I was thinking more about this. Not only is Dean's response to women more protective-oriented. It's also, perhaps, like a little boy. I.e., mommy abandonment issues. He plays with women. I don't mean like "toying with women's emotions" (although that might be an unintended consequence), but I mean like the scene in S3 where he's under a death sentence and he's jumping around like a little boy when he's with those two women (twins?) in that motel room. He frolics, I guess is the best word I can think of. He's *serious* about his relationship with the important men in his life. But he soften and plays if he's sexually or romantically involved with someone (up til now in explicit canon, women; perhaps in the past there may have been bi incidents, but nothing explicitly acknowledged at this point.) In fact the only other person I think Dean has softened and (tried) to play with, is Sam. He tried with Cas in Free to be You and Me, but to me that was an awkward attempt to fill the gap left by what Dean felt was Sam's abandonment. (Again, Dean? with the abandonment issues? lol.) The only woman I'm not sure we saw him "play" with was Lisa. He made Lisa an important relationship in his life. Therefore "frolicking" didn't seem to be on the agenda. And again (remembering my own S/D OTP goggles) Lisa was a substitute for Sam.
I guess I admit that to me Dean's most important relationships are NOT those that are sexual. I think Dean can have a very deep and meaningful relationship with Cas which has nothing to do with romance or sex (or even the thought of it.) Dean *loves* people deeply. He is loyal to people. Those are his two main qualities. And when others betray those two qualities, he reacts deeply and illogically; i.e., inconsistently as in throwing up to whomever has recently betrayed him that this other person has *always* stood by him (despite history saying otherwise.)
Tangent or no, there's a lot of validity to what you're saying.
The human animal is not a logical, static critter. I really look forward to character evolution, no matter how it plays out! (As long as it MAKES SENSE. Please, not with the fanservicing...)
It's been such a very long time since we've seen Dean show any real interest in a romantic relationship. I find that more telling than any amount of nudge nudge wink wink from the show's producers. As much as I doubt that the show would ever go there and explore Dean seriously as something other than 100% heterosexual, the fact that his sexuality has clearly changed, and that he's seemingly given up any idea of pursuing another committed relationship like what he had with Lisa , leaves the door open to Dean/Castiel in my mind more than any amount of supposed flirting, loaded stares, etc. (which frankly I have never really seen).
I was very disappointed that Dean's emotional crash in S7 never came to anything, but I have enjoyed his emotional honesty in S8 a great deal. Regardless of the problems I might have with S8, I'm intrigued (as always) by the subtleties of what's not said overtly about Dean. I think sometimes, the writers don't give any (or enough) thought to him, but the very fact that the emotional throughline of the show depends on him so heavily means that there's always a lot of rich material to read between the lines where Dean's concerned. "Pac Man Fever" was particularly good for this. And as much as I disliked Benny (sorry, terrible accent is terrible)—I think it's fascinating that a vampire, of all people, taught Dean to trust somebody again. As with so many other facets of Dean's emotional landscape, I find it more compelling because they never stated that outright in the show.
I would not be that shocked if they somehow made one-sided D/C canon. They've skated close to that at times. But I would be shocked if they had Dean return the feelings. And I would probably pass out if they ever convinced Jensen Ackles to kiss a dude on the CW. I think they'd have to pay him way more than they probably do.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 07:04 pm (UTC)I guess I admit that to me Dean's most important relationships are NOT those that are sexual. I think Dean can have a very deep and meaningful relationship with Cas which has nothing to do with romance or sex (or even the thought of it.) Dean *loves* people deeply. He is loyal to people. Those are his two main qualities. And when others betray those two qualities, he reacts deeply and illogically; i.e., inconsistently as in throwing up to whomever has recently betrayed him that this other person has *always* stood by him (despite history saying otherwise.)
Went off on a tangent there.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 07:14 pm (UTC)The human animal is not a logical, static critter. I really look forward to character evolution, no matter how it plays out! (As long as it MAKES SENSE. Please, not with the fanservicing...)
no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 08:56 pm (UTC)I was very disappointed that Dean's emotional crash in S7 never came to anything, but I have enjoyed his emotional honesty in S8 a great deal. Regardless of the problems I might have with S8, I'm intrigued (as always) by the subtleties of what's not said overtly about Dean. I think sometimes, the writers don't give any (or enough) thought to him, but the very fact that the emotional throughline of the show depends on him so heavily means that there's always a lot of rich material to read between the lines where Dean's concerned. "Pac Man Fever" was particularly good for this. And as much as I disliked Benny (sorry, terrible accent is terrible)—I think it's fascinating that a vampire, of all people, taught Dean to trust somebody again. As with so many other facets of Dean's emotional landscape, I find it more compelling because they never stated that outright in the show.
I would not be that shocked if they somehow made one-sided D/C canon. They've skated close to that at times. But I would be shocked if they had Dean return the feelings. And I would probably pass out if they ever convinced Jensen Ackles to kiss a dude on the CW. I think they'd have to pay him way more than they probably do.