I've been feeling discouraged by the direction of the current season and the fan responses that you mention. Then last night I watched "99 Problems" randomly and I was shocked and heart-broken by the way the boys treated each other and it hit me: this relationship is totally what keeps me watching. Without it, I wouldn't even be interested in SPN. I strongly suspect I'm not alone. I don't want my Winchesters happy and healthy. I want them achy and desperate and always ready to die for each other, no matter how the world tries to separate them and make them hate and distrust each other. I need the way they love each other.

Thanks for the reminder :)