ILoveReading

Only Jensen can make me feel sympathy for a Serial Killer. When I watch Jensen, I stop seeing Jensen. He doesn't just play Dean, he becomes Dean. He feels real. Give me 300 episodes of Jensen playing Dean, rather than other actors playing 300 characters. I get why Jensen stays but at this point the show is definitely holding him back.

Listening, to their con stories and interviews, they seem to have very little say. They can change a tone or some lines but they can't change major plot points. They also say that they leave it up to the writers. I remember a story Jensen told about the end of of About a Boy (I think that was the name, it was the one where Dean was deaged), and Glass wanted Dean to listen to Taylor Swift at the end. They even had to come back to Van to film it, despite Jensen's protests. There was a line that Jared was completely opposed to, which was the wrascally wabbit line. The writers was insistent it stay. Major changes have to be writer approved. Like when Jensen wanted Michael to use his powers in the premier. The scene was originally written with a fist fight. Jensen called Dabb. Jensen's main complaint that was that he wanted Purgatory and DemonDean to last longer. If they have pull with the show runners, why didn't both those stoylines last longer. As for the writers/Show runners, I think they deserve most of the criticism they get. A prime example is this season. Jensen called Dabb and asked how he wanted him to play Michael. Dabb blew him off. Jensen said, he was an island unto himself. He said Richard really helped him find Michael's voice. So it seems sometimes the writers, are no help. IMO, there is a lack of leadership in the writers room and no communication. There are too many people wanting to be in charge. Dabb, BuckLemming, and Berens all seem to have different directions they want the story to go in. There is no one at the top pull it all together. I seriously question whether they read each others scripts. They seem to write in a vacuum. I think Dabb and Berens are petty and resentful Wayward wasn't picked up, and IMO it shows in both their writing of the main storyline this season. I think there are a lot of factors, but I mostly think the problem lies with Dabb.

From @sino8r Marvel would disagree with you, they've been after Jensen for years. He was short listed for Captain America and then he was offered the role of Hawkeye. Then they wanted him for Ajax on Deadpool, the only reason it didn't happen was because the WB woudln't let Jensen out of his contract to film it. Jensen has been nominated for daytime emmys. The producer of 50 Shades of Grey actually drove to Jensen's house to discuss the role of Christian Grey. Jensen is just too loyal. That's the only reason he hasn't been cast in anything else. I first noticed Jensen on Dark Angel. I watched for another character (Logan) but really started to become an ALec fan. I'd never heard of Jensen before than since I didn't watch Days. It had very little to do with his looks. I disagree that just because Jensen hasn't been given much chance to play characters outside of Dean that it doesn't show his range. I feel like Jensen has the hardest job out of all three actors because in the early seasons, his character wasn't the focal point. Jensen made use us notice Dean. He blew away Kripke and has on more than one occasion made the crew cry. Plus, Dean's primary storyline, is guilt. Jensen has found different ways to play it every single time. His storyline last season was being depressed over Cas's death which was the exact same thing as season 7. In s7, he played Dean more as at the end of his rope, depressed alcoholic. Whereas last year he played last season as more angry and resentful at everyone and everything around him. Jensen seems to have a sixth sense about how to play a scene. A good example is the scene with God. Dean was supposed to be angry but Jensen played it as more emotional. The little things he adds into his performances, like Dean stealing the candy in Ladies Drink Free, or tones, looks and facial expressions all show us different sides of Dean and help us peal back those layers. A good example is Dean's face when Mary said, John was a good dad. It spoke volumes without Jensen saying a single word. So I think Jensen has shown to be a very strong actor whose shown us so many shades of Dean. The End, with Dean vs Dean. Or demon Dean, or shifter Dean, or Dean Smith. This are all totally different versions of Dean. An acting professor said she even uses Jensen's performance in The End in her college class as a way to demonstrate how to play different, but similar characters. Just because its the same character doesn't mean there isn't a lot of range. We've seen Dean high and giddy and depressed and broken and every shade in between and every one feels real, organic and makes me laugh want to laugh and cry right alongside Dean. Jensen makes me feel. When I see Dean, I can see every bit of trauma, and hardship he's gone through. The way Jensen carries him self when he plays Dean is totally different than when he's Jensen. There is this weariness that is a part of Dean that just isn't' there with Jensen. Just playing a different character doesn't mean your a great actor/actress. Everything I see Kathryn Newton is she plays Claire. This might be more unpopular opinion, but I found souless Sam and demon blood Sam pretty interchangeable, they were both douches who said/did what they want, consequences be damned. Souless Sam wasn't' even consistent. One episode he was a puppy, the next up a hardened killer. IMO, it isn't lack of talent that that the writers don't' give Jensen the opportunities they give others, its that Dean is the heart and soul of show, (My opinion, of course) but backed up by the writers when every they give an opportunity for Dean to be other the writers panic and say "we need Dean back." They don't' say that for Sam or Cas. Dabb even admitted that Dean had to be removed to give other characters breathing room. That Dean is so consistent with all the show runner, writer changes is a real testament to Jensen. IMO, Jensen's biggest strength is character building. TL:/DR version Playing multiple characters doesn't automatically make you a good actor, any more than playing one character makes you a bad one.

Responding in the Dean thread, since we don't have a Jensen thread.

It looks like Jensen used actual FBBC beer invoices

I really hope they don't go here again. Because after the marionette fight I woudln't believe a fight between them would destroy a room, let alone the world. I also home its not Michael vs Michael because im sure that would mean that Sam says yes and that it the main thing I don't want to happen, also its just sets up the exact same problem for next season, with changing one Michael for another or its ends up a redux of Swan Song. I'd like to see something like Eve or Zacheriah. An out of the box solution to ending, trapping Michael doesnt' involve either brother jumping into the cage or being possessed. There is a reason those two are my favorite Dean kills, becasue it represents Dean in a nut shell. This is why my favorite spec is that the book is blank and Dean has to write his own ending. Its how he's operated his whole life, bucking destiny and rewritting the rules.

It could be something lame like, Sam jumps back into the cage with Michael and Lucifer, you die of old age. I wish I had more faith, but with the exception of Amara, it always winds up coming around back to the old save Sam/kill Sam and or, learn to let go and see Sam as a big boy scenario. Unfortunately, Michael's speech isn't helping in this area. Because while I know that Dean doesn't' feel that way (even if he did at one point), but Dean is usually made to pay for these kinds of things. There is a double standard here. People can say whatever they want about Dean, whether its under the influence, or a possessed loved one or a stranger, and there are a million and one excuses why its okay not to defend Dean, or why he doesn't need it because it obvious its done to get a rise. Or why its wrong for Dean to be hurt and upset by it. That rarely applies to Dean, even if justified. What he said to God was reduced to God accusing Dean of confusing him with this father. The Raid is another perfect example. Nothing he said to Mary was really out o line but in the end he apologized for it. So even if there is a grain of truth now or in the past, I think Dean should have more than earned the benefit of the doubt from his loved ones, but things rarely work this way. Since Cas has been in a 3-4 year funk about not belonging, I'm sure he'll take Michael's word to heard and believe them. Same with Jack and Sam will complain to Dean that hes "chief" now and Dean doesn't have to put him at the kiddie table, and get all hurt about how Dean could possibility believe he'd still leave. Dean will apologize. I really hope I'm wrong. What we see is the revesere of this. With Cas, Sam and Jack all telling Dean how much he's wanted and needed and that they didn't believe a word out of Michael's mouth.

That would be interesting. Mary would probably enjoy it. It would also be interesting if we see a call back to season 4/7 when Dean said he used pain to know what was real and what wasn't. I'm sure Michael will try to trick Dean, and I wonder if he would use this trick to keep him grounded.

The majority of spec I've seen on other sites say the same thing. That its about Sam. On this show its' always about Sam. They should change the tag line to "family may not end with blood, but you really only matter if your name is Sam."

I'm sure once Lucifer is back the focus will mostly be on him and Sam. That's why I didn't get excited or watch the last ep. It feels like a place holder. They love bait and switch.

this clears up whether Lucifer will be back.

Although, as a fan of Jensen, I would relish the idea of seeing him playing a Dean that has gone crazy. That's why I was disappointed when it was AU Michael that Jensen played because I would have loved to see him play crazy, gone insane Michael.

There is another version of Sam coming up. Im guessing prophet Sam

I really hope this mean she's not available for any more episodes of SPN

thanks. I guess I'm mixing the scenes up or its because the "this is how it has to be" was the next part of the promo.

It's hard to tell from the promo, but it almost looks like Dean was trying to shoot Sam. I could be mixing that up with something. This is what I'm thinking, kind of like when Lucifer was tormenting Sam, I'm guessing Michael won't let Dean sleep or rest. In a perfect world they'd use these next two episodes showing Michael trying to fight, and its physical effect on Dean, and then Michael just stopping so Dean can be normal for episode 300, and Michael hoping to catch Dean off guard.

I'm dreading the ep written by Dabb's assistant. Here live tweeting of episodes, reads like a 12 year old on Tumblr.

So it seems they really were saying that Dean gets off on trauma, rather than being a survivor or that it was devestating to him. This is Dabb's assistant.

From @PAForrest The problem with this is that it not the last season. S15 is practically guaranteed and if they're putting Dean in semi-retirement than its just more Dean on the sidelines. Also Dabb is still in charge and he sees Dean as weak, selfish, and clingy, and only willing to sacrifice himself for Sam. So I can see these words being used as a way to sideline Dean when it comes time for the big fight, with a repeat of s5, where Dean's role was to learn that Sam was a big boy. So if Michael is saying Dean is tired or worrying, Dean will end up being the one to have to prove he trusts Sam, and that's usually him sitting on the sidelines waving pom poms, or trying to prove to Cas he doesn't see him as a screw up. I've had more than enough of that. So this is why I don't like Dean's dreamscape or the way the writers see him. They don't see it as a guy whose tired. They see it as a guy who is bossy and controlling and can't let go and needs to learn to let other help. They already demonstrated this with Sam's leader Sue storyline and acting like he's the greatest thing to ever hit leadership instead of acknowledging that Dean was a damn good leader. According to these writers, he never was, he was just stopping Sam from taking his rightful place. The whole things just reeks of a season five bait and switch again.

responding in bitch/jerk

Hopefully, what's written in the book isn't another Mark of Cain scenario. Nothing about Death's directive to kill Sam made sense. So I hope its not something lame like, stop Sam from saying yes to Lucifer by killing him or putting him back in the cage so there is never a fight with Michael and Lucifer. This is the exact scenario I can see Dabb coming up with, even if it makes no sense what so ever.

I've seen speculation that the book Billie gave Dean was blank, that Dean who is the epitome of free will has to find a way to write his own ending suggesting that the future isn't set in stone.

I'd be okay with that, because its still about Dean.

Hopefully this occurs to Michael. Where he realizes the harder he fights the more Dean will resist, so Michael just stops fighting and sits contently, hoping to catch Dean in a moment of weakness before escaping. It's also a more realistic way for Dean to contain Michael long term, rather than making him SuperDean, if Michael is just sitting quietly, waiting or the perfect opportunity.

Is Dabb smart enough to to do this or will it even occur to him that this can happen or is he going to have Michael escape at the end of episode 12, so Dean will be normal for the 300th? We have the spoiler that Dean isn't in a good place physically in episode 12 and that there is supposed to be some kind of conversation with Cas, so he's either so run down that he has to physically tell Michael to get out and face the consequences, or Michael escapes on his own and Dean isn't good, but he's able to be treated by a doctor.