Tales of an Injured Fog Rat

Hi so with the new cockles video I would just like help and clarification to if they were acting awkward like that as a joke or if they were being serious? I tend to take things too seriously so I don't really know the difference

I just re-watched the video and read this post and YOU KNOW WHAT

I’M NOW CONVINCED IT WAS FULLY PLANNED AND DIRECTED BY EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF THEM. AWKWARDNESS INCLUDED.

AND THERE’S SYMBOLISM.

fasten your seatbelts, because I’m about to do some hardcore analysis.

for instance, take the kettle. granted, it was probably the only shiny thing Misha had in his trailer that was suitable for children to see - but it’s also a symbol of welcome and acceptance. Misha’s a big fan of green tea. hell, there’s boxes of tea visible on the bottom-right corner of the video. Misha handing Jensen a kettle is like “here, have something that means a lot to me”.

and that’s not even mentioning the whole domestic symbolism of a kettle. the heart of the home is a kitchen, right? Misha could’ve chosen a spatula or a frying pan or a toaster, but he picked up the thing he really connects with, emotionally. at VanCon Misha once said three things he couldn’t live without include: porn, running, and tea. the kettle makes hot water to make tea. the kettle represents things near and dear to Misha’s heart and he’s giving it to Jensen.

let’s put aside the fact that he calls it a teapot when it’s clearly a kettle.

now, I want to compare the first frame, the middle frames, and the last frame:

it begins with Misha being the centre of attention:

and honestly, the way it starts, kind of sounds as though he’s thanking people because he won. he pats his heart like it means a lot to him. (which it does, obviously, but if you didn’t know he was about to announce Jensen, you might assume it was all about Misha himself. that was precisely what I thought the first time I watched this.)

then Jensen comes in and there’s the hand-off. Misha doesn’t wanna let go of his kettle for a bit. he touches it a few times, grabbing and petting it. he wants to hold it while Jensen’s holding it. Misha and Jensen were both up for this award, they were pitted against each other. Misha won this award previously. he’s acting like he’s not quite ready to give it up.

this is all super subtle, so if someone is only watching because Misha and Jensen are in the same frame and making eyes at each other, then it’s easy to miss the bigger picture. it’s been over 6 hours since I first saw this and only now am I figuring out exactly how choreographed it is.

I feel it’s important to note that this was not a spur-of-the-moment “let’s just turn the camera on and see what happens” video. Misha and Jensen are both directors, and actors, and very aware of how they have to present themselves to their audience. (which of course makes it extra special that they’re making hearteyes at each other in this because THEY’RE DOING IT ON PURPOSE.

this is the spn mockumentary, part 2. they’re playing themselves but with a little mask over it.

Misha’s possessiveness of the kettle? acting. Jensen’s fluttery nervousness? acting. Misha yelling “HE’S THE MAN” and whacking Jensen’s arm? my guess is that that was ad-libbed. Jensen blinks a lot after that, trying to keep his place in the script. that’s him thinking very quickly after Misha caught him off-guard.

next comes the part where Misha is hovering and getting in Jensen’s way and stealing his thunder. again, not an accident. I agree with @casthegrumpy​ who said that Jensen wanted Misha to take up all the attention in the background because he’s shy.

Misha is absolutely stealing the show. I had to watch it three times before my eyes even moved from Misha to Jensen. despite Jensen taking up the space front-and-centre, Misha’s bold movements and the full focus of the camera make him the object of the video. if the video was completely about Jensen, then Misha would have left the shot when he handed over the kettle. at this point, this video is about Misha.

imagine for a moment that Jared was there instead of Misha. what would he do? I know exactly what he’d do. he’s stand right next to Jensen and look proud and tall and moose-like. he’d smile and nod along, and right at the end he’d say something like “thanks for all the support you’ve showed Jensen these past few months, guys, it means a lot to us both” and he’d be Jensen’s equal in every way. that’s just what they do when they’re in videos together, no matter who the video’s about. but with Misha? not so much.

Misha is putting himself in a position of rivalry and playful nudging. sure, he’s clearly really happy for Jensen, and I have no doubt that in real life he’s genuinely over the freaking moon that Jensen was the one who won. but his character in this video is the supportive-but-jealous boyfriend who wants the limelight. he’s mockumentary!Misha.

then Misha switches sides. he goes from stage right to stage left. that’s him backing down. that’s him taking a step back and letting Jensen take centre stage. but does he leave? does he stay quiet? oh no. very much no.

[distant sound of Misha playing percussion on the kitchen cabinets]

[slightly closer sound of Misha dragging a drum set out of his kitchen sink]

[very nearby sound of Misha switching on his megaphone and preparing to sing Peaches’ “two guys for every girl”]

Misha acts all awkward and defeated and so done with this whole thing but you just know he’s got the warm fuzzies inside, and he’s trying his best to stay in character and not look at Jensen. that easygoing smile from earlier is gone and he’s straight-faced now. no lines left to say. Misha’s body language says “don’t look at me”, so this is the part where Jensen’s actually allowed to shine.

now the video is about Jensen.

in all seriousness, well done to Jensen. he deserved that kettle.

now, the last frame. the video ends with Jensen in the same place Misha was standing at the start.

Misha’s self-character has been thoroughly usurped, and his place has been taken. but he’s still there. lingering. for support - because he’s the most loyal of partners when it really matters - and he’s waiting for his chance to shine again next year, at the next PCAs. (he’s also the angel on Jensen’s shoulder. just a bit.)

and, as soon as the camera was turned off, there’s a 100% chance Misha slapped Jensen’s butt.