I don't think it is irrelevant, though. That power struggle has been a central theme of the season, and it makes up a lot more of the conflict in the episode than the trouble with the vampires. I think it's important that Dean is the one to resolve it, and I think the story makes it clear that Dean is the only one who can.
While I'd agree that Dean has good instincts, I don't think that's what he's relying on here. When he contradicts John he explicitly says he's been thinking about this - and yeah, he's been thinking about this all season. His whole character arc has led him to the point where he can do this. I think it's important that this be a carefully weighed choice, because that's part of what Dean has learnt from working with Sam: to slow down sometimes, to consider the evidence, make your choice and refuse to back down. That's his half. Sam's half comes in Devil's Trap when he has to chose in a second whether to trust Dean's word or John's. He makes excellent use of his instincts there, because neither of them gives him a strong argument; it just comes down to what feels right. That one is a stalemate that only Sam can break.
While I'd agree that Dean has good instincts, I don't think that's what he's relying on here. When he contradicts John he explicitly says he's been thinking about this - and yeah, he's been thinking about this all season. His whole character arc has led him to the point where he can do this. I think it's important that this be a carefully weighed choice, because that's part of what Dean has learnt from working with Sam: to slow down sometimes, to consider the evidence, make your choice and refuse to back down. That's his half. Sam's half comes in Devil's Trap when he has to chose in a second whether to trust Dean's word or John's. He makes excellent use of his instincts there, because neither of them gives him a strong argument; it just comes down to what feels right. That one is a stalemate that only Sam can break.
Reply
Leave a comment