![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ash48
It seems the simple sandwich plays quite a significant role in Supernatural. We already know how important food is to Dean - we know he loves pie and burgers (extra onion), and we know Sam loves his salads, but sandwiches also feature rather a lot. I thought I'd gather together all the moments sandwiches are used and take a light hearted look at their significance (gif heavy). The Best Things in Life Are Free Sandwich aka: Look how I can eat and talk at the same time Sammy! By this episode it's been established how much Dean loves his food. Our first glimpse is in Nightmare (1.14), where he eagerly grabs the tiny sausages offered. We then see him chowing down on - what looks like fries - on Sam's bed in Tall Tales and then later literally stuffing his face with sweets in the same episode. The running gag is continued in this episode. Dean loves his food and we can see how the simple joy it brings him. Even though these look like little rolls (they'd be called rolls where I'm from ;D) , Dean refers to them as "miniature Philly cheesesteak sandwiches", so I'm going to include them here. Also, he looks so cute when he eats it. :)
The Orgasmic Sandwich aka: Dean's been eating take-out for far too long This is the first time we see Dean eat a homemade sandwich. It looks like it's the best thing he's eaten in a long long time. It's a great reminder of the kind of lives they have and how something like the simple sandwich can taste so good, especially with the added ingredient of a mother's love.
The He Eats Just Like Me Sandwich aka: Crap! He eats just like me… Ben has a variety of traits that leads Dean to thinking he could be his son. It's great that we get a shot of Ben scoffing down a sandwich. He loves his food, just like Dean.
The Too Good to be True Sandwich aka: Be careful what you wish for Of all the wishes Dean could have he chose food. Of course! :) Poor boy...
The Porked Up Sandwich aka: Can't let good food go to waste. I'm sure Jensen regrets the day he made Dean a food lover! Though Dean's love of food works so well for the character. I wrote meta a while ago about how food was probably scarce for the boys when they were growing up. Dean's an opportunist when it comes to eating (snagging whatever free food he can when it is on offer) and here we can see that he clearly doesn't like to see food go to waste. Especially something as tasty as cooked ham!
The You're Going to Need a Bigger Mouth Sandwich aka: Now you're just being silly… My favourite sandwich! The fact that a giant sandwich is included in the sitcom version of the boys' lives highlights the way food - particularly homemade food - is used to comment on the kind of lives they lead. Rarely food is of the homemade variety (until after the bunker is introduced that is).
The Heavenly Sandwich aka: Just go ahead and break my heart why don't you. This is the second time we've seen Mary involved in preparing a sandwich for Dean (also 2.20). Both moments remind us of what Dean (and Sam) have lost and how much Dean misses this kind of nurturing *sniff*
The Starving Soulful!Sam Sandwich (Sammywich?) aka: Damn it's good to have you back. Food and eating after death has become a recurring theme in the SPN world. When Sam first returned from the dead in 2.22 the boys shared pizza. Here, Sam scoffs down a sandwich (probably made by Dean), showing us something that was missing from Sam when he was soulless - hunger. Later, after Dean recovers from his demonhood, Sam comments that he's going out to get Dean food. It's healing sustenance, but it also shows care and love.
The What Lies Beneath Sandwich aka: Ewwwwwwwwwww Dean's love of food is used against him when he becomes addicted (and high!) from the, er, delicious Turducken Sandwich. In the context of food being a source of joy and comfort for Dean this really acknowledges how screwed up things have become. And if we really want to draw out the analogy, we can see it has the darkness that lurks under all potentially innocent things. *nods*
The Wriggling Sandwich aka: Double eeewwwwwwwwwww Seriously! You had to go there didn't you! Ewwwwww. Poor Sam. Can't sleep, can't eat. He can't even enjoy the simple comfort or nourishment of a sandwich.
The Sandwich of Solidarity aka: Cas may be cray cray but he knows how to woo the Winchesters Ah Cas. He knows food matters to the boys and here he has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that what they see is what they get. A healthy, unadulterated sandwich. It's interesting, and rather telling, that after everything Sam and Dean have been through, they are suspicious of this offer.
The Meaning of Life Sandwich aka: Molecules are not as tasty as PB and J. This could also be called the philosophical sandwich. Cas sums up his human experience with the taste of a sandwich - noting that it's the simple things that he'll miss. It also strengthens the significance of sandwiches in the SPN 'verse because we know Sam and Dean rely on life's simplicities to help them through it (yeah, pretty deep I know…;D)
The PS: I Love You Sandwich aka: I'm so happy you're not a demon any more but I'm shit scared about that mark of your arm sandwich. Oh and damn I love you. Sandwich as comfort. Sandwich to show care and love. It's great when they use something like this, something that has been used time and time again to show us how significant the humble sandwich is to the boys, to demonstrate their love and concern rather than to voice it.
Done! Now wipe your mouth Dean...  |
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 02:51 pm (UTC)A very satisfying sandwich of a post!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:02 am (UTC)That said! I do love that moment when Dean makes Sam's the burger because it's when we first see homemade food in the bunker. It links nicely with Dean's flashbacks to having "real" food when he was little. :)
xx
OOh, and can I pinch you icon?? I was looking for a sandwich eating one!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:18 am (UTC)Pinch away! The icon's by
. . . aww, man. Now *I* want a burger!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 05:58 am (UTC)And every time I see that burger I want one too!! It looks awesome! :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:38 am (UTC)Secondly, when sam gets stabbed and dean makes the deal to save him, doesn't sam eat fried chicken?
Oh, I thought it was pizza? I'd have to go and have another look. I know Bobby offer Dean chicken while he's mourning over Sam's body.
What the hell is a pig in a poke? Is it like a sausage roll?
Good question! Not being from the US I'm not 100% sure. I think it's a sausage wrapped in pasty. I also know them as Pigs in Blankets. My hubby makes a dish with sausages in yorkshire pudding. YUM!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 11:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 05:34 pm (UTC)*approves*
*eats*
;D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 07:37 pm (UTC)This was a really interesting meta post. I've noticed that food plays a significant part in the show, but I don't think I've noticed how many sandwiches we've seen.
I think for me the ones that stand out are the ones that are made out of love; Mary making one for her son, Dean making one for Sam, and then Sam returning the favour. We don't hear the Winchester's say those three words but when they offer food to each other, in my head and my heart, that's what they're saying.
A lovely post; it made me smile, it made me laugh, and it made me giggle! Thanks for sharing :)
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 01:26 pm (UTC)Me neither until I did this!! I thought there might have been about 5 or 6 times…
We don't hear the Winchester's say those three words but when they offer food to each other, in my head and my heart, that's what they're saying.
EXACTLY! It's most definitely about love - words they can never say. :)
And thank you. I'm glad you had a smile and laugh! :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 08:23 pm (UTC)I'm feeling kinda hungry now, breakfast time. :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 08:36 pm (UTC)I think it's interesting that the show has Dean as the food opportunist and Sam as the pickier eater. I wonder if that might be because Dean was scrounging for the two of them and Sam ended up eating a lot of what Dean managed to get his hands on as a kid and being picky about food now is one way he gets control of one piece of his life and what's going on with his body.
Preparing food equates with love and caring on the show and it made me think of zombie!Karen baking all those pies for Bobby.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 12:23 pm (UTC)I wonder if that might be because Dean was scrounging for the two of them and Sam ended up eating a lot of what Dean managed to get his hands on as a kid and being picky about food now is one way he gets control of one piece of his life and what's going on with his body.
Oh yes yes. Indeed! The meta I wrote back in 2009 was somewhat about that. Dean was grateful for any food he could get and that still is true as an adult. I like the idea that Sam being picky gives him some control over his life…*nods*
and it made me think of zombie!Karen baking all those pies for Bobby.
Good connection! :)I love the way they use food to communication those emotions.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-17 09:24 pm (UTC)(I still suspect Ben was Dean's, no matter what Lisa says. You don't come across such freaky kids every day... *g* )
I'm sure Jensen regrets the day he made Dean a food lover!
He does, of what I heard/read/saw in con materials. :) I remember reading somwehere Misha's tale how Jensen taught him the art of eating without swallowing too much.
Castiel's sandwiches (from a happy pig) was cute. ^^ And I was sorry for him when the food went molecul-ish...
Sam, seriously, if you bring Dean food, don't be weirded that he makes out with it. Didn't you intended to be good, anyway? :)
I think your older meta about food keeps proving true with time. Like in the season 8, when Dean makes food for Sam in the Bunker. Dean's caring streak is maybe my most favorite feature of his. It kinda contradicts his macho facade and I like to think it's also stronger.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:03 pm (UTC)I love the seed that was planted about Ben being Dean's. I suspect he was also…;)
Dean's caring streak is maybe my most favorite feature of his.
Mine too! One of my favourite moments is when he made those burgers. He was soooo proud of himself! We know Dean made food for Sam when he was young, but I suspect it wasn't anything elaborate of necessarily "good". Dean just needs a nice kitchen and he's away! It's interesting to notice that he was making food when he was with Lisa also. He likes to nurture, that's for sure.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 05:27 pm (UTC)This! I also find it interesting that he actually seems to like everyday chores that people usually deem tedious and try to avoid. He was really happy mowing that lawn. Suire, partially it's that it belongs to a life he never had, and with time such things would lost their novelty charm for him, nevertheless he proved to be perfectly able to live in such way, and not just a week or two. Actually, I was surprised at the start of Season 6, and this verson of Dean I like the most. I think he's too harsh on himself later, when he says he's able to be only hunter and nothing more. Yeah, unquestionably he loves the life on the road and he's a hunter if ever was one, but still - he turned out a better partner and father than many 'respected citizens', and he abandoned it only for Sam.
Actually, I think it's one of the main differences between them: Dean is able to live in many ways and everywhere finds happiness (the road, Lisa, the Bunker), but Sam feels out of place no matter where and when (the road, Stanford, Amelia, the Bunker) and everywhere finds angst.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 05:29 am (UTC)This post was all kinds of wonderful wrapped up in-between two slices of .....
thanks for sharing :-)
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 07:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:08 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading! :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 10:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 09:43 pm (UTC)Food is such a simple thing to use to express emotions you don't want to voice and everyone knows how comforting a sandwich can really be. And I agree that the boys may have had to get by with little food at times. So sandwiches are kind of a perfect way to show what the characters are feeling.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:26 pm (UTC)So sandwiches are kind of a perfect way to show what the characters are feeling.
Absolutely! I think they have to make a conscious decision when using food on the show because it must be a pain to have to work with - so I'd think they don't take it likely. It needs to communications something.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-01 07:27 am (UTC)I love how, now that Dean has a kitchen in the bunker, he is such a cook--the importance of food, what it symbolizes to him!