Comments | phaballa: an actual SPN post!

phaballa

an actual SPN post!

May 19, 2008 14:23

So, the lovely and talented trollprincess did some counting and I guess Dean uses the word 'bitch' a lot. And sometimes 'slut.' And since this is all anyone on my flist is interested in talking about today, here are some thoughts I had ( Read more... )

Comments 11

wendy May 19 2008, 19:31:30 UTC

I think he's more chauvinistic than misogynistic. Different things, you know?

And interesting point about Dean being afraid of turning into Ruby. I hadn't thought of that. *ponders*

phaballa May 19 2008, 19:48:18 UTC

I think it's something that probably goes through his mind every time he sees her. Like, her very presence is a reminder of what he's going to become, which is the very thing he hates most, and so he takes out a lot of that anger and sadness on her. I do think she's set up as his mirror, and you can see that in the way they both interact with Sam, in the way that they both NEED Sam in inexplicable ways, because Sam is the only embodiment they have of both feminine (supernatural/psychic) and masculine (physical). Sam is sort of representative of a Great White Hope for them, because he's part of the supernatural without being overcome by it and without being evil. Of course, he's had to surpress most of his feminine/supernatural abilities to achieve that balance, and we can see how Dean and Ruby pull at him from different sides, with Ruby advocating for him to use his powers, tap into the supernatural/feminine, and Dean advocating the opposite--they can get by with brute force ( ... )

wendy May 19 2008, 22:01:53 UTC

They both need Sam...got it! *grin*

phaballa May 19 2008, 23:53:11 UTC

And you know what would solve ALL their problems? Threesome. And maybe some donuts. I think people underestimate the restorative power of donuts!

Thread 5

queenofalostart May 19 2008, 21:35:56 UTC

I had a really weird reaction to him calling Ruby a slut in the finale...like, call her a bitch, fine, but, really, slut is such a sexualized word that I just didn't think that there was *justification* for it. Of course, I am talking about justification of a fictional character's right to put another fictional character down, so...but, YEAH. ITA with your thoughts on this -- I was so glad Ruby kicked his ass!

phaballa May 19 2008, 21:43:42 UTC

I definitely feel like part of Dean's recent language issues is the writers having fun coming up with new ways to insult people, but I also like to think it has a deeper meaning and their word choice is purposeful and meaningful. I think Dean will end up understanding Ruby a LOT better after his time in hell, and maybe we will get to see him redeem himself for his 'slut's and things. I would *love* to see that apology scene, ha.

queenofalostart May 19 2008, 21:47:12 UTC

Yes! That apology would be hilarious!

And I'd like to think that it has a deeper meaning, but it also may just be laziness. As much as I want to believe the writers/producers of my fave shows are "thinking hard," it's kind of sad to find out that they're eating Tim Horton's and playing ping-pong most of the time.

phaballa May 19 2008, 21:50:50 UTC

But you never know! Sometimes I write something and only notice how Deep and Meaningful it is when I go back and read it later. I think the unconscious plays a big part in writing. And I will keep telling myself that so I can keep thinking deep thoughts about a random CW show :P

madame_d May 21 2008, 01:55:10 UTC

I don't get why fandom is so up in arms about it. I mean, I understand the cause, intellectually, but it's not like Dean's never said something like that before. Though, like queenoflostart, I was taken aback by the 'slut' in the finale - sure, Dean is, but we've never had even a smidgen of indication that Ruby is thusly inclined. WTF, Dean?

As for the rest, I'm buying your argument and running with it. Though curiously, a counter-argument would be that, considering John's devotion to Mary, you'd think that while the boys were raised to hate and kill anything supernatural etc, they'd also have an almost worshipful attitude towards women.

...Though I guess Ruby isn't really a woman, per se.

phaballa May 21 2008, 02:09:49 UTC

Ruby hasn't been a woman for a very very long time, at the very least. I guess I see Dean as sort of the Faith and Sam is the Buffy (although both are far FAR less cool than their counterparts, ahem.) I have no idea why Dean pulled out the slut-monster, but I have a feeling it has something to do with, "We've already used 'bitch' seven million times in this episode! Let's use a different word this time..." even though slut... does not so much work in context. Or maybe he sees Ruby as trying to seduce Sam away from him, seduce Sam into using his powers and going dark side, hence in that manner, he might see her as a slut, without the sexual connotations normally associated with it ( ... )