They never really show it on the show but it’s clear John used to get pretty physical with Dean when he was pissed off. And I’m sick of people making excuses for him because it’s one thing to be strict with your kids to protect them and to teach them hunting because you know what’s out there, and another thing to make your child more scared of you than of all the other monsters.
Okay, I know how we talk all the time about how this is proof that John Winchester was an abusive father, but I would like to take a minute to admire how this scene gets it across. NEVER ONCE is it said that John actually ever laid a hand on Dean, but we all know because of how Jensen portrays it in the last two gifs. Try as you might to deny it (who would?) but in the last gif Jensen’s eyes are basically screaming with all the times he had to stop himself from crying after a horrible beating so that Sam wouldn’t know, so that his brother could remain peacefully oblivious.
Jensen deserves something for this beautiful performance. The twitch in the “smile”, the raise of the eye brows, the stress on the word Dad, and the absolute horror in his eyes. Every one of these acting choices is undeniable proof, there is absolutely no other explanation. Dean was beaten by someone he loved, probably more than once and it scarred him for life.
A+ acting from the Cast of Supernatural.