Apparently it isn't being up to your neck in blood all day that destroys your soul.
You know, I think you're right. Although it doesn't help the situation get better, either. It just intensifies what you bring to it.
All I see is HOPE. Wheeeee!
Like this. EXACTLY! Wheeeeeeeeee!
It's humid. You can tell because it's wavy and extra pretty.
... Clearly there's an entire science to this that I simply don't understand.
Sam! Interacting with a secondary character! With whom he has a history! Be still my heart.
Question - do you see this as a writerly bias, or a function of Sam's personality, or some combination of both? I mean, I know the writers love having Dean get out there and interact with all these different people, but then I've also always seen him as more gregarious. Often it feels like Sam lets him take that role because he's just not that interested in establishing anything with people, very much. He's always kept a lot to himself.
(Also, I'm assuming you mean someone with whom he has had onscreen history, not backstory, such as Amy. Because that was rather recent. And no love for Becky? *cackles evolly*)
Have you seen his shoulders? If anyone can ... You are writing these things just to set me up, aren't you?
I have NO IDEA what you're talking about. *whistles innocently*
You know what else is awesome? Soulless!Sam wanting to shoot Samuel.
... Clearly there's an entire science to this that I simply don't understand.
That, or one of us spends waaay too much time focused on Sam's hair.
I'm assuming you mean someone with whom he has had onscreen history
Yeah sorry, I meant a recurring secondary character with some emotional connection to Sam or Dean. Jody is, at this point, an inner-circle character, like Ellen, Jo, Cas, or Bobby. Every one of these characters has been more connected to Dean, so I was kind of stunned to suddenly have that scene with Jody and Sam talking about Bobby.
do you see this as a writerly bias, or a function of Sam's personality, or some combination of both?
Dean is the one who's more open, so I definitely think it comes from character, and not any writerly bias. There are valid reasons Sam has fewer connections, and it makes absolute sense. It's occasionally frustrating, is all, but that's just because I want more Sam.
He's always kept a lot to himself
Totally. They don't give us Sam the way they do Dean. We get him in looks, and action, but not words. So on the one hand, I agree with you that I wish they'd let us see a bit more into his head right about now, because it's been a while and there's some crazy Lucifer stuff going on. But on the other hand, and I think you'd agree, they are still telling us a pretty decent amount, just in Sam-ways, not Dean-ways. It's more, I'd like confirmation.
And I love that about her. She is honestly up there rivalling my very favourite minor characters by now. And you know what else I love about it? I was thinking more about how Ness's presence and impact is coloured by the fact that he didn't get into hunting for revenge, that it was the right thing to do, that it was the extension of what he already did rather than a catastrophic reversal of his life - and then I realised Jody is the same way. Yes, she lost her husband and son, but that wasn't what made her get into the life. The reason she's in the life is the same as Ness - she's discovered this world is out there and just by virtue of who she is, she can't sit by and let people die. She got the bug. Neither she nor Ness are caught in that revenge cycle. \o/
But she also recognised that Sam didn't need guidance, or mentoring - Sam needs a mother. Sam's always needed a mother. I can't tell you how much I love the extended family the boys are slowly accumulating around them.
Dean is the one who's more open
This, and he's always defaulted to being the one out front, because he's Sammy's shield (especially in his mind, but I think Sam accepts this dynamic, too). These days not quite as much, but those were the patterns established growing up, and that's part of what formed their personalities and how they approach things. Not that Sam can't interact just as well with people (or often better), but he doesn't have the same impulse to take the lead of that as Dean does.
I think you'd agree, they are still telling us a pretty decent amount, just in Sam-ways, not Dean-ways.
Yes, which is what's tiding me over. *sits impatiently with you*
Yeah, it's one of the things I really liked about the episode. But I would quibble about Jody being a hunter. She's more hunter-adjacent. She's still a sheriff, she didn't abandon her normal life (I'm sensing a theme, heh.) and she used fairly specific wording (the police were trying to cover it up) to echo Ness's line about red-tape. They're putting forward the idea of law-enforcement types being similar to hunters (except hunters are outside of the law, yo), but in a positive way. Kinda reminded me of Victor in Jus in Bello.
he's always defaulted to being the one out front, because he's Sammy's shield (especially in his mind, but I think Sam accepts this dynamic, too). These days not quite as much, but those were the patterns established growing up, and that's part of what formed their personalities and how they approach things. Not that Sam can't interact just as well with people (or often better), but he doesn't have the same impulse to take the lead of that as Dean does.
I, um, disagree with this. :D Sam is more guarded (heh), but that comes from having secrets kept from him within his family (about Mary, about hunting), and having to keep secrets about his family from the outside world. That puts Sam in the position of being alone and an outsider, even within his family. Dean and John are a team; Sam is too young, off at school, doesn't want to be a hunter, etc. That's why Sam learned to keep himself to himself.
For instance, Sam kept his past hidden from Jess, his long-time girlfriend, but Dean spilled the beans to Cassie after a week. I think that says a lot about the way they deal with people, even if that's rather an extreme example.
Still, the reasons change a bit throughout the seasons, so I guess it would depend on what season we're talking about.
But I would quibble about Jody being a hunter. She's more hunter-adjacent.
Agreed - at this point. But she's being drawn into it. I don't know that she'll ever be all-in with the life (I don't think they impled Ness was, either, did they?), and for her sake I hope she is able to stay further out than him, even. But even if she is only ever this close to it, it's for the same reasons as Ness, and that's what was important to me (especially in that the boys get one each).
Kinda reminded me of Victor in Jus in Bello.
*weeps* And this would be the other reason I adore her so much. She's inherited Victor and Bobby's presence in the story, somehow. AND Ellen's. Please oh please oh please don't kill her off, Show! Even for a little while! WE NEED HER.
That's why Sam learned to keep himself to himself.
Sure, I agree that's part of it. I think there are a bunch of different factors in operation, which actually reinforce each other rather than contradict each other. Regarding the seasons, I was actually thinking from childhood-on-up. The kind of patterns we all just naturally fall back into no matter how long has passed when there's no good reason not to.
So I'm not saying it's Dean that guards Sam from opening up to the world - I totally agree Sam is more guarded (or rather, Sam is more passive and introverted in his defensiveness, Dean more aggressive and extroverted, but they're BOTH very guarded in different ways and about different things), less likely to open up. But part of the reason he could stay quieter, develop those patterns of not drawing attention to himself, was because he had an older, brasher, cockier, protective/controlling brother. It's just the way they grew up interacting with the world.
I think that says a lot about the way they deal with people, even if that's rather an extreme example.
Yes. Although part of the reason that example is so extreme is also because of the subject matter; for Sam, his family, and all the attendant complications, was a deeply sensitive and painful subject on all kinds of levels. For Dean, his family is the single most important thing in the world, and that and hunting is what he is most proud of (or was, at least). It's not JUST personality type that influenced those decisions, even though that's a significant part of it.
Young man!
I can't decide if I love that or the little "call me after" in her first phone call more. ALL the love for Jody. Clever Show, to reduce devastation and grief over Bobby by giving us a character to transfer to. Clever, clever Show.
* Huh, I don't agree with this, but it's probably just the way she's framing it. She's saying A, but I'm seeing B. THE USUAL. * Leave that part out of reply. * Leave that part out of reply. * Leave that part out of reply. Oh f*ck it. * Read new comment. * AH, YES. I SEE NOW WHAT SHE MEANS. AGREED * THE USUAL :D
Also, yes. Please to be not killing Jody, Show. Can't we keep her? Please, please? [I suspect we will get to keep her, but better to be prepared.]
You know, I think you're right. Although it doesn't help the situation get better, either. It just intensifies what you bring to it.
All I see is HOPE. Wheeeee!
Like this. EXACTLY! Wheeeeeeeeee!
It's humid. You can tell because it's wavy and extra pretty.
... Clearly there's an entire science to this that I simply don't understand.
Sam! Interacting with a secondary character! With whom he has a history! Be still my heart.
Question - do you see this as a writerly bias, or a function of Sam's personality, or some combination of both? I mean, I know the writers love having Dean get out there and interact with all these different people, but then I've also always seen him as more gregarious. Often it feels like Sam lets him take that role because he's just not that interested in establishing anything with people, very much. He's always kept a lot to himself.
(Also, I'm assuming you mean someone with whom he has had onscreen history, not backstory, such as Amy. Because that was rather recent. And no love for Becky? *cackles evolly*)
Have you seen his shoulders? If anyone can ... You are writing these things just to set me up, aren't you?
I have NO IDEA what you're talking about. *whistles innocently*
You know what else is awesome? Soulless!Sam wanting to shoot Samuel.
I am 100% behind that. (See? I'm coming around.)
Reply
That, or one of us spends waaay too much time focused on Sam's hair.
I'm assuming you mean someone with whom he has had onscreen history
Yeah sorry, I meant a recurring secondary character with some emotional connection to Sam or Dean. Jody is, at this point, an inner-circle character, like Ellen, Jo, Cas, or Bobby. Every one of these characters has been more connected to Dean, so I was kind of stunned to suddenly have that scene with Jody and Sam talking about Bobby.
do you see this as a writerly bias, or a function of Sam's personality, or some combination of both?
Dean is the one who's more open, so I definitely think it comes from character, and not any writerly bias. There are valid reasons Sam has fewer connections, and it makes absolute sense. It's occasionally frustrating, is all, but that's just because I want more Sam.
He's always kept a lot to himself
Totally. They don't give us Sam the way they do Dean. We get him in looks, and action, but not words. So on the one hand, I agree with you that I wish they'd let us see a bit more into his head right about now, because it's been a while and there's some crazy Lucifer stuff going on. But on the other hand, and I think you'd agree, they are still telling us a pretty decent amount, just in Sam-ways, not Dean-ways. It's more, I'd like confirmation.
See? I'm coming around.
;)
Reply
And I love that about her. She is honestly up there rivalling my very favourite minor characters by now. And you know what else I love about it? I was thinking more about how Ness's presence and impact is coloured by the fact that he didn't get into hunting for revenge, that it was the right thing to do, that it was the extension of what he already did rather than a catastrophic reversal of his life - and then I realised Jody is the same way. Yes, she lost her husband and son, but that wasn't what made her get into the life. The reason she's in the life is the same as Ness - she's discovered this world is out there and just by virtue of who she is, she can't sit by and let people die. She got the bug. Neither she nor Ness are caught in that revenge cycle. \o/
But she also recognised that Sam didn't need guidance, or mentoring - Sam needs a mother. Sam's always needed a mother. I can't tell you how much I love the extended family the boys are slowly accumulating around them.
Dean is the one who's more open
This, and he's always defaulted to being the one out front, because he's Sammy's shield (especially in his mind, but I think Sam accepts this dynamic, too). These days not quite as much, but those were the patterns established growing up, and that's part of what formed their personalities and how they approach things. Not that Sam can't interact just as well with people (or often better), but he doesn't have the same impulse to take the lead of that as Dean does.
I think you'd agree, they are still telling us a pretty decent amount, just in Sam-ways, not Dean-ways.
Yes, which is what's tiding me over. *sits impatiently with you*
Reply
Yeah, it's one of the things I really liked about the episode. But I would quibble about Jody being a hunter. She's more hunter-adjacent. She's still a sheriff, she didn't abandon her normal life (I'm sensing a theme, heh.) and she used fairly specific wording (the police were trying to cover it up) to echo Ness's line about red-tape. They're putting forward the idea of law-enforcement types being similar to hunters (except hunters are outside of the law, yo), but in a positive way. Kinda reminded me of Victor in Jus in Bello.
he's always defaulted to being the one out front, because he's Sammy's shield (especially in his mind, but I think Sam accepts this dynamic, too). These days not quite as much, but those were the patterns established growing up, and that's part of what formed their personalities and how they approach things. Not that Sam can't interact just as well with people (or often better), but he doesn't have the same impulse to take the lead of that as Dean does.
I, um, disagree with this. :D Sam is more guarded (heh), but that comes from having secrets kept from him within his family (about Mary, about hunting), and having to keep secrets about his family from the outside world. That puts Sam in the position of being alone and an outsider, even within his family. Dean and John are a team; Sam is too young, off at school, doesn't want to be a hunter, etc. That's why Sam learned to keep himself to himself.
For instance, Sam kept his past hidden from Jess, his long-time girlfriend, but Dean spilled the beans to Cassie after a week. I think that says a lot about the way they deal with people, even if that's rather an extreme example.
Still, the reasons change a bit throughout the seasons, so I guess it would depend on what season we're talking about.
Sam needs a mother
Young man! *hahaha*
Reply
Agreed - at this point. But she's being drawn into it. I don't know that she'll ever be all-in with the life (I don't think they impled Ness was, either, did they?), and for her sake I hope she is able to stay further out than him, even. But even if she is only ever this close to it, it's for the same reasons as Ness, and that's what was important to me (especially in that the boys get one each).
Kinda reminded me of Victor in Jus in Bello.
*weeps* And this would be the other reason I adore her so much. She's inherited Victor and Bobby's presence in the story, somehow. AND Ellen's. Please oh please oh please don't kill her off, Show! Even for a little while! WE NEED HER.
That's why Sam learned to keep himself to himself.
Sure, I agree that's part of it. I think there are a bunch of different factors in operation, which actually reinforce each other rather than contradict each other. Regarding the seasons, I was actually thinking from childhood-on-up. The kind of patterns we all just naturally fall back into no matter how long has passed when there's no good reason not to.
So I'm not saying it's Dean that guards Sam from opening up to the world - I totally agree Sam is more guarded (or rather, Sam is more passive and introverted in his defensiveness, Dean more aggressive and extroverted, but they're BOTH very guarded in different ways and about different things), less likely to open up. But part of the reason he could stay quieter, develop those patterns of not drawing attention to himself, was because he had an older, brasher, cockier, protective/controlling brother. It's just the way they grew up interacting with the world.
I think that says a lot about the way they deal with people, even if that's rather an extreme example.
Yes. Although part of the reason that example is so extreme is also because of the subject matter; for Sam, his family, and all the attendant complications, was a deeply sensitive and painful subject on all kinds of levels. For Dean, his family is the single most important thing in the world, and that and hunting is what he is most proud of (or was, at least). It's not JUST personality type that influenced those decisions, even though that's a significant part of it.
Young man!
I can't decide if I love that or the little "call me after" in her first phone call more. ALL the love for Jody. Clever Show, to reduce devastation and grief over Bobby by giving us a character to transfer to. Clever, clever Show.
Reply
* Huh, I don't agree with this, but it's probably just the way she's framing it. She's saying A, but I'm seeing B. THE USUAL.
* Leave that part out of reply.
* Leave that part out of reply.
* Leave that part out of reply. Oh f*ck it.
* Read new comment.
* AH, YES. I SEE NOW WHAT SHE MEANS. AGREED
* THE USUAL :D
Also, yes. Please to be not killing Jody, Show. Can't we keep her? Please, please? [I suspect we will get to keep her, but better to be prepared.]
Reply
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