I'm not sure what I would have written in response if I had written this after 8.10.
I think fandom was at an all time low after that episode aired (I know I was pretty exasperated). I think if I'd posted this that week, the discussion threads would be very different. I'm happy, though, that SPN seems to be finding its groove finally. I agree with you about Carver closing off Gamble's story (see my reply to galathea_snb's comment above for more if you're interested). :)
How he got to that place should have been shown.
Yes, it should've. We got lots of flashbacks showing how Sam was with Amelia and how their relationship evolved through mutual emotional devastation/dependency, but it was important for us to see Sam before Amelia and get a sense of his head space (and now I'm laughing at the idea of flashbacks within a flashback). There's much to be said about showing vs. telling. We were told a lot about how Sam was feeling (or else left to infer based on his "actions" or inaction), but we weren't really shown. A great use of showing was in "I Know What You Did Last Summer". I kept hoping for an episode that meaty this season so we could really understand Sam, but it looks like it's very unlikely as it feels like that whole missing year and its emotional repercussions for Sam and Dean are probably in the can now.
I think fandom was at an all time low after that episode aired (I know I was pretty exasperated). I think if I'd posted this that week, the discussion threads would be very different. I'm happy, though, that SPN seems to be finding its groove finally. I agree with you about Carver closing off Gamble's story (see my reply to galathea_snb's comment above for more if you're interested). :)
How he got to that place should have been shown.
Yes, it should've. We got lots of flashbacks showing how Sam was with Amelia and how their relationship evolved through mutual emotional devastation/dependency, but it was important for us to see Sam before Amelia and get a sense of his head space (and now I'm laughing at the idea of flashbacks within a flashback). There's much to be said about showing vs. telling. We were told a lot about how Sam was feeling (or else left to infer based on his "actions" or inaction), but we weren't really shown. A great use of showing was in "I Know What You Did Last Summer". I kept hoping for an episode that meaty this season so we could really understand Sam, but it looks like it's very unlikely as it feels like that whole missing year and its emotional repercussions for Sam and Dean are probably in the can now.
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