This skill of Jared Padalecki no one talks about
Mostly it's about how well Jared has his mental health under control and how openly and honestly he deals with the subject. But there's this thing that somehow impresses me almost as much. Because what do you really need iron mental strength for? Maybe for situations in which you're laughed at by hundreds (!) of people?
I don't know the man personally, but from everything people say about him and how he appears on stage, he seems to have an extremely fast-processing brain with a great memory. He talks fast, uses an extensive vocabulary; he links different levels of meaning at lightning speed and, as we all know, takes immense pleasure in wordplay. His storytelling at conventions is rich in detail, always personal and very unaffected, but often lengthy as a result. Contrast this with Jensen, who has a talent for comedic storytelling. Jensen also gets huge cheers from the audience for short, cheeky comments; Jared usually doesn't, or at least not as much as Jensen. Jensen gets the rim shots, not Jared.I t's also because Jensen is still a fan favourite, but actually Jensen is just really good at telling stories that are incredibly funny. For a more mentally unstable man than Jared, that would be reason enough to simply shut up and say nothing more when paired up with a guy who clearly outshines him. But what does Jared do? Comments self-deprecatingly on his narrative style and just does his thing anyway.
Wow. Huge respect for that. And then there's this extreme case at NashCon 2019: Jared fabulates a hopelessly complicated monologue, Jensen smugly takes on the role of the bewildered irritated person and the whole audience roars with laughter - especially because of Jensen's facial expressions and comments:
Jared keeps trying to explain his monologue; he grins and shakes his head and starts again and again. And I get the impression that Jared is actually a bit pissed off that he doesn't get round to explaining; that his frustration isn't just an act.
I know from my own experience: it's so incredibly annoying when you have a lot in your head, try to include ALL the information in a formulated way and a listener gets hung up on some details and intervenes and YOU DON'T GET TO EXPLAIN IT. And then it all slides into the direction that you just can't get it right.
That can be very, very frustrating. It can even be really unpleasant, to the point where you get really angry with your friends or family. But how disgusting must it be to be laughed at by HUNDREDS of people? Lovingly, good-naturedly laughed at, sure, they're fans and all. But laughed at. Jared seems to be an incredibly sensitive and empathetic guy. He sure as hell always knows exactly how the people around him are feeling, how he affects them and how they react to him. Being the goofy or awkward contrast to Jensen's cool sarcasm is certainly not always funny, I just can't imagine that.
And what Jared then does is so incredibly casual, so brilliant: he simply regains the power of interpretation over himself by playing along. In the course of the panel, he uses the track again and again. But he doesn't just play along: he decides when and how it happens. Jensen can continue to play his role of the cool irritant and the audience gets a show. And that's only because Jared is able to laugh at himself. That's a skill that doesn't come naturally at all.
It's so great. And nobody can laugh at themselves as well as Jared Padalecki. I really don't know anyone. And in front of hundreds of people.
Please don't misunderstand: I'm not trying to overanalyse anything (especially since it's really only video footage, my goodness). Jared and Jensen love each other and would never deliberately hurt each other, I realise that too.
It's just nuances that I think I can somewhat understand. Another reason why I've developed such a deep respect for Jared Padalecki. Really, really great guy.
