John’s sacrifice in “In My Time Of Dying”

[juppschmitz]

I just had an epiphany. About “In My Time Of Dying”. And John and Dean.

Comments

[ash48]

Hi. I really like that idea - and connection. It's an interesting thought and I am curious to go back and watch that moment to see if they were actually trying to suggest that (because I remember that pause from John). It also makes sense (now) of that piece of Dean's dialogue. At the time I thought it was more about Dean being able to say things he needed to say to John but could only do it when he was "dead" - but I agree, it's probably more layered than that. It's one of the best written episodes in the entire series and I would think it would have been deliberate.

I think this, with the combination of John knowing that Dean would "save" Sam, influenced his final decision.

[juppschmitz]

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Thanks for your comment :)

See, I'm not sure if it was actually intended or if they were even trying to suggest it. If so, it was really really subtle, as opposed to having Sam repeat literally what Ghost!Dean said.

So either they thought after putting us in the right direction by Sam's reaction, we'd get that the same kind of thing was happening with John, and relying on us being really really smart (LOL) - or I'm just reading too much into a moment.

However, to me it makes sense, where up to now I just thought John sacrificing himself like that came out of the blue...

[amypond45]

I really like this -- and I'm in the middle of writing a story based on this very event, so I was more than excited to see your post!

Thank you for giving me more to think about!

[juppschmitz]

Oohh, that sounds cool!

I'm glad if I can inspire thought :)

Thanks for commenting.

[borgmama1of5]

This ties in to something I think is special about Dean: his ability to get someone he loves to fight being possessed:

John is possessed by Azazel in the season 1 finale but John manages to take control long enough to stop hurting Dean and tell Sam to kill him; in 5.01 Bobby is possessed and about to kill Dean but fights off the demon long enough to stab himself; and in 'Swan Song' Sam manages to overcome Lucifer long enough to save his brother and the world. In all 3 cases, someone who loves Dean very much but whose body is being forced to hurt Dean manages to overcome possession.

I've always thought that was Dean's secret power--people who love Dean end up with the strength to overcome demons in order to save Dean.

Your theory meshes nicely with mine!

[juppschmitz]

I'd like to throw Castiel overcoming Naomi's mind control into that mix :)

(Also, but ultimately another topic of discussion - the influence Dean has on "baddies": Benny, Crowley, even, obviously, Amara...)

[phyllis2779]

I think you've made some very valid points and your Dean "world-view" will give me an interesting new framework to view the series.

[juppschmitz]

Thank you for your comment.

I hope you enjoy that new " framework :)

I know I like watching things with new "goggles" :)

Edition 3,424

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