Snowflake Challenge - Day 9

[dizzojay]

 

Day 9 - In your own space, promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom). Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



I don't mind admitting that I'm fascinated, bordering on obsessed, with the character Dean Winchester from Supernatural.  He's a complicated, deeply flawed multi-faceted character full of charm, conflict and contradiction. He's brave yet scared; he's good, yet bad; he's a big kid because he had to grow up too fast.

For the snowflake challenge last year, for a very similar question, I said that I loved Dean's subtly understated intelligence.

This year, I'm going to talk about Dean's appetite.

Throughout the whole show, Dean has been depicted as a shameless eater.  He loves his pie, he loves burgers, he loves bacon.  (The fact that despite eating all this crap he still manages to look like a freaking adonis is one of those little eccentricities of the show that we don't ask too many questions about!).

Dean's unbridled appetite is one of the many quirks that makes the character so endearing, and there is no origin story to why Dean eats the way he does.

However, I have a headcanon that fills in the gaps - for me at least:

I believe Dean has a relationship with food because of his difficult upbringing.  When his father was off hunting, leaving him to be mother, father and brother to little Sam for days on end, Dean's first focus was always Sam.  When there was only one tin of spaghettios or one slice of bread in the larder, it was Sam that got it.  Sam ate, Dean got what was left - if any.  In short, Dean didn't know where his next meal was coming from and  so when food was available, he gorged on it, and savoured every mouthful.

Now, as an adult, although he's in control of his own food supply, that self-preservation instinct has never left him; when he has a plate of food in front of him, he tucks into it with gusto, taking huge mouthfuls and making the absolute most of it.

I love to watch Dean eat, because it's wonderful to see the sheer joy and satisfaction he gleans from his favourite meals.  He loves his food, and by extension, he equates food with love.

Although he's a tough guy badass hunter, Dean is a nurturer through and through.  There are many examples of Dean providing food for Sam, for Kevin, for Clare, for Jack, and for many other of the waifs and strays that have crossed the Winchesters' paths throughout the show. 

When Dean makes you food, he's basically saying 'I love you'. 

Comments

[kingstoken]

Awe, that is a really great head-canon. I always thought he ate the way he does because meals could be infrequent on the road, so you have to enjoy the food you have in front of you now, because who knows when we are going to get a chance to stop and eat again. One of my fave episodes is when Sam and Dean go to Jody's house and Dean is so impressed by Jody's homemade chicken and mashed potatoes, and Jody just doesn't understand why they are so impressed by a simple homemade meal.

Also, I think he keeps fit from all the times they have to dig up bodies to salt and burn. Like do you know long it takes to dig down six feet? I have no idea, but it's probably hours, that is a lot of calories burned.

[athaia]

Yeah, I always saw Dean as a soldier - you eat, sleep, and f... when you have the opportunity, and then you go all in.

[muccamukk]

I really like that headcanon. And it feels like something that Sam maybe didn't really get, or like he got that Dean cared, but not what the food meant 100%

[fadedwings]

Love this headcanon ♥

[spikedluv]

That's a lovely (and sad, poor Dean) head canon.

[athaia]

You know, all that monster hunting burns off calories like nothing else, AND is a great workout. So NATURALLY, Dean looks the way he does ;) <3

[spiralicious]

A wonderful headcanon

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with your interpretation!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

I am also in total agreement with your assessment. Dean has had moments of his life without. So, now, as he is older and can appreciate the simpler things in life, he remembers those days when he didn't have food, and now that he does, as you said, he tucks it all in with gusto, he is enjoying the simpler things of life and food is definitely one of those things to enjoy. It is fun to watch him eat. The sheer pleasure on his face is so much fun to watch. I could sit and watch him eat a whole meal and not have to eat myself.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I love watching Dean eat too - he just looks so adorably indulgent! :D

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

This is also my exact head canon!

One of my favourite scenes is the one in the bunker where Dean makes Sam a burger from scratch and he's waiting, not eating his own, to see Sam's reaction. He looks so damn happy, so proud of himself, and Sam's reaction is clearly so very pleasing to him. I want to hug him hard every time I watch that scene! <3 He truly is a nurturer and that burger was a giant 'I love you'. ;)

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I love that scene as well. Dean's just so cute with his anticipation of Sam tasting the burger, and Dean is so proud of what he's made.
It's such an adorable scene!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I so agree with you, I love Dean's relationship with food, and not just that he loves to eat, but that he loves to cook and feed people.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

It's just so cute - It's the one of the few things in his life that genuinely brings him joy!