Cas puts the "sub" in "homoerotic subtext"

[brightly_lit]

Ohhhhkay, let's just bring up a little something here: Dean tells Cas to unbutton his shirt? Has Dean ever unbuttoned his own shirt to go on a date? (Maybe a gold chain in the chest hair would add to the look ....) Does Dean really care so much about the amount of chest Cas may be showing? And ladies, do you rate the quality of your dates on how far his shirt is hanging open? (I have to say, the closer to his navel my date's shirt hung open, the closer I would be to kicking him to curb before even stepping out the door.) Does Dean really think Cas will have better luck getting laid if he shows a little skin?

Nah. That was just Dean getting Cas a little more naked while they're still alone in the car, in yet another Destiel bone (pun intended) thrown to the fans.

I've been watching the interactions closely, trying to figure out where all the steamy homoerotic vibes are coming from, and I've come to these conclusions:

1) Jarpad can make any scene steamy, no matter who he's acting with or what that person's relationship to him is supposed to be. The Christmas Cottage was pretty devoid of anything titillating, trust me on that, but the scene where he and his brother are talking in the dark in their room? Mmm .... (And I am NOT a Sam/Dean shipper.)

2) Jackles acts "affection" in a way that always comes off flirtatious. Always.




3) Misha's a troll and adores the subversion of the status quo/gender roles, so any opportunity to make a scene more uncomfortable/homoerotic/inappropriate, etc., and he's SO THERE.

1 + 2 + 3 = the most semi-intentionally subtextually homoerotic show on t.v.




I will confess that Cas's vulnerable, baffled expression is EXACTLY what I picture in top!Dean Dean/Cas scenes, so thanks for that, guys! Thumbs up, nice shipping fodder, great subtext, all that jazz. May this show always be all the crazy things that make it unlike any other show ever in the history of the world.


Some of you have left me AMAZING comments and/or very nice posts that mentioned me, and I will respond soon! And THANK YOU!!!

Comments

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Oh Hun, no offence taken!
You're right though.

I know it sounds weird but when I see an ep for the first time, I'm totally in canon mode so it isn't often I'm thinking about any of shipping stuff at all. The story is the thing I'm most focused on but once I know what happens my mind is very happy to wander.
In fact, during 9:01 when Sam is trying to get rid of imaginary!Dean outside the cabin, I did think "just kiss him already" and instantly felt really bad about it!
For me, the show is what it is and in my mind any shipping or whatever happens off screen. Even in my fics I tend to differenciate between, for example, Sam getting annoyed with his brother but then two seconds later looking at Dean and wanting to rip his clothes off. Even this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUYnECca8LU didn't strike me as the dead give away it is until I saw it later! : )

I think it probably did make a difference that Destiel isn't my OTP. If it had been Dean saying it to Sam, my mind might have gone there (though more probably if Sam said it to Dean...not sure why that should be...weird brain!)
But as I said, the first time I see the show I'm caught up in the story (and hoping Dean stops Cas from going in as she clearly just wants a babysitter! Oh poor Cas!) All the filth comes later : )

It is seriously fascinating all the different ways the show can be interpreted which is one of the reasons I guess we love it so as there's always something to talk about and something to learn from other fans.
Makes me happy : ) x

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

I'm similar in that I feel like Show takes place on the screen and shipping happens off-screen, so it's almost a bit of a breaking of the fourth wall when the writers/actors throw in something for the shippers that seems so blatant I can't ignore it (though I miss a lot of stuff others point out later--like you say, especially if it's not my preferred pairings of Destiel and Sassy)--it distracts me out of the story for a second! I just snort and say, "Those writers!" and then I can get back into the story ... then enjoy the shippiness of it all later on, like you.

hee, that youtube clip. I did notice that one during my first viewing, but Dean's over-the-top turned-on reaction when Sam comes out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel in S1 went straight over my head the first time ...

I love how much there is to discuss and learn, too! :-D A testament to how great the show is, that there's enough subtle stuff going on that we DO have that much to discuss ...

Thanks for your comment, dear.

[morganlucas41.livejournal.com]

I sort of get where you're coming from. I love to focus on the actual text of canon too, but I have to admit I usually have my shipping goggles on as well. Plus, I do think it makes a difference what your OTP is -in terms of how you interpret certain scenes.

That being said, the only thing MORE blatant than Dean asking Cas to unbutton his shirt has to be "Cas get out of my ass." If you really didn't see that as slashy initially, then you're definitely WAY more laser-focused on the storyline than I could ever hope to be!

At the end of the day, I am a shipper and I view the show through that lens. I think I can still be objective about things and I keep shipping out of my srs bsns meta, but that's definitely something I notice when I watch the show.