I’M UNSPOILED HERE: Please don’t give anything away that hasn’t aired yet in the US.

I just watched the repeat of 4.03 In the Beginning. I’d forgotten Daniel Elkins deciding to back off and let Dean leave with the colt. On first viewing, I was able to explain that unlikely development by telling myself Dean’s combination of charisma and sincerity has worked in the past (both with Officer Kathleen in 1.15 The Benders and the lawyer in 2.19 Folsom Prison Blues, for example).

We also get the Yellow Eyed Demon NOT killing Dean. Dean tells him that Dean will be the one to end Azazel in the future.  At the time, I guessed that the YED was unwilling or unable to take action since he had an awareness of the angels on Dean’s shoulder. Another possible explanation? For whatever it’s worth, Castiel states that destiny can’t be changed. And things were moving fast enough in the episode that it could just be the writers didn’t have time to work through the implications of giving the YED this foreknowledge AND still electing to make the deal with John and therefore actively intervening to keep Dean alive in 2.01 In My Time of Dying?

Except… we’ve had several other instances this season of Dean’s life being threatened for extra beats and it coming to nothing. There was 4.04 Metamorphosis’s rugaru who was sooo hungry and hanging over Dean while fighting the monstrous part of himself. And 4.05 Monster Movie had Dracula with the slow-mo reach for the switch which, yes, suits the suspense style of the period. 4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer puts the boys at Alastair’s mercy and their escape comes by a miraculous leap through a third story window. In 4.10 Heaven and Hell, Uriel threatens to throw Dean back in hell saying Dean can be replaced. Dean considers his options and upon steeling himself, tells Uriel to go ahead. Yet, Uriel doesn’t; instead, he shifts tactics.

Each can be explained, but I see a cumulative effect and significance in the repetition of and variation on the basic situation.

Further, we’ve also had Sam (and Bobby) showing a less than frantic concern as the clock was running out in 4.06 Yellow Fever. It’s almost as if they were taking the steps necessary to solve the current problem without buying the life-and-death urgency of Dean’s situation.  This makes sense to me if Sam (and Bobby?) are dreamwalking and reacting to events/issues in Dean’s subconscious as he works his way clear of hell’s influence. I think Sam is able to be surprised by some of the things thrown into the game but usually feels he has enough control to cope with the curveballs.

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edit 12/13/08: I’m trying to remember all the times Dean should have died over the course of the series. I’m thinking of death sentences with supernatural escapes as opposed to simple life threatening situations with “got lucky” or “in the nick of time” rescues.

  • 1.06 Skin – Dean shoots and kills the shifter wearing his skin – doesn’t exactly fit the criteria I just set, but if they show us ‘Dean’ dying, it makes this list.
  • 1.12 Faith – Electrocuted and heart damaged – saved by Sue Ann LeGrange’s control over the reaper.
  • 1.14 Nightmare – Shot in the head (in Sam’s vision) – rescued by Sam’s telekinetic release from the closet.
  • 2.01 In My Time of Dying – A reaper has come for Dean after the injuries suffered at the end of S1 – saved by John’s deal with the yellow eyed demon.
  • 3.09 – Malleus Maleficarum – A witches’ curse – saved by Ruby’s potion that tastes like ass.
  • 3.11 Mystery Spot – Died a hundred times over – eventually the Trickster gets the boys back on “real” time.
  • 3.16 No Rest for the Wicked – Died and went to hell – saved by an angel of the Lord (or Sam, if my theory works out ;) ).

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