Dean and Sam meta (via twitter)

[ash48]

Hey. I wanted to share a short conversation I had with bookdal on Twitter because I think she made some interesting observations on the boys and Mary (posted with her permission).

I posted this comment:

Even more painful after 12.03 :( #spn https://t.co/sW2Oc5R8Ez

— Ash48 (@Ash48SPN) October 30, 2016

In response to this pic:

12.02 Mamma Mia. Director: Thomas J. Wright #Supernatural pic.twitter.com/uXHLguvdhc

— One.Perfect.SPN.Shot (@spn_shot) October 30, 2016

I love the idea of the characters being frozen from moments in their past. I do see Dean as nostalgic and longing for the happiness he may have felt as a child - or an imagined childhood - with an idealised image of Mary. I also love the idea of Sam idealising an unknown future. Many have talked about Sam and Dean being yin and yang and perhaps that strengthens that idea (though I don't see one as being strictly "negative" or "positive" - but rather fluctuating with each other between those).

Anyway. I thought it was interesting and helped me with a new perspective on the characters.

Comments

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Mmmm yes, me likey. Another angle on them that makes sense and fits with the characteristics: Dean being the one more likely to give up and cover his despair with a mask of stoicism, while Sam tends to be the one who's eternally hopeful, in spite of any instability in his perception - because he's the one who thinks they have a future, while Dean's more stuck in the past.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I think it's an interesting reading of the characters. I know it can change occasionally - but essentially Sam seems to look to the future (trying to move on from the past) while Dean looks to the past and tries to capture the good memories he has of it (even though his past memories seem to hurt him a lot).

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Ohh yes, very lovely thinky thoughts and observations.

I do love the idea of nostalgic Dean with his frozen idealized image of his mother, and how he's struggling with this new 'real' version. I also love the point of Sam playing Dean's role of the middle man between a parent and child (ie Dean for Sam and John, and Sam for Dean and Mary). That's something I've not thought of before. Thank for sharing :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. It gave me some new perspectives so thought it might be interesting for others too. :))

xx

[fanspired]

> Many have talked about Sam and Dean being yin and yang and perhaps that strengthens that idea (though I don't see one as being strictly "negative" or "positive" - but rather fluctuating with each other between those).

That's the nature of the relationship between yin and yang; it's dynamic. Each is continually becoming the other. That's what the spots mean: When each reaches its extreme, it already has the other growing within.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes of course!! I seem to recall chatting about this with you before. I should have remembered! :)

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

bookdal always has fascinating things to say about the characters.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

She she does (though I confess to sometimes having to look up the meaning of some of the words she uses.../o\...:D)

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Great thinky observations. Thank you for sharing!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. It was quite a revelation for me.

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think there's a lot of truth in these observations. Dean definitely idealises the past. And it made me remember a meta I read years ago written by (I think) a psychology student, which talked about Dean being stuck (frozen) on certain stages of development because of childhood trauma and losing his mother at that particular age, which was also quite interesting.
Anyway, as Sam pointed out Mary is not a 'thing', but Dean can't seem to help having her up there on that pedestal. The real Mary was always going to fall off it and disappoint him.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes - she sure was going to fall off it at some point. And maybe she knew that and why she left so soon. I've never really thought about Dean being frozen in the past but it makes so much sense to me now.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I really really love this post. That is all.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

<33