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... )
Ah, a fan from day one. Excellent. I wished I would've listened to my friend who kept insisting I watch "this show with Dean" back in 2005. It took me two years to get my act in gear.
I've never been this interested in a TV-based fandom before, so I've really enjoyed digging into the visual aspects of the show and other such things that aren't present in literary-based fandoms. Of course, story structure and character analysis is fun no matter what medium you're in.
now that they are reunited as adults, they have to re-learn how to relate to one another.
Excellent point. Having Sam estranged from John and Dean for years imparted just enough separation to make things tense and slightly uncomfortable when the boys reunited without completely breaking the family bond. So in that way, Sam and Dean were almost strangers with a hugely complicated history who clearly cared about each other but didn't quite know how to make things work ... a nice push-pull tension.
I recall reading that Kripke had entertained the idea that Sam and Dean were raised apart and the story would spin from them getting to know each other starting from the pilot. I think he made the right choice to go with Sam and Dean growing up together for the reasons you stated. Plus, their shared emotional baggage gives nice depth/history to the story and allows for shared wee!Sam and wee!Dean flashbacks. :)
As a sullen and rebellious teen it would never have occurred to him to analyse his father or brother's fears and motivations.
Yes, watching Sam discover Dean and esp. John are more than just his big brother (the care taker, hero) and father (the enforcer) has been really satisfying. To see Dean relinquish his role once is also a testament to how far he has come since the pilot.
Like almost everything in this fandom, I think the converse of what you said is also true. Not only have these 3 years been about Sam discovering who Dean is, but it's also been about Dean learning that Sam is not just his little brother. Because Dean was virtually half a parent to Sam, breaking his almost-inherent instinct to protect would take years. I think S3 has been especially important for this, not only because it showed Sam taking a more pro-active approach to life, but it also demonstrated to Dean that Sam is a capable hunter. Somewhere over these last years Sam has grown up, and perhaps the time to let go is approaching--something that's hard for any parent.
The way I see Sam and Dean's relationship evolving isn't a matter of Sam only growing up to match Dean or Dean only shifting his view downward to relate to "child!Sam", but more like Sam and Dean have each changed and met in a middle ground. Each giving, each taking, and each totally getting on each others' nerves the whole time! :D
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LOLs. Man, it seems like every time I recap an argument between the brothers, I have to note that 'they are both right and they are both wrong'. It's the beauty of this show, that each character, our boys especially, has a fully rounded perspective formed by his background and life experiences, and they each interpret the world around them according to their own prejudices and preconceptions. Shades of grey abound! And there is something of truth and something of flaw in every argument.
Not only have these 3 years been about Sam discovering who Dean is, but it's also been about Dean learning that Sam is not just his little brother.
Yes, completely. I truncated my argument in the last comment to focus solely on Sam, since his learning curve back at the start of the show was the most overt and obvious, as our perspective character. And because I was going way off topic, and getting rather long and rambly for comments. But yes, the shifting dynamic between the brothers is very definitely a two-way street, as they learn and grow alongside one another, meeting very much in the middle as adults now that they have spent so much time together and managed to share and shed so much of their childhood baggage. It will always be a work in progress - Dean will always be the bossy oldest and Sam will always be the bratty youngest - but they've come such a long way and learned so very much about themselves and each other.
And that's the...okay, another beauty of the show: that process of establishing adult friendships between siblings is something we can all relate to. Those of us who have siblings, that is. But the circumstances the boys live in accentuate and exaggerate and intensify that process. It's fabulous.
For me, as well, this is the first time I've been involved with an online fandom for a show that's currently airing, and it's a fascinating rollercoaster ride!
Would you mind if I friended you? I'm usually stupidly shy about asking and just let people come to me, but I do like to talk thinky thoughts, and there's still plenty of Show still ahead of us. :)
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Would you mind if I friended you?
Oh, not at all. I'm always up for discussion about The Show with other enthusiastic people! I'll expedite the process and friend you. :) Feel free to drop by and chat anytime, my journal has an open door policy.
there's still plenty of Show still ahead of us.
Yes, thankfully! And hopefully this will be the case for quite a while.
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*friends back*
Just in time for new Show! My journal = also very open door.
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