Thinking about Sam...

[ash48]

I made this little gif set and posted it to tumblr recently.



I was thinking about how sad it is that Sam ended up doing exactly what he hoped would never happen (again).



As sad as it is I am kind of excited by it because it speaks volumes about Sam and the recurring nightmare of having his body being out of his control. The fact that this connection has been made from episode 1 to episode 9 gives me hope that not only this, but all the issues surrounding it will be addressed in the second half. Yes yes I can hear you say don't hold your breath - but I'm going to *holds*. Also, Dean heard Sam say this. It has to hit home.



Also, I posted some S8 Sam hair gifs which resulted in some very serious meta on how Sam's hair represents his state of being here at supergifs Yep. It's very deep. And short.

Comments

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I saw this coming from the beginning of the possession story-line

You know, it was my first thought when Sam said he didn't want to hurt anyone else and then I completely forgot about it and had no idea that they would "use" him to actually kill someone. It wasn't until de_nugis mentioned something about it in a comment that I fully made the connection.

I think, even after 9 eps, I still feel that Sam wanted to die because he thought he was a failure. It's probably not the same as being suicidal (as I first thought), more just thoroughly ready. Possibly tired of it all also.

he did not want any one else getting hurt from yet another resurrection

Yes. His past two resurrections had disastrous results for not only himself but Dean and many innocent people. I really REALLY hope that the point of all this is to make Dean (finally) realises this. I was disappointed that the episode where Dean was on trial didn't examine how Dean felt about the consequences of bringing Sam back form the dead. It suggests that Dean feels no remorse (or guilt) about that. So I am hoping that this whole set up is about Dean finally acknowledging that his need for Sam to be around (and brought back from the dead) is problematic. And his past decisions haven't gone well for Sam (or the world).

Having said that though - I absolutely love it. Dean selling his soul for Sam is possibly one of my fav things even in the show. This is different because he hasn't sacrificed himself this time, he's sacrificed Sam (though I might be one of the few who actually really like this story line).

And yeah. Sam will feel totally responsible and guilty. He'll find a way to blame himself. And if he isn't utterly shattered by Dean's decision to not only trick him into saying yes, but continuing the deception even after he was able to make a "proper" decision I will be dumbfounded. Sam has SO MANY reasons to be devastated by Dean's betrayal. I am so eager to see how they are going to play this.

Great to hear from you! <3

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

I think another thing Dean has never realized is that what he did to Lisa and Ben was wrong, and a violation. I feel like it's important to remember them (though I'm sure the show won't, alas), because it's too easy to see Sam as Dean's one blind spot and not see that there's a pattern in Dean's behavior. I think Dean may see it as "I have principles but Sam is the one exception and I get to have an exception" and that he even feels justified in that, because the mandate to protect Sam is so deeply embedded in him. But his boundary/autonomy respecting issues go beyond Sam, and I think if he could figure that out it might help him get past the place he still seems to be in, of "you're going to be pissed but I had to do it" to a place of "I have to learn to STOP doing this," which is the only place where change can happen.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed. How interesting it would be if Ben and Lisa are brought into this at some point. I can't see it happening either, but it (or they) might be part of the bigger reason why they have given Dean this storyline this season. If they are bringing together all of these things then we might see a realisation of having to learn to "stop doing this". Of course, the issue with that is how does he actually fully realise it without Sam dying. (Though we did actually have that at the end of S5…). I suppose the discussion could take place though.

And yes. I think Dean feels totally justified and I think that will be something that is extremely hard to break for him. He will not accept Sam dead so anything (and clearly anything) is acceptable to prevent that.

(Looking back it would have been very interesting if Dean DID find a way to pull Sam out of the cage (without his soul). It might add some weight to what they are doing now. In that he actually couldn't live without him and the act of bringing him back damages Sam - which he then has to fix. Maybe - like Sam's "attempted" life without hunting story last year - they are going back and looking at that).

[bittersweettwit.livejournal.com]

I think, even after 9 eps, I still feel that Sam wanted to die because he thought he was a failure... Possibly tired of it all also.

I would agree there were probably elements of that to his decision also and after all he's been through I don't think any of us could blame Sam for being tired.

But I do think his chief motivation was not wanting to allow anyone else to get hurt as a result of another resurrection, which has never ended well in the past. For all the issues I have with the Carver era and its characterisation of the brothers I would say this is the most consistent character development. In this episode he was willing to allow himself to die to protect others from the negative consequences of tampering with the natural order, and this harks back to early season eight. When faced with what he believed to be the reality of losing Dean unlike past occasions this time he had the maturity to step back and accept it.

Don't get me wrong at the time I loved some of the brothers self-sacrificial actions to save the other during the early seasons. Now however eight seasons in Sam's development in this front makes sense to me. After all they've been through for them to keep tampering with the natural order would make them look stupid and frankly callous.

This is different because he hasn't sacrificed himself this time, he's sacrificed Sam (though I might be one of the few who actually really like this story line).

That's exactly the distinguishment that makes me unable to feel sympathy or back Dean's actions in this scenario. I know you're a fan and I don't want to be a downer on something you love, but it is also the final nail in the cross in terms of my investment in the brothers bond unless it drastically changes. I think Dean's decision here shows along with his behaviour in season eight that while Dean loves Sam and I don't think anyone could deny that. He doesn't respect Sam as a separate person with his own viewpoint and rights. At times its more like he views Sam as an accessory that should do what Dean wants.

And if he isn't utterly shattered by Dean's decision to not only trick him into saying yes, but continuing the deception even after he was able to make a "proper" decision I will be dumbfounded.

I'm not holding my hopes up. I fully expect them to follow their usual lameass formula because this creative team lack just that creativity.

What we'll get is an episode of Sam being pissy with Dean then he'll have some big revelation and come crawling back apologising something along the lines of "You were just looking out for me and I should be grateful. How dare I get mad that you rented my body out to an angel without my consent and took all autonomy away from me. And how dare I be mad that you lied and deceived me for months"

Yeah I'm pretty cynical about this show right now. I've really come to resent (and to an extent Dean as a result) the shows growing habit of making Dean this 'saint' always in the right. While portraying Sam as a demon for daring to go against his wishes.