“Sweetheart,” Dean said, looking right into her eyes, “I think you should...”
Careful! How you finish that line is gonna make-or-break how well you’ve captured Dean Winchester in that fic you’re working on. Why, you may ask? Keep reading. And to you who are familiar with this topic...
NOTE: Any subsequent “add-ons” via others sharing their thoughts on the topic which resulted in other posts will be linked at the bottom!
Abstract
Persistent usage in fandom writings ascribing one Dean Winchester a mannerism that relates to interactions with those he is romantically involved - specifically, the substitution of their name with “sweetheart” - is shown via evidence-based research to be in conflict with this fictional character’s established persona and speech patterns thus far.
Data
For your quick ref convenience, “sweethearts” meant in the traditional sense of the word have a ❤️ by the episode title. Let us begin. The facts are these:
SEASON ONE
1.02 Wendigo
[TO FEMALE CHARACTER] Well, sweetheart, I don’t do shorts.
1.16 Shadow
[DEAN looks at MEG, who smiles at him] Oh, sweetheart—you’re dumber than you look…
Later–>
MEG: You know, that shotgun’s not gonna do much good. DEAN: Oh, don’t worry, sweetheart. The shotgun’s not for the demon.
SEASON TWO
2.06 No Exit
[TO JO] Sweetheart, this ain’t gender studies. Women can do the job fine. Amateurs can’t.
SEASON THREE
(The writers’ room got a real hard-on for it this season)
3.04 Sin City
[TO FEMALE CHARACTER] You know, you’re piling it pretty high there, sweetheart. I’m not sure I’m buying.
3.06 Red Sky at Morning
[TO BELA] Well, sweetheart, I don’t need your kind of help.
3.07 Fresh Blood
[TO FEMALE CHARACTER] Well, I hate to tell you this, sweetheart, but your blood’s never pumping again.
3.11 Mystery Spot
[TO FEMALE SERVER] ‘Scuse me, sweetheart? Can I get sausage instead of bacon?
3.12 Jus in Bello
[TO BELA] Oh, I’ll find you, sweetheart. You know why? Because I have absolutely nothing better to do than to track…
3.15 Time Is on My Side
[TO BELA] Sweetheart, we are weeks past help.
SEASON FOUR
4.01 Lazarus Rising ❤️
[DEAN approaches the IMPALA, runs a hand along it] Hey, sweetheart, did you miss me?
SEASON FIVE
5.09 The Real Ghostbusters
[FEMALE CHARACTER walks into the room nervously] I don’t wanna do this.
[DEAN leans around the corner] I’m right here sweetheart, I’ve got your back. Trust me, this is going to work. [he then pulls back so he can’t be seen grimacing]
5.11 Sam, Interrupted
[FEMALE CHARACTER walks in their direction]
[DEAN spots her] Oh, no, no, no. Not today, sweetheart. Come on, keep walking…
5.12 Swap Meat
FEMALE SERVER: Here you go, guys.
DEAN: You know, do me a favor, sweetheart. Would you bring me a cheeseburger with extra bacon? And fry an egg on top of it, would you?
SEASON SEVEN
7.17 The Born-Again Identity
MEG: That hurts my feelings. I’ve been good to you, Dean.
DEAN: No, you’ve been good to you, sweetheart.
SEASON EIGHT
8.08 Hunteri Heroici
FEMALE CAREGIVER: You’re not supposed to be here.
DEAN: Well, trust me, sweetheart, you got bigger fish.
SEASON TEN
10.02 Reichenbach
[FEMALE DANCER is disgusted; she moves to leave] And we’re done.
[DEAN grabs at her] Hey, hey, hey. Song’s not over, sweetheart.
SEASON TWELVE
12.17 The British Invasion ❤️
[DEAN looks down sight of newly-returned Colt] Welcome back, sweetheart.
SEASON THIRTEEN
13.16 - Scoobynatural ❤️
[DEAN prepares to swing sledgehammer at enchanted TV] Sorry, sweetheart.
.
SEASON FIFTEEN
15.10 - The Heroes' Journey ❤️
[DEAN grabs the grenade launcher] Hey, sweetheart.
Analysis
Of 15 seasons and 320 total episodes aired as of this writing, "sweetheart" appears in [*adult] Dean's dialogue 20 times in 19 episodes. So, 19 is 5.9375% of 320. That's not even one quarter.
He just doesn’t use the word often, folks.
[Note: to get a precise percentage of its appearance in his actual dialogue, you’d need to count every single word the man has spoken - I’d think taking out “a”, “and”, “the”, and “I” would be acceptable - and good luck, there. I ain’t your girl. Another possibility would be to compare “sweetheart” to other nicknames he’s given people - again, knock yourself out. This is just to illustrate its appearances across seasons. A tangential comparison? Take your number of fics involving Dean - i.e., your # of episodes - count the “sweethearts”, and do your percentage.]
Of the 20 usages, 4 are of a clearly affectionate nature: once to Baby the Impala, once to the Colt, once to the enchanted television, once to the grenade launcher.
The remaining uses - all directed at female characters - are of a false comfort, patronizing, and/or manipulative nature, because a portion of Dean’s persona is that of an irredeemable asshole. The character is greater than the sum of his parts, true - but that is an undeniable part.
Thus, this does not seem to be a substitute name Dean Winchester bestows upon persons of a beloved nature. It is scantly, possibly endearing - albeit patronizing - when he’s used it as a substitute name for waitresses.
Visual Aids
[Note: Someone jokingly asked for a pie chart last time - ‘cause hello, what’s a Dean topic without PIE! - and I did them and they were silly. Here’s the replacement, which IMO is an improvement and completely scientifically accurate, I’m sure you’ll agree]
Wrap Up
Could there be any exceptions?
Sure. If he's Demon!Dean and it's not romantic and is a pure smutty hate f*ck - in that instance, the data would most assuredly support the author’s choice.
Also supportable would be complete off-the-rails AU fics [as in: Dean's not a hunter, he's a mechanic from Regular Town, USA] because in those cases, no one expects him to be canon-friendly.
Here, have a cheat sheet:
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And what’s my personal opinion?
Dean doesn’t call people of significance by that endearment in a heartfelt manner, reserving it solely for inanimate objects (Baby, the Colt, the TV, and the grenade launcher), because they pose no threat of rejecting him. So... maybe it actually does mean something loving and sentimental to him. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t used it on someone he’s crazy about.... has he met that person yet? Again, maybe. Are the writers doing this purposefully? Is Jensen maybe slipping a handful of ‘em in, as well? Ya got me.
In any event, there’s the obvious: They’re all objects to him, useful for specific tasks regarding things he needs/wants - food, beer, sex, baiting a ghost, mindless entertainment - or they’re an adversary who is standing between him and something he needs/wants. Either way, all ultimately disposable. That ain’t sweet, nor does it have heart.
Bottom line
If you are professing that your story is canon?
Stop. Having. Dean. Call. You. Sweetheart.
You, your O.C., the friend you're writing into a fic so they can get boned by Dean, any other character you're having Dean bang-a-rang... if they don't go VROOOOM or go BOOM or go ZOOM, it's an inappropriate nickname.
Hypothesis on overall reception by SPN fanfiction authors, specifically those writing Dean in sexual/romantic encounters?
Utter rejection.
* Final Note: there is Teenage Dean usage of a snot-faced “sweetheart” that further supports the hypothesis, however it has been excluded due to age - as the topic is Dean in romantic/sexual fanfics - and due to the fact this was already a slam-dunk case.
Astute data-crunching followers have also pointed out the use of “sweetheart” by one John Winchester in a patronizing manner towards a female vampire.
The original data crunch - linked at top - also noted the use of an affectionate “sweetheart” by one Mary Winchester, which was directed towards Baby.
Sam is not covered here because I don’t care about him.
I’m kidding. To not care would be something, and I nothing Sam.
I’m kidding.
See? He gets me.
(Sources: Available SPN Wiki transcripts)
ETA: More sweetheart talk via “Dear Nash” HERE and HERE
ETA #2 [Feb. 2018]: Nash’s breakdown of how to assess & choose a NON-sweetheart endearment specifically for “Dean In Love” situations is HERE
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* Up to date as of July 2020 *