Yeah, I noticed how Dean reverted to the "Sammy"s. I think you might be on the right track. I also wonder if there is an element of "Sam" being the guy who might not understand/forgive -- because "Sam" survived Dean's death (eventually, with Ruby's prodding/help), Sam was able to move on, Sam is now independent and his own man, and strong with powers and... Dean needed to tell the Sam who is his brother, his family, the person whom he'd forgive anything and who would return it... Not that this Sam wouldn't. But just, mentally, admitting just how badly you are broken... I think I'm saying what you said above, just in a different way. And it also distances him from leaning on Sam as anything more than a listener, really. Because Sammy is from Before, and Sam is of the Now, so NowSam can sympathize but Dean was emotionally leaning on Sammy. So Dean can then compose himself, put his gameface back on, and go to business as usual with Sam, Sam of the "wanting Lilith's head on a plate. Bloody." Sam.
"Sam" being the guy who might not understand/forgive
Hm... that's an interesting point. I don't know if with Sam's experience surviving with Ruby and descending into that same bloody-minded revenge driven pragmatism that John exhibited, whether he's even forgiving himself, and I can see how, if Dean is after forgiveness and understanding from Sam, he might think that the NowSam is not going to have the capacity for forgiveness anymore.
However, I don't think Dean is after forgiveness there. Or really understanding, even. I don't think he's thought that conciously about why he's telling Sam what happened other than to release the strain and because Sam heard Alastair and if Dean doesn't say something about it, Sam might start badgering with questions, so Dean's letting this out in a situation where he feels safe and in control, rather than in a slowly built-up pressure of questions he doesn't want to answer followed by an explosion.
I dunno. But it's fun to wonder about.
I would dearly love to hear what Ackles' view of that scene is, what's going on at that moment with Dean and why, with the Sammy's and the not looking and all that.
I dunno. But it's fun to wonder about.
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Hm... that's an interesting point. I don't know if with Sam's experience surviving with Ruby and descending into that same bloody-minded revenge driven pragmatism that John exhibited, whether he's even forgiving himself, and I can see how, if Dean is after forgiveness and understanding from Sam, he might think that the NowSam is not going to have the capacity for forgiveness anymore.
However, I don't think Dean is after forgiveness there. Or really understanding, even. I don't think he's thought that conciously about why he's telling Sam what happened other than to release the strain and because Sam heard Alastair and if Dean doesn't say something about it, Sam might start badgering with questions, so Dean's letting this out in a situation where he feels safe and in control, rather than in a slowly built-up pressure of questions he doesn't want to answer followed by an explosion.
I dunno. But it's fun to wonder about.
I would dearly love to hear what Ackles' view of that scene is, what's going on at that moment with Dean and why, with the Sammy's and the not looking and all that.
Reply
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