season gr8 retrospective, part the first

[pocochina]

This was going to wait until I could rewatch the whole season in close succession, because I think most shows and Supernatural particularly benefit from the whole picture, but it looks like that's not going to be an option until tomorrow and I am not entirely sure I'll be in the frame of mind for logical thinking after not one but TWO hours with my

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[percysowner]

Thanks for this meta. It actually helps explain some of the reactions I've seen in fandom this year. There has been a drumbeat about how Dean never gets the mytharc and never does anything important because Sam is the chosen one of the writers, all Dean does is cook and clean and serve soup. I disagree on the Dean never gets a mytharc argument on a factual level, which doesn't really fit into this discussion. After reading this, I'm thinking fans are picking up on Dean's feelings that if he isn't in charge it doesn't count. It is interesting that the things that I see getting complained about are things like Sam being tricked by Ruby; Sam jumping into the Cage and Sam being soulless. All are instances where Sam was either acting without Dean's consent (Ruby and Soulless) and jumping into the Cage was something he chose to do, although there wasn't much other choice. Oh, who am I kidding? Dean was ready to say yes to Michael because he didn't believe in Sam. I honestly believe Sam would have said no to Lucifer until the real end of the world because he really is that stubborn. I don't think Sam believed that he would hold out because Dean told him that he wouldn't hold out, but I think he would have.

[pocochina]

fans are picking up on Dean's feelings that if he isn't in charge it doesn't count

HOLY SHIT, that is EXACTLY IT.

Not only that it doesn't count in a story sense, but there really seems to be a lot of tacit acceptance of Dean's worldview that there has to be this exploitative hierarchy? Like, if Dean is not 100% undoubtedly in control, then he MUST be some ground-down submissive, because the idea of two or more people working together and respecting each other is total anathema to him - and apparently, enough fans to make a difference. ugh ugh ugh, no wonder some corners of fandom feel so toxic to me.