Tension, Conflict, Motivation, and Plot: Why the Story is About Dean and We Do Know Sam
I wrote a meta thingy! :)
There’s been avid discussion about Sam and Dean and which of them, if either, seems to be favored by Kripke as well as debate about “who is the story really about”. I’ve noticed there’s been a propensity for some self-proclaimed “Dean girls” and “Sam girls” to run circles around each other, trying to prove their points. ( Read more... )
There’s been avid discussion about Sam and Dean and which of them, if either, seems to be favored by Kripke as well as debate about “who is the story really about”. I’ve noticed there’s been a propensity for some self-proclaimed “Dean girls” and “Sam girls” to run circles around each other, trying to prove their points. ( Read more... )
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we haven't seen Sam focused so closely on Dean's deal, Dean being so weirdly offbeatI think I know what you mean (but maybe I misunderstood your points?). Yes, I thought we'd get more actual scenes of Sam actively persuing a solution to Dean's problem rather than just hearing about off-screen happenings (i.e. Sam saying, "I've tried everything, Dean, and I can't save you.") and getting close-ups of maudlin Sam's desperate puppy eyes. But in the sense that Dean's deal is the focus of S3 Sam's actions (the catalyst) I think we've have plenty of that (only "MM" and "JiB" have forwarded Sam's "solo" S3 plot). I hope the last episodes of the season give us some tangible Sam-trying-to-save/saving-Dean scenes because I really want to know exactly what Sam's doing/going to do. Considering he hauled Dean to a faith healer in S1, whatever Sam's supposedly been doing/will resort to should be a magnitude more desperate and spectacular. *bounces* However, I had a moment of weakness months ago ( ... )
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Oh yes. I whole-heartedly believe that Twizzle-ing should become a Thing in the SPN fandom. Or at least a cool way to give feedback?
I think I know what you mean (but maybe I misunderstood your points?). No, I think you've gotten them. It is a complaint I've seen recently, that Sam hasn't really 'done' anything regarding the deal since Bedtime Stories, and I can understand where it's coming from. Then again, had Sam done something every episode, it would get repetitive and depressing. It's interesting from a story-writing point of view, how they'd have tried to balance that so it wasn't too much or too little ( ... )
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*grins* I totally agree! Hehe. Let's do it. Can I copy your Twizzler image so I can Twizzler people myself? I so want to do drive-by Twizzlerings! *dies laughing*
Then again, had Sam done something every episode, it would get repetitive and depressing. It's interesting from a story-writing point of view, how they'd have tried to balance that so it wasn't too much or too little.I think what you say demonstrates it's impossible to please everyone no matter what transpires, esp. with such an active and passionate fandom. But I think the writers have done an amazing job jockeying the story between Sam and Dean and weaving the MotW episodes with the mytharc. It's especially mind boggling when you consides this is all "in progress", and unlike written fiction--which the entire body of work is recrafted before anyone sees a single word--the are no "do-overs" once an episode has been aired. Any boo-boos are our ( ... )
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Feel free! I uh, actually google-fu'd it so it isn't even mine. (is that a bad thing?)
But I think the writers have done an amazing job ... and unlike written fiction--which the entire body of work is recrafted before anyone sees a single word--the are no "do-overs" once an episode has been aired.
I'll agree, I'm not always happy with what the writers have created but then I think about how tough their job must be when they have deadlines to meet and strikes to worry about and some very vocal fans and I realized I really don't want their job. I'd rather be a monster-maker!
(As an aside, it looks like SPN's going to have a new writer next season. His name is Andrew Dabb and going from his blog, he mainly works on comic books. That ought to make things interesting.)
GAH! Normally I'd be all over that spoiler like Dean on a cocktail weenie, but I'm trying to be good for the remainder of the season. *bites hand*Hang in there, we ( ... )
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Thanks. *copies* I steal images indiscriminately from the internet ... it's always good to meet a fellow klepto. lol
SPN's going to have a new writer next season.
Oo. I hope he's awesome at writing snarky angst/drama. I'm still mourning the loss of Raelle Tucker who, IMHO, really gave some of the juiciest mytharc-heavy and/or emotionally revealing episodes like "WiaWSNB", "Faith", "Salvation", "Nightmare". Gamble and Tucker made a great team.
And if the cycle of sacrifice is going to stop, it probably needs to stop now and Sam needs to be the one to stop it.The fact that we're left pondering IF Sam will choose to sacrifice part of himself for Dean or "just let Dean go" speaks volumes for the Sam's multifaceted characterization. On one hand we know Sam will do anything for Dean, is prone to obsession, and is very much revenge driven. On the other hand we also know Sam's rational and logical (albeit less so when it comes to Dean), has the ( ... )
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Here's his blog, I'd bet that he's going to be mainly writing creepy MotW's. Which I'm all for the MotW's as long as they're fun.
I very, very much miss Raelle Tucker and I do think that the show has been different in certain ways now that she's gone. Same goes for John Shiban. Gamble does well co-writing and Fresh Blood was very good, but my goodness does she drive me muts with how many people she likes to kill off! I am glad Jeremy Carver joined in, he does very well with the brotherly dynamic. <3
I have no clue what's going to happen either, but I love the fact that Sam could choose to do a number of things and they'd all make sense. He's truly reaching a fork in the road. I can't wait!Same here, although something tells me that his choice will be very angsty. It would make sense though, because at the end of each season Sam has always had a choice to make, and although it is the 'right' choice for him, it's the 'wrong' choice for the Greater Good and I've probably said ( ... )
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I would've liked to see a Kubric and Gordon hang around. Henricksen (however you spell his name) would've been a good ace in the pocket for future storylines as he'd be a handy plot device. But I suppose with Sam and Dean Winchester officially dead, the renegade outlaw subplot could feasibly disappear.
I sort of like the fact that most characters die. Well, not because they're dead (Andy *sniff*), but because it closes off subplots, keeps the story clean and focused. Most of all it gives the impression that nobody is too precious and injects this sense of "oh no, they wouldn't, would they?" doubt. I love that! For me, it's all about upping the stakes and making things tense to the point you're on the edge of your seat because, omg, they just MIGHT kill a beloved character, but you just don't know! Anguish. :D
at the end of each season Sam has always had a choice to make, and although it is the 'right' choice for him, it's the 'wrong' choice for the Greater GoodSo ( ... )
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Oh, Mara! I liked the fact she jabbed Henriksen (however you spell it ... you know, I write that every time, from now on it's going to be "Henricksonhoweveryouspellit") good and hard. I also liked the detective in "The Usual Suspects". It would be great if they joined forces and cleaned up the boys' criminal records so they could rejoin society at some point (I doubt that would happen, but maybe in ficland).
some of the punch is taken awayYeah, I see your point. For sure, you start pulling your punches (killing your main characters and then repeatedly resurrecting them) and after a while nobody flinches when you make a fist. But (heh), on the other hand, it's when everyone's habituated to the "fake out" that a real punch knocks everyone flat. Not that I think Dean won't be back for S4 or anything. *knocks on wood ( ... )
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I can see Dean doing either of the scenarios you mention as they're both consistent with Dean's MO of protect Sammy.
Pretending it didn't bother him was his way of trying to ease the anguish he knew Sam felt ... It was also a way for him to hide in his own mind from the enormity of what he did.Yes, I agree, Dean was in denial. It's really interesing to watch Dean's body language when he's deflecting. When his self-protective shield goes up you can practically see it stretching across his face. He refuses to maintain eye contact, he does this prolonged blink thing (I wrote a meta about Dean's denial/nonverbals in "TM7" and it set the stage for the rest of S3's dynamic; skip to the last part if you're interested: http://bowtrunckle.livejournal.com/22197.html#cutid1). Watching Dean pretend everything was OK was so painful and frustrating. Whenever I saw his denial face manifest I said, " ( ... )
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I love the image that elicits. :D
The deal was inherently selfish and both Sam and Dean know that.
I've always thought Dean's deal was inherently selfish and essentially boiled down to an act of weakness borne out of fear, desperation, and impulsiveness. What he did was purely for himself; he wasn't "saving" Sam because Sam was already dead. Sam never had a say in what Dean did to him, and now he's stuck dealing with the consequences (I think this is why early S3 Dean drove me a little crazy).
The whole question about Sam coming back "100% Sam" seems to have been switched to Sam's plot, whereas I really see its emotional consequences being more of a Dean-centric story. Look at all these lose plot threads; let's hope they're not dropped in S4.
Dean "Yeah your right. It was selfish but I'm ok with that." Sam "But I'm not" Dean "Tough, After everything I've done for this family - I ( ... )
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This is where fanfic is a wonderful thing. :) I don't think we'll ever know the answer to this question as The Show likes to maintain a nebulous relationship with the "good" spiritual plane, or perhaps it's just me not wanting The Show to reveal all it's cards (I loved the ending of "Roadkill ( ... )
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