More random musings . . .
May. 18th, 2010 02:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwMore random musings, behind the cut so's you can skip it by if you're not interested.
1.
I've read a couple places that have given me an alternative to ponder regarding the Chuck is God thing. I still believe wholeheartedly that Kripke did intend for us to see Chuck as God, but after a few days, and a reasonable alternative, I'm willing to consider this:
That Chuck was indeed a prophet and was taken up into Heaven ala Elijah (which kinda makes Joshua's statement that God was on Earth was a red herring).
Now, upon reflection, it's possible that I was pre-disposed to jump to the Kripke-is-Chuck-is-God conclusion because I had earlier run across a conversation thread the title of which was speculation on "who" was God. I.e., What character was going to be revealed to be God. So when I saw Chuck dressed in white, very cleaned up, very confident, then disappear . . . yeah. That's the conclusion I drew.
However, given Kripke's penchant for messing with fans ("Kristy" was going to be a love interest for Sam) and including fandom in the meta (complete with shout-outs to specific commentators on specific forums), I am still inclined to stick to my original view and my original rant.
HOWEVER . . . I have now been offered an alternative interpretation, one that I like so much better. I shall ponder this and see if I can't assimilate that into my understanding of the ep.
2.
It occurred to me the second time I watched the ep, that at the end, Sam was very much like Moses. I know that sounds weird, but please bear with me. Moses, you see, led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. He saved his people. However, at some point along the line, he disobeyed one of God's orders so gravely that his punishment was never to be able to enter the Promised Land himself. God mercifully allowed Moses to watch his people--those whom he loved and had devoted his life to serving--enter the Promised Land, but Moses himself was not permitted to do so. He was allowed to see their journey complete, though he could not take part in it.
And as I was watching Sam, I thought, "Just like Moses." Getting to watch his brother enter the "promised land" of what they'd always wanted--life without danger, without fear. Life with a future. Family, a home. An "apple pie" life. (The symbolism of apple pie throughout the series is a completely different cracky meta.) Dean's desire for this life was late-blooming, you might say, but I don't think Sam's ever truly left. He just came to terms with the reality that he'd never have it. But there's Sam, watching his beloved brother, for whom he gave his life, given the opportunity to live in that "promised land."
For all my sadness and angst over the episode, I think it's going to keep me thinking all summer. And it will re-inform the series when I watch it, which . . . we'll see how that goes.
1.
I've read a couple places that have given me an alternative to ponder regarding the Chuck is God thing. I still believe wholeheartedly that Kripke did intend for us to see Chuck as God, but after a few days, and a reasonable alternative, I'm willing to consider this:
That Chuck was indeed a prophet and was taken up into Heaven ala Elijah (which kinda makes Joshua's statement that God was on Earth was a red herring).
Now, upon reflection, it's possible that I was pre-disposed to jump to the Kripke-is-Chuck-is-God conclusion because I had earlier run across a conversation thread the title of which was speculation on "who" was God. I.e., What character was going to be revealed to be God. So when I saw Chuck dressed in white, very cleaned up, very confident, then disappear . . . yeah. That's the conclusion I drew.
However, given Kripke's penchant for messing with fans ("Kristy" was going to be a love interest for Sam) and including fandom in the meta (complete with shout-outs to specific commentators on specific forums), I am still inclined to stick to my original view and my original rant.
HOWEVER . . . I have now been offered an alternative interpretation, one that I like so much better. I shall ponder this and see if I can't assimilate that into my understanding of the ep.
2.
It occurred to me the second time I watched the ep, that at the end, Sam was very much like Moses. I know that sounds weird, but please bear with me. Moses, you see, led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. He saved his people. However, at some point along the line, he disobeyed one of God's orders so gravely that his punishment was never to be able to enter the Promised Land himself. God mercifully allowed Moses to watch his people--those whom he loved and had devoted his life to serving--enter the Promised Land, but Moses himself was not permitted to do so. He was allowed to see their journey complete, though he could not take part in it.
And as I was watching Sam, I thought, "Just like Moses." Getting to watch his brother enter the "promised land" of what they'd always wanted--life without danger, without fear. Life with a future. Family, a home. An "apple pie" life. (The symbolism of apple pie throughout the series is a completely different cracky meta.) Dean's desire for this life was late-blooming, you might say, but I don't think Sam's ever truly left. He just came to terms with the reality that he'd never have it. But there's Sam, watching his beloved brother, for whom he gave his life, given the opportunity to live in that "promised land."
For all my sadness and angst over the episode, I think it's going to keep me thinking all summer. And it will re-inform the series when I watch it, which . . . we'll see how that goes.
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 07:54 pm (UTC)Must ponder your Sam as Moses meta.
(also, I would read an apple-pie-symbolism meta. just saying. *g*)
no subject
Date: 2010-05-19 10:50 am (UTC)Was it, Dean?
no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 08:22 pm (UTC)But- and I don't want to stir up anything too ponderous and thinky. But if Kripke & Co. comes out and says yes Chuck = God, it wouldn't really bother me from a story telling perspective. The writers are clearly going at this from an agnostic/ Humanist POV and so in their world "God" doesn't really equal God anyway.
So the man writing the story before it happens- being able to wipe out whole characters with the touch of his delete key, having their success or failure in his hands, being able like Bugs Bunny to draw an anvil over Daffy Duck's head and then erase his beak when he gets too mouthy. I can see it working in that perspective. Chuck with his love of literary symetry tossing Sam down in the Pit because Dean went last time and it's Sam's turn. I could get behind it on that level. Maybe not exactly Chuck as God creator of the Universe, but Chuck as creator of SPN Universe... which really ultimately ='s Chuck is Kripke.
But even then, I don't know if that's what's inferred- It's all vague and mysterious at this point.
Sam as Moses? Maybe.
But then there are many other Heroic Arc's they could be drawing from. Which I would need far more caffine in my system to ponder at this point.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 09:50 pm (UTC)Oh, I'm not saying Sam is Moses. I'm just saying the similarity struck me. In much the same way Dean's going to Hell reminded me of something Paul wrote. That kind of thing.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 11:33 pm (UTC)As long as we're doing crack endings, how about Sam waking up in bed with Jess and the entire show was a bad dream (ala Newhart)? :D
no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 11:28 pm (UTC)Just wanted to say I'm excited for Jensen if he gets that wish to direct. I saw the story yesterday and had intended to post it over at Glee. I chose munching on lemon-pepper chicken wings instead. YumMEE!
Gotta go. Damn battery power. *mumbles*