Supernatural Round Table: Teen Dean and Taylor Swift?
Sean McKenna
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Hansel and Gretel. Teen Dean. Taylor Swift.
Supernatural Season 10 Episode 12 took Dean on a puberty trip as he and Sam faced off against the kid-eating witch from the fairy tale. And with a famous pop song to cap the hour off, TV Fanatic staff writers Sean McKenna and Carissa Pavlica and The Winchester Family Business’ Alice Jester had plenty to say about the latest episode.
Join them in the latest Supernatural Round Table and sound off with your own thoughts below!
What was your favorite scene?
Alice: The ending scene left the biggest impression with me. First the goodbye with Tina, who I really liked. She certainly learned from hard knocks and deserved a second chance. Then a brotherly chat that actually resonated with me! There haven’t been many this season. Or any. I love that Sam, who was obviously deflated by the MOC being back, gave Dean the “we’ll find a way” speech. Show, for the love of Chuck, just once, can Sam actually find that way? He needs something to do. Thanks much.
Carissa: When Teen Dean walked into the hotel room as if things were normal, took control as usual with Sam rather slack-jawed. The entire scene flowed really well and went without a hitch. Sam wanted Dean back in the game; he didn't give any specifics so Teen Dean it was. The specifics about Dean's infield were too damn much.
Narsimha: Sam's initial reaction to teenage Dean was hilarious -- his jaw almost hit the floor. That, plus Dean's choice of music for the last scene, were definitely among my favorites.
Sean: There were a lot of good ones to choose from, but I enjoyed the banter between Sam and Dean in the car. It was funny that Sam was driving because of his transformed brother, and Dean was ranting about liking a Taylor Swift song and dealing with puberty. There was just something fun about the way the two interacted that also made it feel very old school Sam and Dean, before all the huge huge problems they have had to deal with.
How entertaining was Dean as a teen?
Alice: Awesome! I swear we were watching the pint sized replica of Dean and it was a riot. The mannerisms, the lingo, the fearless hunter, everything Dylan Everett put into the role was ideal. He was even joking around with Sam about his size. I don’t think adult Dean does that much anymore. Hopefully the experience teaches Dean to enjoy life a little more.
Carissa: Despite the fact Teen Dean at that age probably would have been a tad taller by then, the kid who played him knocked it out of the park. He had the same whip smart line delivery Jensen Ackles gives and it made for a very entertaining performance. It made me want to jump in and add quotes to TVF, that's how entertaining it was. I can get a little carried away like that. I'd like to see him back at some point. I don't know how, but it was earned.
Narsimha: The child actor actually did a pretty great job at channeling of Dean's usual tics -- and it was indeed pretty awesome. As Alice said, being a teen for a short stint of time seemed to have rubbed off on the adult Dean in a positive way.
Sean: It was great. I was a bit skeptical at first, but actor Dylan Everett pulled off being Dean. I really felt like it was the same person as the older version from the quips and one-liners to some of the mannerisms. This was such an entertaining spin for both the character, the brothers and the episode that I was thrilled with the end result.
Are there any fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel you'd want to see adapted for Supernatural?
Alice: No, not really. Hansel and Gretel I thought was already done in season three’s “Bedtime Stories.” There’s so much lore out there to explore, and I’m already tired of the witches thing. I’m with Dean, I hate witches. Although, I did think it was clever that the witches knew better than to take children, thanks to Amber Alerts and milk cartons. Turning so called low life adults into children was a brilliant solution.
Carissa: That was a pretty cool adaptation. It was both goofy and frightening in equal measures. This has nothing to do with anything, but I noticed in the comments the gal was OK with the fact the pouch was destroyed and didn't want to seek another cure. Wait another couple decades, kids, and you'll wish these adaptations sending you back in time for do-overs were true. So, yes, I'd like to see more done and to really shake 'em up.
Narsimha: I'm with Alice insofar that I hate stories about witches, but I'm sure there are still some great fairytales out there waiting to be adapted. Has "the three little pigs" been done yet?
Sean: Sure, and I think taking something most people know or recognize and then spinning it is usually pretty fun. I can’t think of any off the top of my head, but I’m sure Supernatural could pull off a clever twist to a fairy tale.
Do you think Rowena can use her magic to get rid of the Mark of Cain?
Alice: Hmm, interesting thought. That never occurred to me that could happen. I’ve been questioning why Rowena would suddenly surface. Dean getting the Mark of Cain would explain that as well as why she took interest in the first blade. I suppose if Dean was transformed into his younger self and the MOC went away, there has to be another transformation spell out there that would get rid of it. Maybe he gets transformed back to a 34 year old? Or does he get it back when he hits the age he got the Mark? (*pondering, pondering*). Perhaps the question should be WILL Rowena use her magic to remove the Mark of Cain? She’s up to something.
Carissa: Ugh. Rowena. If she had been shoved in the oven, I wouldn't have been upset. Perhaps Cain can do something to get rid of the mark of Cain. That's what I'm thinking. Down with Rowena (forever), up with Cain!
Narsimha: They haven't really made the extent of Rowena's powers, or the limitations of the Mark of Cain, clear yet. I suppose anything can happen in Supernatural at this point. I was surprised changing age got rid of the Mark that easily, to be honest.
Sean: It’s something I’ve never really thought of until the Mark disappeared with the spell that turned Dean young. What if Rowena had some type of power or spell to get rid of it? It would certainly make her more relevant to the bigger story than just trying to pull a fast one on Crowley. I’d be curious if the Coven and the witches do wind up crossing paths with the Mark of Cain story now. Hmmm.
What did you think of Dean listening to Taylor Swift?
Alice: Loved it. Imagine the trauma of turning into your 14-year-old self and finding out on a bus you like the Taylor Swift song. How tragic! I’m not sure who was more bothered by that revelation, Dean or Sam. At the end, I shouldn’t have laughed, I wouldn’t have laughed, but I did laugh. Turns out adult Dean likes the song too! And Sam doesn’t. Doesn’t sound like a 14 year old problem to me. Then that song was in my head the whole next day. Damn you, Taylor Swift.
Carissa: While Teen Dean doing it was kind of funny, our Dean allowing it to remain on the Impala sound system felt a little dirty, if not down right sacrilegious. I mean, that is Kripke canon people! It was his decision never to allow music past a certain point to be included and there is was. What's next? Is Sam's iPod making a comeback? I mean, I like modern music, but I draw the line at pop in general. The underlying theme of Supernatural is rock 'n' roll. I'm frightened.
Narsimha: Taylor Swift is a goddess.
Sean: I was shocked to hear the song at all. For a show that uses so many rock songs, to delve into pop seemed so different, so foreign. So wrong? And maybe that’s what made it work for that moment, because it was unexpected, and to see Sam shocked and Dean drive off to it made just a great way to end the hour. It was like his guilty pleasure song, and I too couldn’t help but laugh. It definitely shouldn’t be done in the majority of episodes, but for this one, especially dealing with teen Dean, it was a humorous way to close things.
Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.
