I would love to hear what you think they should have done.
Ah, that's the rub, isn't it? I mean, once the story shifted, I agree, they had to follow it. I hadn't really thought about it from story structure terms, more character terms. Dean doesn't let people in on his journey if he can possibly help it, because it's not important - Sam's is the important thing (from Dean's point of view). He's really, really good at covering that he even has a journey (which is not the same thing as an arc). And he was doing a really good job, reacting to Sam's journey and concealing his own. He hated even being the object of Sam's attention in S3, and it feels like a violation that Writers decided he was too rich a seam of angst to resist strip mining and laying bare to all of us. Does that make sense? Maybe not. But the focus shifting onto Dean (again, around S3-4) is not just in your head, I promise.
they made him do unsympathetic thingsYeah - not exactly, although that probably didn't help. I more meant that by exposing Dean's soft, woobie,
( ... )
"Writers decided he was too rich a seam of angst to resist strip mining and laying bare to all of us"
God I wish I could write like you.
"Does that make sense?"
Yes.
".. by exposing Dean's soft, woobie, self-sacrificing, heroic underbelly so much, Sam's plight and character looked much less sympathetic just by contrast."
THIS. YES. THANK YOU.
"That's where the audience empathy should lie, and therefore sympathy also."
Agreed. But lucky for me, my Sam bias is like a superpower that allows me to see this. It's sometimes very hard to see past the whole Dean is a selfless hero business. But yes, now I see your point that the writers have done the character a disservice.
This is where I would quote that entire last paragraph back to you. And then agree a million times over.
Can I tell you how much I loved everything you said in your reply? Huh, I think I just did.
my Sam bias is like a superpower that allows me to see this.
Ooh, good superpower! ;)
I'm starting to sound like a crazy stalker. O.o
Ah, but a self-aware crazy stalker. And that makes all the difference! :D
In which case, shall we just friend and get it over with? That way you are officially invited to come in, flop on the couch, put your feet up and hang out as long as you want, saying whatever damnfool thing that runs through your head without fear of rejection. (That's what I do.)
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Ah, that's the rub, isn't it? I mean, once the story shifted, I agree, they had to follow it. I hadn't really thought about it from story structure terms, more character terms. Dean doesn't let people in on his journey if he can possibly help it, because it's not important - Sam's is the important thing (from Dean's point of view). He's really, really good at covering that he even has a journey (which is not the same thing as an arc). And he was doing a really good job, reacting to Sam's journey and concealing his own. He hated even being the object of Sam's attention in S3, and it feels like a violation that Writers decided he was too rich a seam of angst to resist strip mining and laying bare to all of us. Does that make sense? Maybe not. But the focus shifting onto Dean (again, around S3-4) is not just in your head, I promise.
they made him do unsympathetic thingsYeah - not exactly, although that probably didn't help. I more meant that by exposing Dean's soft, woobie, ( ... )
Reply
God I wish I could write like you.
"Does that make sense?"
Yes.
".. by exposing Dean's soft, woobie, self-sacrificing, heroic underbelly so much, Sam's plight and character looked much less sympathetic just by contrast."
THIS. YES. THANK YOU.
"That's where the audience empathy should lie, and therefore sympathy also."
Agreed. But lucky for me, my Sam bias is like a superpower that allows me to see this. It's sometimes very hard to see past the whole Dean is a selfless hero business. But yes, now I see your point that the writers have done the character a disservice.
This is where I would quote that entire last paragraph back to you. And then agree a million times over.
Can I tell you how much I loved everything you said in your reply? Huh, I think I just did.
I'm starting to sound like a crazy stalker. O.o
Reply
Ooh, good superpower! ;)
I'm starting to sound like a crazy stalker. O.o
Ah, but a self-aware crazy stalker. And that makes all the difference! :D
In which case, shall we just friend and get it over with? That way you are officially invited to come in, flop on the couch, put your feet up and hang out as long as you want, saying whatever damnfool thing that runs through your head without fear of rejection. (That's what I do.)
Reply
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