The Bunker and the state of Sam and Dean's relationship (picspam)

[ash48]

I've been thinking about the Men of Letters bunker and how it's gone from a place that represented a warm, comforting space to a claustrophobic, cold one

Comments

[de_nugis]

That is cool.

I saw some meta, probably somewhere on Tumblr because I can't remember where and Tumblr is a formless void, suggesting that the bunker might actually be vital in Sam and Dean eventually being able to work through this stuff, because for the first time in their lives, really, they have some kind of happy medium between complete separation and no distance whatsoever. They've never been able to give a conflict space in this way before, where they can retreat to separate rooms without retreating to separate states. It's an interesting take, I think, though I'm not sure the writers are going there, but it is true that the current situation is actually less claustrophobic in a lot of ways than shared car and shared motel room 24/7.

[ash48]

Oh that sounds great! And it's a good point. It's a different space from anything they've been in before so it might play a part in them resolving their conflict. And even though it's a bigger space than the car or a hotel room, it still feels like they are somewhat confined - even if they can retreat to separate rooms

The bunker may not be the reason why they are fighting or even why they might come back together, but I think they have definitely made choices in the way they've chosen to film it to reflect their situation (well, I hope. I'd hate if it was an accident…).

[amnisias]

I love that idea - it's so true. They now have the physical space to avoid each other but still occupy the same space. They can take the time to 'work through' stuff in drips and drops, or avoid addressing it, but still work toghether. I'm always amazed at how much thought goes into a 'silly sci-fi' show like this from set decoration and pops department to make dynamics and tensions visible in the set.

[galwithglasses]

This is so great to see as a picspam. It feels like they're just hunkered down in cold, confining, concrete. I love all the shadows that just play that up. The kitchen was a place Dean was doing his own cooking for himself and Sam and making a home out of it and now it's booze and pizza from a box. Mostly booze.

[ash48]

Yeah, after chatting with you I wanted to put the caps together and see if there was something there. I knew it felt different - and I think the colours and set choices have made the difference.

The kitchen was a place Dean was doing his own cooking for himself and Sam and making a home out of it and now it's booze and pizza from a box. Mostly booze.

Oh yes. It's interesting how homemade food represents a better state of mind - and better state in their relationship. And when they are drinking in that top cap it's communal. But in the kitchen (or…what even is that room? like an anti-kitchen or something…) Dean drinks by himself. I've always been interested in the way sharing a drink also reflects their relationship.

[cassiopeia7]

I love your eye for detail, and agree 100%. The absolutely desolate kitchen (where Dean once "nested") breaks my heart, and the unsettling changes to Dean's room -- which is now closer to a monk's cell than to the memory-foam retreat that made him so happy. (I wish we could also compare any such changes in Sam's room.) This is gorgeous pictorial storytelling and I love where production design has taken it. May the writers be able to reach the same level of clarity with the scripts. *crosses fingers*

[ash48]

-- which is now closer to a monk's cell than to the memory-foam retreat that made him so happy.

Yes! That. :(

I wish we could also compare any such changes in Sam's room.

It would be interesting. Sam's room wasn't exactly homely before - more a place of work (maybe he's starting to put thing up - surrounding himself with more comforting things or something).

May the writers be able to reach the same level of clarity with the scripts.

here here!

[amberdreams]

I had noticed how closed in the bunker was feeling, and how any hint of there being access to natural light seems to have been forgotten - this season particularly the sense of being underground and in a cold war type situation has been much more pronounced.

But of course, this was an impression based on no particular observation which is why I loves ya for pointing out WHY.

Edited to say, that screen cap of the odd kitchen/diner room is like an anti-Bobby's kitchen. I'd be interested to compare it with that shot from a similar angle of Bobby's place where Dean is going to the fridge and Sam is wandering about.

[ash48]

this season particularly the sense of being underground and in a cold war type situation has been much more pronounced.

Oh yes, hasn't it? It feels much like they are underground - whereas before it didn't feel like that so much. I think the grill at over the war table is the only nature light they have (I think?).

that screen cap of the odd kitchen/diner room is like an anti-Bobby's kitchen.

[tesserae_]

This is a seriously awesome analysis. I have friends who do this work - property masters and production designers - and it's really remarkable to think about how much of the
work that goes into the storytelling goes basically unnoticed...

[ash48]

Thank you! Hee…and believe me I've spent quite a bit of time (:koff:: way too much time…) looking at the SPN sets and props. Evidence. I think this show is particularly good at letting the sets be story tellers - considering how many motels they've had to create. I love it!