John Winchester, 2x01 "In My Time of Dying"
I've been thinking all morning (after an early-morning rewatch, because there's no such thing as too much gorgeous trauma) about how much this is John's ep as well as Dean's, and I'm very interested to see what sort of a catalyzer this is for fannish perception of him.
What's that quotation that Book says to Mal? "Live with a man 40 years, share his home, his food, his life and dreams, then one morning dangle him over a volcano, and on that day you'll meet the real man." (or something like that) It's in mortal peril that the truth of us comes out.
This ep is a real showcase of both the worst and best of John Winchester. The stubborn, secretive hunter who makes his plans without any input from anyone -- and won't tell or change his plans for anything -- puts in a strong appearance for the bulk of the episode. He already had the list of summoning ingredients ready before Sam gave him the doctor's news on Dean's status, before - as far as we know - he'd even had a chance to see Dean with his own eyes. And he's so quick to sacrifice himself as the only option, without attempting anything else.
(Here's the John Winchester that drives me crazy -- did he already know or suspect that his sacrifice might be needed? Or had he first, as Sam accused, thought of summoning the Demon in order to kill it, and only after realizing Dean's condition does he think of making the bargain? We never get to hear John's thoughts except when he's expressing them to his sons - and then of course much of it is filtered for them.)
However, also on display was the Daddy Winchester who loves his sons so much he'll do what should be literally unthinkable -- with gun in hand and a dead drop on the Demon who has its back to him, there's never even a flicker of hesitation on his face. The vengeance he's wanted all his life is right there on a platter and he doesn't seem to consider taking it even for a second. Dean's life comes first.
And when the bargain's made, when he's dying, he sets his affairs straight: makes peace with his younger son, confesses his mistakes to his eldest, and tells him the things he's needed pretty badly to hear.
Granted, Dean's going to have guilt issues out the wazoo, the trauma of whatever the Sam-secret is (oh god, the expression on his face. *clings and pets him*), and they don't have the Colt anymore, so it wasn't a genius plan, but in the end? Faced with a choice of vengeance or protecting his family, John chose his family without batting an eye.
In his time of dying, I'd say he came out a good man.
- JDM/John barely holding it together while he's trying to say goodbye to his sons.
- Sam bloodied all to hell but Colt at the ready when demon trucker comes. (And oh, I can't stop cringing when he just *tears* the entire door off the poor Impala.)
- not!Endless Death
- Sam apparently hearing Dean - "find some hoodoo who can lay the mojo." I'm pretty sure I actually squealed out loud and scared the hell out of Carmen.
- Bobby's expression of "Um, right. It's the car you're trying to save. Uh-huh. Projecting much?"
- "I feel like I'm at a slumber party."
What's that quotation that Book says to Mal? "Live with a man 40 years, share his home, his food, his life and dreams, then one morning dangle him over a volcano, and on that day you'll meet the real man." (or something like that) It's in mortal peril that the truth of us comes out.
This ep is a real showcase of both the worst and best of John Winchester. The stubborn, secretive hunter who makes his plans without any input from anyone -- and won't tell or change his plans for anything -- puts in a strong appearance for the bulk of the episode. He already had the list of summoning ingredients ready before Sam gave him the doctor's news on Dean's status, before - as far as we know - he'd even had a chance to see Dean with his own eyes. And he's so quick to sacrifice himself as the only option, without attempting anything else.
(Here's the John Winchester that drives me crazy -- did he already know or suspect that his sacrifice might be needed? Or had he first, as Sam accused, thought of summoning the Demon in order to kill it, and only after realizing Dean's condition does he think of making the bargain? We never get to hear John's thoughts except when he's expressing them to his sons - and then of course much of it is filtered for them.)
However, also on display was the Daddy Winchester who loves his sons so much he'll do what should be literally unthinkable -- with gun in hand and a dead drop on the Demon who has its back to him, there's never even a flicker of hesitation on his face. The vengeance he's wanted all his life is right there on a platter and he doesn't seem to consider taking it even for a second. Dean's life comes first.
And when the bargain's made, when he's dying, he sets his affairs straight: makes peace with his younger son, confesses his mistakes to his eldest, and tells him the things he's needed pretty badly to hear.
Granted, Dean's going to have guilt issues out the wazoo, the trauma of whatever the Sam-secret is (oh god, the expression on his face. *clings and pets him*), and they don't have the Colt anymore, so it wasn't a genius plan, but in the end? Faced with a choice of vengeance or protecting his family, John chose his family without batting an eye.
In his time of dying, I'd say he came out a good man.
- JDM/John barely holding it together while he's trying to say goodbye to his sons.
- Sam bloodied all to hell but Colt at the ready when demon trucker comes. (And oh, I can't stop cringing when he just *tears* the entire door off the poor Impala.)
- not!Endless Death
- Sam apparently hearing Dean - "find some hoodoo who can lay the mojo." I'm pretty sure I actually squealed out loud and scared the hell out of Carmen.
- Bobby's expression of "Um, right. It's the car you're trying to save. Uh-huh. Projecting much?"
- "I feel like I'm at a slumber party."