I, too wanted to just cuddle them. It's entirely possible that I have fantasies in which I go back in time and kidnap those poor babies from John and take them home and feed them cookies. Or raise them normally or something. Ok, if I really had time travel and fictional hopping powers I should just rescue Mary in the first place. But you get the idea.

I am familiar with that particular Midrash, and agree that it's great to get multiple perspectives on events. I'm sure *someone* could make Lilith sympathetic, though I'm not sure Kripke is the person to do it, with his creepy little girl fetish.

I didn't cringe at Dean's sadism, yet I cringed at how obnoxious young Dean was to the teacher and how socially inept he was while visiting the dead kid's dad, so I certainly know that reponse.

I agree with you that John's absence was very formative for Sam, and yet I *still* want to see more actual onscreen interaction between them. (Dammit JDM, stop playing a ghost on Greys and come back and play a dead guy on SPN instead!!!!!!!)