Snowflake Challenge - Day 3

[dizzojay]

Day 3 - In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much.

There are many things I love about Supernatural.  I could wax lyrical about it ad nauseum, but for the purposes of today’s Snowflake task, I’m going to discuss one of my favourite pieces of canon which is Dean’s subtly understated intelligence.

 

Throughout the show, Sam is generally regarded as the brain, whereas Dean is seen as the brawn.  That’s not to say that Sam isn’t, indeed, intimidatingly intelligent, because he absolutely is, but across fourteen seasons of our show, we occasionally see glimpses of Dean’s formidable brainpower as well.

I’m talking about the Dean that rebuilt the Impala from the ground up; who made his own sawn-off shotgun in sixth grade; who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the Wild West; who reads Vonnegut; who built an EMF meter out of an old Walkman and who effortlessly disabled the burglar alarm at old Gert’s fancy cocktail party.

Time and again Dean proves his intellectual mettle by quoting lore off the top of his head and thinking on his feet to solve a problem or a tricky situation.

It’s also canon that Dean didn’t do well at school.  He refers to himself as a 'high school drop-out'.  However, history as shown us that not excelling at school is no reliable indicator of lack of intelligence – Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Richard Branson, anybody?

I believe there are several reasons for his apparent failure at school.  The first of which was the boys’ upbringing.  How could Dean possibly have the incentive, or even the energy, to study, when he was too busy being mother, father and brother to Sam?  Secondly, Dean’s particularly practical, problem-solving, street-smart form of intelligence isn’t necessarily one that would have the opportunity to flourish in a more academic environment.  Finally, I think Dean is so proud of Sam’s academic accomplishments, he’s happy to see himself as ‘the dumb one’ so Sam’s intellectual prowess is always showcased.  That, in itself, would be such a ‘Dean thing to do.

So yes, I love our goofy, daft-as-a-brush Dean with his low aspirations, his questionable table manners and his hilariously random pop culture references; but it just makes my little heart flutter with joy every now and again when we get a glimpse at that great big brain behind that handsome face!

 

 

 

Comments

[musyc]

Here from snowflake challenge and yes! Dean isn't the same kind of smart as Sam is, but he's fiercely smart in his own way. His mechanical aptitude is off the charts and he's totally capable of doing the research and the math when necessary. Plus, with all his movies quotes and references, his memory is no small shakes, either. Nothing wrong with his brain at all!

[dizzojay]

Nope, he's a smart cookie, our Dean!

[stripytights]

This is a really nice take on it - that's something I love about the show, despite the surface veneer, it really isn't cut and dried. Sam can be as physical and rough-and-ready as Dean when he needs to be, and Dean can be as subtly smart and incisive as Sam.

[dizzojay]

You're right, there is so much depth to these characters; that's why they're so engaging!

[spikedluv]

I haven't watched SPN in a couple of years now, but I loved reading this!

[dizzojay]

Thank you :)

from snowflake

[stellar_dust]

I so agree, Dean is brilliant and I adore the moments when he gets to shine. In particular your comment about his having too many responsibilities as a child to focus on school makes so much sense and is something I've thought about before. <3 dean!

Re: from snowflake

[dizzojay]

Yes, like you, I love those little moments when you see how clever Dean actually is, for me it just gives Dean as a character an extra facet in addition to the many he already has.

[skytintedwater]

I feel like the Dean = brawn/Sam = brain is for people who aren't paying close enough attention. I also feel like this is part of Dean's persona, that he pretends to be dumber than he really is so people underestimate him. Just like Sam doesn't present as 'the brawny one' even though we all know he can throw down when he needs to.

Also, Dean reads Vonnegut? I gotta go back and watch the show again.

[dizzojay]

I agree with you, there are so many facets to the guys, and not everyone sees all of them.

In 4.18 'The Monster at the end of this Book', when Chuck mentions Vonnegut, Dean replies with '"Slaughterhouse-Five" Vonnegut or "Cat's Cradle" Vonnegut?'

[donutsweeper]

Oh yeah, this is exactly how I see Dean as well. I love when fic deal with this, or when they show how much Dean helped Sam with studying/homework as a kid but no one was there to help him.

[dizzojay]

Exactly, Dean's schooldays were doomed from a very early age! :(

[tyson1997.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 100%.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Who couldn't love a little smart Dean? :)

[gotaprettymouth.livejournal.com]

this is SO true!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

Well said <3

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[tyrsibs.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! Also, I think that Dean deliberately downplays his smarts, for various reasons. To get out of research. To needle his brother. To be underestimated as an opponent.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I agree 100% - I think it's totally to their advantage when adversaries underestimate Dean.

[sandy79.livejournal.com]

Beautiful words, sweetie!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[kinkthatwinked.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this.

The way the show has dumbed Dean down over the years has always been a sore point with me. You make the argument that Dean is still a genius, he just downplays it, which is something I must admit I'd never considered. I still cherish that scene from S8's "Trial and Error" when Sam pointed out how brilliant his brother is, but it also bothered me because it seemed Dean needed to be told, that he didn't know. The idea that Dean does know, but has reasons to pretend otherwise, is both noble and makes me love him all the more.

Really, thanks for this. You kind of blew my mind a little bit here.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed this!
I think that Dean deliberately hides his intelligence for the reasons I outlined above, but I think their could also be an element that he really doesn't believe how clever he really is. He underestimates himself in every other aspect of his life; I'm sure he knows he's not stupid, but I'm not sure he realises that he's pretty much as smart as Sam.
x

[angelus2hot]

This was just all kinds of perfect! And I couldn't agree more!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)