edited for correct citationblackcat333_99January 6 2012, 02:17:46 UTC
(deleted and reposted for editing purposes. Yes, there is a big difference between 5.21 and 4.21, yeesh.)
I think, of all the things going through Sam's head at that moment--shock and fear, worry and love, horror and more horror and more horror still--silencing Dean wasn't a part of them. It wouldn't be his instinct to.
Yeah -- I think Sam didn't say anything in the beheading scene because he was in information-gathering mode, just trying to process exactly where Dean's head was at. Also a consideration was that -- although a more gorily violent death than the normal, it *was* a vampire getting beheaded, a vamp they had just witnessed trying to kill a fellow hunter, to boot. So... ugly moment to witness, but if Sam were to protest, what could he really say? Dean, let the vamp go? Ask the vamp to stay put while they found a less messy way to kill him? The emotions of the moment collided with the reality of the moment, I think.
He's not as physically powerful as Sam--he wasn't even in S1, when Sam was coltish--but Sam isn't as lethal as Dean, not hand-to-hand… not even, I'd argue, soulless or on demon's blood. Dean has more experience, and he has more technical skill, but the biggest difference is that Dean has the instinct for this and Sam doesn't. When he checks himself, when he cracks his brother, he's as much guarding Sam against his space as he is guarding his space against Sam. If it's a little sloppy and jagged, well, this stuff is bleeding out and he's trying to control it as best he can.
EXCELLENT POINT. You didn't intend to reference it, but I will: reminding me of 4.21, when Sam just cuts loose and whales on Dean, checking himself up only when he finds himself choking Dean. Sam doesn't have the control over his responses, and that makes him a different kind of fighter than Dean. Dean is far more deliberate -- his actions are a choice, a message, an intention delivered, that sort of thing. Sam's (in general, there are exceptions to the rule) physicality is alot more tied in with his emotional responses. He has perhaps better superficial control, but once he does hit his breaking point -- kablooey! Heck, we've also seen the contrast in their styles of sex -- Sam is aggressively physical, losing himself to the moment, and Dean is a more considered lover, he slows it down and seems to be more aware of himself and his partner in the moment. Sam is capable of flash-in-the-pan violence, he can also plan out a course of action to achieve a goal, but Dean seems to be more of a natural predator because of his control and self-awareness. Such an interesting contrast to some of their other traits that seem to paint their personalities in different lights. I love the layers. The boys bring such fascinating balance to each other.
Re: edited for correct citationsargrafJanuary 18 2012, 05:37:44 UTC
That's a good point about where Sam's head was at. It still kinda bothers me but at that point, they didn't really know anything was different about these vampires.
You didn't intend to reference it, but I will: reminding me of 4.21, when Sam just cuts loose and whales on Dean, checking himself up only when he finds himself choking Dean. Sam doesn't have the control over his responses, and that makes him a different kind of fighter than Dean. Dean is far more deliberate
YES, YES, YES. I can't wait to get to S4. This is so true. The only time I've ever seen Dean truly lose it was in "You Can't Handle The Truth." Even at the end of S4 in their fight that you reference, Dean is very controlled while Sam is a loose cannon. It's a great point that their fighting style is reflected in sex. I think we've seen more of sex from Sam at this point than Dean--which is sort of ironic, heh--and I wish we had a little more insight. Does Dean let go, give himself over to his partner, make himself vulnerable? Or is he sort of gently in charge? With Sam, there's no doubt about it: he's absolutely the one in charge.
I think, of all the things going through Sam's head at that moment--shock and fear, worry and love, horror and more horror and more horror still--silencing Dean wasn't a part of them. It wouldn't be his instinct to.
Yeah -- I think Sam didn't say anything in the beheading scene because he was in information-gathering mode, just trying to process exactly where Dean's head was at. Also a consideration was that -- although a more gorily violent death than the normal, it *was* a vampire getting beheaded, a vamp they had just witnessed trying to kill a fellow hunter, to boot. So... ugly moment to witness, but if Sam were to protest, what could he really say? Dean, let the vamp go? Ask the vamp to stay put while they found a less messy way to kill him? The emotions of the moment collided with the reality of the moment, I think.
He's not as physically powerful as Sam--he wasn't even in S1, when Sam was coltish--but Sam isn't as lethal as Dean, not hand-to-hand… not even, I'd argue, soulless or on demon's blood. Dean has more experience, and he has more technical skill, but the biggest difference is that Dean has the instinct for this and Sam doesn't. When he checks himself, when he cracks his brother, he's as much guarding Sam against his space as he is guarding his space against Sam. If it's a little sloppy and jagged, well, this stuff is bleeding out and he's trying to control it as best he can.
EXCELLENT POINT. You didn't intend to reference it, but I will: reminding me of 4.21, when Sam just cuts loose and whales on Dean, checking himself up only when he finds himself choking Dean. Sam doesn't have the control over his responses, and that makes him a different kind of fighter than Dean. Dean is far more deliberate -- his actions are a choice, a message, an intention delivered, that sort of thing. Sam's (in general, there are exceptions to the rule) physicality is alot more tied in with his emotional responses. He has perhaps better superficial control, but once he does hit his breaking point -- kablooey! Heck, we've also seen the contrast in their styles of sex -- Sam is aggressively physical, losing himself to the moment, and Dean is a more considered lover, he slows it down and seems to be more aware of himself and his partner in the moment. Sam is capable of flash-in-the-pan violence, he can also plan out a course of action to achieve a goal, but Dean seems to be more of a natural predator because of his control and self-awareness. Such an interesting contrast to some of their other traits that seem to paint their personalities in different lights. I love the layers. The boys bring such fascinating balance to each other.
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You didn't intend to reference it, but I will: reminding me of 4.21, when Sam just cuts loose and whales on Dean, checking himself up only when he finds himself choking Dean. Sam doesn't have the control over his responses, and that makes him a different kind of fighter than Dean. Dean is far more deliberate
YES, YES, YES. I can't wait to get to S4. This is so true. The only time I've ever seen Dean truly lose it was in "You Can't Handle The Truth." Even at the end of S4 in their fight that you reference, Dean is very controlled while Sam is a loose cannon. It's a great point that their fighting style is reflected in sex. I think we've seen more of sex from Sam at this point than Dean--which is sort of ironic, heh--and I wish we had a little more insight. Does Dean let go, give himself over to his partner, make himself vulnerable? Or is he sort of gently in charge? With Sam, there's no doubt about it: he's absolutely the one in charge.
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