The End Is Just The Beginning

When I first began the class, I was versed in writing for the digital audience in terms of blogging and media reviews, as well as presenting continuing education courses through the web. What I was seeking to get a greater understanding of was where the digital market was in terms of mainstream journalism, as well as hoping to gain a greater understanding of how I could enrich my own online presentations to garner a larger and more interactive audience. I think this class has done that and much more.

The first assignment, after setting up our own blog, made me think about how I could take a personally relevant topic and make it accessible to a larger audience. Often, in my media reviews, I come at it from the viewpoint of the audience is already “in the know.” They are fans themselves, they've consumed the media and want to reflect upon it. By having to think about not only how to present a topic such as where I'm from, but also how to present it in a way that it's understandable to someone who has never been there, I was challenged to look at my writing in a whole new way. That skill has aided my ability to present information in my daily work environment, to be able to adapt the coursework from a physician's level to a medical student's level, so that learners who may not be “in the know” already can still understand and learn from the information presented.

For some aspects of the expansion of that assignment, I was already well-versed in the skills that were being taught. I could work towards making it accessible to an online audience because that was my background. In most of my writing, I've written for an online audience rather than an offline market, so the addition of relevant links and images was second nature to me. Additionally, our pairing up to give constructive feedback on our first blog posts was something that I had done many times before. However, the framing of our feedback within the suggested areas of identification made me focus and expand on those aspects of writing so that I could be more beneficial to my partner. It was interesting to see not only the feedback my partner gave me on my assignment, but also the discussion among my classmates on their background in giving and receiving constructive feedback. I find this is one skill that is essential in all aspects of writing, so to be able to get comfortable with it and be beneficial to those we are reviewing is something that will always serve us well in our careers.

The Week 5 assignment was interesting to me because, not only have I been challenged prior to write catchy titles for my media reviews, but also for the online continuing medical education coursework that I've presented. A catchy title, or hook, is what draws the reader in and it's also something that sticks in their mind so that they can remember and return later. I'm also in the midst of writing hooks at different word-counts for my first novel, so it was nice to see the challenge extended into a journalism arena as well. Since the assignment, I've begun thinking more about the length of my blog titles, as well as how to make sure they're fast, easy to remember, and engaging to a reader.

I enjoyed creating the Fandomania article for our Week 6-7 assignment, exploring the heavy topic of the Leviathans that is currently being explored on Supernatural through both historical representation and popular culture representation. This was a bit challenging for me because, keeping in mind the audience that I was writing for, I didn't want to get too bogged down in the historical texts of the topic, but I also wanted to explore and expand on how media was currently representing the topic. Additionally, I wanted to compare how the show was utilizing historical aspects of the myth, as well as adapting the elements to create their own story. Because of how much research went into it, and where the current storyline of the show is during the mid-season hiatus, I'm planning on using the article for Fandomania sometime this month. It will serve as a nice mid-season hiatus topic, as well as informing the fans of how layered the current storyline is.

Continuing on my Supernatural theme, I was glad that I got to live-blog the current episode for our Week 8 assignment. I had been doing so prior, since I have to review the episodes for Fandomania, so I tend to live blog my thoughts as I take notes during the airing. I assumed this would be a continuance of that, but it wasn't quite as easy as I thought. True live-blogging, without the ability to pause the event, is challenging because you tend to miss what's going on while you're blogging about the prior events. It certainly stretched my ability to multi-task! But though the assignment I learned how to make quicker notes, a point of remembrance almost, so that I could go back and expand upon it later. I didn't need to get a whole paragraph down while I was live-blogging, I simply needed to get a note down of “this is what's happening” since those watching along with me would be able to fill in the blanks. Those who came back after the event would be able to see my expanded posts, so they would have the gaps filled in without having to be present as the episode was happening live.

In close competition with the Leviathan article, our Week 10-11 assignment ranked up there as most fun and most challenging for me. I already had a passion for the topic of Jason Todd / Red Hood and had witnessed the controversy that erupted over the release of his new series, so I knew I had a willing audience to give feedback on what they thought. This was quite different than my usual articles, as I write opinion pieces and reviews, so I had to keep reminding myself that this had to be unbiased and equal to both sides. Whichever way my opinion swayed was not relevant to the presentation of the quotes, so I had to make sure that I got quotes that presented both sides. And I did, to abundance. In many ways, rather than having too few sources, I think I was overwhelmed by having too many. I set up a survey to gather my information, since I would be asking the same questions to everyone to get their differing opinions, but perhaps if I do this again I should limit the time period to only a few days rather than a week. But, sorting through the responses and having so many to choose from allowed me to have a more cohesive and balanced presentation of quotes. I was better able to not let my own opinion influence the way the article slanted and instead showed both sides equally.

I feel like I've learned so much from not only my own assignments, but through my interaction with my classmates in discussions. We have been able to learn and grow together, bringing our own viewpoints to the forums and gaining more knowledge through each others' experiences. Whereas I could contribute more towards the use of current digital tools, my classmates could contribute towards the transformation of journalism from a paper market to a digital one. I think I know much more about the traditional journalism field now and I think my classmates may know more about the blogging field that I'm involved in. We've learned together and we've all benefited.

Twittering!

I joined Twitter on July 18, 2009 as @kimberlyFDR (which is the same handle I use across the web). That was the day I got a phone that could text. Prior, I was RSS feeding actors' Twitter accounts to my Livejournal friendspage to read, but with the ability to text myself I jumped in with my own account. Since then I've tweeted 4,629 times (as of this minute), am following 267 people, am being followed by 331 people, and have been listed 57 times.



This week, there's been a couple of events that dominated my announcements on Twitter. The big one has been the ending of National Novel Writing Month. Many of us were racing to the finish line to write 50,000 words of a novel by November 30th. I finished late in the night of November 29th and wanted to share the news with my fellow participants.

I HAVE FINISHED NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH! Open Office says 51,414 and NaNo's site verification says 50,122. Either way, I'm a winner! :D ~kimberlyFDR 30 Nov via web

As a result of my completion, I was interviewed by a fellow author to go over my experience as a first-time participant.

Check it out! @rebeccablain interviewed me about my experience with NaNoWriMo on her blog! "An Interview with Kimberly" http://x.nu/iFVc1 ~kimberlyFDR 30 Nov via Tweet Button

There have also been a few agent pitch opportunities for writers this week, which I entered and then shared the links via Twitter.

Only 4 more spots left in Operation Awesome's Mystery Agent Contest for December! http://bit.ly/u0N9Zg 1 sentence pitch, commercial fiction. ~kimberlyFDR 1 Dec via Seesmic

Savvy Authors - Pitch your book to Laurie McLean of Larsen Pomada Literary Agency: http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?1712-Pitch-your-book-to-Laurie-McLean-of-Larsen-Pomada-Literary-Agency 25 word pitches accepted. Come over! ~kimberlyFDR 2 Dec via web

A fellow author is giving away her Kindle, since she received a Kindle Fire, and she's been having an ongoing competition about that. She asked that we share the word in order to qualify for our entry.

Preternatura: Kindle Giveaway Friday--What Are You Reading? http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com/2011/12/kindle-giveaway-friday-what-are-you.html?spref=tw ~kimberlyFDR 6 hours ago via Tweet Button

Also, I had a comic review come out this week and I always announce when they go live.

My review of Angel &Faith #4 comic is now up on @Fandomania http://fandomania.com/?p=44649 I adore Steve Morris' artwork for the cover! A great issue. ~kimberlyFDR 29 Nov via Tweet Button

Finally, since December 1st was World AIDS Day, and that's an event that holds a special place in my heart, I did a tweet about this year's theme, as well as a link to President Obama's speech about the day.

This year's World AIDS Day theme is "Leading with Science, Uniting for Action." Together we can have a world w/o AIDS http://abcn.ws/shnYsW ~kimberlyFDR 1 Dec via Seesmic

I find Twitter convenient to keep up with news and friends on the go. It's been quite a fun ride and I've networked with so many great people since I took the leap!

Fandomania FAQs

You have questions? We have answers! If you are curious as to any aspect of Fandomania, you can check out our Frequently Asked Questions below and we've likely answered your inquiry already. If you're still curious, or just want to drop us a line, head on over to our Contact Form.

About Fandomania

What is Fandomania?

• Fandomania is a blog that covers what fans are excited about the most. We have articles about a wide range of pop culture with reviews, meta, and press releases. If you can be a fan of it, Fandomania has a place for it. We periodically have contests as well, which means you get to share in the goodies we've been reviewing.

How often do articles come out?

• Fandomania publishes articles Monday through Friday, between 8AM and 8PM. We publish between 3-5 articles per day. Archives are available to catch up on any articles you may have missed.

Who writes for the site?

• We have a number of writers on our staff with interests ranging from comics to television shows, video games to books. You can learn more about each writer on our About Us page by clicking on the author's name.

What's the podcast all about?

• Every Monday, the editors of Fandomania (Jason and Celeste) put out a podcast on their latest fan commentary of the week. The topics range from opinions on new television, the latest games they've played, and anything else that their geeky minds can come up with. You can subscribe to the podcast feed through iTunes, listen on the site, or download the audio file for later use. There is also an RSS feed that you can add to your favorite reader so you can keep up to date on when a new podcast is released.

Why do you seem to have media before it's released?

• Fandomania gets pre-releases from a number of media sources in order to do reviews prior to full release or to give our writers a chance to write their articles so that they can be published on the day of official media release, depending on publishers' requests. There is the chance that pre-release reviews may spoil you on some aspects of the media, but they also may inform you of aspects of the media that you weren't aware of.

Accessing Content

What are the main categories of articles?

• Fandomania covers a wide range of fandom happenings, but we have each article assigned to a larger category for ease of access. These categories are: News (for breaking news in fandom), Reviews (we liked it, we hated it, we want to share our opinions with you), Interviews (exclusive interviews with fandom personalities), and Contests (you can win something cool just by commenting).

There's this article I know was on the site, how can I find it again?

• The last ten articles that came out on Fandomania will be on the front page at all times. If you're looking for an article that's older, you can either click on the main categories of article types or you can use our search box on the top left of the site. This will search keywords in the articles, but not the authors themselves.

I like this writer's work. How can I see other articles that they've published?

• You can click on the author's name from any of their articles and pull up a short biography, as well as a listing of other articles they've written. If you find a writer you like, be sure to drop them a comment, join them on Twitter, or email just to say hello.

Being Interactive

How can I follow Fandomania's articles without checking the site everyday?

• We know that checking back on your favorite websites can be a hassle, but we have a solution! Fandomania offers a number of ways to be alerted to new content. You can follow our Twitter account, which posts an announcement when there's a new article up. Additionally, you can follow our Facebook account and receive the same notifications. And if neither of those work for you, you can use our RSS feed in your favorite feed reader and get notifications that way.

How can I leave a comment?

• Our writers love comments, so feel free to leave a quick note or start a longer discussion. There's a simple comment form at the bottom of each article where you simply fill in your name, email address (which isn't published), your website (if you want your name linked to it), and your comment. That's it!

I like what you're doing. How can I get involved?

• If you have media that you would like one of our writers to look at, feel free to contact them directly or send a note to our editors through the Contact Form. Periodically, we will have staff openings so that you can come on board as a writer yourself. We will post a call for staff at that time and be open for applications. Keep a watch on these announcements! Or, if you want to get your name in early in case we have an opening now, you can contact us through the Contact Form.

My question wasn't answered. Can you help?

• Sure! If you have any questions about the site or the content, feel free to contact us through the Contact Form, leave a comment on Facebook, or tweet us. We will respond to your question right away.

Rebooting Red Hood

Comic Fans Respond To The Reset Of Their Beloved Characters

by Kimberly Lynn Workman


DC 52: The Reboot

On August 31, 2011, DC Universe rebooted or newly launched 52 comic series. These were based in the larger universes such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Justice League, and Young Justice, as well as The Edge and The Dark. What made this launch such a memorable event was the fact that not only were the comic books starting again, back at Issue #1, but character arcs and plotlines would be essentially reset to start anew. The characters didn't have to rely on previous histories if they didn't want to. They could be taken anywhere and in new directions as their plotlines developed. This was a historic day in the comic book world and one that had many fans eagerly anticipating the results.

Among the lines that were released within the Batman universe was Red Hood and the Outlaws. This series paired former Robin and current Red Hood, Jason Todd, with Green Arrow's rejected sidekick Roy Harper aka Arsenal and alien princess Starfire aka Koriand'r. Together, they set out to form a team, proving themselves as not the rebellious outliers that others may think them to be. What kind of reboot of their characters would occur? Would they still be recognizable as the characters fans grew up with? And how would these former loners get along? It was with great anticipation that fans awaited the initial release to find out.

Jason Todd: Former Sidekick Turned Leader

Jason Todd has had a storied past. He was the second Robin, killed at the hands of The Joker and his death never avenged by his adoptive father, Bruce Wayne. Upon his resurrection, he took over the mantle of Red Hood and started doing the things that Batman would not; namely killing the bad guys because they needed to be killed. A loner, he has become a cult favorite among fans who followed the rejected child of the Bat Family into an expanded universe that set him apart with his own personality, independent of his former ties. Now, he has been cast as the leader of this rag-tag group of heroes, whether he likes it or not.


While Jason has maintained his defining traits of being an antihero who kills the people that need killing, feelings about his separation from the Bat Family are varied. Some, like comic reader Jess Leeper, see it as a positive move that gives Jason his own identity. “I think it's fair enough to say that I agree with one of [Red Hood and the Outlaws writer] Scott Lobdell's interviews in which he said that Jason's story was going to head in a direction that was beyond the batfam. I think that's a good direction to go towards, given that restricting Jason to arcs that are linked with Gotham in some manner is not beneficial to sustaining an identity beyond the 'Robin who died'.” However, with that creation of a separate identity, it would also put him in a better place if he were to return to Gotham to meet up with the family that shaped him. “I'd like to see him deal with the Bat Family and in a different way this time. He's not obsessed anymore with Batman, so he could try for once to face Bruce without trying to actually kill him. Talk things out,” says Drew, a Jason Todd fan.

But is he creating an identity on his own, or still as an extension of his adoptive family? According to fan JenDP, Jason's very much rooted in the man Bruce Wayne created. “We SHOULD get to see why Jason's wearing the bat symbol and what's his status with Bruce and the rest of the Bat-family. That's important to me, because Jason's return was all about how it affected Bruce. [N]o matter how many other great mentors Jason had when he returned, Bruce is still the one who started his career into vigilantism, the one whose partner he was during his death, his father-figure, and many things.” Comic reader Jay questions Jason's separation of identity as well. “He's wearing the bat on his chest, and yet he's adamantly not a hero? Not a "Bat"? This needs addressing.”


Roy Harper Is Making A New Start

Roy Harper seems to have gone through a bit of history erasure, as well as being given some changes to his personality and status. At the beginning of the series, Roy is busted out of prison and then joins Jason Todd and Starfire in seclusion on an island. Why was he in prison in the first place? Why do he and Jason seem to be closer now? And why does Roy appear to not only be younger than Jason, but also no longer a father? All these questions and more remain unanswered as of yet.


The characterization of Roy has been noted as a return to former days, a new start to erase the destruction that the past few years had caused him. Comic book reader Marina echoes this sentiment. “Roy's character has been changed a great deal. I think we're getting a younger Roy in this series [which is] a good change because frankly, the last decade destroyed him completely. We're getting the chance to make him grow into a better man. [A]t the end I see this a new chance to get his life straight.” However, the amount of history rewriting is still unclear. Did Roy go through the noted drug addiction that shaped his character in the later years? And did he actually serve with the Teen Titans, as former canon showed? “There seem to be conflicting interviews on whether the DCnU Teen Titans is the first incarnation of the team or not,” says comic fan Jess Leeper. “Anyway, if he's lost that history as well, then you might as well strip the character completely clean and call him a different name, because he's not Roy Harper anymore.”

More notably is the fact that his family life seems to have disappeared along with a couple of years off his age. He has yet to be shown to still be a father to Lian, whose absence has been a point of contention for many fans. “I disagree with the way he was changed, because it took away Lian, his daughter, who was great for him,” says fan Georgina O'Shea. Comic reader Relena Belnades agrees, “I liked the old him was rooted in his relationship with his daughter Lian. She helped make him into a better person, and it's hard to see him de-aged and bratty.” It seems that the defining characteristic of Roy, prior to the reboot, was his role as a father. “I do feel that being a single father really made the character stronger and more identifiable,” says comic fan Nelson Moore. It has yet to be shown whether Lian will exist at all within this storyline, but her absence is certainly felt amongst the fans. This Roy has been created anew and he is not the same as he once was.

Starfire Becoming Too Sexualized?

So far, two issues of the comic has come out with a third set to release on November 16, 2011. After the initial release of Issue #1, there was a large public outcry from some fans over the way the character Starfire was being presented, as she was perceived to be seen through the male gaze in a very sexual manner, more-so than her previous renditions. At the beginning of the series, she has allied herself with Jason Todd and appears to have amnesia on certain former events, as well as having no-strings-attached sex with both male main characters (Jason and Roy).


There was a very clear divide among fans on the sexual nature of Starfire's portrayal. Those who were against this version of the character asserted that she had become, in essence, a non-entity in comparison to her male counterparts as she was just being used for sexual gratification of both the main male characters and the readership. “[W]hile reading the first issue, I still felt very uncomfortable and uneasy about her portrayal. I kept waiting for them to explain why it is that she all of a sudden couldn't remember Dick [Grayson, the original Robin and her former fiance], or why she was acting so cavalier about having sex with random men,” said comic reader Skies of Honey. The sex positivity doesn't bother other fans, but it's the way it's presented. “While I don't have a problem with her having sex, or even casual sex with multiple partners, the way the comic portrayed it made her seem like a walking blow-up-doll. She didn't seem to enjoy any of it. It really came off as sexist and forced- basically just fanservice,” says Chemist52.

However, there were also many readers who saw this new, grown-up version of Starfire as being a sexually liberated woman who took control of her own life and has turned the typical male approach to sexuality on its head. “If it is okay for a guy to have sex with her, it is okay for her to have sex with him. I'd like to see Starfire continue on running her own life. That's what I want from most female characters. I would prefer she not suddenly get into a relationship and become secondary to that,” says comic fan Bunny. When asked about his opinion on the new rendition of Starfire, reader Eddie Stephens admits, “I don't have a problem with it as it's a new take on Starfire's alien side, and to me, she seems more confident and powerful than before.” That air of confidence has echoed with others as well. “I didn't like her character before the reboot, she was too 'perfect' and the kind of girl I find irritating, too emotionally attached to everyone, so I'm giving this new version a chance to make her into a strong woman who can stand by herself and not [be] 'Dick's ex-girlfriend'”, says long-time reader Marina.

What's Next For The Outlaws?

It remains to be seen where this group of characters will go or what interactions they may have. The series has, thus far, introduced them in a way that shows they can work together, despite their pasts, and that they are building a relationship between the three of them that may serve them well in more dangerous situations. There is a common thread of a “secret” character that has appeared in the background of repeated first issues of the reboots thus far, so it may be the case that there is a potential for crossover between the storylines. If that's true, there's a strong possibility that these characters will have to interact with those from their past, including the Bat Family. Fans will have to wait and see if that possible meeting will show a group of characters who have grown into their new identities with strength or if they still can't outrun their past issues. The possibilities are endless when canon has been reset. It's an exciting time to be a fan of DC Comics.

Contributing Information For Red Hood Article

The article was intended for those who are familiar with the DC Comic Reboot, especially those who have a connection to the Red Hood comic reboot that had spawned media controversy when it was released. The article was completed through the creation of a survey (questions listed below) that was sent to various Red Hood-related Livejournal and Tumblr communities, as well as directly to known fans who reported they had either acquired a digital or printed copy of the comic. Of the latter, directly contacted fans, one responded that she had not ultimately bought the comic and five others never responded to the direct email.

SURVEY

This survey (one page of questions, one page of demographics) is meant to collection information and opinions from comic book fans in regards to Red Hood and the Outlaws. Quotes will be used to write an article for a class assignment to illustrate timely reporting. Respondents can note their real name or username (for anonymity) at the end of the survey, but some level of name must be referenced for collected quotes. The article will be published on http://digitalkimberly.blogspot.com in mid-November and respondents may be contacted for follow-up if further exploration of their answers is needed. Any questions can be directed to kimberlyFDR@yahoo.com


1. It's important to know the background of the survey respondents in terms of comic history. Please explain your history with comics. How long have you been reading comics? What draws you to a comic series?

2. Some fans may be drawn to a particular comic line. How long have you been reading DC Comics? What drew you to Red Hood and the Outlaws?

3. The Outlaws series begins with Jason breaking Roy Harper out of prison and having already allied with Starfire. What are your thoughts on the way Jason Todd's character has been represented in the series thus far (Issues 1-2)? Do you agree with the way his character has been changed for this reboot?

4. If you could direct the future of the series, where do you want Jason's character to go? What issues do you want to see highlighted in terms of his character exploration?

5. At the beginning of the series, Roy Harper is busted out of prison and then joins Jason Todd and Starfire in seclusion on an island. What are your thoughts on Roy's characterization in the series thus far (Issues 1-2)? Do you agree with the way his character has been changed for this reboot?

6. If you could direct the future of the series, where do you want Roy's character to go? What issues do you want to see highlighted in terms of his character exploration?

7. At the beginning of the series, Starfire has allied with Jason Todd and appears to have amnesia on certain former events, as well as having sex with both male main characters. What are your thoughts on Starfire's characterization in the series thus far (Issues 1-2)? Do you agree with the way her character has been changed for this reboot?

8. If you could direct the future of the series, where do you want Starfire's character to go? What issues do you want to see highlighted in terms of her character exploration?

9. Please note your demographic information below
Name:
Country:
Email Address:


INFORMATION VERIFICATION

In order to complete the article, I verified release dates as well as character histories involved in the comic to make a fair comparison between where the characters began and what their current rebooted canon looks like. I also researched appropriate video and picture representations of the characters to represent their previous incarnations as comparable to the current comic panels.

Week 9 Assignments

1. Wireless Access Points in Chapel Hill (Found on Google Maps)

2. Amended Supernatural Wikipedia Entry (Found on the Wiki)

3. Wordle Balloon (Found On Wordle)

4. Timeline of Supernatural Seasons (Found on Dipity)

This is a timeline of all the season premiere and season end dates for the show Supernatural. Included is the DVD artwork for each season's DVDs (1-6) and the Season 7 title card. Additionally, links are included to the Wikipedia entries for each season for more information about episodes, production, and airing schedules.

Episode Wrap-Up

The episode was an interesting way to portray the Osiris myth. I was confused at first, since the victims were being chased by hallucinatory elements and then we find out they had actually turned their lives around, so Osiris was judging them for the guilt that still weighed in their hearts. Of course Dean would be #1 on that list. His two biggest guilts being the way he ruined (in his mind) Jo and Sam's lives were very true to his character. And the threat to Amy being the third witness pushed him over the edge. He'd rather die than tell Sam the truth about her. This is not going to bode well for them in the long-term. Secrets between the Winchesters usually end in death and pain.


As for Sam, seeing him being the most well-adjusted between the two of them was a bit weird. This is the guy with the Hell hallucinations and the constant need to use pain to ground himself in reality and he's the better of the two? But he's also learned to let go of his guilt. He's done some bad things in his life, but he served his time in Hell and now he sees the scales as more balanced. Dean hasn't learned that yet and it's going to kill him if he doesn't learn it soon. He can't carry around that much guilt and pain without it cracking his already fragile psyche. He's already withdrawn into the safety of his former view of the world being clearly monsters = bad. I wonder when Sam will learn the truth about Amy and when Dean's going to go tumbling down.


It was wonderful to see Jo back tonight. We got a chance to see Ellen brought back from the dead in the AU Titanic world, so it was only fitting that Jo get to come back at least once. It was interesting that she didn't want to bring vengeance upon Dean, but she was pushed to do so by Osiris. And Dean was so forgiving the entire time, because he knew that she didn't want to do it either. I wondered how she would kill him, apparently blocking out that "oh, yeah, he's going to die like she did" so when she started turning on the gas it was gut-wrenching. They were all put into a bad situation, but thankfully Sam managed to save them in time.


Despite the weighed-down nature of tonight's ep, there were some lighter/old-school moments:

• Brotherly bickering when they went through the first victim's crime scene.


• Getting to trample through the graveyard. They haven't done that in a while.


• Sam laying a salt circle (and Dean laying one later). Always nice to go back to basics.


• Dean trying to psyche himself up to get with the bartender. He's been out of the game for far too long.


• Lawyer!Sam! He's a bit rusty, but it was nice to see him attempt to put some of that old knowledge to good use.


• Sam stealing the ram's horn from the synagogue. I don't know what he told the guy to be able to get it out of there (or maybe he took it by force), but I love that he had no qualms about going into a holy building and stealing an item because it needed to be done.

I'm looking forward to next week and I'm also looking forward to seeing how Dean's issues work out. He's got a lot weighing on him and sooner or later something's got to give.

The complete transcript of tonight's episode can be found on the SupernaturalWiki.