‘Supernatural’ season 9, episode 7 recap: Whose childhood is it anyway? 

I don't think the person who wrote this understands Dean at all. Dean has always wanted a normal life, he just hid that from Sam and John. The point of the whole episode is to show Dean in an environment where he doesn't have to put up a front for Sam or his father. It's young Dean with his guard down.
Dean's gung ho attitude towards hunting has always been in part for show. He threw himself into it to win John's affection and obviously this episode depicts a point in their relationship where Dean was feeling more rejected by John than ever. Dean hero worshiped John partly in an effort to assuage Sam's fears and his own. If he built John up into a superhero than that would mean they'd always be safe. But that in no way means that Dean never had doubts. In fact, it's the exact opposite. Dean was always afraid, always insecure- which is why he clung so desperately to his hero worship.
This episode depicts a brief moment in Dean's life where he didn't have to have his game face on. He wasn't responsible for Sam, didn't have to pretend to his little brother that he was happy with their life. Because that's what Dean always did- how could he do otherwise with Sammy to look after and John only offering approval for hunter-related things?
It's not like Dean in later seasons all the sudden noticed that John wasn't perfect- he knew it all along. It wasn't until later in his life that he was able to admit it. Was able to vocalize the things that John did and how he made him feel. But he felt those things all along.

Sorry for the rant. lol

^ Beautifully said! I agree :)