Discussion? Sam, on the killer in Dean
Watching the previews for this week's episode, I got to wondering what Sam's stance was on Dean as a killer. Because he doesn't seem to associate Dean with the killers Webber and Andy in Simon Said. They never once touched on Dean's kill of Tom (or, for that matter, their mutual kill of Meg) during that entire episode. Sam was clearly identifying with the other chosen ones, measuring their kills or tendencies against each other, and as Dean isn't a part of that destiny, he isn't part of the issue.
But what does that say? Sam seems to forgive Dean's kill of Tom (and Meg) with "you had no choice," but he doesn't apply that to himself or to the people who represent himself. Higher personal standards. Well, that's natural; Dean does the same. But is he pardoning or signing Dean off as a "righteous" killer, the way Dean did with Andy? It almost seems as if those whose kills are not prompted or pushed by the Demon are forgiven, and yet that wouldn't really apply to Sam's view of the Rev's wife or Pa Bender. Is it simply because Dean is family, then? Or does he not see Dean as a killer at all, because he did not kill Roy or Max or any other "innocent" unconnected to the Demon? Does the tie to the Demon make the kills of Meg and Tom righteous or in any other way forgivable in his eyes?
It's intriguing to me, and the whole thing in the previews of Sam steadfastly saying, "He didn't kill anyone" (which is a reference to Skin, I think, or perhaps to the random kill of the week here; I'm just looking at the broader theme) is noteworthy. How does he view Dean?
For that matter, Dean would appear to view Sam as higher and purer than himself. He doesn't take notice of Sam's part in Meg's death any more than Sam does. That's a curious sort of mutual blindness.
I hope this week's episode touches on this. *crosses fingers*