#Heroes Journeys

[rewatching-sam-and-dean]

Trying to Put My Finger on Why I Don’t Really Like MOC Storyline

I was literally just writing a different post when this idea hit me. I think one of the reasons that MOC Dean storyline just doesn’t really work for me is that it’s not really a proper heroes journey, or it doesn’t feel satisfying. I know I don’t like Sam’s treatment in the storyline, and I find it slow at times, too. But the Dean treatment of it all bugs me too.

Stay with me here.

Season 1 to 5 is a bit more Sam’s Heroes Journey. He reluctantly gets back into hunting, tries to avoid going dark, goes dark, redeems himself (with varying degrees of support from his brother). It’s a complete arc (though I’m glad it didn’t end here). And Sam is forever changed by this. And even Dean is changed from going to hell and learns to trust Sam. This arc mattered for both of them.

Season 6 is like an Epilogue to Seasons 1-5. More a Cas villain reveal, and both brothers getting kicked in the teeth, than a heroic arc.

Season 7 is the consequences of Season 6 and lead-in to Season 8 onward, and Dean is depressed, Sam is insane and Cas finally helps clean up his own mess only after being bullied into doing so. Dean avenges Bobby and stops the leviathan slaughter-house plans by stabbing Dick, I guess. So, Dean is more or less the Season 7 hero.

Season 8 is again Sam’s Heroes Journey, except he doesn’t “get to” fulfill it this time because Dean won’t let him sacrifice himself.

Season 9 is Dean dealing with the consequences of his own actions and Sam’s feelings of betrayal (Angel/Sam) in the most self-destructive way possible (taking MOC), and getting killed.

Season 10 is Dean’s gradual downfall, but his redemption is … stopping himself from killing Sam more than saving the world? He defeats Abadon, but the way he does it is almost more scary than triumphant. Sam’s actions get the mark off of Dean (through getting Rowen and co. involved, and Sam’s actions cure him from being a demon), not Dean.

So in Season 11, the Darkness being unleashed is more a result of Sam taking action than Dean (though he indirectly got the ball rolling by taking the mark). At the end of the season, Dean is willing to sacrifice himself to save the world, but he doesn't have to. He defuses the Amara bomb by waxing poetic about sibling love. While I like this for the change of pace and for how it shows that Dean has finally accepted that Sam loves him back more than anything, it also sort of leaves Season 11 ending on a whimper.

I guess the biggest issue I have with the whole MOC plot for Dean is that once it’s over, it doesn’t seem to matter. No one really holds it against him. He never even like apologizes to Sam for almost killing him for the second time in one season, in “Brother’s Keeper” (that I recall). Dean doesn’t really feel much different as a character after, imo.

For people who like the MOC storyline, did you find it satisfying? Or did you like it for the Dean focus? Did you feel it changed Dean in any meaningful or lasting way?

For others who don’t care for the MOC storyline, what was your particular issue with it?

[yeahiwasintheshit]

[vintage-tigre]

“But maybe that’s the point…”

[apradonite]

do we fw fiddauthor yuri

[enarien]

Aceweek is upon us so shoutout to the most iconic ace there is 🐵

served cunt (in non-sexual way)

looked fabulous

pesky bitch with heart of gold

old as balls, looks twenty, mentally he's ADHD riddled 3 yo

peach obssessed

can fuck you up

can fuck anyone up

Marvel is afraid of him

people pray to him (as they should)

is stupid for free

if he leaped out of your screen and yelled "BOO" it would still be lore accurate

went through a paper shredder couple of times, still looks great

never rolled nat 20 on thinking

microwaves metal for fun

embodiment of "surely the conses wont quence"

has "handsome" in his title

Sūn Wùkōng 孫悟空

[thehauntedmarionnette]

He is fighting a war. Just got his arms back. Has been fighting for his life so intensely that even we as the audience are unaware of the passage of time. And still has time to fanboy.

[charlesoberonn]

[oshetart]

Someday, I'd like to show them to you.

[rorronoa]

[starglowy]

[orbch]

twin sisters

[royaltea000]

Me when I’m in a being coerced into parenthood competition and my opponent is sun wukong

[lavena]

New headcannon of Captain Marvel having all the gods on his side.

I'm talking the wind doesn't move against him, doesn't matter if there is a torrential down pour or the wind is moving north at 80 mph, If Cap moves to look North. The wind will change to south so his cape flutters and his hair flows around his eyes. If he wants someone to hear his voice the wind will take it, if it is a private conversation the wind will muffle him.

If there is a big fight that was hard won the clouds will lightly part to make a spotlight shine on their champion.

Animals will visit and bring gifts. Stars will wink at him. Plants reach towards him. Artists gain inspiration through him.

The gods love Billy Batson, the wind will pick up spare change and interesting articles to bring to him. The rain will fall lightly on him, and his subway never floods. There always manages to be clean water in a canteen, or a helpful critter that leads him to food. Lightning will punctuate his anger and flash violently behind him, blinding those he is angry at, giving him time to run.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Started a new book series, and has been a journey...an Odyssey, if you will.

[kore-cryptid]

"oh wah cant belive spiderverse is doing a cashgrab and just making another movie for mone-" NO SHHHH SHUT UP!!!

This is how trilogies are SUPPOSED TO WORK!

Think abt the first 3 star wars, lotr, hell even hungergames!!

First movie is your introduction to these characters and world, and might cap off with its own small self contained "happy ending", the death star is destroyed, katniss wins and saves peetah, they stop kingpin and miles feels confident as spiderman

movie two is ALWAYS where shit hits the fan and we end on the *lowest point*, Han is frozen and luke looses his hand, frodo is led into the spiders den, the games fall apart and katniss looses peetah, Miles is Trapped On Earth-42 with no escape and the multiverse is crumbling

its been so fucking long since weve gotten a proper film Trilogy not trying to weave itself into an expanded cinematic universe where you gotta watch 2 seasons and another movie before part 2 dont Forget that Three is the magic number and this is how trilogies Work

[owarinaki]

Frieren Manga illustration art 1

part 1 // part2 // part 3