A Mytharc for DeanfeliciakwJune 21 2011, 14:26:46 UTC
Okey dokey. I'm alone in a quiet office right now, so I've got more than a hot minute to get this on paper. Or on your screen. Or whatever.
So. I mentioned above that I was kind of hoping for a Dean-centric mytharc this year (because the one time they did have a Dean-centric arc, it was cut short by the writer's strike). And you know? I'm sure you do. They spent the entire season setting up a mytharc for Dean--and then just let it go.
We've talked about this before, I think. Why is it that all the monsters gravitated toward Dean this season? Like, seemed to specifically target him?
The djinn went after Dean for revenge. Dean was the one trying to protect the baby 'shifter. Dean was turned into a vamp. "You were my child, for a time." Dean "belongs to" the fae. "He's marked. He's one of ours now." He was Death for a day. Meg seems to have developed a particular delight in tormenting Dean (ever since BUaBS). He got turned into a Jefferson Starship (he thinks).
Why so interested in Dean? Is it because he's awesome? Or does it go beyond that?
There's something about Dean. As you describe, he's always been the rock solid voice for Good--for "saving people"--of the show. And he learns (I like to think) from his mistakes. I'd love for them to develop something along those lines.
Re: A Mytharc for DeantahirireJune 21 2011, 14:38:38 UTC
RIGHT!?!!?
*sigh*
Hence my dropped plot line frustration. I am assuming Dean's dealings with Death are not over, that will carry into next year (Death is the one that can reap god, yes? Death wants to stop the thefts of souls, yes yes?), but the rest of it really seriously makes me sad. Same thing with Sam's powers - like they just forget about all that set up they have in place and move on to something more ... stupid. It's like seriously, just make a flow chart, people! (I should make them one LOL)
(I haven't ever really understood the 'Dean has never had a mytharc' camp, if I'm being honest. Dean is the narrator. Everything we see, we see through his point of view except in extreme cases. He's always had his part to play, and in the overreaching mytharc of the apocalypse, he stayed consistent to character, refusing to play a part at all and choosing instead to believe in his brother, which turned out to be what saved everyone.)
I would, however, really, really, REALLY (DO YOU HEAR ME, SHOW!?) like Dean's own special traits to be explored and revealed, like you said. I would also like for Sam to come into control of his own power. Basically, I want them both to truly discover who they really are, what they are made of, and what they can accomplish together. I had SUCH huge hopes that bringing Mary's family back into it would shed important light on their past and enable their future, but ugh. UGH, I say. :P
I also, if I'm making a wish list, would really like for him to deal with his drinking and anger issues. Possibly because if he doesn't they will kill him. Possibly in a way that is related to a case where a creature or spirit sees those weaknesses and takes advantage of them. *shifty eyes*
I don't want to hold my breath either, but I STILL HAVE FAITH, DANGIT. *clings to Show's pants leg*
Re: A Mytharc for DeanfeliciakwJune 21 2011, 15:26:03 UTC
I will admit that I do, from time to time . . . to time . . . get tired of the "Dean doesn't have a mytharc" cry. But I do understand it.
Sam has always been the "special one." Dean has always been the supporting character, the reactionary to whatever Sam needs or does. "The chauffeur," I've heard that Ben Edlund referred to him. Even Jensen has alluded to the fact that Dean just kind of hangs around--looking awesome. :-) Yes, he's the narrator, and we see pretty much the entire series from his POV. But he's not the "center" of the epic storyarc. It's always been Sam. Yes, Dean has had a role in it, and yes, he's always remained true to character, but he hasn't been the object or purpose of the mytharc. That's always been Sam. That's why Dean being the vessel for Michael was such a big thing, and a double-edged sword in and of itself.
HOWEVER, the way I see it, Dean IS the center of the emotional arc. We see how everything affects him on an emotional level. We get, I think, more detail of his emotional background and make-up. (Or, that could just be the Dean!girl in me.) And quite honestly, given the choice between the Epic!Mytharc!of!Doom and Dean's emotional development, I'm more interested in the character development than the E!M!o!D!
Something else I'd really like to see is something along the lines of S3, wherein Dean's arc has him in mortal danger, and Sam's goal and focus is to save his brother. We got some of that in S3, of course, but thanks to the WGA strike, I think we missed out on a lot. We also missed out on Sam being able to save Dean. Which worked very well as S4 got started, so I'm not complaining. But I'd like to see something similar play out wherein Sam is successful. Ya know?
I would, however, really, really, REALLY (DO YOU HEAR ME, SHOW!?) like Dean's own special traits to be explored and revealed, like you said.
Exactly.
And now my office is not as quiet as it was, and I've lost my train of thought. Oy.
Re: A Mytharc for DeantahirireJune 21 2011, 15:55:43 UTC
HOWEVER, the way I see it, Dean IS the center of the emotional arc. We see how everything affects him on an emotional level. We get, I think, more detail of his emotional background and make-up. (Or, that could just be the Dean!girl in me.)
Uh, no. Definitely not just the Dean girl talking. I've been wanting something similar for Sam for years. *sigh*
Re: A Mytharc for DeanfeliciakwJune 21 2011, 15:50:19 UTC
(Death is the one that can reap god, yes? Death wants to stop the thefts of souls, yes yes?)
Oh, flail. When Death first delivered that line, I was all kinds of ticked about it. Because life is stronger than death. Death even says as much, in a sort of round-about way, when he talks about the indestructibility of souls.
But if Cas is "God" (which he certainly isn't, not really, just playing at), then was Death being prescient and telling us that he's going to reap Cas?
Oyoyoy!
At the end of S5, when Dean asked Cas if he was God? I cried. Because at that point, I could maybe have gotten behind that. Not really, but I didn't find the idea to be totally disagreeable. I decided it wouldn't really work for me, but it was a heartbreaking concept. Probably because of the way Jensen delivered the line, and Cas's response--complimented, but humble.
Now? I'm not so much down with Cas as God. Like, really not. Because A) his brain is scrambled; and B) he's a child playing with a nuclear weapon.
Re: A Mytharc for DeanfeliciakwJune 21 2011, 16:02:39 UTC
The way I see it, Cas can no more be God than I can be my mother. Sure, I might look like her, or act like her, or talk like her, or even think like her, but I can't give birth to myself. "I'm my own grandpa." Not so much.
So unless Cas can claim having created the universe, having created the human race, and having created angels, then . . . no. Not God, as much as he has god-like powers.
Methinks he might end up learning this the hard way.
Re: A Mytharc for DeanfeliciakwJune 21 2011, 16:38:50 UTC
Apologies for the spammy. I really should be doing something more productive.
he stayed consistent to character, refusing to play a part at all and choosing instead to believe in his brother, which turned out to be what saved everyone.)
THANK YOU! Wow. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who saw the end of "Swan Song" in this manner. Dean saved the day, in fact, by simply being awesome.
Also, this is what I mean by Dean as Michael's vessel being a double-edged sword. Ot1h, it would have been FANTASTIC! to see Jensen play Michael. I would have LOVED to see his interpretation of it. And maybe that final "showdown" would have been more than just whining back and forth. Otoh, and more importantly, if Dean *had* said yes to Michael, that would have totally negated and debunked the whole "free will" theme of the show, and that Dean so strongly stands for. So it was totally appropriate that Dean didn't cave to "destiny," since he's never gone along with the idea anyway, whereas Sam did follow his "destiny," because his destiny is something he's always been worried about. So Dean did what he was destined to do--in a totally unexpected and low-key way, and simply by being who he is.
So in that regard, he did play an important role in the apocalypse arc. But it took the writers 5 seasons to get around to it.
Also, if we're putting in requests, I'd like to submit once again my request for a cursed!mute!Dean, with follow-up rock opera. (Possibly with music by Jim Steinman.)
Re: A Mytharc for DeandatenshiblueJune 21 2011, 23:50:21 UTC
THANK YOU! Wow. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who saw the end of "Swan Song" in this manner. Dean saved the day, in fact, by simply being awesome.
You so are not the only one. ;)
(It actually makes me a little angry that his awesomeness, his unbelievably amazing love for Sam, is belittled by those who wanted him to be Michael. Gah. :P)
1 Corinthians 13:13, pick your favorite translation: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
So. I mentioned above that I was kind of hoping for a Dean-centric mytharc this year (because the one time they did have a Dean-centric arc, it was cut short by the writer's strike). And you know? I'm sure you do. They spent the entire season setting up a mytharc for Dean--and then just let it go.
We've talked about this before, I think. Why is it that all the monsters gravitated toward Dean this season? Like, seemed to specifically target him?
The djinn went after Dean for revenge.
Dean was the one trying to protect the baby 'shifter.
Dean was turned into a vamp. "You were my child, for a time."
Dean "belongs to" the fae. "He's marked. He's one of ours now."
He was Death for a day.
Meg seems to have developed a particular delight in tormenting Dean (ever since BUaBS).
He got turned into a Jefferson Starship (he thinks).
Why so interested in Dean? Is it because he's awesome? Or does it go beyond that?
There's something about Dean. As you describe, he's always been the rock solid voice for Good--for "saving people"--of the show. And he learns (I like to think) from his mistakes. I'd love for them to develop something along those lines.
Ya know?
Alas, I shan't hold my breath.
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*sigh*
Hence my dropped plot line frustration. I am assuming Dean's dealings with Death are not over, that will carry into next year (Death is the one that can reap god, yes? Death wants to stop the thefts of souls, yes yes?), but the rest of it really seriously makes me sad. Same thing with Sam's powers - like they just forget about all that set up they have in place and move on to something more ... stupid. It's like seriously, just make a flow chart, people! (I should make them one LOL)
(I haven't ever really understood the 'Dean has never had a mytharc' camp, if I'm being honest. Dean is the narrator. Everything we see, we see through his point of view except in extreme cases. He's always had his part to play, and in the overreaching mytharc of the apocalypse, he stayed consistent to character, refusing to play a part at all and choosing instead to believe in his brother, which turned out to be what saved everyone.)
I would, however, really, really, REALLY (DO YOU HEAR ME, SHOW!?) like Dean's own special traits to be explored and revealed, like you said. I would also like for Sam to come into control of his own power. Basically, I want them both to truly discover who they really are, what they are made of, and what they can accomplish together. I had SUCH huge hopes that bringing Mary's family back into it would shed important light on their past and enable their future, but ugh. UGH, I say. :P
I also, if I'm making a wish list, would really like for him to deal with his drinking and anger issues. Possibly because if he doesn't they will kill him. Possibly in a way that is related to a case where a creature or spirit sees those weaknesses and takes advantage of them. *shifty eyes*
I don't want to hold my breath either, but I STILL HAVE FAITH, DANGIT. *clings to Show's pants leg*
Reply
Sam has always been the "special one." Dean has always been the supporting character, the reactionary to whatever Sam needs or does. "The chauffeur," I've heard that Ben Edlund referred to him. Even Jensen has alluded to the fact that Dean just kind of hangs around--looking awesome. :-) Yes, he's the narrator, and we see pretty much the entire series from his POV. But he's not the "center" of the epic storyarc. It's always been Sam. Yes, Dean has had a role in it, and yes, he's always remained true to character, but he hasn't been the object or purpose of the mytharc. That's always been Sam. That's why Dean being the vessel for Michael was such a big thing, and a double-edged sword in and of itself.
HOWEVER, the way I see it, Dean IS the center of the emotional arc. We see how everything affects him on an emotional level. We get, I think, more detail of his emotional background and make-up. (Or, that could just be the Dean!girl in me.) And quite honestly, given the choice between the Epic!Mytharc!of!Doom and Dean's emotional development, I'm more interested in the character development than the E!M!o!D!
Something else I'd really like to see is something along the lines of S3, wherein Dean's arc has him in mortal danger, and Sam's goal and focus is to save his brother. We got some of that in S3, of course, but thanks to the WGA strike, I think we missed out on a lot. We also missed out on Sam being able to save Dean. Which worked very well as S4 got started, so I'm not complaining. But I'd like to see something similar play out wherein Sam is successful. Ya know?
I would, however, really, really, REALLY (DO YOU HEAR ME, SHOW!?) like Dean's own special traits to be explored and revealed, like you said.
Exactly.
And now my office is not as quiet as it was, and I've lost my train of thought. Oy.
Possibly back later with more rambly.
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Uh, no. Definitely not just the Dean girl talking. I've been wanting something similar for Sam for years. *sigh*
Mebbe next year, we trade!? ^.^*
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Oh, flail. When Death first delivered that line, I was all kinds of ticked about it. Because life is stronger than death. Death even says as much, in a sort of round-about way, when he talks about the indestructibility of souls.
But if Cas is "God" (which he certainly isn't, not really, just playing at), then was Death being prescient and telling us that he's going to reap Cas?
Oyoyoy!
At the end of S5, when Dean asked Cas if he was God? I cried. Because at that point, I could maybe have gotten behind that. Not really, but I didn't find the idea to be totally disagreeable. I decided it wouldn't really work for me, but it was a heartbreaking concept. Probably because of the way Jensen delivered the line, and Cas's response--complimented, but humble.
Now? I'm not so much down with Cas as God. Like, really not. Because A) his brain is scrambled; and B) he's a child playing with a nuclear weapon.
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So unless Cas can claim having created the universe, having created the human race, and having created angels, then . . . no. Not God, as much as he has god-like powers.
Methinks he might end up learning this the hard way.
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he stayed consistent to character, refusing to play a part at all and choosing instead to believe in his brother, which turned out to be what saved everyone.)
THANK YOU! Wow. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who saw the end of "Swan Song" in this manner. Dean saved the day, in fact, by simply being awesome.
Also, this is what I mean by Dean as Michael's vessel being a double-edged sword. Ot1h, it would have been FANTASTIC! to see Jensen play Michael. I would have LOVED to see his interpretation of it. And maybe that final "showdown" would have been more than just whining back and forth. Otoh, and more importantly, if Dean *had* said yes to Michael, that would have totally negated and debunked the whole "free will" theme of the show, and that Dean so strongly stands for. So it was totally appropriate that Dean didn't cave to "destiny," since he's never gone along with the idea anyway, whereas Sam did follow his "destiny," because his destiny is something he's always been worried about. So Dean did what he was destined to do--in a totally unexpected and low-key way, and simply by being who he is.
So in that regard, he did play an important role in the apocalypse arc. But it took the writers 5 seasons to get around to it.
Also, if we're putting in requests, I'd like to submit once again my request for a cursed!mute!Dean, with follow-up rock opera. (Possibly with music by Jim Steinman.)
Just sayin'.
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You so are not the only one. ;)
(It actually makes me a little angry that his awesomeness, his unbelievably amazing love for Sam, is belittled by those who wanted him to be Michael. Gah. :P)
1 Corinthians 13:13, pick your favorite translation: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
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Oh. Don't worry. We'll get back to this. Death will be reaping God at just the right moment...
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