Don't you see though that Dean acting the way he had in seasons 1-3, living for Sam only, that was what led him to be Future!Dean! He literally paved his road to Hell with good intentions. Idolising his father and dedicating his life to his brother has broken Dean, maybe irreparably, we have seen this focused on especially in the last few episodes.
This is true. And a nice way to throw my metaphor back at me. =P And alright, I'm coming around to your point. Dean was a seriously messed-up individual, and he placed his self-worth on the acceptance and safety of others--John and Sam, respectively. I still appreciate his dedication, even if it eventually turned into poison for him.
Well their destruction for each other may be up for debate but personally, I think they damned themselves for each other.
Well, definitely. But in the same way I won't blame Sam's actions on Dean, I won't blame Dean's on Sam. Dean did not force Sam into starting the Apocalypse, even if Dean made him feel weak. Similarly, Sam did not force Dean to sacrifice himself and make his deal. They destroyed themselves
for each other, but they were not destroyed
by each other. A very fine distinction, but a distinction nonetheless.
I don't think I have drawn their relationship anymore negatively than it actually has been. They love each other, that isn't even a point of contention, but they have continued to make wrong decision after wrong decision to save each other.
Again, my views are shifting a bit, and I get what you're saying.
I mean if you want to draw the Buffy comparison, she at least learned how wrong her stance was with Dawn in Season 5. After everything they have been through and all the tragedy they have faced, they still haven't learned to let each other go. If they had, then the world wouldn't be ending right now.
Ah, but isn't there beauty in that? They
can't let each other go. I think you meant to criticize them, but it actually just made me start to appreciate them more! Guess I just like my heroes all messed up and damaged.
