I wasn’t particularly pleased with the previous episode, mainly because the direction of the humor wasn’t to my taste. This episode was a lot more along the lines of what I was looking for, right down to the exploration of Dean’s complicated relationship to Sam. Dean operates from a deep sense of guilt in this episode, and we finally get a look at the Winchesters on the road.

I think my favorite parts of the episode took place in the past. We got to see Dean as the not-so-dutiful son, bristling at the command to watch over the younger, less capable Sam. Considering Dean’s almost obsessive desire to protect and maintain family, it’s a nice bit of contrast. What child doesn’t occasionally wish that siblings would disappear and no longer be a responsibility?

It also highlights just how screwed up childhood was for Dean and Sam. They were running around the country from place to place, dealing with demonic entities and a father whose idea of education was unique, to say the least. It’s surprising that Dean and Sam were able to function in normal society at any level.