4.15 Death Takes a Holiday is so full of implications that I’ve yet to settle down and think of it as a whole. But, the parts! They are awesome!  I’m unspoiled for anything after 4.15 Death Takes a Holiday, but boy do I love my speculations!

  • The opening situation of the guy shot by the jumpy mugger is VERY Mystery Spot Wednesday when Sam finds himself holding a dead Dean and unable to wake up out of it.  The miracle second chance for a less than great guy is VERY like Dean’s experience. I believe the friend (and Sam’s) “How is that possible?” reaction to the miracles.
  • We catch up with the boys in the Four Corners Diner. Crossroads allusion? Dean bangs the jukebox without success and is later referred to as Chachi by Pamela. The base for initial research is the Broken Saddle Motel in Wyoming.
  • Sam is the one to assume and try to prove there was no miracle for the shot guy (or anyone else?) which is the opposite of S1′s Faith and S2′s Houses of the Holy when he was prepared to believe the miracle while Dean was certain there was a darker explanation.
  • SAM – now with power boost! y-i-k-e-s! I mean that in a very goodbad way.
  • Dean is the one to come up with the idea to become ghosts through astral projection, separating their souls from their bodies. There is much labeling of the plan as crazy, insane, and nuts. I love that we see the boys in action even while they slept through the better part of the episode. (I think that might be S4 in a nutshell.)
  • Pamela didn’t want to be dragged in to help. Pamela make the “angel-demon, soc-greaser crap” comment. (The Outsiders was Sam’s classroom.) Did she foresee her death?  If so, why come? Dean appeals to her with arguments that would work on him. Pamela = Dean alter ego? She assisted because, like with the angels, Dean makes the calls? She’s compelled to follow him? Dean is the one to bring her to the motel room and she responds to Dean’s reasoning. Whispering about Sam’s ass! Pamela is killed by being stabbed in the abdomen – like Mom, Jess, DEAN, Grandpa Samuel, Jay the magician, and even Ruby. Pam (and the sleeping boys) really should have been better protected. Pamela demands that Sam fix her a drink after he gets rid of the demon. Pamela’s dying words are private and for Sam. She warns him, I know what you did to that demon, Sam. I can feel what’s inside of you. If you think you have good intentions…think again. and I’m reminded of 3.08 Wishful Thinking. Also, if Pamela IS part Dean (which may be hinted at since we even see spirit-Dean grabbing inside spirit-Sam), he’s telling Sam he’s got some awareness of what Sam thinks is still secret from Dean. Her dying might be because she isn’t needed to see (or NOT see) for Dean anymore? Will Dean’s ultimate healing involve killing off all the created players?
  • Reaper Tessa was Dean’s “hole in the gut” during the year after the accident. Later, she advises that miracles and better places are lies people tell themselves and each other. She tells Dean to trust his instincts. Dean’s instincts were that Sam had made a deal to bring Dean back demanding, “What’d it cost?” Dean remembering that 2.01 In My Time of Dying hospital limbo has me curious about whether he also remembers accusing John of doing nothing. (I always thought it a blessing he didn’t remember that.) Tessa’s method of taking Cole into her embrace was different from any other reaper move we’ve seen. Previously, reapers placed their hand on the person’s head/face.
  • Castiel tells Dean he impersonated Bobby on the phone with Sam. Would Castiel and Sam collude? Would Sam not know it wasn’t Bobby?  Castiel NOT warning against what Sam is doing is as important as telling Dean the boys had done well saving the seal, I suspect.
  • Sam is the first to spot Cole in the window, but Dean is the one able to explain who Cole is. Sam seemed surprised Dean knew Tessa. Sam swears he can make sure Cole doesn’t have to go with Tessa. This is while Dean and Tessa have their first conversation about Dean wanting to have gone with Tessa when he had the chance. Sam and Cole’s entrance stops Dean from elaborating about how he now feels about his second chance. He obviously doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for it that he shared with Jamie in 4.05 Monster Movie.
  • Cole doesn’t want to leave while Mom is so sad but is unable to give any comfort with his lingering presence. Mom is coping with drink. Cole is also afraid of the unknown. Dean explains everyone is afraid (hello 1.03 Dead in the Water!) and that staying is no solution as someday his family will be gone.
  • It is strange (as in ‘wrong’ -to me) to see Dean doing spirit tricks – things Sam can do any time and easily now. Sam seemed surprised? pleased? at Cole showing off on the porch. Is Cole more Dean or more Sam?
  • Oh, this makes me want to cry, but I was looking at screencaps and realized the kid, Cole, was a soccer player with trophies and everything. So was Sam. That makes the closet conversation even more heartwrenching, doesn’t it?
  • Impala time is extremely limited – just the grill when the boys arrive at the miracle guy’s house, I think.

Pamela’s three appearences….

  • Pamela #1 – 4.01 Lazarus Rising – seance to ‘see’ what was responsible for Dean’s return from hell. Blinded and unable to SEE the truth. Enter Castiel.
  • Pamela #2 – 4.10 Heaven and Hell – hypnotic (sleep!) regression of Anna (another Dean alter ego?). Anna is revealed as an angel without grace.
  • Pamela #3 – 4.15 Death Takes a Holiday – brought in to oversee “astral projection” of the boys (Dean’s idea) – killed by demon attack but does get the boys back. Warns Sam.

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