I recently got into Supernatural. Somehow, I hadn't heard of or seen this show until last week. So I now have one episode left for season three and I'm ready for four. But... Damn. I *hate* Dean's character. How the hell could anyone as a "hunter" have so little impulse control and common sense and stay alive? (Smarting off when trying to pass himself as a cop or some other official? Come on -- he'd be made as a fake in minutes!) I mean, he's an IDIOT. He's all id, on two feet. Am I misreading this? What's the appeal of a character like that?
I like Sam WAYYYY more than Dean and I see exactly where you are coming from... that said.. I kinda just accept it as that is part of the humor of the show... they don't take themselves too seriously even with something that could be done that way.... they intersprese soem comedic stuff in all the serriousness and that's one of the way it manifests itself..
Dean specifically isn't very bright, but he has luck, charm and the fates themselves on his side. He also believes in what he's doing, has a significantly smarter brother backing him up and protecting him, and does what he feels he has to in order to get the job done. He's basically the brawn to Sam's brains. Not in physique, but execution. Put them both together and you'd have a hell of a hunter. They're basically two sides of a coin.
He falls into the same camp as John Sheppard and Peter Petrelli. Any stupidity or annoying personality issues are overwhelmed in a tsunami of squeeing.
Pretty face = can do no wrong. I know, I know, but I have to be a sensible, thinking grown-up the other 99.9% of the week.
What? Real cops smart off. Haven't you seen Bad Boys? Seriously, if you know that every day could be your last (particularly when you're doomed to hell) wouldn't you try to live every day to it's fullest? I'd be enjoying myself at every opportunity. Dean is a guy who drowns his misery, fears, and feelings of inadequacy in momentary pleasures and a sense of humor. There is nothing wrong with that.
I actually think that Dean is the smarter (and funnier) of the two but he just shows it in a different way.
I don't hate it. It's just not worth my time. It's been done before and much better when it was known as the X-Files.
Dean isn't very bright, this is true. He's a cocky, hot-headed brute who's good at kicking ass, but when it comes to using his head he usually ignores all common sense. Sam may be a whiner, but he's got the brains of the family. They both are basically both haves of John Winchester. Dean has enough personal charm to make up for his lack of subtlety though. It's the Cyclops/Wolverine arch-type being used yet again.
Dean's the main reason why I kept watching through season one (Sam was horribly boring and a little emo that year). Dude's hilarious.
I got hooked around the time when they went to Hollywood chasing a ghost. Dean kept me in hysterics with his comments about how great the food was and how he was stuffing his face every time they turned around. Oh, and calling the Angels, "dicks" is another good one
I hope you didn't pay too much for the popcorn, JohnP and WillsBabe. I'm afraid there's no wrath to be had from me. AJBryant isn't in for a world of hurt. I'm too busy trying not to blow away in the hurricane force winds that have invaded the metro. The wind blew my Dish Network receiver off my roof. Temis, however, will be dying a slow painful death for even mentioning Dean in the same breath as that sanctimonious, sniveling, too short, dumber than a bag of rocks waste of oxygen Peter Petrelli. Now that's low. Comparing Dean to Peter? May a sacred cow leave a relic in your Gatorade, missy. Dean either appeals to people or he doesn't, though I do think AJ has misinterpreted the character. Dean's so bellicose because, as hyzmarca points out, he's miserable. Dean was trained to be nothing but daddy's blunt little instrument. As the series progresses, you see just how much John screwed Dean over. Dean acts the way he does because of John. Daddy Winchester doted on Sam and basically told Dean to suck it up from the time he was in grade school. He treated him like an adult who'd failed--not speaking to a nine year old for weeks because he didn't guard his brother well enough when you left them alone in a hotel room for days with a life sucking Shtriga on the loose ain't exactly Mike Brady material. It's why Dean overdoes everything from the smart ass comments to the one night stands. However, when it comes to actually facing the beast of the moment, that's where Dean's talent kicks in. It's what he's good at. Dean's a social outcast in a handsome package and he knows it. He knows that Sam got the academic gifts and is more book smart than he is. Dean's the everyman who made good. Dean acted the way he did all through season three because he was terrified of what was about to happen. Have you watched season three's finale yet? You may be surprised. You can't hate it that much or you wouldn't have raced through the DVDs. I suspect your impression of Dean might change once you get through season four, AJ. The dynamic changes in some pretty thoughtful ways. Not many shows' ratings go up during a fourth season. There's a reason. However, if you don't change your mind, then you don't change your mind. Hell, my husband left me for his best friend's 21 year old sister last Christmas. You don't get too bent out of shape over someone not liking a TV boyfriend after that happens. Not the best Christmas present after 15 years. You remember Martin's little sister, don't you, honey? Supernatural has always interspersed the comedy with the horror pretty liberally. That's its distinct style. It goes from light to very dark on a dime and the dark gets worse towards the end of this season. On the Head of a Pin, anyone? What I like about it as opposed to the X-Files is that you eventually get some concrete answers. They didn't make it all up as they went along. There's a new episode two weeks from tonight on the 23rd, AJ. Feel free to join the discussion thread. I'll be interested in your impression after you've watched season four. I love Sammy to death, but damn his hair could have sucked the chrome off a trailer hitch it sucked so bad. Sam seemed like a void during season one because Padalecki was still learning to act. I agree that Dean carried the show that season, but Padalecki has grown by leaps and bounds. Bad Sam I like. Indeed it is. You gotta love Dean. LOL!!