Ben isn't Dean's as well! I really appreciated that this time it was an outsider giving Dean affirmation rather than Sam, for once - carries a whole different weight when someone you barely know assures you that you've made a huge difference in their life, that your existence has mattered.

I'm a little fascinated to learn that Dean took a short road trip 8 years ago and left John and Sam alone to finish up a job, if only for a few days. It's the kind of trivial detail of life back then that we're so sorely lacking! It would be great to hear more snippets of life back then.

Sam drove the Impala. On screen. For the first time since Devil's Trap. Now there's an incident worthy of being noted!

And...that was kind of incoherent, but my thoughts are not coming together neatly today. Too much to do, not enough time...

[Jenni Lou]

Fortunately for us, Kripke is not one of those TV creators who likes to drag things out for so long that the audience has stopped caring (unlike the Lost creators), bless him for that!

In all fairness to my Lost (my love!) things were dragged out because the network wouldn't allow them to set an end game date for the series. That's the downside of network interference. It happens with all too many shows and you can see how it affects them negatively. But now they have an end date. So things will be not be dragged out as much. Also, only a day or three passes with each episode so they can't reveal certain things too soon or else it wouldn't make logical sense. I will always defend my Lost and I hate hate hate that it has almost no love on this board. If it did, I wouldn't have to go elsewhere for my Lost fan fix.

Y'all got your favorite show: Supernatural. And I got mine: Lost.

I have one minor complaint about this episode: the music. Was it just me or did anyone else find the music in this ep really strange? I don't expect them to use cool rock songs in every episode (who am I kidding, of course I expect it! ) but if you're gonna choose instrumental music, then please something better than in this ep. I don't know, it just kinda bugged me.

I didn't even notice. I guess I was caught up in the story. I usually notice these sorts of things too. :/

Oh, and the power-saw. The moment something like that appears in a scene? That's the moment you cover your eyes, and then they dragged it out for so long. Gory!

Right?! I could not believe I was watching network television. Because, eww!

[BlasterBoy]

As most others have said, this episode was superb and creepy, and funny, and interesting, etc.! It was amazing!

Wow! The teaser was creeeeepy and, yes, VERY gory! I could not believe how gory it was

Okay, the woman who played the girl's mother was amazing! I was incredibly surprised at how creepy the girl was and how amazing the mother was! When she attempted to kill the daughter, and the daughter showed up again and said, "Can I get ice cream now?" creeped me out so much!

The MOTW was very good, and I hope they keep it up

Dean with Ben was so funny and sweet! I loved the park scene when Dean told Ben to beat the kid up So Dean-like! And then Ben hugging Dean was very nice I also loved Ben's love of AC/DC

Sam's story was really, really great! I'm really loving Ruby! Her Meg-like attitude is great and the twist at the end with her being a demon was very unexpected. Plus, her knowing how to save Dean? A plus! And, she knows about Sam's mom! This will be interesting

Didn't really notice the music, but yes, we need some nice rock music

Loved, loved, loved this episode!

[ciderdrinker]

Just a minor point that really stuck out for me and no-one else has mentioned it...

Did you not notice that when the boys were rescuing the kids and the realtor agent that Dean asked BEN to get the kids out, when he would normally have said that to Sam? I appreciate that the brothers were busy trying to get the demon before it got to the kids, but the way it was said was almost as if he trusted that kid as much as his brother to help. Another sign of their estrangedness, or because Dean still thought that Ben was his son?

[Llywela]

I think it was because at that moment both Dean and Sam had their hands full trying to contain the Mother Changeling, who was pretty much kicking both their asses. Dean was still entertaining suspicions about Ben's parternity, but more than that, he'd bonded with the boy, and had seen how capable, practical and caring he was when Ben was helping him get the other children out of the cages. Ben was also the only one of the kids that he knew anything about to be able to command him in that way. A little connection goes a long way.

[LRae12]

Gumby....does that make me Pokey? Great intro to the episode, and I about busted a gut at this line...

I liked this episode. I had it called that Ruby was a demon after her first conversation with Sam at the diner...she acted JUST LIKE MEG, and it was too creepy how she knew everything about him. At first I thought that perhaps she was the child of one of his mother's friends, but then in the back of my mind I kept thinking she was a demon, and lo and behold...

Pretty cool twist...Sam will be working with the enemy to save Dean. Kinda reminds me of Buffy/Spike working together in Becoming...I'm just wondering if they're going to have him get 'involved' with Ruby the demon.

Really thought the saw scene was disgustingly gory...Supernatural is really pushing the envelope so far this season...the sound effects in that scene were accurately horriffic...*shudders*

The kids were so super creepy - especially the little girl...really great acting by the two main children, and the girl's mom especially...how horrible it must have been for her to watch her 'child' sink into the lake. As a mom I can't even imagine that...and then for her to walk in the door and to have her dripping on the floor like that waiting for her....eeeek...that eppy definitely gave me the willies.

Overall, really liking how the season is progressing this year, and I can't wait for next week!

[CRene]

This episode to me was a bit creepy. Maybe it had to do with the fact my daughter was in the room playing while I was watching it, that may have gave me the creeps more than anything.

But I must say the new gal, Ruby, I didn't see that coming. Is this just going to be a Meg repeat? Sure, I liked how Meg/Sam had this little thing before he found out who/what she really was, now it's Ruby. But as my husband pointed out you know Sam would agree to do anything if it meant saving Dean.

[Cori]

In all fairness to my Lost (my love!) things were dragged out because the network wouldn't allow them to set an end game date for the series. That's the downside of network interference. It happens with all too many shows and you can see how it affects them negatively. But now they have an end date. So things will be not be dragged out as much. Also, only a day or three passes with each episode so they can't reveal certain things too soon or else it wouldn't make logical sense. I will always defend my Lost and I hate hate hate that it has almost no love on this board. If it did, I wouldn't have to go elsewhere for my Lost fan fix.

Y'all got your favorite show: Supernatural. And I got mine: Lost.

Sorry Jenni Lou, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I loved Lost s1 and was so deeply disappointed by s2 because everything was so dragged out and nothing was hardly every answered but new questions kept piling up. The network may be to blame but I'm sure there is more to it. All I wanted to say is that I applaud Kripke's courage and vision to reveal such a big secret about Ruby this early in the season. It certainly makes things more interesting and makes me excited about the implications of it all. It moves the story along nicely. But then again, Kripke has never been afraid to actually answer questions, I mean he answered many questions about the main villain, the YED, in the s2 finale and killed him off. I'm sure many people did not expect that.

I didn't even notice. I guess I was caught up in the story. I usually notice these sorts of things too. :/

Guess it was just me then. I found the music particularly annoying in the scene where the boys were driving up to the empty house where the kids were being kept.

I think it was because at that moment both Dean and Sam had their hands full trying to contain the Mother Changeling, who was pretty much kicking both their asses. Dean was still entertaining suspicions about Ben's parternity, but more than that, he'd bonded with the boy, and had seen how capable, practical and caring he was when Ben was helping him get the other children out of the cages. Ben was also the only one of the kids that he knew anything about to be able to command him in that way. A little connection goes a long way.

I agree. I have to say I really loved how Ben handled himself in that situation. Thinking of making a ladder for the other kids and helping them out without freaking out himself. Definitely another similarity to Dean.

[Obsessed]

Okay things that creeps me out- clowns, dolls and... little girls. Yah this was one uber-creepy-ass episode. Yikes. That scene where Katie was on the chair dripping wet and said "I'll have that ice cream now". Her voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard! Dang.

I loved the similiaries between Ben and Dean. I cracked up when Dean freaked out wondering if Ben was his kid. My heart melted when Ben hugged Dean when he helped him stand up to the bully. It took be back to Dead in the Water. And the ladies drooling over him- classic.

I am not crazy about Ruby. She grates my cheese but I like the storyline they're developing thus far with Mary/herfriends and her connection with the YED. So I am intrigued.

There were a lot of great lines- my favorites:

-OK, Weirdy McWeird-ison.
-She was a yoga teacher. It was the bendiest weekend of my life.
-Gumby girl. Does that make me Pokey?
-You don't know about Dean? The Dean? Best-night-of-my-life Dean?

I am proud to say I got a friend hooked on Supernatural! Yahoo. More SN addicts to join our fold. Eh.