I thought you'd like this: that it wasn't Dean shedding blood in Hell that was the first seal but KILLING JOHN WINCHESTER. The seal partially broke when Azazel felled him the first time and PERMANENTLY broke when John traded himself for Dean. That's why the demons worked so hard to bait him and draw him out. That's why in Lebanon there was no Apocalypse. John was the first seal. John was ALWAYS the first seal.
Ohhhhh. You're right. I do like it.
FIRST SEAL - JOHN'S PERMA-DEATH
That could recontextualize everything. That it wasn’t Dean shedding blood in Hell that was the breaking point—but John’s permanent death.
I like your idea that the seal partially cracked when Azazel first took John, but it fully shattered when John traded himself for Dean. This would be a fun way to explain why demons relentlessly baited John, pushing him into that sacrifice, and why in 14x13 Lebanon, there was no Apocalypse—because the key to triggering it never turned. The absence of John meant the end-of-days plan never ignited.
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IN APOCALYPSE WORLD, JOHN STILL DIED
This theory works seamlessly with the AU Apocalypse-World as well. In that timeline, John’s permanent death still occurred, but much earlier, setting the Apocalypse in motion. Dean and Sam were not present, but the end of the world still unfolded due to the sealed fate that was already in motion.
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JOHN NEVER BROKE IN HELL & MORE PROPAGANDA
I've read the theory that it was a lie that John was indestructible in Hell. Dean already carries so much blame for things he believes he’s responsible for, so to me, it’s not a stretch to consider that he was used as a scapegoat, that Dean was never the true First Seal in the first place.
If the higher-up angels knew the Apocalypse was always in motion, it might have been about rescuing Michael's vessel all along. The demons and angels manipulated Dean's guilt, making him believe he was the cause. Making Dean feel guilty? Well. That could have served to make him more malleable, preparing him to be a vessel for Michael. Couldn't it?
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DESTROYING DEAN'S SELF-WORTH
I mean, John's sacrifice destroyed the last remnants of Dean's self-worth, which led directly to: "That's my point. Dad brought me back, Bobby. I'm not even supposed to be here. At least this way, something good could come out of it, you know? I--I--It's like my life could mean something." Being pegged as the one who started all this? Well, that's just a different angle for doing the same thing. Wearing him down. It's a direct line to: "Reality happened. Nuclear’s the only option we have left. Michael can ice the devil, save a boatload of people...Yeah, well, that’s easy for you to say. But if Lucifer burns this mother down, and I coulda done something about it, guess what? That’s on me."
I will have fun with this. Thanks so much:
