Just to bring the shoulder idea I started in pt.1 and pt.2 up to date, I rewatched the rest of S4. I was right to remember 4.03 “In the Beginning” having possessed Samuel Campbell direct a line about them to Dean. Dean’s been pinned in a chair and slammed back across the room. When Dean asks about Azazel’s endgame, he’s told, “Like I’m going to tell you,” and there’s a pause as his eyes shift away from Dean’s face

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to Dean’s left shoulder before continuing with, “or those angels sitting on your shoulder.” I take this as an argument for the idea of the angelic about Dean being more literal than figurative. (My vhs recording of the episode stopped before Grandma Deanna makes her move, so I am missing it if anything else happened in the ep. Help on that would be welcome.)

Beyond that, I didn’t pick up on any further direct references to Dean’s shoulders. However, I will now claim I’ve discovered the real reason behind the will always and forever be funny lederhosen costuming.  Look what Dean’s shoulders do with the suspenders and traditional shirt from 4.05 “Monster Movie” – there’s room for an army of angels. Oh, my.

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Or, perhaps at this point we aren’t thinking solely angels but of taking up a yoke of responsibility. Jamie, upon pronouncing that Dean’s life must suck, elaborates with, “You’re giving up your life for this terrible responsibility.” Newly rehymenated resurrected Dean (this episode was originally slated to air as the third of the season, I believe) tells her yeah, he had been feeling the weight of the life but now is seeing it as “awesome” and a “gift” and a “mission from God” to be saving people.  (Personally, and for what it’s worth, I took this verbalization as Dean trying out an idea that wouldn’t leave him alone. He didn’t have a question in his voice, but there was a hesitation as if he was listening to how each characterization sounded.)

Now, what are the right questions to be asking if the show continues to offer us more of Dean’s shoulders?

  • Is there a connection with angels? (4.01, 4.02, 4.03)  Going further? – Is Dean seen as accompanied by angels? – Is there any implication of Dean himself being angelic? (I really didn’t want the show to go there. I love brave, non-superhero, magnificent, human Dean too much not to mourn him if he goes. But, the show does get points from me for foreshadowing it if Dean unfurls his own wings at some point.)
  • Is there an association with burdens and responsibility? (4.07, 4.08, and possibly 4.02?) – I’m convinced the show will eventually remember the part about “We’re stronger as a family,” and give us the boys working in concert. I’d really like for that to not be saved for the final episode. Have Sam and Dean figure out a common enemy and course and spend the rest of the series saving the world. That’s easy, right?

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