Reganne

The difference with the Amy situation is that Dean purposely went behind Sam's back and killed Amy. Then he kept that information from Sam. Dean does get mad at Sam when he does things like that. And it's not like Sam got a huge storyline out of Amy. He got to be mad about it for a bit.

As far as how things look in fandoms eyes, I think that it could really go either way depending on who is the persons favourite character. It doesn't really represent the entire fandom. Just like Sam fans feel his character was thrown under the bus in season 8, Dean fans think Dean was being thrown under the bus at the beginning of season 13 and how he dealt with Jack, yet they also don't afford Sam the same empathy as they do Dean. It's not really something that only Sam fans do. As far as the dislike for Benny's character, that could also be compared to the dislike of Jack's character that some Dean fans have for him. I think some Dean fans dont like him because the narrative used Jack to make Dean look bad at the beginning of season 13. I know that the way the narrative portrayed Benny in comparison to Sam is the biggest reason I don't like the character. I admit that. As well as the fact that I dont find him that interesting. I would have been indifferent to him though had the show not made it out to be how great Benny was and how terrible Sam was.

The big difference for me between Emma and Jack was that Emma was threatening to kill and had the full determination to do so. It also didn't help with the glare that she gave Sam because she knew she wasn't going to be able to manipulate him. Only then did she act scared. I agreed with what Sam did and I know that if the situations were reversed and it was Sam's "daughter" trying to kill Sam, Dean would have done the same. What was he suppose to do? Actually wait until she kills Dean and then kill her just to make sure she was actually going to do it? Was he suppose to sleep with one eye open for the rest of his life to make sure Dean would still be alive in the morning? As far as Sam only having empathy for the monsters he sees himself in, I disagree that he couldn't have ever related to Emma if the situation had of lasted longer. After all, both of them were essentially given dark paths right from infancy or with Emma from birth. The problem with the Emma situation is that she was threatening Dean's life and Sam wasn't going to take any chances. I don't blame him. Another difference for me is also that they had no way to actually kill Jack. Dean tried to shoot him right away and it backfired on him. The bullets and the angel blade won't kill him and really they had nothing else really to do other than try to educate him about human life. Yes, he was more of a danger than Emma if he were to turn down a dark path, but they really had no other choice but to take him in since they couldn't kill him. Not to mention, Emma had been around for a few days prior to meeting up with Dean and she had been brainwashed and taught to kill him. Jack actually had more of an influence from his mother IMO than anything. I think Benny is more comparable in the sense that he hadn't done anything and wasn't actively trying to kill someone. Of course he was fully grown by that point so there is that difference. If anything that regret should go to his treatment of Benny and I say that as someone that doesn't even like the character.

I think they could all have time with each other I would actually have them all work together. If they are going to keep Jack around, unless his character is going dark side, he will still have bonding to do with Cas, Sam and Dean. I don't think he has to bond solely with one person.

What Sam said in Asylum was different than saying Dean was too weak to kill Lilith. In asylum he criticized Dean for following all their dad's orders. To me these are two completely different things. I though Abadon was only interested in the key in As time goes by. Come season 9 wasn't she fighting Crowley to become King of Hell? That's not insignificant IMO.

I don't think there was any backtracking. Sam felt strong because of Ruby and the demon blood and that's why he thought Dean was weaker than him in season 4. Because being hopped up on demon blood made him feel strong. I think the issues are actually related, not contradictory. I think with the whole "well we all know who's fault that is" shows that in fallen idols they weren't dumping it all on Dean's lap. That was Dean blaming Sam for it. With the issue of Sam's powers, Dean never had to learn to accept them. If Kripke did say this, he did an extremely poor job of showing it. Dean never accepted Sam's powers. He never worked with Sam on a daily basis and accepted his powers. He only let Sam use them when he knew that Sam wouldn't be alive much longer. There was no long term anything which tells me that Dean never had to learn to accept them. With stories, you really need to show your audience your intentions not just tell them in an interview. That's when things fall flat. That's why I take what the writers say with a grain of salt. I want to be shown things. Not told.

I completely agree. Dean's apologizing that he did in season 5 didn't have anything to do with not trusting Sam in season 4. (not saying it should have) They were about different situations where as Sam's apologies in Lucifer Rising and Sympathy for the Devil were directly for his involvement with Ruby and the consequences that followed which tells me the narrative not only showed but also verified that Sam was wrong about Ruby, which he was. The "no it's mine" actually came after Sam's comments about getting away from Dean. After Dean says "What, so it's my fault now?" then Sam says "No, it's mine". IMO, making it clear that Sam still blamed himself for it.

Sam was also made to apologize many times. Lucifer rising and Sympathy for the devil come to mind which specifically deal with Ruby which Dean appologys don't. Dean was never made to apologize because he didn't trust Ruby. Of course I am not saying he should but to me, that means Dean was validated when it comes to Ruby.

I agree. I also don't feel that Sam got the POV with Ruby. I actually think they did a disservice to any POV from Sam regarding Ruby by keeping it secret from the audience for most of the season. Having us essentially go down the road with Dean without even knowing why Sam was doing what he did. Having the Angels tell Dean and Sam what he was doing was wrong through out the beginning of the season.

See for me I never thought Dean was made out to be a bad person for being suspicious of Ruby, especially with how season 4 ended and ultimately Dean being right about her. I think the Jack comparison would be better. I gotta say though, it's about time the narrative allowed Sam to be right about someone. I also like that Jack was allowed to have an internal struggle over his actions and sometimes hurting people. Showing him to be overconfident in the AU also and such. Its makes for a more interesting character IMO. I also liked that they allowed Sam to bond with Jack. As well as Rowena and Gabriel. It took them 13 seasons but they finally figured out they have two lead characters and that they don't have to have all the recurring characters bond mostly with Dean all the time. IMO Benny was just a bland character. Yet another character brought in for Dean to bond with after Crowley and Castiel and I'm glad he only lasted for a season because he's not nearly as interesting as Crowley or Cas. There was no struggle. He was just a good vampire. Then the narrative made him out to be the best thing ever that happened to Dean. A better brother than Sam has ever been. He saved Dean's life? Ruby also saved Sam's life, yet of course when it was Sam there had to be ulterior motives. Although I still maintain the fact that there could have been with Benny as well. With him using Dean as a means to get out of purgatory. Of course though, since it was Dean the narrative wouldnt state that. Then they couldn't paint Sam as so terrible as they did.

If Dean had to learn to accept Sam's powers, he would have kept them after season 5. Sam even had Dean look away as he drank the blood so it was obviously something Sam felt ashamed of. Therefore, I didn't see any acceptance regardless of what Kripke said. If that was the intention, then he did a poor job of it. If this was the intention, then he should have allowed Sam to use his powers through out season 5 as he worked along side Dean. That would have shown acceptance IMO. Dean having to actually accept and live with Sam and his powers. Instead of only allowing them when he knew it would only be temporary and Sam would be in hell or a vessel in the near future. Dean never had to accept Sam living with his powers. Also saying you knew something would happen isnt the same as blaming someone. Sam never said he regretted his soul being removed from hell. I took his words as saying this is what you should have been preparing for. To try and make Dean accept what was happening.

If feeling wrong or guilty about something means the narrative says the character was wrong, then plenty of examples that companionivy brought up being about Sam feeling guilty and admitting he was wrong. Ruby. Sam apologized and felt guilty about starting an apocalypse. Benny. Sam showed he was wrong about Benny when he agreed to bring Benny back with him from purgatory. The only reason Benny stayed in purgatory was because he decided to. BOTD. Sam felt guilty about Charlie and the release of the darkness. God himself blamed Sam for releasing the darkness. Dean took no blame, as he didn't ever use the book. Sam's powers. Dean never had to accept Sam's powers. Sam had to get off of the demon blood bc he felt guilty for starting apocalypse. Even Chuck, God himself said that drinking demon blood was wrong. Sam had to learn to overcome his addiction. After season 5, Sam's powers are never to be seen again. BMOL. Sam gets a temporary position to lead hunters against the BMOL because he learned and he admitted he was wrong about trusting them. Sam going to the cage. Just because no one calls out his behaviour, that doesnt negate the fact that the narrative showed Sam to be wrong. Complete with Lucifer telling Sam he was wrong. Restoring Sam's soul. Dean never admitted to being wrong or feeling guilty about this action. Sam eventually turned out fine and is fully free from hell, so ultimately he was right. Just because other characters don't initially agree with his decision, that doesnt mean it turned out to be wrong. You don't see Castiel or Bobby telling Dean he was wrong after Sam wakes up with his soul in tact. Once Sam started having hallucinations, the blame for that went to Cas because he broke Sam's wall.

In terms of the brothers dynamic, I see just as much POV from Dean. As was already brought up earlier by Awesom04000, Dark side of the moon is a great example. The writing and dialogue Dean got in that episode where he got vent about Sam going to college and abandoning him. About Sam not having any heaven memories involving Dean. Anything Sam tries to say got shut down and you even had the shot of Dean throwing the amulet in the garbage at the end of the episode. This is significant not only to the fact that Dean was let down by God, but also that he was let down by Sam.

Dean agreed to bring Jack back to the bunker though. Sam didn't make him do that. I didn't see Sam bringing Jack around to rooms in the bunker specifically so Dean would have to be around him. If Jack is in the bunker as Dean agreed for him to be, they are going to cross paths. So yeah, after he made that initial choice to bring Jack in, he could keep himself away from Jack in the bunker or leave for a bit. Heck Dean walked into Jack's room himself when he told him he would be the one to kill him. Sam didn't shove Jack into Dean's room for that to happen. The fact that Jack is there at all is not only on Sam but Dean as well.

I agree. Just like it's not Sam's fault that Dean treated Jack badly in the beginning of season 13 because Sam tried to force him on Dean. Dean made his own choices to stay around and treat him the way he did.

And I see a lot of things with Dean's character that I consider to be dealt with better than with Sam's that it sends my head spinning when people claim the writers prefer Sam. I don't understand it.

I think it happens because of comments regarding the writers preferences and how people claim they don't care about Dean and much prefer Sam. If they are doing the same things to the characters at some point, then I can't understand why when it comes to Dean it's to insult his character because they apparently prefer Sam. I think you would have a lot less comments on these things if people weren't playing "the writers favor someone who's not my fav" card. Or the "they don't like my fav so they are trying to make them look bad." Those kinds of arguments don't hold much for me when the writers do these things for all sorts of characters.

Lol. I love Jack but that's how I felt about Benny when it appeared everyone else loved the character. I'm like, I really don't and I hope he never comes back. Yeah I think I am just bitter about season 8 in general.

I wasnt intending to say you said that. I guess I used a phrase that could be interpreted that way so I apologize for that. I was trying to point out that the writers have done this to Sam as well.

To me, blaming Sam for making Dean be with Jack and blaming the writers are two different things. If you want to say that the writers made Dean look wrong in the Jack situation, I would agree with you. They did. Most of that had to do with the fact that Dean was lashing out at Jack at the beginning of the season. I think many viewers didn't like to see that because they were falling in love with Jack's character. The writers made Jack a character that the audience loves, so in turn it made Dean's actions look that much worse. There are times through out the series where they make Sam look wrong or bad as well, so I wouldn't say that it's something that's only unique to Dean.

And nothing stopped Dean from going on a hunt with Jody and Missouri. He could have done that more if that's what he wanted. He doesn't need to always stay with Sam.

And Dean made the decision to go on the hunt with Missouri because he's a grown man and can make his own decisions. If Dean felt he needed his space from Jack, he could have said No Sam. I am not bringing him on a hunt. I need my space. You two can go on this hunt together. There's a difference between always leaving Jack behind and sometimes leaving him. There needed to be a balance IMO.

I agree and I would add the breakdown to that as well. Dean prioritized the mission with Donna over Sam's emotional state. While I don't blame him for wanting to help Donna out, if it gets called out when Sam does it, I will call it out when Dean does it. As far as with Jack, I agree with you. Dean was a grown adult and he could have kept his distance from Jack if he needed to. After all, he agreed to bring Jack back to the bunker. He could have also said no to Sam when he told him he wanted to bring Jack along. He could have gone on a different hunt from Sam and Jack. He is a grown man who can make his own decisions so I don't buy into the idea that mean Sam made Dean interact with Jack.

I don't agree with this. I feel Dean gets to Express his frustrations just as much about Sam. We got to hear Dean vent his frustrations at Sam with Ruby and purgatory. Both supernatural influenced and what not. These were ongoing and through many episodes. We even heard it from Demon Dean and MOC Dean. We got to hear how Dean doesnt know if he can trust Sam anymore or if their relationship will ever be the same. He also vented his frustrations regarding Jack to Sam this season.

To me, Dean wasn't anymore in tune to Sam's emotional needs in season 13 either. Take the Breakdown for example. Sam seemed to be going through an episode of depression. He didn't want to be working on the case with Donna anymore, most likely because of his emotional state. Though Dean said he would be there for Sam like Sam was for Dean, the only thing he did really was convince Sam to push through on the case, even though Sam didn't want to. To me, that's not someone who knows how to handle someone's grief/depression either. There wasn't really all that much effort on his part. More just let's do the case.