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... )
As for early S3 Dean and his weird flippancy and Sam disconnect ... that was disturbing. It's hard for me to watch pre-"Fresh Blood" episodes for that reason. I think that distance was necessary in order to provide some texture to the brother relationship and contrast to the team mentality of SamandDean.
Dean never wanted Sam to know what he did, had Jake and the Demon never given the away his secret - I think he would have tried to do one of two things with Sam.
1)Get Sam back on course for a normal life - A life where Dean could bear to leave him to be safe and not have to worry that he would not have to watch his back - and then quietly disappear - maybe make it so his year came due when he died of natural causes like an audo accident or mugger or anything not supernatural
or
2)Go around being as normal as possible for Sam until he heard the first hell hound and then go off and try to die of natural causes ike an audo accident or mugger or anything not supernatural
But with Sam knowing Dean need to try and still protect his brother. Pretending it didn't bother him was his way of trying to ease the anguish he knew Sam felt. Sort of a don't feel bad Sam I don't attitude. It was also a way for him to hide in his own mind from the enormity of what he did. If he had gotten all emo - it would have made both feel worse and maybe incapacitate both of them emotionally. Plus I bet he never wanted to risk saying to Sam even obliquely or unintentionally - I wish I hadn't done it - because that would be like saying Sam wasn't worth it
Don't know if I made sense
Zaz
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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, "Nooo, not again."
because that would be like saying Sam wasn't worth it
I think that's how Dean would see his comment, but I'm not sure that's how Sam would see it. I'm sure Sam is grateful for Dean's sacrifice, but I sense Sam doesn't sees this as an either/or transaction; whereby IF Dean asserts his will to live and tries to bypass the deal it means Dean's somehow devaluing Sam's life. I feel that Sam, more than anything, is feeling abandoned and betrayed by Dean--who seems to have already given up without a fight (which is so very contrary to who Dean is that it's got to be really disturbing for Sam ... no wonder he went on about wanting his brother back in "Fresh Blood" *pets Sam*).
I think it's curious that it's Sam--who's always been viewed as the more "selfish" (I disagree with that, but that's beyond the point) and "independent" one--who seems to have little regard for the consequences of messing with the deal than anyone else. In light of the RED's words at the end of "Bedtime Stories" (sloppy, needy Dean being a burden to Sam), this is especially interesting. But, then again, those Winchesters have the self-sacrifice gene.
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I don't know if Sam has had the opportunity to think about being grateful or not grateful. Dean's deal is a train rushing down the track and for most of the season Sam is just rushing to try and prevent his brother from being mowed down. Not an easy task when Ruby and the Trickster are providing distractions, Lilith is beginning to hunt them and Dean is being unhelpful because he would rather go "Kill some evil sonofabitches" than spend the time doing research on the deal.
I sense Sam doesn't sees this as an either/or transaction; whereby IF Dean asserts his will to live and tries to bypass the deal it means Dean's somehow devaluing Sam's life. I feel that Sam, more than anything, is feeling abandoned and betrayed by Dean--who seems to have already given up without a fight
Oh I agree and Dean doesn't help either with his comments that almost make it sound like he will be relieved when it is over. Dean M7 "Truth is I'm tired Sam, I don't know its like there's a light at the end of the tunnel" Sam "That's Hellfire Dean" Dean "hmmph Whatever. Your alive, I feel good, for the first time in a long time."
Sam--who's always been viewed as the more "selfish"
I think both boys have their selfish moments- its hard not to and to be human. The deal was inherently selfish and both Sam and Dean know that. But when Sam calls Dean on it in M7 - Dean says he's ok with it - even if Sam isnt.
Sam "Your a hypocrit Dean. How did you feel when Dad sold his soul for you because I was there. I remember, you were twisted and broken and now you go and do the same thing to me. What you did was selfish." 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 think I'm entitled"
Which raises all sorts of questions - about what Dean has and has not done for his family and how much the Demons are lying about how much of a burden Dean is or isn't to his family - that is probably an entire meta in itself
Zaz
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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 think I'm entitled"
I love that Dean is finally asserting a healthy his sense of self this season. It seems like Dean is just a no holds barred kind of guy. When he's self-sacrificing he's 100% self-sacrificing; and when he's into being all about himself, it's 100% all about Dean (even if it's a self-defense mechanism). *still loves Dean*
that is probably an entire meta in itself
*nods* The Show is just an endless supply of "Think"! ;)
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One thing I am really glad of is that Kripke did not go the Buffy route. Sam has no memory of where he was (neither did Dean IMToD either for that matter) So Sam could have been in Limbo or Hell just as easily as Heaven. Or he could have been wandering around a spirit caught in a cursed town, not deserving hell but tainted enough that traveling toward the light was closed to him. Maybe he would have eventually become an angry spirit had Dean not taken action. Based on what YED said IMToD I am not sure he could have pulled Sam Back if he had completely moved on to an upper plane closed to YEDs influence. Unless of course that part of Sammy that YED implied was different couldn't be drawn down from that higher plane.....
In any case it puts Sam in a different position to deal with what is happening around him, lets him focus outward on Dean rather inward on his own loss.
Ooo here's a thought - Dean made the deal when Sam was dead, maybe Sam is the demon that holds the contract on Dean's soul?
All speculation of course, but fun to think about.
Zaz
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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").
Italo Calvino wrote an essay about writing with a light touch. He used the Greek myth of Perseus and Medusa to illustrate if one tries to write directly about "heavy" events (mostly, I think, he was talking about war, being that he was a war vetern, but I also apply this to heavy themes even though I can't remember if he did so or not ... heh, I mangle brilliant ideas!) or events that are too current (i.e. no perspective), there's the risk it'll drag down your work, essentially "freezing" it. He maintains you need to touch on it lightly, quickly, then pull away as to not let the "weight of the world" overwhelm the story.
So I guess this is how I hope The Show will treat heaven or the light or whatever lies beyond because I think if they try to overly define it, the magic will be lost. The mystery is part of the draw for me. That being said, I wouldn't be adverse to getting an incarnation/symbolic "side of good" one of these days, although no angels with white feathers please.
Unless of course that part of Sammy that YED implied was different couldn't be drawn down from that higher plane.....
As much as I love angst/drama, I like to think Sam's spirit moved onto better things because satisfying "endings" are important to me. However, just to go with the flow here, you bring up an interesting idea, one I think is tied to an important theme in The Show: redemption and the personal choice/atoning actions overriding destiny. I get inklings that The Show might go deeper into this idea. This was an under current for the entire S2, but it seems to have gone underground along with emo Sam this season. I guess we'll have to see what happens!
maybe Sam is the demon that holds the contract on Dean's soul?
That's something hugemind and I have been throwing back and forth at each other since "Bedtime Stories". It's definitely a "he" as stated by the RED, so unless the demon possessing Lilith is bisexual, then it can't be the Lilith demon (and I'm still unsure if Lilith is the name of the girl she's occupying or if that's the demon's name). I actually love the idea because it funnels Sam's "destiny" though choice, the fact he'd choose to embrace his demon side to save Dean. Also, how ironic! :D
I'm still not convinced that all demons will choose "evil" nor that Sam's demon "destiny" is bad/dark. I'm rooting for a demon (Lilith) vs. demon (Sam) war with humans and Dean caught in the middle for S4.
Speculating is fun. That's what fandom is for!
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