I too would love to blame the BL for all of it but there does seem to be a theme this season of people making comments that should properly belong to Sam - like, I can't stand looking at Lucifer, while they apparently ignore Sam's claim. Nevertheless, the camera focuses on Sam saying nothing but clearly silently, stoically suffering. Now maybe that's actors and directors making up for writing errors but, as I say, it seems to be a theme and this apparent indifference to Sam's role in Jack's upbringing may be consistent with that theme. Maybe something's being said about Sam's inner strength, and/or maybe we're being set up for Sam snapping at some point.

I am also "concerned and confused" about Dean. I am confused because wtf is Michael waiting for? I thought for sure when he learned they had archangel grace he's leap out and snatch it, but no. Oh, well.

I am much more concerned however about the other theme that's been introduced this season, to whit: Dean not being a dick, or trying not to be. There are two possible reasons for this: 1/ Michael is faking Dean and getting it wrong. There's precedent for possessed vessels being nicer than the originals. For example, when YED possessed John he told Dean he was proud of him, and something similar happened when he possessed Dean's grandfather in "In the Beginning". (I have a theory, particularly in the case of John, that this happened because he had access to their thoughts so he acted out their real feelings but got how they would actually have behaved in that situation wrong.)

or, b/ (and this is why I'm concerned)

THIS IS DEAN'S LAST SEASON! O_O