Holy crap how can I express my love for this episode?
Everyone asking Dean whether or not he was drinking! It's hilarious and sad all at the same time. I wonder if alternate!Dean really was an alcoholic or whether people were overreacting, but if so it's a great example of the way that even in the "better" universe, things weren't perfect.
Dean being so completely overjoyed was absolutely adorable. Hugging his mommy! Getting all excited about mowing the lawn! Best sandwich ever! OH DEAN.
Awww, alternate!Dean and Sammy weren't doing well with each other. Watching Dean be so thrown off by that distance hurt, and I love how much that connection means to him, that it's a big chunk (though of course not the whole) of Dean's motivation to go back to the real world. Whether interpreted with tons of buttsex or not, they're great brothers, and their relationship helps keep them together as much as possible in the crazy ass life they lead. Losing that now, even with gaining so much else, is like losing a limb.
I'm digging the swap between Dean and Sammy in regards to the mission. Dean was always the one full behind it and Sam wanted to run away, but in the aftermath of John's death and with Sam's psychic mess, things have changed. Sam's fully behind the mission, and Dean, who's always relied so much on his dad and never had the happy normal break that Sam had, is starting to break under the pressure. (I keep remembering him beating in the trunk of the Impala and it makes me all misty eyed.) The boys are so important to one another, they always complement the other and can swap off being support. It reminds me of Mulder and Scully back when The X-Files was still good, how they also underwent a swap in regards to the paranormal/aliens, and they also always propped one another up when needed.
Oh god, so much emo porn. Dean at the end of the episode! With the sad face! And Sam trying to make him feel right about his shitty choice! Except damn it, there should have been more hugging and almost-kissing. Luckily, I expect fandom porn will rectify this.
I am already wibbling over next episode. Damn you, show!