#spnwin 1.13

[deancasforcutie]

when Dean “audience surrogate” Winchester is so close (no matter how far) to realizing his love is always with him

[mittensmorgul]

also absolutely LOVE the fact that the episode we learn Ramble On (tied with Traveling Riverside Blues) is Dean’s favorite song is the episode where we first meet Chuck. The episode Chuck first writes himself into the story.

And now it’s in the episode where Dean basically does the OPPOSITE for this alternate version of his parents. He hands them all the tools they need to protect themselves from ever being used by the universe again. He FREED them from the cosmic narrative.

The Colt, which is a gun, but also a key. More like an insurance policy here. And Dean’s journal where he conveyed such important knowledge as “driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole” lol.

Because we also know now why some of the monster lore in that universe failed to match up with what we knew from spn prime. It was a different universe all along-- different Loki, different Rowena, different djinn, different vampires... all of it. It was little hints all along, but never anything big enough that we all cried foul (because who would’ve watched at all if we were told from the drop that these were not the characters we knew already?). It doesn’t matter now, we love them for THEM now.

Dean wrote himself into their story, just a little bit. And like Chuck he used an alias lol (James Hetfield... boy are john and mary gonna be weirded out in about nine years when the first Metallica album drops...)

But unlike Chuck, he did it because he wanted them to be HAPPY. To have a chance to NOT get caught up in the bigger wheels of the universe. To make their OWN choices and live their OWN lives! And he didn’t WANT to make it more complicated for them!

He’s like... the Anti-Chuck? As Storyteller? And I love that for him.

and I really, really hope he has more stories to tell us. more of Chuck’s problems to undo, finally, because I don’t know that Dean can ever truly be at peace until he does 

[myhumanweakness]

Only Dean Winchester would travel between universes as a means of running away from having a conversation about feelings with the love of his life. 

[ghostfacerseffect]

I HATE IT HERE <3 feat. @lillylowe

[queerbluebird]

Some spnwin season finale musings for my own benefit

The spnwin season 1 finale was actually the opposite of the spn 15.20 finale in every way I needed it to be. The more I think on it, the more I love about it, and that is such a relief and a pleasant change when I’ve spent actual years hating 15.20 more every time I think about it. 

All through watching The Winchesters I’ve had my reservations. Despite any and all positive signs, there’s always been the looming knowledge that 1) SPN had positive signs and they all got smacked down and ground into the dirt right at the very last minute and 2) we know where John and Mary end up. Spnwin 1.13 has eased those reservations so thoroughly that I finally feel able to be excited about it; to rewatch it and let myself be fully invested in the characters and the story. 

Some key thoughts…

Firstly, these are not the John and Mary we know. They are not bound to the story we have seen so far. Their choices matter! The family they’re building with Lata and Carlos and Ada and Millie matters! The ways they work to improve themselves and each other matter! Their future is wide open, and now they have the tools from Dean to make sure it stays that way. This is truly the healing SPN was building to; pulling together all the lessons Dean spent 15 seasons of SPN learning and having the opportunity to direct that new knowledge towards the future. 

Secondly, at long fucking last we get acknowledgement that Dean’s ending was NOT a happy one. Literally out of his own mouth right on our screen we got to hear him say that he went searching for a world where his family could find happiness. Which he wouldn’t have had to do if he had been happy! Dean’s ending as of 15.20 was misery and tragedy and waste and it feels good to have that 1) acknowledged and 2) undone just a little bit, because Dean is in “the heaven he deserves” but he’s not satisfied! He’s still helping people and still causing problems for The Powers That Be! Good for him!

Thirdly, (and Robbie Thompson I owe u big for this one) this is a finale that actually knows what a free will finale looks like!! Literally you cannot say “they have free will” and then slapdash skim over any possibility of making choices to go “they all died and ended up in heaven and it was great because heaven is great!” That’s not free will! Whereas this whole season was a love letter to free will! “These are the things we learn along the way, and these are the ways that knowledge affects our choices.” And 1.13 rounded it off with such a perfect balance of “we’re wrapping up loose ends, but keeping it open ended. The characters could go anywhere from here! It’s in their hands!” It’s beautiful. This is the “driving down an open road into the future” that Team Free Will deserved and brings me hope all around. 

Also there was Zepp! Amazing!

This was a great finale to The Winchesters season 1 in and of itself. And I think it also went such a long way to soften the blow of SPN 15.20 by re-opening doors SPN tried to slam shut. Dean does have agency in heaven, he has retained lessons he learned along the way (he is looking for family and it’s not John and Mary who live down the road in heaven!). 

I’m excited to rewatch the entire season now, and I’m excited that I get to feel that rewatch excitement when for so long spn 15.20 has ruined my ability to rewatch spn. Having The Winchesters season 1 gives me hope that someday we’ll get a story that brings back the joy of rewatching spn itself. The love felt for this show by the people creating it really brings me hope. And regardless of any of that, I’ll always have SPNWin season 1 now, and I appreciate that.

[rainbow-motors]

Dean and John | The Winchesters 1.13

[ialwayswondered]

I would love the idea that deans actually just doing this so jack kicks him out of heaven and into the empty

[scoobydoodean]

where would you place spnwin season 1 in a supernatural cinematic universe season ranking? (ik s15 would probably be last)

It's hard for me to even say ngl because to me it does feel very different from spn? Like it feels very distinct from SPN to me until 1.12 and 1.13. It feels more scooby gang than gothic horror + redneck dragon ball Z. Less angst, more fun, which probably should be refreshing... but I guess I like the disease. Like just generally, I'll say I don't find spnwin as compelling as SPN? But it has a great soundtrack, and I did like Carlos and Latika, and this AU John and Mary were also interesting to watch in the same way 4.03 and etc were interesting. The writing was solid (it had to be with the episode constraints involved) and knew what it wanted to say.

I think it's a solid season of TV (besides a little bit of a pacing issue in the Pilot). Like especially for a CW show. But it's probably not very accessible to people who didn't watch SPN, and given the way a good 2/3 of the fandom was immediately against watching it, I'm not at all surprised it didn't get renewed.

The episodes that interested me most were 1.09, 1.12 and 1.13, and it's because 1.09 and 1.12 are obvious criticisms of the SPN finale, and 1.13 gives me back MY Dean instead of whoever that guy in 15.20 was. So like. 100% it is a better season of TV than season 15 to me. But it also kinda feels like comparing apples and oranges to go beyond that, weirdly.

[incarnateirony]

https://ghost-of-bobby.tumblr.com/post/703587448023908352/httpsfilmneworleansorgproductions-still-says

“Still says SPNWin production is wrapping on the 15th. Does that just mean they film elsewhere if there’s more?”

“The work is done, I’ve been saying. There’s a few spare filming days left, but if there *is* super secret filming it’s just, not on the radar.”

https://ghost-of-bobby.tumblr.com/post/702907898894942208/do-you-think-spnwin-113-will-be-filmed-before-or

“Do you think SPNWin 1.13 will be filmed before or after NashCon (16-18 December)?”

“After.”

Pick one, dude.

*GASP* YOU MEAN NORMAL PEOPLE UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION AND DON'T DOUBLE DOWN WHEN THEY ACQUIRE NEW CONTEXT??????? AND SOMETHING I WAS ASKED A MONTH AGO HAS DIFFERENT CONTEXT???

THIS IS SHOCKING NEWS!!!!

this is what sane, well adjusted people do, that pursue information consistently and don't get lazy like you dumb fucks. We also don't get stubborn. WEIRD HOW THAT WORKS!!! You find new information. You integrate that information. You adjust your conclusion. This fandom should try it some time. Try actually listening instead of thinking you found a weak point. Around when I discussed updates of 12-13 filming shuffling things, that's when I Adjusted My Understanding.

Try. It. it does wonders, you friggin psychopaths. and it's the plot.

single braincell amoebas that only want to attack and halfass read things only one way and not explore, expand or adjust are about to have a REAL BAD TIME with TW.

If you actually READ, I later explained 12-13 was shuffled and signaling got confused, and we weren't clear if there was any filming reserved. Then, I got a direct message that everything I was waiting for was done!! Then, crew started going home like bianca!

So I, unlike 2po and you guys, don't try to find a way to shove this into my pre-established thought box. I listen, and I adjust, and once again I cannot insist enough: this is the plot.

It *appeared* after because the filming schedule and it still being on 12. I *listened* to what I was told and updated on and *found* that they were shuffling filming. I quickly broadcast this, including lack of clarity if complete shuffle or a few scenes. Now, I again got told, and again listened, and again updated my information. Now, take the art of assumptions and willingness or refusal to listen and update and graft that over the show's misunderstandings. Congrats, you just failed the plot trying to anonymously win an internet fight.

You'd be surprised how well the world works and how clear reality gets once you learn to function like this even when there's soulless cockroaches like you shitting in my inbox acting confused at the concept.

Abra. Hadabra. It. Is. Done.

Cope. You can't stop it.

This shit only looks like an incontinuity if you, yourselves, are incapable of understanding changing opinions to comply with updates of context and information in the real world. Then yeah, this series of posts might have lost you, if all you let yourself comprehend is letting yourself double down against reality and context, or trying to force things into fitting your previous context. Those posts must have been real scary to watch update while we talked to the crew for clarity.

[bloodanna]

SPNWIN 1.13

I have seen so many people assume that John and Mary are going to name AU!Dean 'James Hetfield Winchester' and I just have to ask:

Why does no one in the fandom see the obvious long con our Dean is pulling here to get his AU self named 'James Dean'? XD

[deancasforcutie]

when you remember they originally planned Cas to be in the romance spinoff and realize the way Dean's entire Look screams Romantic Hero (especially w/ the characters' comments on his beauty and creative team's comparisons to famous heartthrobs the likes of Robert fucking Redford) suddenly makes a whole new kinda Sense

[mittensmorgul]

the scene where Carlos is referenced in 9.18 Meta Fiction, for your convenience:

[The scene opens with water turning on in the MoL shower. DEAN stands there under the spray and slowly drags his hands through his hair and over his eyes as the water pours over him. He then stands in front of the mirror and wipes away the steam. He looks into his own eyes for a second and sighs. His eyes then wander to his right arm and he rubs the Mark of Cain with his left hand.]

[SAM is talking on the phone while pouring over many files in the MoL library.]

SAM: Yeah. All right. Thanks, Carlos. Listen, you, uh, if you catch wind of any other demon activity, give me a holler, all right? Appreciate it.

[he sees DEAN enter]

Hey.

DEAN:  Anything?

SAM: Yeah. A dozen demon-related cases, people without souls acting out, but...

DEAN: But no sign of Abaddon.

SAM: Right. Looks like she's vanished.

Robbie... remembered they knew a hunter named Carlos from this single reference, and created Carlos in this universe as that person. I’m just having a lot of feelings about this :’)

[ghostfacerseffect]

oh ok. sure.

[rainbow-motors]

[ialwayswondered]

OH??? I think I’m finally starting to get it

[deancasforcutie]

The way these lines are a multivalent commentary on the imperative of queer visibility from a censored creative team who fought for the right to it and won.

The way they’ve telegraphed to us that this love story is a gift, you keep those yet simultaneously no one gives us anything, we take it; they told us to give ourselves permission to be happy and to see the transcendent queer joy that was already always there, because this story is made by, for, and about us. And it’s not over yet.

Forever trusting Who We Are, and nothing else matters.