I won't say that this is my favorite ep so far, but it certainly helps to develop the story, IMO. The story isn't about the town rebuilding everything, it's about how the people deal with the situation. Some people are trying to make things work, and some are just trying to make it through each day. We get a bit more information about the secrets that are running through the town, and start to realize just how much those secrets are affecting the decisions and choices of some of the town members.

We are also reintroduced to Gray, one of the men who headed out to look for information. It looks as though he is going to be the voice of paranoia for the town. In many ways, this is a good thing, because there are a number of things that the town should be doing that they haven't contemplated yet. But he also appears to be shaping up as a militant survivalist, and it's going to be rather interesting to see if the voices of sanity will be able to rein his more drastic and uncivilized impulses in.

B5 was more than just another sci-fi show. It helped prove that sci-fi had not lost its ability to truly make us think. They never just handed us the easy answers, always making us question our preconceptions. The clown in the beginning turned out to be the most tragic figure of all. The aggressive militant became the philosophical leader, the philosopher became a great war leader, and all with true, realistic character development. And it showed us that a sci-fi or action show could make you think. Characters weren't always perfect. They made mistakes, they paid for thier mistakes, and they went on with thier lives with those mistakes following them. And they managed it while also clearly showing us that you can respect another's beliefs without giving up your own, that the actions of each person can make all the difference, and that compassion and respect can get you through a lot. I do hope that someday JMS will have the interest and opportunity to revisit this universe without the handicaps his previous attempts have laboured under. It won't be Babylon 5, but it will keep us thinking. And few shows can receive that kind of accolade.

Wow. This ep was a total mind blower. More kids with special powers, just like our Sam, but this time we get double-teamed. Gotta love the good ol' evil twin cliche, especially when they manage to do it right. And, best of all, we get an example of another one of the kids who isn't a homicidal lunatic. Good omen for Sam's future. Dean's obvious relief when he realized that Andy wasn't a killer was wonderful, though it does make me wonder what his Dad told him about Sam's ability that has freaked him out so badly. He was iffy on it last season, but eventually he mostly came to terms with the idea. Now he seems rather freaked out by the situation.
And Sam's guilt is still shining through, bright and clear. He still thinks that he's to blame for their mother's death, as well as Jess'. Every possible thing that he could possibly twist into a bad sign, he's focusing on. To carry the Star Wars theme a little further (loved those references!), Sam appears to be in danger of doing what Anakin did: seeing evil everywhere, and turning evil in the attempt to fight the evil. Seems like Sam might just have to find a way to come to grips with his guilt, or risk leaving himself open to the demon.
Speaking of the demon, seems rather interesting that the demon was actually involved with pushing the evil twin to the 'dark side'. Maybe none of these kids are prone to violence, unless pushed explicitly in that direction. All in all, although I can appreciate the artistry and suspense-building, if they don't tell us what John told Dean about Sam soon, I may just have to kidnap Mr. Kripke and make him tell me!

A very intriguing look at some of the issues parents who are raising autistic children face. I've rarely seen such an accurate portrayal of autism on tv. Massive kudos to Braeden Lemasters for such a skilled performance, as well.

The parents were portrayed with devestating accuracy. The over-controlled, over-scheduled life as an attempt to give their son his best chance for progress. The fear of losing their son mixed with relief at the break that they have from their 24/7 job, mixed with guilt at feeling any relief. My nephew's high-functioning autistic, and the mental toll autism causes caregivers is practically unbelievable to anyone who's never seen it themselves. The scene at the end when Adam gives House the gameboy was both touching, and so true. On the very rare occasion that someone with that level of autism does notice the world around them, generousity of that type is typical. The only note in the entire autism storyline that rang a little false for me was the idea that both parents would give up their careers to take care of their son. Many of the therapies needed for their son are very expensive.

The secondary story line, with House's stalker was a little implausible, but funny enough to make it worthwhile.

Definitely one of the best Supernatural episodes to date. Since their father's death, Dean's desperation to keep his family together has led him to be even more protective of Sam, even to the extent of trying to protect him from Dean's own grief. This has caused Dean to attempt to bury his feelings completely, blinding him to the 'shades of gray' inherent in everything. Sam's love for his brother and guilt over his fractured relationship with his father is having the exact opposite effect, making him examine everything carefully, looking for what will be the best for the boys out of every situation. I'm not certain just where this new path will take the boys, but I do know that I'll be eagerly following them every week!

Oh, and hooray! The Impala's back, and rocking as hard as ever!