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Initial Overview:

Vampire episode. Colt introduced by John-- one weapon to end it all. John uses Dean as bait. Old guard hunters picked off-- continuing introduction of the concept of a hunting community (previously there have been mentions of other hunters, calling contacts, etc, but the boys never actually encounter anyone besides John on screen until Bobby in 2.01). Hunters took Colt from vampires who are now after revenge.

Notes:

Vampires are incestually close family-- literally joined by blood (& bisexual) -- gay & incest taboo. Boys thought they didn't exist, John was wrong

John's diary treated as Bible (not first mention but increasingly common) but John did not bring them there. Didn't come in, didn't tell boys about Elkins, includes them in search for Colt but doesn't tell them what it is or why he's looking for it. Sam keeps questioning John in search of more information (read: honesty, connection respect)-- wants to learn but comes off as rebellion.

John takes shot at Dean. "I wouldn't have given you the damn thing if I thought you were gonna ruin it." First mention of Impala being John's car (I think. Double check this). Reminds Dean of his responsibilities: get Sam under control → you can't handle this → I'm letting you be here conditionally

Sam expresses frustration with John. Attributes his and Dean's time together as responsible for their growth, comments that he feels infantilized by the way John treats them. Dean does NOT push back like usual.

Gun stolen from Elkins without permission from VFVampire father., brings threat after family with intentions of revenge. VF says "revenge isn't worth much if you end up dead."

John gives order & doesn't explain reasoning. Sam is driving, Dean relays message. Sam wants clarity, Dean tries to step in and struggles insignificantly (2.01).

Sam mwants honesty and clarity from god. Resistent to blind faith. Resists every order for control over his own life. Accuses John of pushing him oit, never giving him the chance to be a normal human. John says that Sam abandoned the family. Even in resistance he includes Dean in his skepticism. Dean does not argue this in the moment, only tries to avoid the conflic altogether.

Girl is turned into vampire against her will by female vampire, forced to join family of blood. Now is as good of a time as ever to link to the Rape essay, because vampires are the first of many monsters whose threat relies on the loss of bodily autonomy.

John's fucking methodically organized & mechanical weapons trunk with his big ass dick machete he brings out in rejection of Dean's insufficient offerance.

First venture into vamp lair, SamDean frees freshly turned girl who wakes rest of family.

Sam & John hash it out.

• John admits he wanted more for them than this.
• feels he cannot protect them from the world. Refers to himself as a drill sgt.
• accepts that he was unable to let Sam be a person, no indication as to why
• calls him & Sam too different. Sam says they aren't (compares losing Jess to losing Mary, which! actually! here's a very relevant quote from John's journal to explain a little of that: "For [Sam], Mary is a word. A mother, to him, is something he never had — but he’s still supposed to be sad that she died. I don’t think he gets it. How could he, really?")
• John spent the college funds on ammunition.

Dean is used as bait! Gets sexually assaulted~ really hot~

Cover yourself with the dead to protect yourself from the family of blood. Kay!

Dean finally pushes back against John. John says he doesn't want them there because he can't protect them. Dean questions this-- what happens if John dies? "We're stronger as a family, Dad, you know it!" Heartbreaking stuff.

VF becomes reckless when loved one is in danger.

SamDean take care of nest while John confronts VF for Colt. Dean gets to save people. John (first to use the Colt) saves Sam when Dean loses advantage. Sacrificed bullet for sons-- FINALLY! he values his fucking children over that god damn mother fucking SRQ. Kill yourself John I hate you

John commends them for ignoring a direct order-- Dean talks back.

• What John wants: opposites of themselves

They have changed significantly since starting to hunt together. John observes it. Dean's pushback restores John's perception of him, now able to control & mitigate Sam while becoming more like a rebellious son himself → Second Molding.

→ Dean shaped to fit: Mother, Son, Father

→ Sam shaped to fit: Son

Only true form is Brother.