But there's deliberate learning, that you'd call out, because someone studied or was taught, and then there's just...growing. Maybe she meant the latter. I didn't read the whole thing, so I don't know if she goes into more detail.

I read her meaning as just the natural maturation of a person, which is what I also observe. Luckily for Jensen, he was like a fine wine.

eta: I was wrong. I started talking as if I shared a brain with the author when we are actually saying the opposite in why there is a difference. She said:

This is charisma and this is something that you can't learn. You have it, or not. Jensen has it.

My position was that while I think this is true to an extent, Jensen has learned (on his own without formal training) what works for him. The same way that any of us learn in our day to day lives. That, to me, falls under the umbrella of growth.

I don't know what she accounted causing the change that she also saw, if she considered his charisma something that he couldn't learn.

Is charisma usually considered learnable? Fakeable, I guess, but learnable?

Anyway, I dunno. I never saw him years ago. At Paley he looked like a nice charming actor--nothing special over and above the rest. They were all personable and fun and cute. REALLY personable and fun and cute. By nothing special I don't mean to imply a ridiculously high bar wasn't set.

Maybe she talked to him in person? I dunno.

Sneak peek. My heart goes out to Dean every time the topic of dogs comes up. Poor boo!

I don't know what she accounted causing the change that she also saw, if she considered his charisma something that he couldn't learn.

Charisma transplant, perhaps? Tom Cruise's must have gone somewhere.

My heart goes out to Dean every time...

I'm not awake yet, because the first things I thought were Mystery Spot! And then seeing Sam in heaven with his adopted dog . Hello, moar caffeine.

Having recently watched a random DOOL-era interview with twink!Jensen, I don't know what the big deal is. He was a charming young adult, he's a charming adult. He may be more composed and charming now, but that's hardly surprising. Cons are a clusterfuck. Growing more comfortable with them over time...well, that makes sense. But he wasn't lacking in charm when he came on the scene.

I don't know about Jensen in particular, but charisma is learnable, or so my textbooks insisted. There are behaviors you can practice that will make you more charismatic, is the general idea.

I found the idea disturbing so it stuck in my head.

I think he's simply that much older and more comfortable with this gig (and the fandom attached). He found a great friend, he fell in love and got married -- he's not a kid anymore. I don't think it's any more complicated than that, really.

I'm glad he figured out how to have fun with it.

I keep thinking that when you level up you can choose to increase your charisma but then I remember this isn't the gaming thread.

The dogs got to me too. And I love dogs. I'm rarely scared of them, even some times when maybe I should be. So seeing the fear in My Hero's eyes makes my heart hurt .

I am disproportionately irritated by art like this. Sentiment aside, how is that Gabriel? How is that his face? Height? Hair colour? What about that makes him Gabriel other than what you wrote?