Well, but if you blow up the car, that makes it much harder to drive. (N.b. I have not seen this movie, just the commercials.)

I want to see a TV series about a man who can make any car start just by touching the steering wheel. It would be like Pushing Daisies, only with cars.

Pushing Daisies meets Gone in 60 Seconds.

Well, but if you blow up the car, that makes it much harder to drive. (N.b. I have not seen this movie, just the commercials.)

Heh. In the movie, I'm-a-Mac bashes the front of the car, causing the airbag to deploy, and then feeds the OnStar operator a sob story about his dad being critically wounded to get her to start the car via satellite.

Crossposted to my LJ and from a conversation elsewhere. Lee asked what Sam's dream would have been if he had been caught by the djinn, and that started me thinking (not always a good idea).

I know it's been done, but I'd really love to see somebody take on the character study of Sam, and Dean especially, as adults, or even in college, having had the all-American suburban dream childhood and adolescence.

If my kids were any reference, Dean as the elder would have been uber-determined to succeed at everything: the sports he was interested in and good at, probably baseball, soccer, maybe football. And the subjects he was good at: math, sciences. I think Dean has a good, instinctive big picture view, so he'd probably get history and social studies. He'd not be a slouch at English, either, solid B or B-, but it wouldn't turn him on like chem and physics. He'd work hard and shoot for at least a partial scholarship to the state U, and a degree in some sort of engineering, either designing or building electronics. Or possibly architecture, as again his overall POV would enable him to see the finished building and how all the systems interconnect, in his head. If he did well, and didn't party too hard, he might even wangle a transfer to a school more focused in his desired profession, once he'd decided what that was.

Sam would have constantly felt he was playing catch-up, in every arena, especially with girls. He'd have played soccer as a kid, and probably Little League, maybe even given Pop Warner a try. But by middle school he'd have been into basketball, as it's one area Dean never ventured, and where in high school he could outshine Dean. He might have run cross-country, he's got the build for it. His subjects would have been history, also, and languages, logic-based courses, philosophy, if they even teach that in high school. He might have given serious thought to teaching, possibly counseling, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he'd have been a peer counselor in high school. I see Sam as less defined in his career choice until he spent some time as an undergrad. And I see him as a far less-focused student, because the desperation to escape his home life wouldn't be there, so his grades would be high, but not perfect, and he'd go for a scholarship too, and maybe a bigger school, or more focused, than the state U.

So what I'd love to read is a character study of these two upper middle class professional men, their careers on the rise, everything in their lives pretty much the way they've planned it.

Without the hardship, the deprivation, the forced dependence on each other, the knowledge of the dark, the terror and the need to overcome it, deal with it, live with it, move beyond it and function, who would these men be?

Of course then there would have to be a significant catastrophic incident at their present ages to see if they could reach down somewhere and find at least the beginnings of the strength they both have as a result of the life they've led.

Which brings up the question - is the strength part of their character, right from the start, or is it something that has to be developed?

Which brings up the question - is the strength part of their character, right from the start, or is it something that has to be developed?

I think the potential for it has to be there, inherently. Look at Andy's evil twin. He was weak from the get-go -- one talk with the demon and he was packing for the Dark Side.

Sam and Dean might not have to exhibit that kind of strength in lives formed by suburban peace and calm, but I think the potential for that strength is there, yes. If ... Sam was seriously injured in a car accident, let's say. Or Dean's wife was diagnosed with cancer. I don't see either of them turning tail and running, or giving up, which we know, sadly, plenty of people do.

Just wondering ... if they'd had nice, comfortable middle class lives and things had gone according to the original plan, if they suddenly got smacked with a crisis, would they find the strength? or is it like a muscle that you have to spend time - and a lot of pain - developing?

I don't think it would simply spring fully-formed from a hidden source, no, but the instinct to either flee or flight has to be there, I think.

Speaking from my own experience, I look at my dad. He didn't grow up wealthy or especially privileged (far from it, actually) but he was always happy, and he has a lot of Dean's easy charm -- people like him, people go out of their way to help him, etc. When my mom got sick when my brother and I were very young, he could have crumpled, or even left. At the very least, he could have provided material comfort and support, but no emotional strength.

Instead, he's been my mom's pillar, and my brother's and mine. I'm not saying it was easy, or that he didn't have moments of resentment or panic, but his love for her, and for us, was what drew that strength to the surface.

I think Amy's right--or at least I share her view of the brothers. I think the strength is inherent. It wouldn't be as well-developed or as easily accessible if crisis didn't hit until late teens or twenties, but I think each--or both--of them would find strength within himself to stand firm.

And I think John has that strength, too, always did. Even if it was never tapped.

It was more of a philosophical question, kind of a "what if."

And AmyLiz, your father growing up without a lot of money or other goodies, is probably one way to develop strength. And I'm glad for you that he had it - he sounds like a wonderful father.