I'm really glad they recognized that there's only so far angst can go before it becomes self-destructive and self-defeating, no matter how big or worthy the cause.
Also, that there needed to be an Office Space episode.
I don't know, I'm pretty uncomfortable with giving a character something that looks a lot like PTSD and telling him he's "whining". If they do all that angst, a modicum of time to heal wouldn't go astray. And I don't like that they're not letting Sam help Dean in any meaningful way.
I understand how that could cause discomfort, but that wasn't my own take on it. I'm looking at this in two ways: first, this was a pep talk. The angels need Dean to be on board with action. There's no way to tell how much time has passed between these two episodes, but he had time to heal up plus three weeks at the office. The angels' agenda is that Dean has work to do, and really, he needs to do it. I was recently delivered one of these talks myself -- even if it's hard, even if it's scary, even if you're hurt, you have to get up and go, because even in those states, this isn't beyond your capability. Second, I think the use of the word "whining" is what's going to get through to Dean: that's his language, and Dean isn't sensitive or easy on himself. ("Great. You're dying. Again. Loser." from "Yellow Fever" comes to mind.) (I realize this sounds like excusing or justifying the elements which made you uncomfortable: I'm sorry if it sounds that way -- that isn't the intent.)
I think I would agree with you through Seasons 1-3, and the episodes of Season 4 before Dean was really remembering Hell (including Yellow Fever). But since then, they've overwhelmed Dean with pain and trauma without giving fair recovery incentive or time. It's a long way past "whining" now, and if they wanted the John Winchester style "pep talk" to work, they shouldn't have heaped so much trauma on Dean in the first place. From a real life perspective, people who go through mental illness or trauma are often told to "stop whining" and get on with things; from a storytelling perspective, the viewer rides along with the whump and then suddenly it's a reset (or it will be if Dean is all just fine next week). If we had seen indication of time passing, or just some Dean&Sam time, which is seriously lacking right now, that would be great.
Also? The angel was wrong - it was *Sam* who got right back into hunting. Dean had the physical reflexes, but it was Sam who dragged him into it. Dean has learnt nothing from this.
Hmm -- I think I'd need another viewing to respond in a substantial way. But I'll keep this in mind when I do.
Though, from what I remember, Zachariah doesn't tell Dean to forget his experiences in Hell, or devalue them for what they are. Blaming the victim is, well, a terrible way of going about this, but it seemed to me that part of the demonstration was to try to get Dean to stop feeling like a victim, or at least to stop feeling helpless. Again, rewatch required! But that was my read the first time around.
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Also, that there needed to be an Office Space episode.
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Also? The angel was wrong - it was *Sam* who got right back into hunting. Dean had the physical reflexes, but it was Sam who dragged him into it. Dean has learnt nothing from this.
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Though, from what I remember, Zachariah doesn't tell Dean to forget his experiences in Hell, or devalue them for what they are. Blaming the victim is, well, a terrible way of going about this, but it seemed to me that part of the demonstration was to try to get Dean to stop feeling like a victim, or at least to stop feeling helpless. Again, rewatch required! But that was my read the first time around.
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