But if Dean hadn't gone back, would the destroyer have found the sub or would they have made it to safety, Delphine gotten the weapon to the Men of Letters and it would have been in the bunker for them to find? Damn closed time loops!
I had the same thought, but I think it would have gone done the same (or worse) regardless of Dean went back again. With the Thule chasing her (and the ship right on the sub's tail LONG before Dean got there) - I think no matter what, that submarine was going down. Best case, Dean's not there, Delphine still uses the artifact to take the Germans out with them. Worst case, Dean's not there, Delphine doesn't use the artifact, the sub goes down, the Thule get the artifact again and maybe use it against the advancing allied troops after D-Day (or against the Russians on the Eastern front - which were the German's main problem in 1943). I think in no version does the artifact make it back to the Bunker.
And I am stealing this from another review because dreamsofspike said it so well I couldn't paraphrase it better:
What's Dean Winchester's worst nightmare? Being useless. Being a burden. Being the "witness" - the helpless bystander - who has to be protected rather than do the protecting....
Yup, like I said... Cas has learned so much from Dean, that he accidentally learned his shitty self-esteem. Being helpless against impossible odds hardly makes a person worthless, but Dean and Cas both have it in their heads that it does - at least when it comes to themselves. I'm sure if Sam announced he felt that way, Dean would yelling about how he was completely wrong and still the most important Winchester etc. And I'm sure once Dean has a chance to talk to Cas again, he'll also attempt to set him straight... all the while not realizing that he does the same thing.
But yeah, super harsh episode for everyone really - but you're right that it's a brilliant parallel for Dean's feelings of uselessness in the fight against Amara.
Personally, I think being a Witness (and I'm capitalizing it for a reason) is actually a really important thing to be - and I wondered when Dean said that if it would come back to prove to be useful. I don't know... it's not like I support their beliefs or ideologies or anything, but there's a reason the Jehovah Witnesses are called the Jehovah Witnesses, you know? At least one religious sect out there thinks it's an important noun to be.
Mostly, I think it's an important thing to be because I studied history - and there's nothing greater than eye-witness accounts in that field.
no subject
I had the same thought, but I think it would have gone done the same (or worse) regardless of Dean went back again. With the Thule chasing her (and the ship right on the sub's tail LONG before Dean got there) - I think no matter what, that submarine was going down. Best case, Dean's not there, Delphine still uses the artifact to take the Germans out with them. Worst case, Dean's not there, Delphine doesn't use the artifact, the sub goes down, the Thule get the artifact again and maybe use it against the advancing allied troops after D-Day (or against the Russians on the Eastern front - which were the German's main problem in 1943). I think in no version does the artifact make it back to the Bunker.
And I am stealing this from another review because dreamsofspike said it so well I couldn't paraphrase it better:
What's Dean Winchester's worst nightmare? Being useless. Being a burden. Being the "witness" - the helpless bystander - who has to be protected rather than do the protecting....
Yup, like I said... Cas has learned so much from Dean, that he accidentally learned his shitty self-esteem. Being helpless against impossible odds hardly makes a person worthless, but Dean and Cas both have it in their heads that it does - at least when it comes to themselves. I'm sure if Sam announced he felt that way, Dean would yelling about how he was completely wrong and still the most important Winchester etc. And I'm sure once Dean has a chance to talk to Cas again, he'll also attempt to set him straight... all the while not realizing that he does the same thing.
But yeah, super harsh episode for everyone really - but you're right that it's a brilliant parallel for Dean's feelings of uselessness in the fight against Amara.
Personally, I think being a Witness (and I'm capitalizing it for a reason) is actually a really important thing to be - and I wondered when Dean said that if it would come back to prove to be useful. I don't know... it's not like I support their beliefs or ideologies or anything, but there's a reason the Jehovah Witnesses are called the Jehovah Witnesses, you know? At least one religious sect out there thinks it's an important noun to be.
Mostly, I think it's an important thing to be because I studied history - and there's nothing greater than eye-witness accounts in that field.