Dare I ask the question?

[ash48]

Dare I ask a question about Sam Winchester? (I think I do *g*)

So. Each time I see Sam described as "whiny and selfish" (which is rather often) it makes me think about actual moments in the show when he IS whiny and selfish. It makes me wonder what exactly Sam has done to deserve that description time and time again? Surely it must be a consistent characterisation to warrant that label.



The difficulty I have is that I've have never considered Sam either whiny or selfish. That's not to say he isn't (clearly he must be to have a label that sticks so firmly) it's just not something that matches with the Sam I see.

I suspect that the label might have come about initially because in season one Sam wanted to stay in college and not stay with Dean and hunt. Perhaps he came across as ungrateful to Dean (particularly in Asylum). He also went off to look for John when Dean wanted him to wait (Scarecrow). Maybe when he fought with John in Dead Man's Blood it could be considered whiny?

Perhaps in S4 when he turned to Ruby after Dean's dead it was considered selfish because he started to enjoy the power he was beginning to feel? Maybe in early S8 when he thought Dean was dead and didn't go looking for him? Perhaps his insistence that they think about the victims could be seem as whiny. Maybe his aftermath of the S9 possession contributed to it too?

I don't buy any of those myself, but maybe they are some of the examples people think of when thinking of Sam in that light (and yeah, I know some people will "hate" on Sam no matter what, but I'm not really thinking of those people - though maybe it's only a small group that do actually consider Sam selfish and whiny?).

*shrugs* I really struggle to understand why that label continues to stick (especially after so many selfless acts). I know Sam is flawed (as is Dean), but selfish and whiny just doesn't gel with my Sam.

Comments

[cherry916.livejournal.com]

Like other people have said, the show is consistently told through Dean's POV. In recent seasons (since season 4) secondary characters have been written in a way to be unsympathetic to Sam. We often hear the Dean praise from secondary characters (for example Charlie telling Dean he saved the world and apologizing to Sam for bad relationships?) but it's very stilted toward Sam. So Dean sees Sam as whiny and being selfish and we see that as well. When all you're concerned about (which some fans are) is DEANDEANDEAN then its easy to get offended on his behalf by Sam but Dean is a very biased narrator. It is also telling that most Sam moments were him groveling at Dean's feet for forgiveness/trying to explain what he had done because he feels guilty about it. For those same fans, it is easy to see that Sam is selfish, whiny, and doesn't deserve forgiveness. ESPECIALLY when Dean reacts in a very negative way. Everybody has been whiny and selfish on this show (DEAN FOR SURE INCLUDED!) they are human after all, and they all have flaws. It's perfectly normal to be angry, and resentful, as well as hurtful toward family. That's what family does. You only hurt the ones you love most because it is so easy too. Dean and Sam know each other so well that they often do hurt each other, whether intentionally or not. However, I don't believe whiny or selfish should be a defining character trait for either because that is most certainly NOT what the show OR characters are about.

TLDR;

The show is told from Dean's POV and a lot of fans who call Sam whiny or selfish can't see past Dean's POV (or they likely don't care enough too).

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*nods* I think being Dean's PoV makes a huge difference to how we see Sam. Though I am often intrigued why some of us still are very sympathetic toward Sam, especially when the show isn't always. It's like we have to read through Dean's interpretation and piece together our own ideas about what's going on for Sam. That's not to say we never get Sam's PoV. I think we've had some amazing episodes that have really helped see his side of things. And I don't think we've always been given a sympathetic Dean - especially in these later seasons.

(or they likely don't care enough too)

Possibly more the case! ;)