Season 4, Episode 1: Lazarus Rising

"Good things do happen, Dean."  "Not in my experience."  "What's the matter?  You don't think you deserve to be saved?"

This was the episode that I started watching Supernatural for - because I knew when I signed up for GISHWHES that I needed to reach Misha Collins and that he wouldn't be arriving until Season 4.  I didn't know when he'd show up, so it was a surprise for me the first time around - I saw his name in the credits and freaked out (as you can see from the tweet from last summer).  I knew going into the series that Misha played an angel named Castiel, so the reveal at the end of the episode that the "thing" that had pulled Dean out of hell was actually an angel wasn't nearly as big a shock to me as I'm sure it must have been to people going in with no expectations and no idea - those who watched it live the first time must have been in for a hell of a shock.  But even knowing what the big reveal was going to be still couldn't prepare me for where Season 4 would go.  Still couldn't have prepared me for that amazing entrance at the end of the episode.  So good, and still so good on a repeat viewing.

What I said then:

"#Season4 #Supernatural."

"Dean does look super hot all bloodied and helled up. #Supernatural #Season4"

"AHHHHHHH!!!!  MISHA COLLINS IS IN THIS EPISODE!  #Supernatural #Season4 #IMadeIt !!!!!!"

"Ha, the number on this building is 11768 - that's the zip code for Northport. #Supernatural #Season4"

"Its name is Castiel!  I'm so excited! #Supernatural #Season4"
"Although burning that poor lady's eyes out wasn't a very nice introduction, Castiel.  #Supernatural #Season4"

"What makes you so special?"  "I'd like to think it's because of my perky nipples.  #Supernatural #Season4"

"It's Castiel!!!! #Supernatural #Season4"

 - Twitter, August 25, 2013

Some further thoughts this time around:

• I hate the Season 4 title card - the screeching birds freak me out every time.
• I love Dean in a short sleeved t-shirt - so hot.
• Misha shows up third in the credits, behind Jim Beaver and GenPad
• The date on the paper at the convenience store was September 18, 2008 - the date this episode aired.
• I LOVE Cas's handprint branded into Dean's skin.  #profoundbond
• I watched the season finale of Season 3 right before I watched this episode and already forgot - is Dean's outfit the same outfit that he was wearing?  I read on the SuperWiki that the place where Dean was buried was 200 miles from where he died.
• Cas's real voice - crazy grating.  
• Who leaves their car at an abandoned gas station?  Seems a little too convenient.
• I love Dean's "Surprise" to Bobby.
• That was a whole lot of holy water in Dean's face - I love that it was so much that he had to spit it out.
• Dean insisting "I'm not a demon!"  Made me sniffle.
• "Hey, Bobby?  What's the deal with the liquor store?  What, are your parents out of town or something?"
• 14 minutes into the episode before we see Sam.
• Sam's face when he sees Dean . . . wow.
• "I know, I look fantastic, huh?"
• Quick thinking on Sam and Ruby's part when he calls her Kathy and her face falls and she says "Kristy" - I think that's my favorite GenPad scene until Lucifer Rising.
• Love that Sam wore the Samulet while Dean was in Hell
• I can't believe that Dean almost forgot the Impala!
• The iPod jack - 'What the hell is that?  You're supposed to take care of her, not douche her up!"
• The "Jesse Forever" tattoo - let's pretend that Pamela's a big Brand New fan
• "Well, he didn't touch me there!"  Man, could you imagine if Cas HAD touched Dean there and that's where his handprint was burned?  OUCH.
• Poor Pamela . . . she never even got to see how hot Cas's vessel is.
• "What makes you so special?"  "I like to think it's because of my perky nipples."  
• I really do not like seeing Dean hitting women, even if they're possessed by demons.
• How did it take Cas so long to catch on that Dean couldn't hear his true voice?
• So . . . GenPad's reveal as Ruby.  Here's the thing.  I like GenPad.  And I like her as a character on the show. But I just didn't see it as believable that she and Katie Cassidy played the same role.  Katie Cassidy's Ruby was so badass - GenPad's is more submissive.  It seemed like a different character to me.  We'll see if I feel differently the second time around.
• Cas's entrance is amazing.

I mean . . . seriously, what an entrance

• Also - that hair.  I miss Cas's Season 4 hair.
• Also I will never spell it Cass.
• The way that he says his own name "Castiel" for the first time is weird to me.
• "This is your problem, Dean.  You have no faith."
• Wild.  So wild.  So awesome.