Gah, stupid LJ. I type this reply and then it is lost. But, yeah, it has always been a bit uneven, especially after season 2 when Dean really became the emotional center. Last night I was watching Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things because it is an episode that I haven’t re-watched that much and we do get some Sam POV in the cemetery at the beginning of the episode. Following that, the episode is all about Dean and how Dean feels about John’s death, which is understandable given the manner of John’s death. But, because I am relatively new to SPN, I can still remember being frustrated even then that we didn’t get more about how Sam felt about John’s death. The show makes it seem that John meant more to Dean than he does to Sam. We tend to get a few bits of dialogue telling us how Sam feels about stuff but very little in the way of showing us how he feels. This pattern is repeated season after season, supporting character after supporting character, and even with regard to Dean, himself. Is it any wonder that audience perception is “Poor Dean. Sam Sucks?” It would be very easy to conclude that Sam just doesn’t care as much as Dean does or that Sam only cares about himself.
Then it doesn’t help that the show gives us scenes that leave way too much to audience interpretations such as “Sam’s Heaven” or “Why Sam didn’t look for Dean.” So, yeah, the lack of true Sam POV is not new to this season or the current show-runners. But this is a situation where Dean made the Big Mistake and, still, no one cares about what was done TO Sam because Show doesn’t really show us the impact on Sam. It, again, shows us the impact on Dean and pretty much Dean alone. Even Kevin’s death is mostly about how Dean feels about it with Sam being told, “Well, you shouldn’t feel bad. It wasn’t you. It’s all on me. Get over it.” And, sure, it wasn’t Sam’s choice but, FCOL, I am sure it’s Sam that remembers actually killing Kevin!
This is the only part I don't agree with. For me, it was when Dean said and thereby acknowledged "That Sam would never agree to be possessed, that he would rather die"
Yes, and I don’t disagree exactly. But, to me, this is another example of Dean knowing What. Sam. Would. Want. And I don’t quite trust that either. Dean is a very black and white thinker and Sam is not. I can surmise that Sam would not wish to be possessed because all of Sam’s experiences with possession have been negative but I have to think: Would Sam really have disagreed if given the choice of having a “good” angel, or even Castiel, possess him briefly to save his life? I’m not certain. Of course, if Dean really believed this he still knew he was making the wrong decision, something I "got" from him initially that seems to be forgotten now. But, anyway, either choice Dean made would have been a choice Dean was making “for” Sam.
I also agree that Dean did it for Dean but I also feel that Sam, as I perceive him, would have understood that Dean only had moments to make the call especially IF Dean had come clean immediately and explained the situation thereby relinquishing control over Sam’s choices. We also have Sam who is reeling from the end results of Dean’s deception but would he really have chosen to let Dean die all things being equal as it was perceived, initially. I’m not altogether certain that Sam would have really let Dean die if there was a chance of saving him. However, I do think Sam would have come clean immediately and given Dean the choice of how to proceed from there.
But, yo! Dean says at the end of CSPWDT:
“Sam. You and Dad... you're the most important people in my life. And now... I never should have come back, Sam. It wasn't natural. And now look what's come of it. I was dead. And I should have stayed dead. You wanted to know how I was feeling. Well, that's it. So tell me. What could you possibly say to make that all right?”
Seriously!?! Now, what could Dean say to Sam to make it all right? I am sure it’s not “I’d do it again!” Dean is not the injured party here even though he is acting like he is. Even though the show makes it out that he is. And if that's not victim blaming I don't know what is!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-03-02 07:47 pm (UTC)Then it doesn’t help that the show gives us scenes that leave way too much to audience interpretations such as “Sam’s Heaven” or “Why Sam didn’t look for Dean.” So, yeah, the lack of true Sam POV is not new to this season or the current show-runners. But this is a situation where Dean made the Big Mistake and, still, no one cares about what was done TO Sam because Show doesn’t really show us the impact on Sam. It, again, shows us the impact on Dean and pretty much Dean alone. Even Kevin’s death is mostly about how Dean feels about it with Sam being told, “Well, you shouldn’t feel bad. It wasn’t you. It’s all on me. Get over it.” And, sure, it wasn’t Sam’s choice but, FCOL, I am sure it’s Sam that remembers actually killing Kevin!
This is the only part I don't agree with. For me, it was when Dean said and thereby acknowledged "That Sam would never agree to be possessed, that he would rather die"
Yes, and I don’t disagree exactly. But, to me, this is another example of Dean knowing What. Sam. Would. Want. And I don’t quite trust that either. Dean is a very black and white thinker and Sam is not. I can surmise that Sam would not wish to be possessed because all of Sam’s experiences with possession have been negative but I have to think: Would Sam really have disagreed if given the choice of having a “good” angel, or even Castiel, possess him briefly to save his life? I’m not certain. Of course, if Dean really believed this he still knew he was making the wrong decision, something I "got" from him initially that seems to be forgotten now. But, anyway, either choice Dean made would have been a choice Dean was making “for” Sam.
I also agree that Dean did it for Dean but I also feel that Sam, as I perceive him, would have understood that Dean only had moments to make the call especially IF Dean had come clean immediately and explained the situation thereby relinquishing control over Sam’s choices. We also have Sam who is reeling from the end results of Dean’s deception but would he really have chosen to let Dean die all things being equal as it was perceived, initially. I’m not altogether certain that Sam would have really let Dean die if there was a chance of saving him. However, I do think Sam would have come clean immediately and given Dean the choice of how to proceed from there.
But, yo! Dean says at the end of CSPWDT:
“Sam. You and Dad... you're the most important people in my life. And now... I never should have come back, Sam. It wasn't natural. And now look what's come of it. I was dead. And I should have stayed dead. You wanted to know how I was feeling. Well, that's it. So tell me. What could you possibly say to make that all right?”
Seriously!?! Now, what could Dean say to Sam to make it all right? I am sure it’s not “I’d do it again!” Dean is not the injured party here even though he is acting like he is. Even though the show makes it out that he is. And if that's not victim blaming I don't know what is!