Supernatural included a pair of welcome returns last week, as "Goodbye Stranger" featured both Meg and Castiel in prominent roles.

In this edition of the TV Fanatic Round table, staffer writers Carissa Pavlica and Sean McKenna - along with Alice Jester from The Winchester Family Business - breakdown the installment, picking out their favorite scenes and more in this edition of the Supernatural Round Table...

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What was your favorite scene or quote from the episode?
Carissa: This bit from when Dean was looking at the Asian porn magazine he found in the Men of Letters lair: Dean: What is wrong with me? This is a first edition. Do you know what this would go for on eBay? Sam: No. Why, do you? Dean: No. Maybe. Shut up.

Alice: I LOVED the opening scene. Talk about a teaser! Castiel coldly without flinching kills Dean, and we find out immediately it’s a heavenly holodeck.  I don’t know what I loved more, Naomi’s chilling, smug, smiling face that her star pupil was ready (we knew that was going to bite her by episode end) or the room full of dead Deans everywhere. It’s the dead Deans. How many poses did Jensen have to do for that?

Sean: There was so much to like this episode and I totally agree with both Carissa and Alice. Yet, that scene between mind control Castiel and Dean was intense. The way he was trying to fight beating on his best friend was emotional on both ends. Really though, a lot of strong moments all around.

What did you think of the Meg and Castiel flirting?
Carissa: I loved it, especially because they alluded they had actually done the nasty. I never realized they had actually gone there. Well done Castiel!!

Alice: I try not to get involved with ships on this show, but I’ve always loved Castiel and Meg’s strange chemistry, so the flirting was a big win with me. What fan doesn’t love the delicious idea of an angel and demon doing it? It’s a match made in...er...somewhere out in the cosmos. Anyway, sad to see it end.

Sean: I was totally on board. It was fun in a way I think because it just suddenly happened. Too bad nothing will ever really come of it. Poor Clarence.

Did you think Castiel would break from Naomi's mind control?
Carissa: I freaked when I saw that room of Deans, but I never thought he could hurt the real Dean. Nobody but Dean could say the things Dean says to grab Cas' attention, and he called Cas family, it was game over. I'm more certain than ever that Heaven is still a mess, Naomi is making deals (and sleeping) with the Devil and thankfully Cas made the break. 

Alice: I thought he would eventually, but I wasn’t sure we would see it in this episode. I figured they’d drag it through the rest of the season. I’m pleased they went there though. That sets up a huge showdown between the two now. Considering he’s a regular in season nine, I’ve got my money on the dorky trench coated one. 

Sean: I'm glad they didn't drag it out, but it was an interesting twist. Certainly, like I said before, the scene with Castiel and Dean brought it to another level. I'm happy he was able to break free but curious as to where he's headed now.

Did Meg make a valuable sacrifice?
Carissa: Yes. I'll miss her. I liked another quote from the show, which was hers: "I’m kinda good, which sucks. You’re kinda bad…which is actually all manner of hot." She came a long way from we first met her and I don't think she'll end up in hell. It's a shame Heaven doesn't seem like a great place to go these days.

Alice: Yes, but I’m still convinced she did it for her own purposes. It was the only way she could stick it to Crowley. Part of me thinks she especially did it for Castiel, aka her “unicorn,” but whatever her reasons, it was valuable.

Sean: For sure. Preventing Crowley, saving her unicorn, protecting the brothers for the time being was all manner of valuable. It was a wild sacrifice that definitely benefited. Miss you, Meg.

Where is Castiel going and what is he going to do with the angel tablet?
Carissa: My guess is we won't find out until Season 9. Are we setting up for the big Season 9 arc? That was such a fantastic ending. Eric Kripke loves his classic rock, and I'm glad they've stuck with it after he stepped back from the show. Goodbye Stranger was a perfect song to be playing as he rode off and it made me cry. I can't wait to see what happens next. The best news is we don't have to worry about Cas going rogue. He'll always be a Winchester now.

Alice: I don’t know, but isn’t that great to know that greyhound buses have magical angel cloaking devices?  I guess it makes sense, where else can a dude in a trench coat and suit carrying a stone tablet with hieroglyphs go about his business unnoticed?  What is he going to do with it?  I have no idea. 

Sean: Why did he take a bus? Hmm. I think he's going to try and hide the tablet or maybe even use it to stop Naomi. But what a great ending with Goodbye Stranger, and certainly making it one of the top episodes of the season.