SPN 9x01: I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here [Dean Issues]
I'm not really in the mood for an in-depth analysis of the latest SPN episode (considering I wasn't even going to watch the show, but then I got bored), but there are some lines one shouldn't cross, and Dean hasn't just crossed it, he's leapt over it and charged on, so I can't keep quiet.
I know a lot of fans, be they Wincest shippers or just general fans of the brothers' relationship, find the whole idea of "There ain't no me if there ain't no you" very romantic/touching/what have you. You know what else it is? Stupid. Childish. Sick. Love is not always the healthiest thing out there, but if you truly love someone, perhaps you should get your head out of your ass and consider what's best for them. It is generally believed that death isn't the best thing for anyone, but look at Sam's life: he lost every girlfriend he's ever loved; he lost his parents; he lost his friends; he lost any and all chances to have the life he would choose for himself. The guy has no basic freedom at all. It's not even a family business anymore; it's slavery. And it's not so much a matter of saving the world as it is of saving Dean.
I've seen people claim that Sam doesn't love Dean the way Dean loves Sam. Yes, I suppose it's true - because Sam seems to know where to draw the line. Season after season Dean has been systematically destroying Sam's hope for a normal life, but even more so - he's been infringing on Sam's right to make decisions. We can't even say Ezekiel is the bad guy in this situation (maybe he is, but that's up for another discussion when we see more of his character): Ezekiel let Dean hear Sam explicitly state that he was ready to go. Given the kind of life Sam has had, it's normal that he's tired. It's normal that he's not afraid to die because he's seen some shit that's scarier than death. Death himself praises him on a life well lived - a life that Sam is ready to say goodbye to.
But of course there is Dean to think of. Dean who consistently tells Castiel his family doesn't matter (including in this episode); Dean who does idiotic things to save his brother but throws a tantrum when someone else does things of the same calibre for someone else. Dean who knows exactly what Sam wants but still does things his way.
I'd love to say I'm surprised. I'd love to say I can't believe Dean would sink so low. But unfortunately, this is all very IC for him. Some fans say that this has always been Dean's storyline: to look after Sam, to take care of Sam, to live for Sam. True, but look again: this is Dean wanting Sam to live for him. This is the sacrifice that Sam doesn't even know he's making! He hasn't been given any choice. All because Dean can't survive without his little brother. And this is not touching, sweet or cute; this doesn't make me go 'aww!' and feel warm and fuzzy. This is terrifying. Dean is Sam's only family, he is supposed to look after him, not hurt him! And part of looking after is knowing when to back the fuck off. Death is a tragedy when you've got unfinished business, when you're scared of it, when it's unwelcome. I've seen some fans wonder how Sam could become so hopeless. Have you seen the last 8 seasons of this show!? Sam is not hopeless; Sam is just ready.
This episode doesn't piss me off; it makes me sad. I haven't had any hope for Dean for years now, but this is a new low. Where has all the experience of seasons 4 and 5, of Michael and Lucifer, of trying to preserve whatever scraps of themselves they had left gone? Down the drain apparently. Because in the face of staying alone, nothing matters. Apparently that's the best excuse they can come up with. But as if tricking Sam into saying yes is enough, Dean also has his memory erased (that's quite a Dean thing, if you remember Ben and Lisa). And the worst part? It won't have any lasting repercussions because the writers know they can't break up this co-dependent duo for more than a couple of mind-numbingly repetitive episodes. Dean is very much all right with letting people go and letting people die - if they are not Sam. Tell me again how it's the story of brotherly life.
I know a lot of fans, be they Wincest shippers or just general fans of the brothers' relationship, find the whole idea of "There ain't no me if there ain't no you" very romantic/touching/what have you. You know what else it is? Stupid. Childish. Sick. Love is not always the healthiest thing out there, but if you truly love someone, perhaps you should get your head out of your ass and consider what's best for them. It is generally believed that death isn't the best thing for anyone, but look at Sam's life: he lost every girlfriend he's ever loved; he lost his parents; he lost his friends; he lost any and all chances to have the life he would choose for himself. The guy has no basic freedom at all. It's not even a family business anymore; it's slavery. And it's not so much a matter of saving the world as it is of saving Dean.
I've seen people claim that Sam doesn't love Dean the way Dean loves Sam. Yes, I suppose it's true - because Sam seems to know where to draw the line. Season after season Dean has been systematically destroying Sam's hope for a normal life, but even more so - he's been infringing on Sam's right to make decisions. We can't even say Ezekiel is the bad guy in this situation (maybe he is, but that's up for another discussion when we see more of his character): Ezekiel let Dean hear Sam explicitly state that he was ready to go. Given the kind of life Sam has had, it's normal that he's tired. It's normal that he's not afraid to die because he's seen some shit that's scarier than death. Death himself praises him on a life well lived - a life that Sam is ready to say goodbye to.
But of course there is Dean to think of. Dean who consistently tells Castiel his family doesn't matter (including in this episode); Dean who does idiotic things to save his brother but throws a tantrum when someone else does things of the same calibre for someone else. Dean who knows exactly what Sam wants but still does things his way.
I'd love to say I'm surprised. I'd love to say I can't believe Dean would sink so low. But unfortunately, this is all very IC for him. Some fans say that this has always been Dean's storyline: to look after Sam, to take care of Sam, to live for Sam. True, but look again: this is Dean wanting Sam to live for him. This is the sacrifice that Sam doesn't even know he's making! He hasn't been given any choice. All because Dean can't survive without his little brother. And this is not touching, sweet or cute; this doesn't make me go 'aww!' and feel warm and fuzzy. This is terrifying. Dean is Sam's only family, he is supposed to look after him, not hurt him! And part of looking after is knowing when to back the fuck off. Death is a tragedy when you've got unfinished business, when you're scared of it, when it's unwelcome. I've seen some fans wonder how Sam could become so hopeless. Have you seen the last 8 seasons of this show!? Sam is not hopeless; Sam is just ready.
This episode doesn't piss me off; it makes me sad. I haven't had any hope for Dean for years now, but this is a new low. Where has all the experience of seasons 4 and 5, of Michael and Lucifer, of trying to preserve whatever scraps of themselves they had left gone? Down the drain apparently. Because in the face of staying alone, nothing matters. Apparently that's the best excuse they can come up with. But as if tricking Sam into saying yes is enough, Dean also has his memory erased (that's quite a Dean thing, if you remember Ben and Lisa). And the worst part? It won't have any lasting repercussions because the writers know they can't break up this co-dependent duo for more than a couple of mind-numbingly repetitive episodes. Dean is very much all right with letting people go and letting people die - if they are not Sam. Tell me again how it's the story of brotherly life.