2x19, Folsom Prison Blues
Critical theory: Empathy/compassion + class solidarity, and who is leading that. Emotional intelligence. Homoeroticism.
Discussion question(s): Dean + community (~doesn’t it bother you how well you fit in here?)
Key quotes: Sam, “Dean, doesn't it bother you how well you seem to fit in here?”; Dean, “I am freakin’ velvety smooth.”
Discussion: This is possibly the most stressed I have ever seen these two in an episode (with the possible exception of Night Shifter). Lawyer is a real one.
Dean loves it when he gets to do non-hunting stuff. He was in prison and having a great time.
Sam has… no empathy for these people. He doesn’t care if they die. Also btw he killed someone two episodes ago. He’s doing ~not all monsters are bad spirits were once regular people… but people in prison deserve to die? Grow up.
Dean loves to flirt (Kai). Personally I don’t see it as flirting, or as manipulation—I think he likes to connect. He’s good at reading people and knowing what to say (ie. the lawyer, “you know I’m not guilty”, with Henricksen he knows he can’t fix it, so he just plays with it). He connects with Tiny, and other inmates. He’s good at building connections.
Dean fits in anywhere. We saw this last episode. He just likes… people. Dean isn’t pretentious about it—he knows he’s not better than anyone.
Once again it’s different takes on the same upbringing. They moved around so much. Sam’s response to that is “I’m never going to fit in anywhere”, and Dean’s is “if I’m going to survive, I have to fit in anywhere.”
And it’s people pleasing. He had to keep John happy, he had to keep Sam happy. He knows how to make people happy.
Sam keeps pushing Dean into staying in the job. And then wanting to leave the job.
Dean doesn’t like leaving things unfinished.
Sam thinks he has a very strong sense of morality, but Dean’s is so, so strong, he has such a strong sense of justice (tism). He has such a strong sense of duty. He wants to do the right thing.
The duty here is because of John—they’re settling one of John’s debts. Dean always feels like that’s his duty… but knowing that John died to save him, perhaps even more so. Perhaps now more than ever he feels it is his duty to return the favour for Deacon, because John’s life is now his own.
Star student: Kai, the analysis of Dean’s sense duty in relation to John dying for him (something I would like to discuss further next episode).
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