Honestly, I think that's one of the most disturbing plot points the show has ever come up with. In a sense, it puts John in a position where he's not allowed to make good choices because his own emotions have betrayed him.
Another really great review. It's been a while since I've watched any of season 1. I enjoy reading your write-ups because they're a reminder of the original story but you also factor in what has happened in the later seasons. I like the comparisons you draw between John and Elkins/Luther. I also like how you pointed out that it is Dean that really has the power in the Winchester's struggle at this point. I'm glad you noted that John has become even more obsessed and compulsive in his current hunting behaviors indicated by the state of his weapons cache. I never really thought about how the boys being surprised by that indicated the continued downward revenge-driven spiral he's on. Thanks for posting and looking forward to the next one.
As frustrating as I sometimes find John, his story is tragic. And I think the link between this scene and Mystery Spot really illustrates how damaging that kind of obsession can be. That said, John's weapons scare me pretty much by default because I live my life between stacks of books I have yet to organise. :)
It's fascinating to see you incorporate the Men of Letters twist into this first review after that reveal! I'm pretty sure that you've given that fit a lot more thought than any of the writers did :)
"In short, John has sacrificed a better life for his kids in pursuit of a frankly unobtainable perfect life for his kids..."
What a perfect summary of how John could love his boys and majorly screw them up at the same time...
Your analysis of how the season was about Sam and Dean learning how to become a team really resounds! Looking at the show through the lens you provide is very enriching! I really appreciate how much time and effort and thinky-thoughts you put into writing these awesome metas!
It's fascinating to see you incorporate the Men of Letters twist into this first review after that reveal! I'm pretty sure that you've given that fit a lot more thought than any of the writers did :)
They dropped that bombshell on me right in the middle of this. Just to inconvenience me, I'm sure. :)
Your analysis of how the season was about Sam and Dean learning how to become a team really resounds! Looking at the show through the lens you provide is very enriching! I really appreciate how much time and effort and thinky-thoughts you put into writing these awesome metas!
Thank you so much. Despite the occasional fits of writer's block I thoroughly enjoy writing them. One of the things I enjoy about the first season is how positive and hopeful it is, even amongst the death and chaos. Sam and Dean just get better at being themselves all the time.
This episode really cements what Dean's life was like: constant peacemaker. It's really no wonder that he has self esteem issues; his wants likes and dislikes were always pushed to the back. I would hazard a guess that if John somehow came back today and listened to Dean being described he wouldn't be able to figure out the person being described was Dean. Heroic? The Righteous Man? Surviving a year in Purgatory? One of the best hunters ever? That's not the Dean he knows.
I forgot to add that I disagree about Dean having any power in the family ; he had none in my view * when Sam and John were fighting *. He had some when it came to being the older brother but otherwise Dean was there to do as John told him.
Oh, I don't think Dean had power when he and Sam were growing up. He didn't have anything to work with then, because Sam's solution to the problem of John was leaving and Dean couldn't accept that.
I think Dean has the power in Dead Man's Blood because his options have changed. John says 'do things my way' and Sam says 'do things our way'. The latter option gives Dean a voice while still allowing him to keep the family together. And how they work really does seem to depend on where Dean throws his support: for most of the episode he says they have to put up with John's habits, so they do; then at the end he says he disagrees with what John wants, so they defy him and John has to agree that they should all work together.
I'm not do sure it's power so much as it's self-empowerment. Dean listens to his gut and makes his decision. Dean has generally some great instincts; something John undoubtably never listened to and suddenly Dean sees he can choose the path that hus instincts are telling him to follow. That a power struggle is going on is really rather irrelevant.
John’s presence tends to reduce Sam to irate incoherence, just as it reduces Dean to uncertain submission; here, as in Shadow, John acts as a destabilising force.
Yes, that's what made John's appearance at the end of the seaon so powerful. All season long we see Sam and Dean renegotiate their relationship as adults, and they only ever really clash when they're talking about John. And once John is actually present, we see the effects first hand. But the partnership Sam and Dean have built over the first 19 episodes has become so strong, that it survives John's destablising influence, where it didn't when the Stanford issue came between them all. I really love that.
In short, John has sacrificed a better life for his kids in pursuit of a frankly unobtainable perfect life for his kids.
I think this perfectly encapsulates the mystery that is John Winchester. It really resonates with one of the main themes of the show, namely that love can be destructive, rather than beneficial. We see the same in Sam and Dean many times.
But the partnership Sam and Dean have built over the first 19 episodes has become so strong, that it survives John's destablising influence, where it didn't when the Stanford issue came between them all. I really love that.
I think it's lovely that 'partnership' is the overriding theme of the series. It lets Sam and Dean stand up to just about everything, from their dad to demons to angels. And it's really the only thing that works. Even love will just screw you over if it doesn't come in combination with trust and communication and the ability to work together.
In some ways, I think this is the most powerful expression of that. When they take out monsters and save the world, that's impressive - but you expect to have to oppose bad guys. Defeating John is painful precisely because he isn't the enemy.
Perfectly put! I know that there are fans who don't like S1 because they feel it has no big arc. But I think the emotional arc of the brothers in this season is probably the most consistent and coherent arc they have in
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As frustrating as I sometimes find John, his story is tragic. And I think the link between this scene and Mystery Spot really illustrates how damaging that kind of obsession can be. That said, John's weapons scare me pretty much by default because I live my life between stacks of books I have yet to organise. :)
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"In short, John has sacrificed a better life for his kids in pursuit of a frankly unobtainable perfect life for his kids..."
What a perfect summary of how John could love his boys and majorly screw them up at the same time...
Your analysis of how the season was about Sam and Dean learning how to become a team really resounds! Looking at the show through the lens you provide is very enriching! I really appreciate how much time and effort and thinky-thoughts you put into writing these awesome metas!
Reply
They dropped that bombshell on me right in the middle of this. Just to inconvenience me, I'm sure. :)
Your analysis of how the season was about Sam and Dean learning how to become a team really resounds! Looking at the show through the lens you provide is very enriching! I really appreciate how much time and effort and thinky-thoughts you put into writing these awesome metas!
Thank you so much. Despite the occasional fits of writer's block I thoroughly enjoy writing them. One of the things I enjoy about the first season is how positive and hopeful it is, even amongst the death and chaos. Sam and Dean just get better at being themselves all the time.
Reply
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Reply
I think Dean has the power in Dead Man's Blood because his options have changed. John says 'do things my way' and Sam says 'do things our way'. The latter option gives Dean a voice while still allowing him to keep the family together. And how they work really does seem to depend on where Dean throws his support: for most of the episode he says they have to put up with John's habits, so they do; then at the end he says he disagrees with what John wants, so they defy him and John has to agree that they should all work together.
Reply
Reply
Yes, that's what made John's appearance at the end of the seaon so powerful. All season long we see Sam and Dean renegotiate their relationship as adults, and they only ever really clash when they're talking about John. And once John is actually present, we see the effects first hand. But the partnership Sam and Dean have built over the first 19 episodes has become so strong, that it survives John's destablising influence, where it didn't when the Stanford issue came between them all. I really love that.
In short, John has sacrificed a better life for his kids in pursuit of a frankly unobtainable perfect life for his kids.
I think this perfectly encapsulates the mystery that is John Winchester. It really resonates with one of the main themes of the show, namely that love can be destructive, rather than beneficial. We see the same in Sam and Dean many times.
John has been ( ... )
Reply
But the partnership Sam and Dean have built over the first 19 episodes has become so strong, that it survives John's destablising influence, where it didn't when the Stanford issue came between them all. I really love that.
I think it's lovely that 'partnership' is the overriding theme of the series. It lets Sam and Dean stand up to just about everything, from their dad to demons to angels. And it's really the only thing that works. Even love will just screw you over if it doesn't come in combination with trust and communication and the ability to work together.
In some ways, I think this is the most powerful expression of that. When they take out monsters and save the world, that's impressive - but you expect to have to oppose bad guys. Defeating John is painful precisely because he isn't the enemy.
Perfectly put! I know that there are fans who don't like S1 because they feel it has no big arc. But I think the emotional arc of the brothers in this season is probably the most consistent and coherent arc they have in ( ... )
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