I sincerely hope the SPN writers use this season to address what it truly means to be family. Because last episode made it clear to me that although Dean has labeled Jack as family, and that Sam and Cas also see Jack as family, Jack does not feel the same about them, particularly Dean. Before that scene that made me see red, Jack referred to his grandparents as his real family, implying that the original TFW were not his. Which is why it is probably so easy for him to only “see” Michael and not see Dean being possessed by Michael. He expressed no desire to even try to save Dean. It’s all about killing Michael. Dean doesn’t matter.
I was annoyed last season when Jack was accepted as family so quickly. That label wasn’t earned. I don’t know what it is about this show and its inability to no longer develop organic relationships. Hopefully, the writers are now aware that it was too soon to have any of TFW consider Jack family. And that they work on the relationships between the characters. Develop actual relationships and worry about labels later. (Personally, I’m fine with Jack and Dean never having scenes again, but I know I’m not that lucky.)
Anyway, that little exchange between Cas and Jack shocked me out of my previous indifference towards Jack. He can die, get lost, get trapped in another dimension, choke on some nougat for all I care.
Alright bitches we gotta talk
The way Jack speaks to and about his grandparents, he obviously holds them in high regard. He’s been treated like a soldier his whole life. This was really the first time in his 17 months of living that he got to be normal. The Klines are the normal family he’ll never get. But, more importantly, they remind him of his mother. Kelly was the only one that believed in him for the longest time. And she gave him the best advice he’s ever heard. He is good own person. He doesn’t have to follow in his father’s footsteps. He doesn’t have to listen to every single order Team Free Will gives him. And he never got to meet her. Her parents are the closest thing he’ll get to meeting the woman that gave him so much
And then he went back to the bunker, doubtlessly in such a good mood after seeing them, and Cas was pissed. So, in the heat of the moment, Jack got mad, too. But don’t think for a second that it means he doesn’t view them as family. After all, that’s what family is. They get mad, that fight, they frustrate each other beyond belief. But in the end, they come back to each other, because no matter what, they’re family, and they still love each other. And that’s exactly what happened. And that’s how you know they really are family.
Now, let’s talk about this whole family thing, because are apparently you don’t see it. Jack won Cas over when he was still in the womb. Cas knew that he had to stay with Kelly to keep Jack safe, and he grew to love her. And that made him love Jack. He already knew that Jack was good. He could sense it. And Jack’s always lived up to that. That’s why Cas loves him.
And then there’s Sam. Sam was actually scared of him at first. He saw this man standing in the corner, eyes glowing yellow, and he should have been scared. But then Sam actually met him, and he realized Jack is actually just a cute little kid with a candy addiction. That alone may not have won him over, but Sam had to take him in anyway, just to make sure he wouldn’t become evil. After how much time they spent together, of course Sam would grow to love him, not to mention the number of times Jack saved them or helped them out. If you’re going to say there’s no reason for Sam to love Jack as family, then Charlie isn’t family. Bobby isn’t family. Jody isn’t family.
In fact, the only one who might not think of Jack as family is Dean, who, coincidentally, is the first one you mentioned. Jack’s first impression of him was that he’s a coldhearted asshole, and that went on for weeks. But Jack still tried his hardest to please him, and every time, he got shot down. Because no matter how much Dean preaches about making your own destiny, he couldn’t fathom the idea that Jack wasn’t going to be an exact copy of Lucifer. And then Cas came back, and the high from that made him do much nicer, but Jack barely got to see that before getting thrown into another dimension. So if they’re not family, it’s all Dean’s fault, because Jack tried so hard to get in his good side, and Dean wouldn’t let him. Now he’s facing the consequences.
But honestly, I don’t think what Jack said has anything to do with whether he likes Dean or not, because even after everything, he would still be trying to get on Dean’s good side, because that’s what he does. But he been to the alternate dimension. He’s seen what Michael is capable of. He’s lived through the aftermath. And he knows that if Michael gets his way, he’ll do the same thing to their world. And if they can’t get Michael out of Dean, they have to take them both down. When it comes to Dean’s life vs the lives of 7 billion, they have to sacrifice them, and Jack knows that. Hell, Sam and Cas should, too. It’s exactly what happened at the end of season five. And god knows Dean would be on board with it. He would sooner die that be an angel’s bitch, especially if it’s an archangel, and especially if he’ll be used to kill people. He was willing to sacrifice himself when he had the Mark of Cain, and he would now, too. It was Sam’s insistence that he couldn’t lose his brother that let the darkness out. If he isn’t willing to risk Dean this time, there’s just going to be more problems. Apparently, Jack is the only one who can use his brain.
Thank you!
I also want to add, if I may…
JACK IS A BABY NEPHILIM. WHO HAS HAD A VERY TRAUMATIC LIFE SO FAR. He’s learning how to be family from the sons of John Winchester, and Cas. It’s gonna be bumpy.
What Jack said wasn’t materially incorrect. His mistake is coming at it from a black and white perspective. But that is a pretty common sin of youth and inexperience. And he’s being forced to cope with his own powerlessness in a very literal sense.
Of course Cas was hurt by it and disagrees, but that’s not where the storyline ends guys. They’re gonna say more stuff about it. That wasn’t the series finale.
I agree like 99% with gabrielsbackbitches. There’s a few trivial points not even worth contending that are mostly arbitrary to even handle, but really, when it comes down to it-
We had grieving widower or grieving wibroer Dean, take your pick of interpretation. Lashing out in pain at an “easy target” who was, at that point, still an extraneous addition to the unit and only really taken to family by Castiel, who was dead and thus Dean blamed even the idea of Jack and JackAsFamily on that… that’s human. I really don’t care what extreme stans in any direction think about it. I don’t care if it’s Jack stans that are mad for not being treated like a squish or a branch of Dean girls that think Dean was just being mean and the writers hate him and want everyone to hate him – realistically, this was incredibly human. And despite all of this rage, Dean was also still human enough that, before Cas came back, he saw Jack self mutilating and surged to stop him. Yes, he still promised to kill him if he went dark side. Remember that. But even while full of vitriol and blame for him, he stepped in to stop that, then realized who/what he was looking at, put up his wall of hurt and protection, and dropped that fateful line everyone lost their shit about. Again, remember that line. I’ll * it.
Then, yes, as said, Cas came back. Dean came back around and lightened it up about 234293490 scale. But in that time, Dean already started on trying to communicate with him. Jack got AU’ed, came back, and in NO scale did he stop trying to fit in, feel a place to belong, and definitely didn’t suddenly stop trying to appeal to Dean. And by the end of the season, we had outright dad!Dean setting in with attempted heartfelt talks and connections.
So Dean isn’t AUed, but he IS Michaeled. And while Dean has seen all the evils Lucifer is capable of, Jack has seen all of the evils Michael is capable of. Jack isn’t necessarily a grieving wibroer, that would be Cas. But Jack is looking at the same situation in reverse. * AND WHAT DID DEAN SHOW HIM THEN? Reflexive understanding, but * * * * *
13.2
DEAN You know, my brother thinks you can be saved. JACK You don’t believe that. DEAN No, I don’t. JACK So… if you’re right? DEAN If I’m right… and it comes to killing you… I’ll be the one to do it.
You want story symmetry? IT’S EPISODE 2-2.
14.2
[Jack and Cas are discussing what happens if Dean can’t be saved] JACK And if that doesn’t work? CAS Jack- JACK Cas, Michael has to be stopped. CAS I know, and he will be, after Dean is – JACK No, Dean doesn’t matter. You’re all so focused on trying to save Dean. And I get it, I understand, but if he can’t be saved? If it comes down to him or Michael… Michael has to be stopped. Caged, or killed. CAS And if that means that Dean dies too?! JACK Then Dean dies. I know this Michael, I’ve seen what he’s done to an entire world. And so have you. If stopping that from happening here means that Dean has to die then… …Do you think he’d want it any other way? [Cas is left speechless]
So let’s strip this down.
CAS lists a huge amount of hopes that Dean can be okay, like Sam and Cas with Jack. / DEAN You know, my brother thinks you can be saved.
JACK And if that doesn’t work? / JACK You don’t believe that.
CAS DEFENSIVELY argues Dean’s case. / JACK So… if you’re right?
JACK Then Dean dies. […] If stopping that from happening here means that Dean has to die then… / DEAN If I’m right… and it comes to killing you… I’ll be the one to do it.
And JACK ISN’T EVEN WRONG. At this point it’s Cas thinks Dean can be saved. Jack doesn’t entirely believe that. Cas is left feeling Jack’s fallout while Jack mirrors Dean’s position directly, in an experience a year old child just had as part of his forming purpose, but even then, let’s not forget that JACK. IS. RIGHT. And Cas KNOWS IT. Not just because we saw it on his face. Because. Because The Things We Left Behind.
10.09
DEAN Cas, I need you to promise me something.
CASTIEL Of course.
DEAN If I do go dark side, you got to take me out.
CASTIEL What do you mean?
DEAN Knife me. Smite me. Throw me into the freakin’ sun, whatever. And don’t let Sam get in the way, because he’ll try. I can’t go down that road again, man.
Cas is fucking speechless because Jack is so fucking right but he still can’t let it go. He’s been told this, to his face by Dean before. A similar issue – but about Dean becoming something, someone, other than who he is.
But 13.02/14.02 are literally direct story symmetry and expecting Jack to be as sentimental about Dean, DESPITE wanting to appeal to him, DESPITE Dean coming around about him, is just wildly disconnected from reality. Look, I don’t often devil’s advocate in defense of BuckLeming scripts, and even this script had its problems, but they have very, very clearly echoed back their own previous work from 13.02 to-the-T, while maintaining a vein/promise originally penned by Dabb in 10.09, and Dabb’s showrunning right now soOoOoo?
Of all the shit people could/should be complaining about in a BuckLeming episode, this ain’t it, fam.
Because as far as Jack can perceive – this is what he’s been shown is the right thing to do. This IS what Dean would want. Lucifer and Michael are not so far removed, despite being dualistic opposites. Lucifer was Dean’s great evil and Michael was Jack’s. And Jack isn’t even wrong reading into that from Dean. And Cas knows it.
Jack wants Dean’s approval? You think he’s gonna imagine himself getting it by laissez-faire letting Dean run around subject to Michael doing horrible things? As far as Jack can even see for Dean’s approval, this is the path to take.
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