Why does Dean hunt?

[morganlucas41]

Elliot Ness’ comments to Dean in the last ep got me thinking. Why are the boys hunting, anymore? It seems like they (and the audience) once knew, but I’m not so sure anymore. And the more I think about it, the more important the answer to that question seems for the series as a whole.

Comments

[etoile444]

I wish I had answers. I think when Dean was a boy he followed Johns orders because it brought order to his chaos and also because if he obeyed, daddy wouldn't leave. Dean got over all of that, including abandonment issues. So maybe there is hope he can find a purpose again.

[morganlucas41]

I definitely think part of why Dean was so obedient to John was out of a desire to please him; Dean does that, so that the people he loves don't leave him. It's one of his inherent character traits. I think Dean's definitely stopped idealizing his father, but I'm not sure he's completely gotten over his daddy issues - we haven't seen evidence of that, the way we have for Sam (what he says to young!John in 5.13, etc). But I do hope Dean finds a purpose for himself again soon.

[sgmajorshipper]

I think you really explained why I think Sam's made a lot more progress than Dean, and in the end, he's the only one with a full and complete-feeling cycle, from revenge, to redemption, to recognizing he's atoned for his sins. Dean, on the other hand, has just gotten worse. He's gone from being the hero of the story to the villain, the hunter to the monster. In his mind, he's fallen beyond far. And that's what they need to try to rectify to bring the show full circle; they need to bring Dean out of the dark and into the light, and they need to give Sam and him a heroic purpose in life, bigger(in a personal impact sense) and smaller(in the whole-world-is-resting-on-our-shoulders way) than the apocalypse.
Bring it back home, guys. Two dudes saving people, hunting things, family.

And maybe…that’s where the show’s going. Maybe the point of all this isolation, desolation, taking everything away from the boys, is leading there. It kind of makes sense. If that IS the point, then all this pain might be worth it.This is where I've thought

[morganlucas41]

Agreed completely. If this season is about "going back to the beginning," then that really is the beginning - saving people first, and family. I love Sam's arc and would really hope for Dean to get something similar - a notion in his own head, at least, that he's a hero again. That would be nice. And, if the show does end with the boys dying (still perfectly plausible), it would be a lot more satisfying for ME if, when they did that, they believed themselves to be heroes, and not just hopeless.

I'd like an S8, if for no other reason than that I don't want to say goodbye to the boys. But because I'm analytical me I have to figure out what that's going to look like now, lol. Hence all the pondering :)

I read the meta you linked to and it definitely got me thinking, too - thanks for pointing it out to me!

[tranquil_ity]

Nice post

[morganlucas41]

I’ve wondered if this season about ‘taking everything’ from the boys so that all they’ve got is each other is a way of showing them that they really do need other people in their lives.

That's a great thought. I think it'd be really great if that were in fact the case. I guess I do need them to have a more hopeful outlook on life, in general.

Of course...if they do realize they need more in life than each other, we're still left with...everyone else in their life being dead :/ But dead is never really dead on SPN, so maybe even that too will be rectified - in a way that makes it all seem worth it.

[i_speak_tongue]

Fantastic retrospective on the boys' motivations for hunting! Thanks!

I think if this is the last season it could go a few ways. I think finding peace with being hunters is one of them, along with the blaze of glory scenario. But if they're moving on to a season 8? Yeah, they better see the light. Must be a pain in the ass for the writers to not know!

[morganlucas41]

Must be a pain in the ass for the writers to not know!

Agreed! One thing that always boggles me about open canon shows is that the writers really don't know when the show will end. My first few fandoms were shows that were already over, and then there was Lost, which had a set ending date (something I now realize is almost unheard of).

So I can see how that's difficult for the writers. I suppose I'd prefer them to go the hopeful route even if the show does end...but that's just me.

[e313]

mmm i liked this analysis

[morganlucas41]

I definitely agree with you about the stakes being raised. Obviously, since the first apocalypse, they've lacked the ability to simply just walk away. Sam and Dean aren't going to let the world just end, especially when, to certain extents, they hold themselves responsible for it.

So there's definitely been a sense that they can't get out of the hunting life, at this particular time. Or maybe not ever. I accept that that's true - and, regardless, the show's not going to go on unless the boys are hunting. Even so, I still need for them to have a personal reason to do it. Otherwise, it's hard to see the point of the show anymore.

[e313]

i don't know... i mean, wanting the planet to be there the next day so that you can keep living on it is enough of a personal reason for me :)
*shrug* also, think about it: out there...how many of us do our regular jobs for 'personal' reasons? (ok, so the average person's dayjob has nothing on 'hunting' but still, i kinda agree with frank on the being professional thing and just doing the job just cuz it needs to be done)
buuuut i do have a feeling that a turn is coming; all these talks, all this searching of why from both brothers...i think the show is gonna go that way, allow them to find their reasons.

[morganlucas41]

But that's just the thing - the "planet" is such a big concept that it can't be personal. They're trying to save the world. It has no personal significance to them or their daily lives.

And you're right, hunting is nothing like a normal daily job. Hunting isn't just a job for Sam and Dean, and it's not even just a way of life. It's become who they are, how they define their identities. There's no sense in comparing that to a regular 9-5 job.

Anyway, I'm with you in hoping that a turn is coming!