I really, really enjoyed this episode.
One it did surprise me, I was very much expecting Mark Sheppard to be around the full season possible through the end of the season 7.
I really felt Sam's choice was extremely logical with all he has to work with it. Not something thats made from rage, or hurt feelings or past history. It makes perfect sense.
It was also nice to for them to show that Crowley does indeed some serious limitations, I also liked that Castiel found his bones (which since we have known that he has enemies in hell he can't just take them down into the Pitt), and I imagine that any destruction of the bones, besides erosion over the decades) would cause the same effect to a demon that fire did, but thats just speculation).
Loved, loved Dean's reaction to Samuel, and with Dean if your family you must seriously, seriously fuck up to get the I am going to kill you line, and I hope it happens.
Samuel what a twisted sick bastard. First I hope he doesn't think Mary is in heaven, because if he does then he is seriously seriously beyond redemption. While Dean and Sam have been told Mary is in Heaven by Zachariah, just because they saw a creation of her that was his toy doesn't mean that is real. After all Zachariah did lie about every episode, and was very much into warping reality or moving into possible futures to manipulate people. So its very possible Mary isn't in fact in Heaven. And after all Samuel is right in that who the hell or Sam and Dean to him. But to try this if you think she is in heaven is just wow, so fed up.
I think this might have been one of the best performance's by Jared this year. I really dug it.
Though they still haven't explored why (especially surrounded by Demons, and ones who are freely bleeding) why he doesn't just take a hit. Seriously. That boggles the mind. One of only three things I didn't care for in this episode.
2nd thing I didn't care for in this episode was Castiel kissing Meg, sorry what.....
I loved the porn bit (as we know Castiel does on occasion feel the influences of his host's natural wants and desires) so no problem with Angel boner. As this was a far more natural and wasn't the brothers (read Dean) out trying to get the Angel laid (which I didn't care for). But I don't see why he would kiss what he sees as one of the foulest things in creation.
3rd thing I didn't care for was the fact that Dean doesn't get why Sam would think its not the best idea to get his soul back. First he knows how damaged he was from his much shorter stint in hell (right now Sam's been down about 5 to 6 times as long), and he has to be stupid to not see that he has been bring up the bad aspects of having a soul (pain, anguish, hurt) and not pushing the positive. The show has shown that Dean has been doubting Sam for a couple episodes on his desire to get his soul back (and I think he has had small ones, but was absolutely trying to get it back, until all the talk about him being a wrecked shell of a being). If he actually felt those doubts about Sam why wasn't stumpy using his own experience to showcase the better aspects of having a soul.
But beyond that I found the episode compelling with characters really being true to their own personality and experiences.
Soem minor points. I loved Sam using his own blood to make a devil's trap. I hope the purgatory story isn't ended (I seriously, seriously doubt it). I hope we get some angel action with the heaven civil war, but I really do doubt that one. And I hope Samuel learns first hand that while he might have the knowledge, that in the end the Winchestor's really take him out.