Comments | zimshan: META: 'Not Normal. Safe.' - Why S8!Sam Makes Sense in Context of his History & in Relation to Dean

zimshan

META: 'Not Normal. Safe.' - Why S8!Sam Makes Sense in Context of his History & in Relation to Dean

Oct 16, 2012 13:55

My God, metas for shows with eight seasons are EXHAUSTING. I believe this is why I haven't gotten an SPN meta done since last fall. This was an extra hard one for me to write up, because it was based on an initial feeling, one that I was not expecting to get from the premiere. And one that I felt the need to work out exactly WHY that was. So cue ( Read more... )

samndean, spn:s8, meta, picspam: mine, theheartofspn, spn: meta-ish_attempts, sam-fuckin-winchester

Comments 115

counteragent October 16 2012, 18:21:26 UTC

This is a beautiful meta. I would like to think you are right (I found the PTSD symptoms with the two different clusters particularly interesting and convincing--thanks). It is similar to maraceles' positive take on it all, although you've pushed it even further with the series-long quotes and pics--wow ( ... )

zimshan October 16 2012, 19:58:26 UTC

No doubt, the show has to get its priorities straight. For a couple seasons now, I've thought that Sam's intraseasonal character arc has made alot of sense in terms of where its tracked year to year. They've definitely had moments they've drafted to hit, and they've done so. The problem is, like you said, the time spent on it. Last year is a perfect example. The moments they gave him, I think they got it right. But the space in between, they wasted good time glossing it over when they could have adequately expanded on it ( ... )

counteragent October 16 2012, 20:11:57 UTC

I was fast because your post made so much sense. :) If it had been all muddy and contradictory I would have been slower (and probably not commented, heh ( ... )

katsheswims October 16 2012, 18:29:50 UTC

I really enjoyed this. It's made me a lot more hopeful about the season (I was still hopeful but having doubts). There were a few times I was reading--where I went "Yes! Yes! (And I really hope that's what the show is going for!)"

I loved the part where you examined their PTSD--I really hope that continues to be explored (the season is off to a good start).

zimshan October 16 2012, 20:11:07 UTC

I definitely think the dog flashback, as mundane and foreign and...out of place (?) as it feels in this show, signals that they have some of that exploring in mind as the season continues. I'm definitely crossing my fingers ( ... )

amberdreams October 16 2012, 19:34:16 UTC

I loved reading this - like you I'm hoping this is where we are going with their relationship. I'm trying not to read all the Carver interviews and spoiler stuff that came out over the long summer to avoid prejudging but yeah - the hope is still strong, and the first two episodes bear out your analysis (particularly about the differing reactions to PTSD).

Thanks for your thinky thoughts, hope you come back later with the colour stuff, and of course, your Dean meta!

zimshan October 16 2012, 21:40:50 UTC

Oh, you know I didn't even think about spoilers for this, I hope it didn't spoil you too much. I haven't followed much more than interview press. Even those don't often paint the right picture, but I guess they allow you to lower expectations in case it's needed. ;) In my case, with these first two episodes at least, I learned that what it looks like on paper isn't necessarily translating right like it does onscreen. That's a good thing! And it has rather been this show's M.O. for a while now, even back during Kripke. They execute things far better than they explain them, I guess? But everyone understandably was alittle bit unnerved about Carver taking over, so I think there was more attention paid to spoilers this summer than normal? That's how it was for me at least, we'd hardly ever heard the guy speak before ComicCon ( ... )

amberdreams October 17 2012, 07:51:51 UTC

Oh it was nigh on impossible to stay completely spoiler free and I'm not rabid about it. I help run a Facebook SPN site and so I know I'm bound to see stuff I don't really want to see! So I'd read people's worries, and the odd Carver/Singer/Jared quote but I'm still not ready the complete interviews.

Oh the lost Dean arcs. There have been so many...don't get me started! LOL

mementis October 16 2012, 19:52:03 UTC

Beautiful work, thank you, this made for a very interesting read.

zimshan October 17 2012, 15:59:04 UTC

Aw, thank you. I'm glad to hear this worked for you! :)

sowell October 16 2012, 20:20:59 UTC

I love this meta! I love the way they've put the boys at complete opposite ends of the spectrum this season, and your meta makes it all make such perfect sense. Also, you've convinced me that the actors were given very purposeful direction to play those two separate strands of PTSD in the first ep.

I'm optimistic that whatever Carver has planned is going to be satisfying. Thanks for this!

zimshan October 17 2012, 16:29:12 UTC

Also, you've convinced me that the actors were given very purposeful direction to play those two separate strands of PTSD in the first ep.You know, that's a very interesting point! Hilariously enough, when I started writing this out, the PTSD was just a random extra tidbit. And it wasn't til I fleshed out everything else that I had a sorta duh moment and realized it actually explained the whole thing. I gotta say, that it all comes together so easily like it does convinces me that this has to be intentional. 'Cause it really is a miracle this thing makes "such perfect sense", it was a messy of jumbles I thought would never make sense when I started it. I've started on metas that don't get finished cause I feel like I'm trying to shove a square peg in a round hole, and it just doesn't work. I've written and posted ones that are kinda shoehorning what I want rather than laying out the story that's already there. I've even done some crazy ones with colors predicting the show direction. But none have come together quite as naturally as ( ... )