Watercooler review of Time Is On My Side from TV Guide online

[agt_spooky]

I'll be back later with more detailed thoughts of my own, but for now, here's the watercooler review from Tina Charles over at tvguide.com:

ETA: Added just a couple thoughts of my own at the bottom

Episode Recap: "Time is on My Side"

So, this is an episode I think I'm still processing. First things first: the way Bela was written off was well done. And if any of you hadn't heard, or couldn't tell from the way "Time is on My Side" ended, Ms. Talbot won't be back in Season 4. The way Sera Gamble wrote her out, I didn't see coming. She made a deal with a demon to kill her parents when she was young. Lilith held her contract and even though Bela stole the Colt for Lilith, it wasn't enough to extend her deal. Lilith even tried to get Bela to kill Sam, but the boys finally got one up on her and that was all she wrote. Dean said it right. All she had to do was ask them for help and they would have been there for her. It was as simple as that. But in the end, there was nothing they could do. I understand why she made the deal; her father did awful things to her. But things didn't have to end this way for her. It's too bad. I'm actually someone who really liked Bela, especially in the beginning. Selling Sam and Dean out in "Jus in Bello" was just too much. But I think Lauren Cohan did one hell of a job as Bela and I especially loved the way the character was introduced in "Bad Day at Black Rock." That is, up until she shot Sam. I think that was another mistake the show made with this character. She could have been antagonistic and badass without having to shoot Sam. Now on to Sam and Dean: their differences led to another separation for these brothers. Sam knew Dean couldn't resist this hunt if zombies were the MOTW. But really, it was a creepy doc who was immortal. The guy literally stitched himself together using body parts from the people he kidnapped and sometimes killed. Apparently, BDW had "taken" care of the guy a long time ago, cut his heart out. Guess that didn't work since he was back stealing livers and kidneys and eyes. Guess cutting off his head wouldn't have worked either like it did in Highlander. He'd probably just walk around all headless until he ripped off someone else's head. Anyway, Sam knew he had to lie to Dean because there was no way his older brother would react favorably to Sam's real reason for taking on this hunt. Sam wanted to find Doc Benton's secret to immortality in order to help save Dean. He should have known Dean wouldn't go for that. Dean doesn't want to become a demon, why would he even entertain the thought of having to replenish his organs once they gave out in order to stay "alive?" Sure, Sam said this move would just buy them some time, but it was a crazy idea. Although, I loved how he said he would take the magic pill too. Could you imagine two immortal demon hunting brothers? Hope the guys wouldn't end up lookin' all patchy and stitched up like Doc Benton there. That definitely would not be a hot look on anyone, not even Jensen and Jared. Now, let's say the shoe was on the other foot. Do you think Dean would have gone after this solution if it were Sam's life hanging in the balance? It just seems like Dean would do anything for his brother, but not for himself. Those differences popped up again when it was time to take care of Doc Benton. Sam was all about learning the formula for immortality, Dean was about getting rid of the evil thing. Dean won. Two guest stars drew my attention: Billy Drago, the perennial bad guy, of course. Much like Jeff Kober in "Folsom Prison Blues," it was just a matter of time before Billy Drago ended up on Supernatural. He was freakin' creepy. His presence really upped the scare factor. The other guest star was a total surprise – it was Steven Williams, the captain from 21 Jump Street. I loved that he played a worn out demon hunter into Johnny Walker Blue and knowing everything about everything including Dean's little predicament. He gave Dean the 411 on Bela "I used to be Abby" Talbot. Hope he turns up again in Season 4. He could prove to be a quirky but really interesting ally to the boys next season. Hope I'm not getting my hopes up too much, since most of the guest stars I really like, their characters end up dead for one reason or another. Steven Williams-talk brings me to the conversation between Rufus and Dean. Rufus told the Winchester the Colt wasn't going to save him; he also told Dean that even if he lived through this particular situation, there's just going to be something else down the road. Now, was he just bitter and talking about all hunters in general? Or does he know something about Dean? Is Dean doomed? That just makes me think of something one of the Supernatural blog posters (racestaffer) said about how this show might end with Dean no longer being part of this world. I told her that thought depressed me, but it's certainly something I have thought of before. I can always envision a future for Sammy, even with the target on his head and his abilities. I can never envision a future for Dean. Rufus said: "Folks like us? There ain't no happy ending." Is Eric Kripke preparing us for something here or what? Did you catch the previews for next week's season finale? OMG was the only thing that came to mind after I watched it. I'm on vacation right now so I watched it with my sister, she screamed after the preview was over too. Of course I rewound and watched the preview four times. And I'll probably go back again and watch it a few more hundred times before next Thursday. If you're not into watching the end-of-the-episode sneak peeks, please skip over the next paragraph. I'm basing some of my speculation on what we saw in the preview: I'm still wondering why Lilith wants Sam out of the picture so much. Sam doesn't want to go dark side, but she probably feels he has the potential to go dark side at any time should he have a reason. Maybe, and this is just speculation based on next week's preview, she wanted Sam dead before Dean's deal was up. Let's say Dean goes to hell. That event may trigger Sam's powers or abilities and he may go dark side just to get his brother back. He could end up ridding hell of Lilith, I believe Sam has the power to do it. If she gets rid of him first, then he's taken care of. Dean goes to hell and she wins. There are probably a lot of holes in that theory, but I'm anxious to see how everything pans out next week. Other thoughts: • I love Dean and his fixation with food. • Was anybody's audio slightly off when Sam and Dean were talking to cranky kidney guy? The audio seemed to be a tad wacky during the last line of the scene. Don't know if it was just my TV. • Sam's having some bad luck with the MOTWs as of late. In "Ghostfacers" he was kidnapped by the lonely guy spirit. In "Long-Distance Call" he was nabbed by the phone company baddie; and now Billy Drago almost gouged his eyes out. Poor Sammy. • Not only does Lilith hold Dean's contract, she holds everyone's contract. What do you guys think about that? • Dean went all "Devil's Trap" for that exorcism in the beginning of "Time is on My Side." Didn't he look all rageriffic like he did facing Meg at Bobby's house? Sam had no problem exorcising the demon this time around. • Dean's really looking freaked out now. Anybody would in his situation. When the demon getting exorcised said a bunch of his pals were waiting to meet up with Dean, I got really scared for him. • Dean did bring up the welching clause. I really would like this to be spelled out for me. Exactly how involved does Dean have to get in order to violate this demon policy? Torturing a demon with holy water in order to find out who holds Dean's contract is OK? • Sam drove a rental two weeks in a row. I don't know why I'm pointing that out, I just am. • I can't believe Bela burned her fingerprints off. Did anyone know about the ear thing? I was totally clueless about that. • They wrote the Winchesters smarter this time around. I wondered what Dean had spied in Bela's hotel room. Devil's shoestring did he say? Whatever it was, it was to ward off the hell hounds. Wonder if Dean's thinking he may have to pick up some soon. • How far was Dean from Erie, Pennsylvania on the way back from Vermont? I never know how much time lapses on this show. One second Dean's in the car, the next he's at Doc Benton's lair of doom saving Sam. Again, so glad Sam's eyes were not touched. • Speaking of the dastardly immortal doctor, I don't know about you, but I can't watch any graphic scene that involves operating on a patient. When I used to watch Nip/Tuck, I had to skip over all the surgeries. I watched Dr. 90210 today and I couldn't handle watching those surgeries. Doc Benton's TV surgeries didn't get too awful, but I was still grossed out. • Doc Benton's buried alive forever. Kind of what Connor wanted to do to his vampire dad on Angel. I liked this episode, but I always get impatient when it's time to set things up for the season finale – I just want the action amped up from beginning to end. But the penultimate episodes always set up Supernatural's finales and out of "Salvation," "All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1" and "Time is on My Side," I think I like this one the best. Although the scenes at the end of Salvation and AHBL 1 were awesome and some of my favorite scenes of the entire series. I've gone on way too long, so I'm going to use my first post for my favorite lines. What did you guys think? Did you like it or love it? Something else?

Favorite Lines:

"Go ahead, send me back to hell. But when you get there I'll be waiting for you…with a few pals who are dying for a nice little meet and greet with Dean Winchester."

"Zombies do like the other other white meat."

"Fine. So you're cops and morons." "Excuse me? No, no, we're very smart."

"A zombie with skills, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Zombie." (It's great how Dean always cracks himself up.)

"Dude, I'm eating."

"Lost your appetite yet?" "Baby, I can't stay mad at you."

"Let me? How are you going to stop me?"

"Sammy, be careful."

"You've got three weeks left. Why are you wasting your time chasing after that skinny stuck-up English girl?"

"I know ain't no pea shooter gonna save you." (Then what will? Does Rufus know?)

"Even if you managed to scrape out of this one, there's just going to be something else down the road. Folks like us? There ain't no happy ending. We all got it coming."

"I'm what you got to look forward to if you survive."

"Don't move."

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!"

"Sweetheart, we are weeks past help."

"Why are you telling me this?" "Because just maybe you can kill the bitch."

"I'll see you in hell."

Did you guys have any other favorite lines?

~~~~~

Ok, so the only thing I have time to comment on before rushing off to work this morning is Bela. Wanting to see her die horribly was the ONLY reason I watched last night, and I've got to say I was totally underwhelmed by the whole thing.

The whole "Dean and Bela battle it out for the last time" and Kripke's statement about the boys finally showing her up and that she could never be redeemed - what a bunch of crap.

I wouldn't exactly call it a battle that took place between Dean and Bela in her hotel room, with Dean just waving a gun in her face and threatening to kill her. And did the boys "show her up" because Dean finally felt her pickpocketing him? It just felt so...lame to me. I was expecting much more, instead of the boys just driving away from her to leave her to her fate.

And so much for Bela not being redeemed, which really ticked me off. No, we had to include the shot of her father coming into her room to abuse her. I'm sorry, but why couldn't she just been an evil child?? Like the little girl in Provenance!  But no, since Sera wrote this episode and Bela was her pet, she wanted us to feel sorry for her.

And how the hell did child Bela even summon a Crossroads demon?? There was no indication that her family was into supernatural stuff like that. It was just a lame way to try and tie up Bela's story since they were getting rid of her, and to tie her into the mythology.

The only thing I agree with Tina on the subject of Bela was that I wasn't expecting her connection with Lilith and that she'd made her own deal.

So yeah, I wanted Bela's blood and guts splashed across the screen and instead I got a fade to black, but in the end I guess that all that really matters is that SHE IS GONE AND WON'T BE BACK NEXT YEAR. Which is all I've ever wanted from the moment this season started. At least next year I'll be able to watch more than just a handful of episodes with one of the bimbos gone now. :-)

Ok, gotta run. I'll be back later with more, but for now - what did you all think?

Comments

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I don't mind that they redeemed Bela. They made Bela!lovers happy with that, like a consolation price for getting rid of her. At least that's how I take it *shrugs* But I did like the way they got rid of her. Totally unexpected and quite cool, IMO.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I don't mind that they redeemed Bela

If the fact that Kripke hadn't adamantly stated that she WOULDN'T be, then I wouldn't have taken issue with it. But it's just another instance of Eric lying to us this season, which is why I've hated 90% of this year.

But I did like the way they got rid of her

That I'll agree with. :-) I was hoping that Dean would be the one to kill her, but knowing she's down in Hell is so much better.

[simonesa.livejournal.com]

I actually did like the way Bela went out. I thought Dean was incredibly hot confronting her. I am glad it was he who did confront her. I was definitely surprised to hear about her contract. And technically, she did not summon the CRD. Lilith came to her. Bela made a "deal with the devil."

I loved, loved, loved how Dean called her on it. If she had just been honest with them from the beginning instead of playing games, they would have helped her.

There was so much good in this episode. I loved it. I loved the hermit hunter. His saying to Dean that this is what you have to look forward to if you survive...but you won't.

I loved Sam running the doctor over.

I am just ded and don't think I will make it to next week. Plus, the cliffhanger coming next Thursday will surely kill me good.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I actually did like the way Bela went out.

I liked the idea that she made her own deal, but not the reasoning behind it (the abuse). I would've loved it if Bela had just been an evil child and knew about the occult and summoned the CRD herself and offed her parents. That would've rocked.

Dean was incredibly hot confronting her.

That's true! I'll agree with ya there! (i.e.-see icon)

If she had just been honest with them from the beginning instead of playing games, they would have helped her.

Speaking of the beginning - if Lilith wanted Bela to kill Sam, why did she just shoot him in the shoulder?? That made absolutely no sense, knowing what we know now. But I guess we can just chalk that up to Kripke scrambling to come up with a way to get rid of Bela and things not quite tying together.

There was so much good in this episode.

There was a lot that I liked about it, too!

I loved Sam running the doctor over.

LOL! That was fantastic!

Plus, the cliffhanger coming next Thursday will surely kill me good.

Yeah, that preview for next week about killed me, knowing what's coming. I foresee a long summer ahead of us!

[gina-stormgrant.livejournal.com]

>>And how the hell did child Bela even summon a Crossroads demon??

Someone else could have summoned it. Remember the original crossroads demon ep. One guy summoned it, and then it hung around and made deals for a week.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I figured that might be the case, but c'mon, where would a crossroads be in a rich, affluent neighborhood like that? And then it wanders into Bela's yard (or was that supposed to be a playground?) and starts chatting her up?

It just seemed to me that they were quick trying to throw something together to wrap up Bela's story line, tying it into the mythology at the same time, and it just didn't fall into place for me the way they wanted it to.

I would've loved it if Bela had just been an evil child and knew about the occult and summoned the CRD herself and offed her parents. That would've rocked.

But no, we're instead supposed to feel sorry for her and her horrible life. Um, no, sorry. I couldn't give a damn about her and her backstory. She was useless and thank god she's finally gone.

if only we'd have seen the hellhounds tearing into her... Heh.

[dairwendan.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you! I wanted to at least see hellhound scratches on her floor, SOMETHING! And I agree about the crossroads demon thing. I've seen 2 people on badfan explain that after one person summons a demon it can hang around and make deals. That may be so, but it's just lame for us to have to come up with that ourselves. Sera just threw it in, she had no reasoning or backstory for it. And I SO couldn't agree more about that stupid scene of Daddy in Bela's bedroom! CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!

And she was hardly tied into the mytharc. All she did was make a deal, so have quite a few other people according to Crossroad Blues, are they all tied into the mytharc too. Or is it because she was told to kill Sam? Again, lots of creepy things have tried to kill Sam. All she did was tell Dean the name of the demon who holds his contract. They could have found that out in a trillion more interesting ways!

Also, Ruby knew who Lilith was in Jus In Bello, but she didn't tell Dean that Lilith holds his contract. That, plus, she lied when she said she could save Dean, is more than enough for the boys to smoke her ass, dammit!

I liked the part with the demon in the beginning. I liked seeing Bobby. I liked Rufus. I liked the scene when they decided to each do his own thing. I liked Dean shooting the doc at the very last minute. And I liked Sam trying to convince Dean to use the immortality formula just to buy them more time. The entire Bela part was lame. Thank God she's gone!

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you! I wanted to at least see hellhound scratches on her floor, SOMETHING

Yeah, I mean, Sera's been so big on the blood and guts all season but when it comes to her favorite character that needs to die, we just fade to black instead. Give me a break!

That may be so, but it's just lame for us to have to come up with that ourselves. Sera just threw it in, she had no reasoning or backstory for it

Exactly. She was grasping at straws, trying to find a way at the very last minute to tie Bela into the mythology and it had plot holes you could drive a truck through.

And I SO couldn't agree more about that stupid scene of Daddy in Bela's bedroom! CRAP!

They just HAD to put that in there, didn't they? Try and make us feel sorry for poor little Bela. Nope, sorry, not happening!

Or is it because she was told to kill Sam?

And if that's so, she had a million chances! I mean she shot him in the shoulder - what, she couldn't aim for his chest?? Another plot hole, because back then, Bela was expected to stick around for forever, but now all of a sudden she's leaving so we make up something now that says she was supposed to kill Sam all along, only problem is, it doesn't fit with anything that's come before!

That, plus, she lied when she said she could save Dean, is more than enough for the boys to smoke her ass, dammit!

Totally agree. She's faaar beyond her "usefulness".

I liked the part with

Yeah, there was actually a lot of this episode that I really did like and having it be the last we'll ever see of Bela was icing on the cake. :-)

[khek.livejournal.com]

I'm just so glad Bela is gone! I also think it would have been a better story if Bela had just been a psychotic, selfish brat who killed her parents because she wanted their money. I just don't buy the sob story, because her actions (as we've been shown) just don't sell it.

Canaan VT? About as far from civilization as you can get on this side of the Mississippi. There is no way to get there from Pennsylvania. Okay, there is, but there's nothing direct, and it would take *at least* twelve hours, and that's speeding and avoiding traffic in the cities that he'd have to go through in the unavoidable indirect route.

Do they just pick names out of a hat when they decide on locations? Because most *named* locations seem to be completely impossible to fit into the details of the story they're telling...

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I'm just so glad Bela is gone!

Woot! Three cheers for that!

I just don't buy the sob story, because her actions (as we've been shown) just don't sell it.

I agree. She's a cold-hearted bitch who only cares about herself - much more fitting if she'd have been an evil child who offed her parents just because.

and it would take *at least* twelve hours

That's what I was thinking! I mean, I just knew Dean would show up and save Sam, but it was reaaallly implausable that he was that close to PA when he called Sam on his way back.

Do they just pick names out of a hat when they decide on locations?

I swear they just throw a dart at a map sometimes! LOL!

[khek.livejournal.com]

She's a cold-hearted bitch who only cares about herself - much more fitting if she'd have been an evil child who offed her parents just because.

And I really don't understand why they didn't go with that storyline. (well, aside from the fact that they all seemed to be in love with the character.) It would have made a MUCH better story, and it would have pointed out how strong Dean is with her as a comparison.

was reaaallly implausable that he was that close to PA when he called Sam on his way back.

Well, in addition to the fact that Canaan is way up at the top of the Northeast Kingdom, so any road up that way is a two-lane state road, not any kind of highway, (bad for the Impala's shocks!) it's also on the Canadian border. So in addition to regular cops (probably not too busy) there would be border patrol and state police presence.

They must just throw a dart...or just have a list of towns and they pick by the sound of the name. My guess is that the whole town is related, and Rufus would stick out like a sore thumb. Not exactly a place where he (or Dean) could fly under the radar.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

And I really don't understand why they didn't go with that storyline.

Me, neither! Though like you said, Sera probably had something to do with the whole abuse plot point because she couldn't bear to have people think ill of her pet character. Barf.

So in addition to regular cops (probably not too busy) there would be border patrol and state police presence.

Yeah, just where a supposedly "dead" Dean Winchester needs to be hanging out!

My guess is that the whole town is related, and Rufus would stick out like a sore thumb

I'm thinking you're probably right about that. :-)

[tracys-dream.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode. For some reason I wanted Sam and Dean to fall out more, like in Scarecrow but I'm glad Sam stayed behind to see if this could help Dean.
I must admit that all the talk about would could happen to Dean is making me feel a tad uneasy. I could never imagine Supernatural without him, so I'm hoping whatever happens (and I don't know, although I have an idea) doesn't happen for too long.
I'm glad Bela is over with, although I did feel slightly bad for her at the end and I didn't think I would.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

For some reason I wanted Sam and Dean to fall out more, like in Scarecrow

And since Scarecrow is my second favorite ep of season one, I know exactly what you mean. :-)

but I'm glad Sam stayed behind to see if this could help Dean

God, poor Sam. He's willing to try anything to save his brother, even chasing immortality for him.

I must admit that all the talk about would could happen to Dean is making me feel a tad uneasy.

I know! I mean, if he's really going to Hell, it had better not last more than one episode. :-)

[muiting.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't think they redeemed Bela. They just simply told the story of why Bela made the deal with the Crossroads Demon. Yeah, I do feel sorry for Bela, the poor 14 year old girl that had to suffer from an abusive parent, but not the adult Bela who did everything she could to screw up Sam and Dean. I think the Crossroads Demon approached Bela because they could see the potential for great Evil in her and that she probably has some connection to the supernatural world.

As for blood and guts being spilt, well, you know, this is TV, not cable. I think Bela's end is very satisfactory. She turned against the Winchesters who would've helped her if she would just level with them, but instead, she makes another disastrous deal with Lillith and fails. The look on her face as she's waiting for the hellhounds to come and rip her to pieces was very gratifying to me.

Wasn't Steven Williams just awesome! Love the big toothy smile he gave Dean when Dean showed his the Johnny Walker Blue! I hope he comes back next season too!

Thanks for your review.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do feel sorry for Bela, the poor 14 year old girl that had to suffer from an abusive parent, but not the adult Bela who did everything she could to screw up Sam and Dean.

I like your thinking on that - to separate the two.

I think the Crossroads Demon approached Bela because they could see the potential for great Evil in her

Yeah, I mean there had to be some reason why the CRD would approach a child, even one that's being abused. Unfortunately that happens quite often, so why single out Bela to make a deal with? I do wish we'd known more about her family now, if they had some connection with the supernatural world.

As for blood and guts being spilt, well, you know, this is TV, not cable

LOL! That certainly hasn't stopped Sera and her gore-fest all season long!

The look on her face as she's waiting for the hellhounds to come and rip her to pieces was very gratifying to me

I guess because I've despised that character from the very beginning I was hoping to see her head roll across the floor, kinda like Gordon. Heh.

Wasn't Steven Williams just awesome!

You know, it's funny. I never liked him on X-Files, but his Rufus was much better than his Mr. X!

Thanks for your review.

You're welcome! And thanks for your comments!

[riveryklown.livejournal.com]

Hm, you think she was redeemed? I dunno. They couldn't, without making a huge plot hole, leave her with no tragic past (there was a bit in JIB where she tells Dean all heartbroken that he doesn't know her at all, and some mention earlier of how she killed a family member, and she makes a comment which I can't remember but also to the effect of, "you know nothing I just need a hug". So they probably had something like this planned for a while. HOWEVER. In JIB we were left with the feeling that she's gonna do something noble with the gun, not just try and save her ass. We were wrong. She shot both the beds, no thought about it (and btw I LOVED how downplayed that was, no unnecessary drama, cause WE already knew it couldn't have been the boys, and it showed her as a really cold beotch.) As for her father abusing her... I'm gonna sound so cold now but I can't help it... if she's old enough to make a deal with the devil she's old enough to go to the cops. Because, CRD said to Sam, I think, "Dean is an adult, he made the deal of his own free will" and it might have been just a turn of phrase cause Abby was supposedly just a kid when she made the deal but... Not that I expect demons to be moral about it, but in the bigger scheme of fight of Good vs. Evil you'd think that a child's agreement to do anything to get out of a horrible situation wouldn't be all that binding. Or demons could fill their daily quotas on kids who really really really REALLY wanted a lolly-pop and "oh sure mista, you can have my soul, I want the cherry flavored one thank you". Whatever.

Also, people aren't judged by situations they find themselves in, but by how they react to them. Abby was heartless. Fact is, no child is born like that, something always happens that starts it, the kid from Provenance included. Sometimes it's something as simple as a newborn getting sick and being taken away from its mother for too long. Just cause we got to see a glimpse of Abby's sordid past and not Provenance-kid's doesn't mean they aren't exactly the same.

There was a point to this hugeass comment.... oh, right, I don't feel like she's been redeemed at all. RIP Abby.

And Dean will SO not be seeing you in hell Bela, fangirls will kill Lilith and split ownership of Dean's soul equally amongst each other!

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I dunno. They couldn't, without making a huge plot hole, leave her with no tragic past (there was a bit in JIB where she tells Dean all heartbroken that he doesn't know her at all, and some mention earlier of how she killed a family member,

Hmm...I think that it still would've worked quite nicely if they'd made her simply evil and it still would've fit with her statement about killing a family member. And why would she be heartbroken? It's not like it was an accident or something - she purposely had them killed!

I LOVED how downplayed that was, no unnecessary drama, cause WE already knew it couldn't have been the boys, and it showed her as a really cold beotch

That really was an awesome scene - no hesitation, just walk in and blow them both away.

I'm gonna sound so cold now but I can't help it... if she's old enough to make a deal with the devil she's old enough to go to the cops

Then I'm cold, too, because I agree with you!

Not that I expect demons to be moral about it, but in the bigger scheme of fight of Good vs. Evil you'd think that a child's agreement to do anything to get out of a horrible situation wouldn't be all that binding

Yeah, I mean there had to be some reason why the CRD would approach a child, even one that's being abused. Unfortunately that happens quite often, so why single out Bela to make a deal with? I do wish we'd known more about her family now, if they had some connection with the supernatural world that made her stand out to the CRD.

oh, right, I don't feel like she's been redeemed at all. RIP Abby.

Yeah, either way, she's GONE and that's all that matters to me.

And Dean will SO not be seeing you in hell Bela, fangirls will kill Lilith and split ownership of Dean's soul equally amongst each other!

LOL! You got that right! :-)