#spn ouroboros

[shallowseeker]

via @monstermoviedean

Oh God, oh God, no one knows how important this is to me, and because it's Christmas, I can't stop myself venting again.

<cue the image of Raphael’s vessel>

DEAN: So is this what I'm looking at if Michael jumps in my bones?

CASTIEL: No, not at all. Michael is much more powerful. It'll be far worse for you.

DEAN looks away.

5x03

///

Instead, we find Dean, incredibly hungry and incredibly tired. Even though he apparently already already told Cas he was gonna crash, Dean delays his own rest, taking a moment to check on Rowena (aww!) and to try to refuel.

14x15

//

But before Dean can even eat or catch up with Cas, enter Sam:

So, Cas steps in to mentor Sam, hoping Dean can try his hand at connecting with Jack and get some much-needed sleep in the process (not to mention, getting to eat)!

14x15

///

Status of the team:

Cas has the Empty deal hanging over his head, and he’s scrambling to solve these unsolvable problems while also giving his loved one/partner time to rest. (And lordy geez, no wonder Cas tries to spare Dean… Even if it backfires spectacularly, it’s understandable given everything that he’s seeing Dean go through here).

Dean was head-injured and psychologically wounded from being The AU Michael vessel for so long. He likely feels directly responsible for both the Rowena and Jack injuries, as well as all the AU hunter deaths. (Note: Conjecture, but I think we see the first glimmer of emotional despair/crosstalk of blame aimed at Cas which is… fascinating. Sam of course misses it entirely, thinking Dean mostly made the decision to stay for Sam.)

Rowena was similarly psychologically wounded to Dean. She become the AU Michael vessel hoping that, although Michael would not honor his word, she could be strong enough to save the day, or at least hold him off for a bit. Then she failed spectacularly, watching her hands kill everyone she helped save from Apocalypse World.

Jack is perhaps the most severely wounded of all, sacrificing his soul in a move so painful that Cas and Dean can barely face it, lingering in the space of denial and forlorn hope. (Jack’s eating, so he must have a soul left, right? Donatello said he’s fine, so he’s fine, right?)

But Sam is spiraling so hard over his own losses, the above doesn’t even seem to occur to him. Sam has inflated responsibility, but it’s still so self-focused, I think?

Castiel: Maybe. *shoots Sam a knowing look after the case gets more complicated, and Sam yawns*

Sam: I'm good. I'm good, honestly.

Castiel: *dryly* Yeah, I know. Everybody's good. But after this, maybe Dean's right. *Then, chastising* You need to rest.

Sam: Can't.Just because I'm tired doesn't mean the monsters are gonna stop, you know? Doesn't mean anything. Plus we don't have as many Hunters as we used to.

In risking his own safety, Sam also risks the safety of those that love him. Cas is trying to mentor Sam, because Cas was crushed by the weight of his own authoritarian leadership, and like Sam, Cas too wanted to reject leadership, abdicate responsibility, and run away, fearful of “destroying everything again.”

///

However, even after snapping out of the need to run away, Sam only acknowledges his mistake in running Dean ragged and his own pain. I’m a little reminded of that moment in The End, where Sam calls Dean in a panic about his own destiny re: angel vessels, but doesn’t lead with empathy for Dean’s plight.

Sam: I hate this place right now. I hate it. Everywhere I look, I see them. I see Maggie.I guess that's why, uh -- why I was so desperate to get out of here, why I kept running us ragged. But I got to stop that. I-I can't keep running. I -- This is my home. This is our home. Dean, I think I just need some time.

Dean: *assessing, maybe a little disappointed* Okay.

Dean, seeing that Sam is very plugged into his own mistakes and emotional pain, but still isn’t considering the plight of the rest of the team, disengages.

Sam’s empathy for others is (404 Not Found)?

You ever just remember Dean kept an archangel trapped in his mind for months on nothing but sheer willpower?

[shallowseeker]

It's my fault. I let my guard down. But it's your fault, too. It's on US. And it...it's more your fault than the others, because--

///

I kinda lost my big Dean farewell tour meta, but I still stand by the fact that Dean's decision not to go into the Mal'ak box was very much based on multiple people's support (Sam, Mary, Cas, Jack). That said, it was so so so conspicuous that he actively avoided Cas and Jack the most.

When Cas cornered him in Prophet and Loss things got, "an awkward beat / So this is goodbye?"...weird fast.

via @spnscripthunt

///

In Ouroboros, all Cas has to do is catch Dean's eyes, and he just...falls right open. It's very clear that Cas's opinion on the matter is a quiet, powerful unsaid-thing.

Cas's hope is important here. More important than perhaps ANYONE is willing to admit. When he reassures Dean, Dean feels more at ease. More hopeful. And with most hopeful things, it feels a long way down when you fall from it.

///

(Aside///Love how Dean throws Cas this cheeky little smile and Cas glares at him btw.)

///

Later, when Dean wakes up after his injury, yes he's talking to all of TFW, of course he is. (He's talking to his brother, his best friend, his foster son.)

Here we have Dean lamenting that, like the chicken in Noah's story, he let his guard down, and now the snake is loose in the bunker.

///

And here, we have such a subtle thing. The first of many cracks. Cas jumps in to talk to him, and Dean immediately fires back. He's reacting to Cas.

The camera focuses on Sam, gets Sam's reaction. But Dean? Dean's squared up to Cas. He's invoking his fresh conversation with Cas in the diner.

Cas is holding Dean's gaze evenly, and they're assuming their usual battle positions. Sam holds up his hands like he's getting between them, de-escalating the thing between them on gut instinct.

(it reminds me of this one)

Already, there's an insidious, human emotion seeming to take hold. Or at least, the seeds of it.

Somewhere deep is the burgeoning blame Dean's going to eventually put on Cas -> putting on him "the things he can't take," expecting him to protect everyone from everything, to be safe and keep them all safe.

("It's your fault I stayed. Because I stayed, [OMITTED, people I loved died]. It's more your fault than the others.")

But why is it more Cas's fault? Why is the reaction so outsized in Dean?

He doesn't just blame Cas for Mary, for the loss of Jack's soul that lead up to it. (Cas was supposed to succeed where John failed.)

He blames Cas for being a big part of why Dean wanted to stay in the first place. Cas made Dean want things.

And Dean's historic willingness to sacrifice himself is built on not wanting things for himself.

///

Heroes die.

JOHN E. WINCHESTER 1954-2006 LOVING HUSBAND & FATHER REMEMBERED FOREVER DEAN: It's like my old life is, is coming after me or something. Like it like it doesn't want me to be happy. Course I know what you'd say.,,, So go hunt the Djinn. He put you here, it can put you back. Your happiness for all those people's lives, no contest. Right?" But why? Why is it my job to save these people? Why do I have to be some kind of hero? (begins to cry while talking) What about us, huh? What, Mom's not supposed to live her life, Sammy's not supposed to get married? Why do we have to sacrifice everything, Dad? (pause) It's... (Dean's lips tremble. Silence. We hear the sky rumbling. Tears begins to falls on DEAN's cheek.)

2x20

When Dean was willing to blow himself up in season 11, he was rewarded with his Mom coming back. When he wasn't willing to do it in season 14, his son stepped in to do it for him, losing his soul in the process and leading directly to the death of Mary. How horrible.

[soullessjack]

there are a lot of underrated parts in ouroboros in terms of jacks overall characterization but one that really sticks out to me is how noah tries to pin jack as either the chicken that sacrifices what she loves for the greater good or the snake that kills out of obligation to his nature and jacks response to it is “fuck you im both of them actually”

[shirtlesssammy]

Dean Winchester every day -- 300/326

Supernatural 14x14//Ouroboros

[angelheartcas]

actually supernatural is ouroboros. chuck gives them the same ending they would have had at the beginning of the story and starts it over again and again so blinded by his ego that he doesn't change anything thinking eventually his vision will come true, so confident that this time no one will be able to meddle in his story but again and again and again castiel falls in love with dean and again and again and again they defy him and his story, they gain true free will.

[idjits-areus]

This isn't my first time seeing this image, but I just have to join in.

The casting people knew what they were doing. Jack is literally a perfect combo of those two. Alex is the perfect person for this role and they nailed it.

Just Jack sitting in between two of his three dads. The ones that he resembles the most.

[marril96]

Supernatural 14.14 | Ouroboros | bloopers

[monstermoviedean]

this exchange is so incredibly important to me. cleared my skin watered my crops recharged my life force etc etc. cas, thank you. thank you. cas asks how dean is, expresses sympathy and concern, pushes back when dean tries to deflect out of a belief that his feelings aren't important, actually listens to him, and emphasizes that dean is supported. fantastic. a+ job.

[winchestress]

[the-artemis-tapes]

Some Sam tattoo concepts. A deer with sharp teeth and a beheaded ouroboros

[highfunctioningflailgirl]

[shallowseeker]

In a way, the events of 12x19 The Future kinda happened, just not for Cas.

(This is so awful, I’m sorry. ) He saw the future through Jack’s eyes, but Cas interpreted it through his own psyche, needs, motivations, and imagery:

From above (12x19):

Kelly, standing on a BEACH— in the surf— looking out at the ocean.

Sam, racing across an OPEN FIELD. Chasing something.

Dean, in tight closeup. A look of relief— of happiness on his face.

DEAN: Cas— thank you.

Castiel. Shirtless. Standing against a wall, as his WINGS FLARE. But they’re not broken anymore. They’re full and majestic.

These images are script only, but they're a fascinating window into Cas's mindset.

///

Full wings:

Jack did get his wings back, full-glory, when he ate Michael in 14x14 Ouroboros.

From above (14x14):

Jack drops his arms, opens his mouth, and inhales the grace! All that’s left of Michael. He consumes it. As Jack closes his mouth and swallows, everything goes quiet. Jack’s eyes return the normal, and Michael is finally dead.

DEAN: Jack—

JACK: Michael… he’s dead. (he turns to our guys, calm and emotionless) I’m me again.

Suddenly, he bursts in a golden, fiery glow. His eyes flare hold, and his wings flare behind him. Jack has his powers back.

The shirtless majesty in the 12x19 vision was just Cas’s perspective/reinterpretation, superimposing a psychosexual component on top of the vision— his need to be strong and protect his human family.

///

Thank you (script only):

And Dean did say, with relief, “Jack…Thank you,” in 14x17 Game Night.

From above (14x17):

On Dean. Knows how much he owes this kid, he got there in the nick of time.

DEAN: Jack, I— thank you.

Jack smiles, so happy to be needed, so loved.

Again, Cas’s 12x19 vision tightened that image into an intimate, close-up, because it’s filtered through his desire for Dean to be relieved and safe. (Remember, in 12x19, Cas comments that he didn’t mean to ignite “Dean’s distress.”) That’s why this vignette directly triggered the shirtless Cas/protector-driven imagery in the script. They’re one after another-> Kelly at peace -> Sam (supposedly) running free -> Dean intimately relieved & thankful -> Cas majestic, healed, and strong. Seeing Dean like that made Cas feel like that.

///

Open field:

Sam did run through a small field, when rushing to stop the Equalizer confrontation in 14x20 Moriah.

From above (14x20):

EXT. ROAD - DAY

The road outside the cemetery. A car rips up—

And Sam bursts out— racing for— (Through what looks like an open field, Sam enters the cemetery)

///

Beach:

As for Kelly and the beach, this is a loose allusion to Jack’s place of birth: Washaway Beach in North Cove, Washington.

///

The future vision was a tragedy. Perhaps, Jack wasn’t making promises at all.

Perhaps, it was merely Jack’s power surging, tapping into the potential of the cosmos, and Cas saw what he wanted to see because he has trouble facing his own desires.

That’s the problem with seeing the future, Missouri Moseley might say, even when you see it, it’s hard to interpret, and it can be out of order and wrong and misleading in so many heartbreaking ways. You might not even be getting your own perspective.

/////////////////////////////////

(Text Attributions// Supernatural scripts here via @spnscripthunt. Transcripts are located here via SPNWiki. Visit their Tumblr to donate.)

[soullessjack]

one more ouroboros thought I have is that it’s very silly and interesting to see jack just completely drop the fawn-response personality every time he faces down with someone he really Really hates

[haloshot]

whatever you do, you will always end up... here. no matter what choices you make, whatever details you alter, we will always end up... here.

[shirtlesssammy]

Dean and Cas every day not often enough -- 84/?

Supernatural 14x14//Ouroboros

[lizstiel]

waking up. thinking about how much you love dean winchester. immediately going back to sleep.