(no subject)

[exsequar]

I'm finally hoooooome. 12 hours in the car - so much fun. Not. :P

Anyway...

I was just thinking about Dean, and a comment made by Kripke in a recent article.

ETA: Warning for spoilers under the cut, up through 1x16: Shadow. Nothing HUGE, but it is there.


Here's what Kripke said: "In terms of Dean's evolution, Jensen is doing such an unbelievable job because this character started out very brash and Han Solo-like, still has that Devil-may-care attitude, but as the series goes on you're catching these careful, quiet glimpses of the absolutely screwed-to-Hell psyche that'd create a personality like that. That's what's been intriguing about Dean, the feelings of abandonment but also fierce loyalty he has for his father. Dean had an incredibly troubled childhood, and didn't adjust nearly as well to the outside world as Sam. And the more you flesh that out, the more fascinating he becomes. He's so damaged on the one hand and so charming on the other."
(Thanks to monkeydom for transcribing from the Dreamwatch article)

The part that grabs me is the screwed-to-Hell psyche. Dean is fucked up. He really, really is. So he's necessarily got to fall apart at some point, right? The thing is, I'm trying to think about what would trigger that, and how it would play out, and I'm having a hard time. Dean is always so firm and unshakeable, all devil-may-care, and it's really convincing. Of course we've seen moments of vulnerability - calling Papa in "Home," telling Sam he was right in "Scarecrow," worrying himself to death about Sam in "The Benders," and seeing Daddy (and then Daddy hug Sammy) in "Shadows." These have been brief but visible cracks in the cover that we've been privy to. But he can't keep up the facade of cocky ghost hunter forever. I think that the finale is going to involve Dean falling apart in some way.

But what's going to cause that? One might think it would be the defeat of the thing that killed Mary and Jessica. But if you think about it, that isn't really such an end-point for Dean. I was reading something poisontaster wrote about Dean, and she was talking about how the whole monster-killing thing is really a mission for Dean, a calling that he has a responsibility to answer. He has the means to save lots of people, and so he's going to. He doesn't have as direct a desire for revenge as Sam and John do - Sam was actually a bit right when he said, in their fight in "Scarecrow," that Dean doesn't understand Sam's burning desire for revenge. Of course Dean wants to kill the bastard that killed his mother, but at the same time it's just another monster. It will be an emotional experience for him, when they finally accomplish it, but not, I don't think, to the degree that it will be for Sam and John (Damn, I want to see that right now... augh, I can't wait for the finale!!!). I think that what sends Dean over the edge will probably be something to do with Sam, and/or John (though I'm rooting for Sam, clearly). Like, Sam's going to make the motions of leaving again, or something, orrrr Sam will get into some REALLY dire trouble. Something like that. And Dean will just break. Temporarily, of course, but I just think that he can't go on this way. He's going to have a breakdown at some point. I can't wait to see what Jensen does with that - he's so brilliant, and he could really make something like that deeply painful for the viewer, and I'm a sucker for that! Gosh.

Kay, I probably didn't say anything at all. But it is something I'm wondering about. Thoughts are appreciated!


Another thing... it's occurred to me that I've never actually *chatted* with many of you lovely people on my flist. I've made some really wonderful friends through LJ, but only after really talking to them outside of posts and comments. So I've decided to ask for some of your screen names. If you want to talk to me, just comment with your screen name (MSN is preferred, though I have AIM too). Or you can just IM me! Here's my info:

MSN: starlight1013@gmail.com
AIM: starsouls1013

Go at it :D

*skips off to fill extra 5 icon slots!*

Comments

[jamesinclair.livejournal.com]

hey guys, I wouldnt bother. Anne is mediocre at best over MSN.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Bite me :)

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

Dean would fall way apart if something happened to Sam. Like, perhaps he thinks he's dead.

OHGODOHGODOHGOD, I will freak when Sam tries to leave. My poooor Dean. I will want to make all his hopeless lonely pain go away.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

He really would. Oh my poor woobie. *cuddles*

The thing is, I'm not sure Sam will try to leave. clearly he can't actually leave, for the show's sake, but I think he will come to that realization on his own. There will certainly be a near-death situation involved for at least one of the Winchesters, and it will cause some kind of massive shift of mindset for at least Sam, if not all of them. So don't worry, Dean won't be left alone :)

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

I hope hope hope you're right. I trust the writers to think of some clever way to make Sam stay without making me go "Come ON! You except me to believe THAT?!"

[marishna.livejournal.com]

All this talk of falling apart!Dean makes me all wibbly. I have no theories or ideas or anything but *wibbles*.

Also, I have AIM: marishnas.

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

Hehe I've just posted that Screenname thing on my journal.

If you want mine, it's e_brewster@hotmail.co.uk

[the5thmarauder.livejournal.com]

SHE'S BACK *glomps licks molests smooches and sundrey other things*

I think Dean will fall apart primarily when Sam leaves him after they defeat the big-bad ghoulie. We saw a bit of that in... *can't remember what episide* but I definately think it will be that.

*woobles for woobley Dean*

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

You see, the thing is with Dean I can see him bottling it down and just kinda balling it up, if that makes sense.

For some reason I always get this image of the Demon hunter who's had a for shit life, is the silent type and just carries on with his mission. Something like AU!Buffy or Faith. Not exactly like them because their stories aren't the same, but soemthing like that.

Although to be fair faith did have the breakdown but then she kinda balled it all in and switched sides.

hm, maybe ignore me, I'm just thinking things over.

[lefty-215.livejournal.com]

Hey, If you wanna talk here's mine! ^^

MSN: lefty_216@hotmail.com

AIM: lefty318

[tabaqui]

OOh, yes. I think you're right. Something is going to break Dean apart into little bitty pieces. And he'll either lose it and come out swinging - go on some sort of killing spree - or he'll lose it and Sam'll have to talk him down from a total break. Coax him out of the corner, or some such.

I have this dreadful feeling they're going to kill off PapaW, and that will *kill* Dean, it really will.

I think his main emotional attachments are Papa and Sam and that's *it*, cute chicks in Missouri not withstanding.

And when he loses that one prop - the third leg of his tripod - he's going to go *down*.

I love that Kripke said Dean was fucked up and troubled. Makes his cocky, happy, geeky mostly-normal-guy thing so....thin.

You can just see the amoral, focused, and utterly ruthless being he really is, just under the surface.

Neat.

Uh, hi. I'm newly into SN and also sorta lurky at this point - clutching at the shelter of my BtVS blanky!
Heeee.

I'm on Yahoo - no clue if that even *works* for you, of if you'd want to chat up a total stranger, anyway.
:)
jynxx327

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Ha! I was all set to mention my misgivings about Papa when you got there first. Bah! I think that would be the most likely thing to break Dean, and I look forward to it and dread it with equal fervour.

I can't quite decide what's going to happen when Dean loses it. I can envision it being very loud and messy, but I can just as clearly imagine it being a barely heard 'snap' and seeing every emotion just fall right off Dean's face.

I also think that killing Papa might not be the end of him. After all, they got to see Mama again in Home, and who knows what tricks Sam is hiding in that head of his. Maybe Papa will be able to help them from beyond the grave (and thus keep up his sporadic guest appearances).

[tabaqui]

I can't totally decide, either. I have theories, but...
Yeah.

Oh, that would be neat - spiritual guidance!
But also - so damn hard.

*clings to the boys*
:)

[lady-shain.livejournal.com]

Poor Dean. It makes you just wanna *cuddle* him, you know? But just for a little while, 'cause hey; there are much better things to do with Dean, I'm sure.

I'm not sure I want to see Dean completely broken; I've got to admit that I like that we just get glimpses of his inner self; it makes them that much more powerful.

Although getting the thing that killed their mom would certainly be a good way to lead up to it (and yeah, my money's on the whole Sam leaving because the big bad thing that killed Mom and Jess is finally dead), I'm not sure they'll go that way, because then what excuse do they have to keep Dean and John hunting separately? Regular inclusion of John will screw up the incredible vibe the show's got going, I think.

Just sayin' is all.

I use Yahoo, too - Lady_Greye.

[lakadyn.livejournal.com]

Great post, I agree with everything you say. I also think it's JA's acting that's pushing the screenwriters towards showing how fucked up Dean really is inside. I don't think it was necessarily in the scripts (and I'd love to read those just to check that out). In Home for instance, was it written in the script that Dean had to be on the verge of tears when he called his dad? In any case, I love vulnerable Dean. :)

But I kinda think he broke a little already when Sam left for college. And then when his dad ditched him, he was so lost he had to go find Sam for help.

That's why I think if he breaks for good it will be because of Sam. He can deal without his dad as long as he has Sam. But Dean clearly has abandonment issues and if Sam leaves again, I'm not sure how he can cope. It would be interesting to know how Dean was like when he was just hunting with their dad when Sam was away?

I don't want to see Dean broken any more than you do but I can't picture him hunting without Sam. And since Sam wants a normal life, I doubt the show can give us a happy ending for them both unless Sam changes his mind...

I use Yahoo Messenger under lakadyn and I'd love chatting with more SPN fans. :)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I'm sorry about the spoilers! I'll mark that on the post now. Sorry about that :(

I'm not sure that Sam would leave again, myself. He may think that's what he wants, and I mean obviously he does want it, but in the end Dean is right - they ARE freaks, pure and simple, and they will never really fit in with "normal". It just wouldn't work in the long run. Also, Sam loves Dean too damn much. That's definitely going to come into play, I think.

Ah, idea! What if something kills Papa Winchester, and that becomes their crusade for next season? Ooooh. Hm. I don't want papa to die :(

I've added you to MSN, if you're around right now :)

[ringwench.livejournal.com]

I have this sinking feeling that they are going to kill John in the season finale. Either kill him, or leave his fate in question so the boys don't actually know if he's alive or dead.

Not that I particularly WANT them to kill John, because I really do like him, but I would be interested to see how that would play out in terms of the boys' reactions (angst whore that I am ;-)).

I love that Kripke quote. It just makes me so happy that the show's creator/writer has a plan for Dean's character and a backstory that takes into account all of the things I love about Dean and all of the aspects of his character that I'm just itching to see explored.

I can't wait to see Dean crack. I know Jensen will do an excellent job of bringing that scene to life whenever TPTB decide to write it.

[affectations.livejournal.com]

I really liked what you said although some parts of it was spoilery and I'm all eek spoilers! at this point of time. I think Dean will fall apart, he never got a chance to live 'normally' like Sam and everyone has left him including Sam. Poor Dean. omg everyone else is making me think that Sam would leave him again. Why??

Oh I'm on MSN too: cmmattar@hotmail.com I also use AIM:miss vanity98