For those interested...

[ash48]

I updated the green cooler entry.

smalltrolven and arliss pointed out that the green cooler appeared in season 8. When I investigated I was surprised to see that it does appear, but they are two different models. The one that appears in Torn and Frayed is doing by head in because I figure it's meant to be their original cooler but it's a slightly different model. Ack! I suspect this means the original cooler is missing and they tried to sneak in a look-a-like (ha! little did they know their fans geek out over these things...).

The one in Benny's camp (Citizen Fang) is also very very similar to the original one - so I wonder if we are meant to believe that Dean gave it to him? I mean, why not use a completely different one if it's meant to be Benny's. He's seen with a blue one in an early episode, so why not just re-used that? (I know, it's just a prop - but it a significant prop so I'm surprised by their choices).

counteragent used a similar green cooler in her awesome film The Other Side (in fact, it's VERY similar to the one they use in Torn and Frayed).

Of course, I wanna know where the original one is!

/geek

Comments

[kazluvsbooks.livejournal.com]

That was great,Ash!! Great read!

I love how old fashioned looking it is..

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah - it's a classic. (just like our show! :D)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I just finished watching TOrn and Frayed and could have sworn at the end when Dean breaks with Benny that Benny was using the blue cooler again. Dammit. I'm going to have to double check now! LOL

[ash48.livejournal.com]

He IS using the blue cooler! What the hell...

Ok. So maybe the green one is for...er..um...(I was going to say food, but he doesn't eat). I have no idea why they included that green cooler in the scene. Simply because it's outdoors maybe? So weird.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Beer! Maybe Dean carries it with him wherever he goes ...

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes! That could be it! He was going to share a beer with Benny (if he didn't chop his head off...). Strange how the cooler changed model - I'm thinking we probably weren't supposed to notice that..;)

[chemm80]

I didn't realize It had been in so many episodes, but I definitely remember the first time I saw it in the roadside car repair scene. My grandfather had one exactly like it when I was a kid, hell, everyone did. and as you pointed out, it's vintage: they don't make them out of metal anymore.

ETA: Since John would be in his late 50s now (I think?) he'd definitely be of an age to have bought it when he was a young man, maybe used, even, before he married Mary. I feel like they had to have inherited it from John or they'd have had many new ones in the years since his death. Those old metal ones are heavy, not exactly convenient, and new plastic ones are fairly cheap.

I don't really geek out over props that much, but seeing that old cooler that stirred so much nostalgia, the memories of chldhood camping trips and family picnics it evoked, and in conjunction with a scene that was also a very emotional one for Sam and Dean, will forever fix it in my mind as one of my favorite props .

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It's quite a nostalgic looking prop I think. It has the right feel for the Winchester family.

I'd love to think that John may have bought it and passed it one to the boys (with the Impala). Though, I was thinking a little more on this and as it didn't turn up until season 3 I wonder if it's something they may have picked up on their travels. I find it hard to believe it would have survived the crash at the end of S1 - so them getting it later could also make sense. Of course, whatever we say about it, it's merely our own head canon because in reality they used it in S3 to set that lovely scene by the road. I'm pleased they kept using it though- and that it holds some significance to them.

I love that you have this kind of connection to it. :)

[chemm80]

Your mention of the crash does prompt another thought : it's something that Bobby could easily have had lying around, and he might be old enough to have bought it new.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oooh yes. I like it. :)

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I was thinking maybe it got mangled when the Impala got rolled at the end of S6 but there it is in 7.12. Maybe they ended up putting a Leviathan head in it at some point and sending it off to the other end of the country. I'm always surprised they manage to hang on to anything with the number of times they must have to leave town fast. Maybe they hid it when they hid the Impala. It is a very recognizable cooler and I'm sure it's on an FBI watch list somewhere. 8-)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, it's a very recognisable cooler! :D Indeed!

i can't even imagine what the story mightbe. Though they might not always have it with them. Maybe they keepit at Bobby's during some hunts - though Bobby's place burnt down so I'd have to check the eps to see if that could actually work. If not, maybe dean rebuilds it when he rebuilds the car...:D

Bwhahaha...FBI watch list.. (It's on MY watch list, that much I know...).