Random post to keep me busy
Jun. 8th, 2010 12:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwSo. I've been re-watching S1, and it's been quite delightful, just sort of letting it play out without too much analysis (and zero connection to later on). So much potential, it could go in so many different directions.
One thing I noticed, in thinking about some of the things I've read regarding the Sam-arc vs. the Dean-arc, is the hero moments vis-a-vis PIP (person in peril). Early on--like, the first three eps--they had the pattern of the PIP gets the primary hero moment. For example, in the pilot, the ghost attacks Sam, and Sam is the one who drives the Impala into the house, leading to the ultimate destruction of the ghost (Sam's the one who "takes her home"). Then in "Wendigo," Dean is the one who gets strung up as a wendigo snack, and Dean is the one who toasts the monster with the flare gun. Then in "Dead in the Water," neither of them are in particular peril, so they each get a hero moment. Sam saves the mom from drowning in the bathtub. But since Dean is the one who gets the character development and emotional arc in the ep, Dean is the one who gets the money shot hero moment.
Then in "Phantom Traveler," we see the opposite pattern start to play out, which is that whichever brother is the PIP, the other brother is the one who saves him/saves the day. In Phantom Traveler, Dean is the one in emotional distress, while Sam is the one who sends the demon packing. "Bloody Mary"--Sam's in emotional distress; Dean's the one who kills Bloody Mary. Things start getting a little more complicated with "Skin," and it's at this point that any sort of patterns I might have seen sort of fall by the wayside.
So. Interesting observation, but not particularly earth shattering or insightful for the series as a whole.
I also think at this point that things are pretty fairly balanced between the Sam-centric mytharc and the Dean-centric emotional arc. (Please note: That's not to say that Sam doesn't have an emotional arc. But a lot of his emotional arc is tied to the mytharc--his visions, for example.) We get information regarding Dean's emotional background, while at the same time getting pieces to the mytharc puzzle. (John telling the boys a demon killed Mary, or Meg's arrival, for example.) At this point in the game, the mytharc is still mysterious enough to keep my interest, and the emotional arc(s) either compliment it or are interesting in their won right. At this point in the series, if you were to ask me which I liked more, the mytharc or the emotional arc, I'd say they were both strong and both interesting, and well balanced and tied together. I prefer Dean's arc, simply because I enjoy Jensen and the character of Dean, but that's just personal preference and has nothing to do with the quality of the mytharc.
So there ya go. Random pointless babbling. I also didn't realize that "Scarecrow" marks the halfway point in S1. Time does fly, doesn't it.
One thing I noticed, in thinking about some of the things I've read regarding the Sam-arc vs. the Dean-arc, is the hero moments vis-a-vis PIP (person in peril). Early on--like, the first three eps--they had the pattern of the PIP gets the primary hero moment. For example, in the pilot, the ghost attacks Sam, and Sam is the one who drives the Impala into the house, leading to the ultimate destruction of the ghost (Sam's the one who "takes her home"). Then in "Wendigo," Dean is the one who gets strung up as a wendigo snack, and Dean is the one who toasts the monster with the flare gun. Then in "Dead in the Water," neither of them are in particular peril, so they each get a hero moment. Sam saves the mom from drowning in the bathtub. But since Dean is the one who gets the character development and emotional arc in the ep, Dean is the one who gets the money shot hero moment.
Then in "Phantom Traveler," we see the opposite pattern start to play out, which is that whichever brother is the PIP, the other brother is the one who saves him/saves the day. In Phantom Traveler, Dean is the one in emotional distress, while Sam is the one who sends the demon packing. "Bloody Mary"--Sam's in emotional distress; Dean's the one who kills Bloody Mary. Things start getting a little more complicated with "Skin," and it's at this point that any sort of patterns I might have seen sort of fall by the wayside.
So. Interesting observation, but not particularly earth shattering or insightful for the series as a whole.
I also think at this point that things are pretty fairly balanced between the Sam-centric mytharc and the Dean-centric emotional arc. (Please note: That's not to say that Sam doesn't have an emotional arc. But a lot of his emotional arc is tied to the mytharc--his visions, for example.) We get information regarding Dean's emotional background, while at the same time getting pieces to the mytharc puzzle. (John telling the boys a demon killed Mary, or Meg's arrival, for example.) At this point in the game, the mytharc is still mysterious enough to keep my interest, and the emotional arc(s) either compliment it or are interesting in their won right. At this point in the series, if you were to ask me which I liked more, the mytharc or the emotional arc, I'd say they were both strong and both interesting, and well balanced and tied together. I prefer Dean's arc, simply because I enjoy Jensen and the character of Dean, but that's just personal preference and has nothing to do with the quality of the mytharc.
So there ya go. Random pointless babbling. I also didn't realize that "Scarecrow" marks the halfway point in S1. Time does fly, doesn't it.
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Date: 2010-06-08 07:55 pm (UTC)And then Dean comes and grabs Sam out of the burning apartment- so Dean saves the day again?
That's just the Pilot and already -OW my head!
They were both pretty good as "saving people, hunting things" in the beginning- even when said "people" were each other. Awwwww!
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Date: 2010-06-08 11:28 pm (UTC)I had thought about Dean shooting the ghost, but that's not ultimately what resolved the problem. Dean shoots the ghost and Sam does not take her home, and ghost is still a problem. I would also say that it's Sam taking her home that woke up the kiddie ghosts to come greet their mama. So the major hero moment goes to Sam, methinks.
Just like in Wendigo, the major hero moment goes to Dean, even though he needed Sam to rescue him before he could toast the critter.
But you do bring up a good point. There was a lot of give and take, back and forth in this season.
I'm up to having watched "Nightmare," and now they're really getting into the visions aspect of Sam's arc. S1 goes so quickly! I'm just really enjoying it.