Skin

[feliciakw]

Will be back later with other thoughts, but this is what struck me just a moment ago as I'm eating lunch and letting my mind wander . . .

When Dean was recruited as torture master in OTHoaP, some people found Jensen's portrayal to be very creepy, while others found it to be rather sad. I can understand both points, and kind of fall in between on them. It read to me as if Dean was trying to be scary, drawing on everything that happened to him in The Pit, but not wanting to be there, knowing it wouldn't end well . . . yeah, an underlying sense of broken Dean.

But you know? It's never a question of whether or not Jensen can play evil sociopath, because, dudes. Just watch him as the shapeshifter in "Skin." From "Dean" to "evil psychotic sociopath" in the blink of an eye. I wish there had been commentary on that episode, because I'd love to hear him talk about that. The dude was so methodically unhinged that it's just creepy and disturbing.

ETA: Here is where we get our first glimpse of Dean's abandonment and "Daddy" issues. Yes, they're filtered through the 'shifter, but if they weren't there, the 'shifter couldn't have latched onto them. I tend to think the 'shifter was expressing things that Dean himself doesn't want to admit are there.

When Shifter tells Sam, "You're brother has a lot of good qualities. You should appreciate him more than you do," this tells me that somewhere inside, Dean feels taken for granted. He might not express it the way Shifter does; he might not even think anything of it at all. But somewhere, deep down, it's there.

However, Dean himself also comes back with "I wish you could be Joe College." He does want Sam to be happy, but he also wants Sam to recognize the truth: they're not like other people.

And Sam cluing into the fact almost immediately that "Dean" isn't Dean.

Also, Dean? You don't know it yet, but you're going to hear Sam give someone the "it's better not to have connections" speech in a couple years. Oh, yes, your delivery is much better. More matter-of-fact and less revenge-laden. But keep this little exchange in mind.

Also also? I love how balanced the exposition was at this point in the series. Neither brother appearing less smart than the other. Dean knows his stuff. He knows his lore, and he knows the hunts Dad has written about. He fills blanks for Sam, and Sam fills in blanks for Dean. It's more of a back and forth, a sharing and double checking of knowledge, rather than the straight question/answer format they get going in later seasons. I miss this.

Also x3? Old school, American Werewolf In London/"Thriller" effects for the 'shifter transformation!

Comments

[luvwinchesters.livejournal.com]

I love Jensen's performance in Skin. Did you see the episode of season 1 Dark Angel when he plays Ben? He was a serial killer and yet I found myself caring for him despite the horrible things he had done. In OTHofP I didn't see Dean as creepy per se, but more as having his game face on facing the greatest torturer known to him and not wanting to appear weak. But his face before going in when he told Castiel if he sent him in there he would not like what came out...guh, that just broke me.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I've seen that ep. And the thing about Ben is that he knows there's something wrong with him. That he shouldn't just be killing people at random. So he tries to choose prey that might stand a chance of escaping him, or who have the protection of the Blue Lady. He knows he's a psychopath, and he wants to be stopped.

Well, you can read my original write-up on it here (http://feliciakw.livejournal.com/46604.html).

But in "Skin," yes, we get insight into the killer, but he garners no sympathy. There is nothing sympathetic about him. And that's what's so chilling.

Also, when he gives Rebecca that little smile, and his eyes flash white, and again when he's taunting Sam and his eyes reflect yellow . . . chilling.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

ITA! Brilliant observation. I have nothing to add.