This episode wasn't the best of the series, you have got to be kidding. If anything, it stands at the bottom of the barrel. Please. Your Sam bias is so glaring it flashes brighter than a neon sign at midnight and it shows. If you can't be more neutral, at least say that you're a big Sam fan and anything that makes the show ALL ABOUT SAM is the BESTEST EPISODE EVAAA!!!

I give you a F.

Unlike, the previous comment I think that 'Mystery Spot' was a great episode. One of the best in the season.
I feel like I have to disagree that Sam 'accepts hugs hesitantly' which I imagine you got from 'All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2'. In AHBL2 Sam was confused as to what happened and why Dean was hugging him, so it became a one sided hug. Dean on the other hand is the one who (I believe) would not hug anyone except on occasion. Probably when he feels relief after a life changing experience. Of course, this time Dean thinks that Sam has gone through hundreds of Tuesdays so he lets this slide. (Plus the fact he knows how it feels to watch your brother die.)
Another part of your article I would like to comment on is the bit about the "Clowns or midgets?" joke. The joke in "Born Under A Bad Sign" did help because, let's face it, we are all hypocrites. Human beings are selfish in the way that they believe "I don't care if I die, but nothing should happen to him/her because I wouldn't be able to handle it." I'm very sure that it is the same for the brothers as well. Dean sold his soul so Sam will leave despite the consequences. Sam is willing to find any means possible to get Dean of the deal despite Dean clearly saying that he didn't want Sam to try. (I'm talking about all the episodes before "Dream A Little Dream of Me") So in BUABS that factor wasn't there. While in 'Mystery Spot' that joke came on what I imagine to be an hour or two max after Sam spent six months without Dean. As much as Sam wanted Dean back in the six months, he would still need to readjust back to his 'old' self. Getting used to hearing Dean's voice, his jokes, even seeing him walking around after months of thinking about how his brother was going through in hell. (I almost cried while writing that, can't imagine what Sam went through) I wouldn't be surprised that Sam spent the next day or two just taking everything in, getting back to his old life.
I'm not even sure if what said made sense. I swear, the thoughts in my mind are much clearer than the words I write. Anyway, I totally agree that secret keeping among the brothers is a major no-no. When will they learn?

You said it perfectly in the Review, it was one of the best.

I had to comment about the "Sam accepts hugs hesitanty" reference. You are so spot on on that regard. And I will cite examples: Playthings when the mother hugs Sam...he's hesitant before hugging back. Heart. Sam is hesitant when Madison hugs him after the vigil. Even way back in Season 1 he is very hesitant with Lori in Hookman. Provenence was a huge life hesitation in letting anyone - Sarah get close to him. But then he does but then in Dead Man's Blood he refuses to even consider going back to see Sarah. That fear of letting someone get close is in full force.

This was a beautifully written adn insightful review and I kudos Jeremy Carver for writing the episode.

Amy

Alice,

I liked Mystery Spot, although I've seen a number of comments on other sites similar to strangelove's. Some have expressed frustration at the writing and "lack" of a focused storyline this season and feel this episode encapsulated these problems. "We all know Dean won't die, so his death has no impact." I think a lot of these comments come back to your earlier article that Eric Kripke needs more respect from us. Let's face it, this is his show, his vision, and we've had the honor of being invited along for the ride. We might not like everything we see, and we should be happy that EK's willing to listen to us, but in the end this is his story to tell. Look at what happened to LOST when the writer's began to listen too much to the viewers (i.e., Nikki and Paolo).

PS-
Alice, I haven't read your articles on the fandom yet, but strangelove's comments strike at another issue I found very surprising: an undercurrent in the fandom of a rift between Sam and Dean lovers. Personally, I really like Jensen Ackles. He's the main reason I watch the show, but I have really grown to like Jared Padalecki, too. So when I first began to encounter comments like
"Your Sam bias is so glaring it flashes brighter than a neon sign at midnight and it shows. If you can't be more neutral, at least say that you're a big Sam fan and anything that makes the show ALL ABOUT SAM is the BESTEST EPISODE EVAAA!!! "
I was very surprised. Perhaps a third article on the fandom could address this.

Thanks everyone for the supportive comments, and even dissenters are welcome, for I know that any episode that focuses on one character more than the other is bound to generate some strong reactions.

Yes, the article was Sam biased, because the episode was. For the record, I rank this episode slightly higher that "What Is and What Should Never Be" because I thought the writing was top notch and some of the best I've seen anywhere. Both episodes gave us huge character growth in which both actors knocked it out of the park.

I love both Sam and Dean equally, but Sam's character changes this season have been particularly fascinating for me. Dean has been showing some big growth too, but it hasn't come from a single episode focus, and I'm not sure why some Dean fans don't see it. Compare Dean from "Jus In Bello" with Dean in "All Hell Breaks Loose Part II". He's stronger, more sure of himself and has more respect for who he is. When I get around to a review about "Jus In Bello" (I was waiting for when it aired again), trust me when I say there will be huge focus on how much Dean has grown this season. He was fantastic in that episode.

Beth, thanks so much for mentioning that rift in the fandom. I'll consider your suggestion. I've noticed some comments like that, but I have found compared to other fandoms, the Sam vs. Dean fan rift isn't so bad. Most are like us and love both characters very much, and trust in Kripke. Go into a forum for Grey's Anatomy or House, it gets much uglier.