Whilst I went with the flow on this one, like you I found some things jarring - and half hearted. I read someone's comment somewhere saying these two writers in particular don't seem to have realised that the two men they are writing about have been through a TON of shit since Season 1, so simply repeating jokes that worked when Dean and Sam were ten years younger just sound crass now.
I get that.... the world changed some, too. Some of Dean's earlier characterizations wouldn't fly today, and that is not a bad thing, love Dean as I might. And yea, seriously, can they please stop giving these people episodes? If they need to hire another write instead, and they're too dumb to take someone from fandom, tempt Jane Espenson over!
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