Your post about wanting Dean to love and accept himself. Yes that’s what I want to, but it hasn’t happened in 11 years so there need to be some kind of catalyst for it, some hero journey that takes him there, I think it can only come through proving himself like Sam has had chance to. There’s no point in Sam being the one to prove himself over and over, it doesn’t add anything to his character anymore but will add to Dean’s.

dustydreamsanddirtyscars:

Hey dear!

Yes, and I kind of think that’s what the past seasons and this season in particular have been shaping up to be and to deliver. For Dean to free himself from the things that weigh him down in a coming of age story. The entire MoC arc has always been about Dean’s struggle, it was his struggle to come out stronger on the other side and then before he could try and find this balance the choice was taken from him and along came S11.

That said, I have said this a few times and of course this is just my guess from how I read the story thus far and in that it simply does not make any sense to end this arc for Dean with anything other than him realizing his own importance and have another character suddenly jump in when it’s simply not their struggle (helping yes, but not being the only one). You don’t emphasize that a character feels like he has nothing to offer, but only be a bystander to have that happen in the most pivotal moment too, but to have said character grow over himself and realize that he is playing an important part. We had that pattern countless times with various charactes and arcs, so there’s no reason why this would not play out for Dean this way too.

And I just have to think of one of my all time favourite books and one of my all time favourite quotes that imo seem very relevant and fitting when it comes to this arc. It’s from Jon Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” and it says

“I read somewhere… how important it is in life
not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong… to measure yourself
at least once.”
   

That’s what I see coming for Dean, what Dean needs, to feel strong, this is Dean’s hero’s journey, his final individuation, his freeing himself of his father’s ghost. I still think a Dean version of “Swan Song” could fully be in the cards to happen, but of course that’s just me. 🙂

That said, I remember something Bob Singer said in relation to S10 and Dean’s arc, which imo still applies a great deal as this arc was merely extended and not wrapped up in S10, because he said if I remember correctly, possibly even at JIB or in some other interview (I really don’t remember where he said it  – and I know how he’s despised but that’s actually not of import for what he said) that one of the first things they talked about for Dean S10 the quest would be for him to start seeing himself as a hero again. And that could imo not be more on the head than what the hero’s journey is about. So yes, fingers crossed for Dean to come out of this all stronger on the otherside, liberated, truly himself – even if it means (temporary) death in terms of growth, decay and transformation.