#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?