On to the episode…

            The person who directed this episode, J. Tobin Miller, had not, to my knowledge, directed any other Supernatural episode.  His style was definitely a change from the type of horror movie directing we usually get.  To put it another way: he had more of a thriller/drama style than gore/scary.  He seemed to focus on the tension more than the scary, but those tend to overlap, so it wasn’t a big deal.  The most noticeable aspect for me were the quick cuts in the beginning before Dean met up with Sam.

            If you haven’t done so already, definitely watch this episode again (and again and again).  Knowing that Sam is actual Evil!Possessed!Sam throughout makes a difference in how you view the scenes.  Suddenly, it feels different to see Sam pushing Dean with all his might to shoot him for a completely different reason.  JPad did a great job juxtaposing Sam with Evil!Sam.  The creepiest part?  Darling Sammy has such an angelic face.  Seeing him as EEEEVVVILLL was both frightening and awesome (and unexpected).  On a second viewing you could tell that something was a little off with Sam throughout. 

            On the Jo issue: she wasn’t the annoying and immature character that she was in “No Exit.”  Yes, she still was crushing on Dean, but at least the writers were more honest about how that actually played out on screen.  I found her last scene with Dean to be very touching, particularly when she realized that her idea of him simply was a romanticized one.  She seemed to take it well.  When he said this:

“I can’t say it more plain than this.  You try and follow me, and I’ll tie you right back to that post and leave you here.  This is my fight.  I’m not getting your blood on my hands.  That’s just how it’s going to be…”  he seemed to be talking about more than just her following him to South Dakota.  It was really a rejection.  And this:

Dean: I’ll call you later, ok?

Jo: No, you won’t.

This showed a nice bit of growing up on her part.  I have to say, though, while I always notice Jared as a big puppy (or a giant), his size doesn’t overwhelm the screen because Sam such a sweet and innocent character.  His attack on Jo, however, really played up his gigantic frame.  She’s tiny, yes, but he dwarfed her, and that? Was scary.

Just for good measure: Stream of Consciousness Style Thoughts:

* Oh sure... now they worry about their fingerprints

* Dean eats Twix.  I love Twix.

* Apparently, Dean knows how to pick a lock as well... we just never see him do it.  Why else would he carry around his own lock pick?

* Evil!Sam is an efficient killer.  Or, as the boyfriend put it, "he gave the guy a new smile" -- I think it's a Stephen King reference that I don't get.  (I really should get around to reading Stephen King, if only to more fully appreciate those Drunken!Sam letters).

* I'm going to pretend that they always wipe their prints... off camera.

* Hee! That hotel is awesome.  Is it just me or do those fishing bobber thingies look like Pokeballs?  You know, they look like they should hold Pokemon.  That's awesome!

* Aww... Dean loves his little brother.  I love these two.  Nooo Sammy!  Don't give him the gun.   "I’ve tried so hard to keep you safe... I can't.  I'd rather die." – Oh show!  You get me every time.

* “Justin is quite the triple-threat.”  Well, he did bring sexy back.

* Apparently, Dean’s phone is registered to: Dean J. Mahogoff.  Sam’s phone number must be: 785-555-2804.  Unfortunately, this isn’t like last season with a real number to call.  Not that I was going to call it or anything.  Nope.  Not me. *Whistles to self*

* Wow… Sam and Jo having an actual conversation as opposed to “No Exit” when they had no interaction.  I don’t know what to think – these two seem to have ACTUAL chemistry, but maybe that’s just JPad’s special Talent.

* Yikes!  Wait.. that’s kind of hot… I mean. No, it’s bad. It’s wrong.  There’s obviously something wrong with me when I find Aggressive!Evil!Possessed!Sam hot.  Not that I want him to tie me up or anything.

* Dude… scary… he’s putting on the puppy dog eyes and the sweet voice… and the smile… and the concerned look.

* Strange directorial choice: Lighting from overhead only – this makes Sam’s eyes barely visible…he looks like a raccoon.  Or a demon.  You can’t see his eyes, so you can’t see that they’re completely black.

* “My daddy shot your daddy in the heeeead.”  Wow.  I need that on my computer.

* “Dean! Kill me, or I’m going to kill her.”  I laughed inappropriately at this point.  I could almost hear the Internet exploding with “Kill Jo, not Sammy!”  The boyfriend gave me a funny look.  I tried to explain, but he didn’t quite understand that extreme hate that exists in cyberland.

* “He was possessed!?”  Jo, you seriously have no credibility.  I suppose if you actually said more than two words to Sam before this episode.... *sigh*  Evil!Sam obviously didn’t try to kill you because you were a hunter.  You were just bait for Dean.

* One look at Sam’s dewy, sensitive eyes is apparently all it takes to… wait. What was I saying?  I got lost in Sam’s dewy, sensitive eyes.

* That’s one hell of a cell phone that Dean has.  Mine would probably die if took a dive in the water.

* Wow.  Dean should get shot in the arm more often.  Yowza.

* Does Bobby always put holy water in his beer, or did he already suspect that Sam was possessed?  I like to think he always puts it in, which makes him even more awesome. 

* Texas Twang!  “How ‘bout I smack that smartass right out of your mouth?”

* Magical charms!  Why the hell doesn’t everyone wear those?  I’m going to tell myself that they’re super rare and that Bobby just now came into possession of there.

* Dammit Sam, Dean isn’t going to kill you.  Get over it.

* “That’s pretty naughty.”  That’s fucking hot.  I also need that audio file on my computer.