So, it is pretty much a given that this is not the ‘perfect’ world. This is what the world would be like if Mary didn’t die, except it isn’t even that simple. It is Dean’s idea of what the world is like if Mary had lived, the distinction is slight but an important one to make. See, this is when I knew it couldn’t be an Alternate Universe so much as a make-believe world, because it wasn’t just Mary not dying, it was the lack of the fire altogether, the removal of the supernatural, hell, the removal of Sam’s abilities. No nightmares, no visions, and no Yellow Eyed Demon gunning for Sammy and the Winchesters, at which point my brain went - Dream World! Mary not dying does NOT equal Sam without visions, though obviously it does in Dean’s mind. At the very least it was the only way the Djin could provide the world Dean would not want to leave. That takes skill, a very careful balance of what is believable and what is shoving it into the world of fantasy, and people can’t trust a fantasy.
See, it is like what the Architect said in The Matrix, humanity doesn’t handle Utopia well, give us a world that is perfect and we try to find something wrong with it (we can’t believe in it), give us something almost perfect with an underbelly and we believe it is real. Hence Dean and his almost perfect world – his mother is alive, his brother is happy (a baby on the way), and he has a girl-friend that is beautiful, understanding and have a ‘respectable’ job as a nurse. Yay! But what about the things that are not ‘perfect’ but make it believable – his father is dead (oh boy do I have things to say about this one), his brother and him are not close. Overall he drinks too much, his family expect him to get into trouble, and Sam didn't even blink when Dean spun that tale of owing someone cash. But Dean was happy, because he can make it better, as he said to Carmen - he can make it up to Sam. There is hope in this world because Dean have time – he can take the time to make it up to his family for the rest of his life if he so wishes because there is no YED. There is no danger in this world, and Dean is happy because it may not be perfect but he sure can make it so. All these things Dean know he can't do in the 'real' world.
The other side of this picture is the fact that Dean actually does perceive himself as someone who can't be relied on. That without the hunt he would've more than likely ended up as a drunk, someone who would steal and lie to get what they want. I love Dean, but I never thought of him kind to himself.
I am one of those people who honestly believe that Dean left the world not just because of Sam. Sure, Sam was a huge part of it, but it was also because Dean could not just stand by and let people die when he could’ve saved them. Knowing that there is a girl out there, slowly dying and not trying his hardest to save her is an impossibility for Dean. The whole scene in the grave yard sums up Dean and his feelings very well - yes; he wants to rest, yes; he wants peace, but no; he was not about to let innocents die just so he can rest. When Dean wakes in the real world - his desperate need to find the girl made me both sad and squeeful. I love Dean.
Before I wrap up – John being dead in this world, yes I know it is because JDM couldn’t make it because of other filming commitments, but I honestly think the lack of his physical presence made everything that much better. It fascinates me to no end that even in a world that Dean wished for John is still dead. This makes me want to cringe, just how fucked up is it that Dean can’t even imagine John as the loving father – not in details anyway. Dean’s mind has no problems conjuring up how Sam would be without the interference of the YED, but John, well, even Dean’s mind breaks at that one. I kept flashing back to DT - Dean states very clearly that he knows his dad the best, and as I was re-watched What Is and What Should Never Be (man, we have the longest titles) my brain kicked into gear. By knowing John Winchester so well, Dean can not imagine John Winchester as anything but as a man haunted by the loss of the love of his life. He brought up Dean Winchester to know that the world is never safe, that saving people is a calling that is never finished. Dean cannot imagine John Winchester, the doting father that died in peace, when so much of who Dean is was a result of John Winchester. To bring John into this ‘dream’ world would have only made the guilt too real – you can’t sit back and be at peace when you know there are people out there who need help. John Winchester did not bring up a coward. And that is heat breaking on so many different levels.
Now I sleep, and prepare for tomorrow - second last episode of Supernatural season 2. It sure has been an awesome ride getting here.
- Mood:
tired