The only constant in life is change

[feliciakw]

Once upon a time, in the mid-2000s, a production company was putting together a new show called Supernatural. A young actor by the name of Jensen Ackles read for the leading role of Sam Winchester. The producers were much pleased with Jensen and said, "Woo hoo! We have our Sam!!! \o/"

Then the producers were introduced to another young actor by the name of Jared Padalecki. He, too, read for the role of Sam, and the producers said, "Woo hoo! We have our Sam!!! \o/"

Jensen's agent called the young actor to break the news. "They've chosen another actor, Jared Pada . . . Pada . . . PadaSomething to play Sam."

To which Jensen replied, "What about Dean? Can I play Dean? I like Dean. He's funny."

So Jensen read for the role of Dean.

And Jared and Jensen read together for the roles of Sam and Dean Winchester, and the producers said, "Woo hoo! We have our stars!!! \o/"

I've often wondered how the show would have turned out if Jensen had been cast as Sam, because Jared seems to be uniquely Sam, and Jensen seems to be uniquely Dean. It doesn't look like I have to wonder much longer.

Because after six years--six years of tragedy and loss and searching and death and resurrection--Sam is Dean and Dean is Sam.

Okay, so the role reversal isn't that black and white. There hasn't been a body swap (drat!) or an exchange of brains or anything. But each character has done an about-face to where now Dean represents the longing for "normal" and Sam represents the pragmatic hunter.

When we first met the brothers (as adults), Sam had left The Life. He was attending college, getting ready to propose to his girlfriend, had an apartment he shared with her, had "safe." Sam, who wanted something different for himself. Enter Dean, to ask for Sam's help one last time. Dean, who embraced the hunting life, who relished the chase and the kill. Dean, who cracked wise and snarked good-naturedly and defended his father as having reasons for doing what he does.

Now, six years later, having had the idealistic lenses removed from his perception, Dean continues to struggle with the idea that maybe his dad didn't make the best choices. His dad should have tried to preserve Dean's innocence longer than he did. And he wants to give his own family what he himself never had.

Now, six years later, Sam understands why his dad did what he did, and has forgiven John for the measures he took to keep them safe. Now Sam knows that what must be done, must be done to get the job done.

Where once Dean was the one saying, "Dad does what he does for a reason" without questioning, now Sam is the one who says "Dad did what he did for a reason, to keep us safe, because he had no other choice."

Where once Sam was the one wanting a safe, normal life with family and career, now Dean is the one who wants to stay with his woman and his son.

Sam has even started displaying Dean's behavioral patterns, inasmuch as he has been "becoming Dean" since S3. He drops pop culture references and gives backhanded compliments. He scarfs down his sandwich on the run and trusts the hunters who have taken him into their fold. But for some reason, a lot of people think he's a jerk for doing this (at least, that's the only reason I can see for such thinking)--for doing just what Dean did back in the early days of yore. The difference? Sam does not have Dean's sense of youthful bravado. He does not have Dean's roguish charm. Rather, Sam now has months of living while his brother suffered in Hell. Sam has suffered through demon-enhanced psychic visions, and an addiction to demon blood. He's been possessed by Pure Evil, and lived--well, been pulled out--to tell the tale. There is no innocent bravado for Sam, only a change in attitude due to the life (and death) experiences he has been through and assimilated. And perhaps something else . . . *quirks eyebrow*

Then there's Dean, who has also experienced a great many things in the past six years. He has struggled long and hard to reconcile the two sides of John that helped make him the man he is now. John as caring father vs. John as laser focused hunter who won't return his son's calls. And what Dean needs to learn--to experience--is that the two are not mutually exclusive. Yes, John was flawed and made a lot of mistakes, and where once Dean had the youthful bravado to believe that his dad could do no wrong, Dean has now lived through enough to recognize that his dad did indeed screw up on many points. And now, having experienced the family and home his father wished for him--the family and home that Dean has always wanted--Dean wants to do things differently than his father did. He doesn't want to pull his family into a world of monsters and death. He wants something different, something better, something safer. He wants to break out of the pattern, just as his mother wanted to. And now, he's got someone to tell him it doesn't have to be either/or.

Sam and Dean both are uniquely skilled to be hunters. It's how they were raised, and it's "in their blood." For Sam, it's about avenging evil. For Dean, it's about saving people and protecting families. And in this way, the brothers' roles are the same as they ever were.

Because the more things change, the more they stay the same.

And that's how they worked it so Jensen could play (a variation of) Sam, and Jared could play (a variation of) Dean.

Comments

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

And that's how they worked it so Jensen could play (a variation of) Sam, and Jared could play (a variation of) Dean.

We'll see, I guess. But I wish I didn't know that the actor who does play Dean wasn't publicly vocal, for the first time in six years, about being unhappy with the writing for his character almost fully half-way into the season's shooting. And I can see some of what he's talking about already, and it does concern me that they're trying to take a lot of what should be inherent to Dean's characterization regardless of life-long experience and misery away from him. There's growth, and then there's outright robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I hope the remaining first half episodes play out better for the character of Dean than Jensen's outright frustration indicated two weeks ago, for his sake as much as the fans'.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I missed something. I've never heard Jensen outright complain about Dean. He was or was not publicly vocal? What exactly did he say and to whom and in what context or circumstances? Vid link? Interview link? 'Cause truly, I don't know what you're referring to.

Right now, what I see is growth. Of course, I'm coming into the season optimistic, not dreading what might or might not happen. If I came into the season dreading it, I wouldn't be writing so much about it, I don't think.

And I'm willing to wait for things to develop, because goodness knows I sat through a lot of ---- last season that I really didn't like.

But I'm interested in what Jensen said. Linkies, please?

(Sorry if this reply sounds curt. I'm just kind of surprised that this is the first I've heard of Jensen publicly expressing frustration, if it happened a while ago. *iz puzzled*)

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

ETA: Link doesn't seem to be working - trying again!

IGN article, mildly spoilery, so read at own risk. (http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1122886p1.html)

This was a press junket two weeks ago, done two days before the premiere, and they were shooting 6:08 at that time.

Two other shorter versions of the same story came out at Kryptonsite and Zap2it first the night of the press junket (which was Wednesday), with emphasis on Jensen's comments, and twitter went nuts. Then the story was picked up at least one other place with the headline, "SUPERNATURAL STAR UNHAPPY WITH ROLE".

The IGN article I linked to is the most complete version, and there's other stuff, but when that article came out it was discussed pretty thoroughly for a few days. Jared's comments about a particular plot point weren't received well either by a lot of fans. Again, I don't know how spoiler-phobic you are.

I assume concerned fans also hit up Clif Kosterman (the Js bodyguard) on his FB account, and about a week ago he responded with some brief comment along the lines of not to worry. But since I don't have a FB account, I can't go looking for his comment, which really didn't say anything so I don't think it's crucial.

The thing is, I really doubt Jensen was going out of his way to say anything negative, but give the fact that he's never negative and is always in PR mode for the show, that came as the biggest surprise, I think.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Haven't read the article yet (I'm trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible from here on out), but thank you very much, and also for linking to the most complete junket interview. More edited versions are, of course, less desirable, and Twitter conversations are, imo, nothing more than fandom making a mountain out of a mole hill.

And that headline? That's to "sell papers." Totally reads like media spin to me.

I read Clif's twitter from time to time, but I'm not on his FB.

The only time I can recall Jensen saying anything negative about a project is in reference to Devour. He's always positive (or at worst, neutral), and usually in PR mode (though I do think he's pretty honest in his reactions to stuff).

Perhaps I shall skim the article. Or wait until the ep has aired . . . Hm . . .

I thank you for not reflecting the fandom tendency to go off the deep end in a tizzy. Your reasoning is understandable without the frothing panic that fandom is prone to.

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

If you want, I can cut and paste just the paragraph I'm talking about. There are no spoilers, it's generalities with the writing. Let me know!

I thank you for not reflecting the fandom tendency to go off the deep end in a tizzy. Your reasoning is understandable without the frothing panic that fandom is prone to.

I'm trying to take it week to week. I'll admit I don't like some of what I've seen in the first two episodes, but there is also stuff I like, so I'm sort of neutral right now. Probably for the best. ;)

And I trust Jensen will do everything he can to make it work for Dean, and since I do think he's been in small and large parts acting against some of Kripke's worst instincts for the character over the years, I do believe Jensen is the resident expert on the character, more so than the writers. And while I hate to see him unhappy at all after giving so much for this show, I do like that he's as protective of the character as his fans are. If he didn't care, then it could really all fall apart on screen.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

he's been in small and large parts acting against some of Kripke's worst instincts for the character over the years

Yes. This also reminds me of an additional point in which I noticed his . . . discontent. It was the end of S4, "Lucifer Rising." He said something at a con about not being able to argue with the creator of the character. I strongly suspect I know which scene he was talking about, and I'm in total agreement with you that Jensen is the resident expert on Dean Winchester.

But at the same time, I'm loving seeing these new layers to Dean. Jensen makes them work, but the writers need to give him something to work with.

I do like that he's as protective of the character as his fans are. If he didn't care, then it could really all fall apart on screen.

Exactly. I really actually liked reading that paragraph about his misgivings because it shows how much he enjoys playing the character, and about his challenges as an actor to turn in his best work even when the writing goes against what he feels it should be.

Does that make sense?

Also? I love your icon.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I'm back, and I found the paragraph/portion wherein Jensen expresses his chagrin. And I totally think the internet blew it out of proportion. Because if he still felt that strongly about it or hadn't come to terms with it, I don't think he would have said anything. And I totally get what he's saying. Because what's on the page isn't the whole picture. The whole picture doesn't appear until Jensen interprets what's on the page. And I think he's hitting the notes just right. Because whereas he sees Dean being written as "soft," he's purposely not playing Dean as "soft." He's playing Dean in an environment that's completely foreign to Dean, and Dean trying to make it work.

Jensen says that playing this is a challenge. And we all know Jensen likes to challenge himself.

I believe Sera has said that she doesn't worry to much if what she puts on the page isn't the greatest, because she knows Jensen will turn it into something great. That's what he does, and that's part of his job as an actor.

What I got out of the portion that I read (avoiding spoilers, so didn't read the whole thing), is that Jensen was chagrined (what a great word, dude. Not one I hear or use every day) when he first read it, realized that it was going to be on him to keep Dean in character, would find it challenging to work a balance between the two, and is pulling it off marvelously.

I really don't see them totally changing Dean's character so much as showing a different facet or deeper layer.

So . . . don't worry until we have something to worry about. Whereas the cries of previous seasons has been "Trust Kripke!" or "Trust Sera!" I've never subscribed to that. I'm all about the "Trust Jensen!" :-D

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Butting in.
But in Jensen i trust, no problem there. It's just he's not the type who complains and if he decided to make it public for me it means things were very bad on set writing for Dean-wise. And he said it when they were up to 8th ep into the season - that's what scared me most. Half of the season and they still didn't get how to write Dean? To the point the actor himself must've been vocally show it? Not good signs, imo.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind, they were shooting the 8th ep, but they were talking about the first ep. The conversation revolved around the changes that we see at the beginning of the season, with Dean at home with Lisa and Ben. I haven't read the whole article (because if I'd stumbled upon spoilers, I'd have stopped), but I did not get the impression that Jensen still feels that way, or if he is still frustrated, he's ready and willing to take on the challenge.

Like I said, I'm of the opinion that if he's willing to talk about it, it's over and done with and he's moved on. He talked about what a challenge it's going to be to play Dean, which isn't a bad thing, I don't think. It means he won't get bored with the role, and it will keep things fresh.

Go, Jensen.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

But that's the point. jensen said not once that he likes challengings so he wouldn't complain about it. No way. He talked about it when he played 2014 Dean and didn't complain, he talked about it when they shot 601 and didn't complain and now to bring it again when they're at 8th ep for me indicates that he was hoping things will change eventually but they didn't and that's what made him to make himself heard on public. I had the impression that him expressing his disappointing in writing for his character was his insurance that the writing will improve.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

So are you upset and dreading what the writers are writing, or are you looking forward to seeing what Jensen does with what they give him?

I can't read Jensen's mind. I can only go by what I hear him say and what I read that he has said. And reading that article, going in without a predetermined negative mindset, but rather looking at what Jensen actually said, I totally understand what he was saying. Because I've been there. I've had to work with scripts that I had no idea what the heck I'm gonna do with it. I once played a role wherein I didn't figure out how I wanted to play the character until after the play had finished its run. It's why I now look at Jensen as one of my inspirations. Because no matter what he's handed, he either knows or figures out how to make it work.

He's an actor, he's got a job to do, and he's going to do it to the best of his ability. He expressed reservations from a couple of scripts he received months ago, has put on film, and performed splendidly. He brought it up during the shooting of ep 8 because he was asked about it. 6.01 was the context of the conversation, not 6.08. He was asked about what it was like to play domesticated Dean. He was asked about the beginning of the season. The whole article (that I read) was focused on what to expect from the first ep of the season. And he was honest with his answers. Which is one of the reasons I like him.

I had the impression that him expressing his disappointing in writing for his character was his insurance that the writing will improve.

If I understand you correctly, you're saying that Jensen's answer had an ulterior motive, to make the writers take notice and write the character differently. That doesn't sound very professional. I'd hope that if that was Jensen's purpose, that he's already expressed his misgivings to the people who can actually make a difference in the writing.

It's like the guy can't express even a hint of negativity without the fans coming apart at the seams. He's an actor. He loves his character. He loves his job. He respects the writers. And he's going to do great with whatever they give him. He's also human and doesn't like everything they hand him. He doesn't like to have the fake blood in his mouth. He apparently cringes when a script has Dean getting beaten up. He hated hanging from wires to shoot the end of S3. And he didn't agree with a direction Kripke went in "Lucifer Rising." It happens. He works with it, he turns in his performance, and he moves on.

Maybe he is unhappy. I don't know. I hope not. Of course I want him to be happy with his role. But it seems like a lot of fans are looking for something, some signs of doom and gloom and then run with it. That's what it seems like has happened here.

I'm sorry if this seems like I'm ranting at you. I don't mean to be. But it bothers me when fans take a reasonably simple and insightful statement from an actor and read the worst into it.

I'm repeating myself, but what I got from the interview was that he was asked about what it was like to play Dean in a new setting. Jensen read the script and was chagrined that Dean was being written soft. Jensen decided that as long as he was playing the role, Dean wasn't going to go "soft," so he toughened the role up. Which, that combination--with heavy emphasis on Jensen's love of the character and playing the role and what he did with it--struck just the right balance between the two.

That frustration with the early eps does not automatically translate to frustration with the later eps. It might, but it doesn't have to.

Again, sorry if this seems harsh or ranting.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

So are you upset and dreading what the writers are writing, or are you looking forward to seeing what Jensen does with what they give him?
Both. I'm dreading what the writers give him because not always an actor can *fix* things written in the script. But i'm looking forward to see what Jensen will do with the crap they give him and how much he'll fix it. It's an interesting process but it alienates me from the storyline and makes me watch *from aside* so to speak not caring about the story or characters and enjoying only The Ackting. Whether it's a good thing or not i don't know yet.

But just FYI i read this article being in a very good mood considering the show. Maybe for the first time in a long time i was almost happy about S6 (don't remember why now) but after reading it... well, you can see it without me commenting. It's for you saying that i was prejudiced and read only negative there.
I can't argue with you though because i don't want to re-read it because it depresses me (even more) but when i read it i didn't get the impression Jensen talked about only first couple of eps, i felt it was more like he expected Dean to be sof (or notDean) in first eps because of the year w/o hunting but he didn't expect it to last.

If I understand you correctly, you're saying that Jensen's answer had an ulterior motive, to make the writers take notice and write the character differently
No, what i meant was that maybe he talked with the writers and they said they see what concernes him and agree to make Dean more Dean but didn't do that so it as his last affort to remind them of what they promissed. I think it's professional enough (of course it's just my take and i don't know if it happened) and shows that Jensen cares about his character being in character so to speak because this season the show has so many new writers i wouldn't be surprised they don't know how to write Dean Dean.

And no, no offence taken. From where you stand regarding the show i can see you being frustrated at how fans tend to interpret things.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I apologize if I made inaccurate assumptions about your state of mind when you read the article. Knowing how much you hated the end of S5, and how skeptical you were about S6, I assumed that your general mindset was to go in expecting there to be trouble or negativity. If that was not the case, I apologize.

I won't ask you to go back and re-read the article, but I found some very interesting patterns in the way it was presented on various sites. Going by the most complete article, which was nothing more than a transcript of questions and answers, Jensen spoke of the bulk of his frustration in the past tense. The questions revolved around the beginning of the season, and he talked about how he felt (past tense) when he read the script (preparing for the beginning of the season).

Then I found another site that not only cherry picked the choicest negative comments, but in at least one instance changed it to the present tense.

The third (and possibly second most reliable) article I found used the precise wording from the transcript, but then interjected the reporters commentary, introducing each quote by stressing the negativity in Jensen's statement. The media does this to "sell papers." Because negativity sells, and negativity creates buzz, and especially in SPN fandom, controversy sells.

I just . . . trust Jensen to make it work.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

To be short (and sorry i'm so late with replies) Jensne did speak in past tense but he could tell openly only about eps we already saw to not reveal any spoilers and that interview was about them filming 8th ep so that's why the general impression was that he was negative about the way they wrote Dean not only for first ep but for more eps and he didn't use present tense because maybe just now the things got better.
I trust Jensen too it's just sad that he must work for all of them to *rix* things on the show.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Did you read the report wherein clarified and said that his comments had been taken out of context? The one where he said he'd already talked to Sera, and she was aware with the challenges he was having with the role? That he's not unhappy, that it'd different and a challenge (which is how I took what he said), but not that he's unhappy.

We're all going to believe what we want to believe about it. Having been in a similar position to Jensen's (not knowing what to do with a role), and knowing that he finds the current Dean/Sam dynamic a challenge (which is the same thing he said when they shot WIaWSNB), I really do think a lot of people read things into his comments that simply weren't there.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

But Jensen never complained about challenges before. it takes something bigger than just feeling uncomfortable to voice your feelings like that. I just can't see Jensen deciding to complain just because he felt uncomfortable, he likes challenges he admitted that before. And to be honest that clarification for me sounded like a damage control :)
But i agree we don't know how he really felt giving that interview and we'll never know. I think fans interpretating his words in him being unhappy speaks volumes though. Fans projecting what they felt about the show and Dean's role and it tells me that big amount of fans aren't happy with the show this season.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't really see it as complaining. I saw it more as what he said--expressing his feelings about it, but dealing with it and moving on. And while some people might think his clarification was "damage control," I've seen enough of fandom to know that all the media needs to do is give the fans a few quotes out of context to get the fans riled. It's like the gossip columns that post stories so they can get site hits. That big headline "Supernatural Star Unhappy With Role" fairly screamed to me that it was what we call "spin," presenting a story in a certain way to get a certain reaction. So when Jensen said his comments were not presented in the proper context, I tend to believe him. (And because the "raw" transcript read a lot differently than the "news reports.")

But you are right about fans latching onto anything negative to project their own disgruntlement. It's the nature of fandom, and unless we're actually working with the people we have to draw our own conclusions.

The conclusion I drew was that he felt Dean was being written too soft, and he had to think harder about how to play the character. He's said that he finds it more difficult to play Dean when he doesn't have the easy camaraderie with Sam (he said that's what made WIaWSNB such a weird ep to shoot. He didn't have that easy relationship to fall back on). So really, everything he said made sense to me, and what he's said about missing that dynamic with Sam is nothing new. I just didn't read as much into it as lots of other people did. *shrug*

[leelust.livejournal.com]

See, but that's because you wren't diappointed in S5 and you still had good feelings about the writers. Those who didn't feel like that of course tended to see it as *proof* of their feelings. And honestly everything that Jensen said makes sense but otoh it can be spinned into damage control because there's no way Jensen would admit he actually was unhappy about the start of the season. He's too professional for that and there's no chance for us to know how he really felt.
Just for example, i didn't even saw the titles of those articles when i read them and i still got the impression he wasn't happy so that marketing move didn't affect me. And it also interesting that there were not one reporter and all of them got the impression he wasn't happy? Was it a conspiracy then? There's a lot of ways to interpret what he said.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where you got the idea that I wasn't disappointed in S5 as a whole. There was a LOT about S5 that bugged me. It just wasn't the same stuff that bugged you.

And any time you get a reporter injecting their own interpretation of a quote, you're going to get spin. The most objective of those reports that I read was the longest, most complete transcript of quotes from Jensen. The other reports that I read, the reporters would preface or follow the quote with an interpretation or explanation, always negative, and not really objective.

Was it a conspiracy then?

In the media? Of course it was. Perhaps not together, but the news media makes its money on stirring controversy with its stories. To take Jensen's quotes and give them an angle of "Well, he was disappointed and uncomfortable at first, but he's stepping up to the challenge and he's quite content with his work," would not have "sold papers" (gotten the site hits) that they want for their ratings.

I'm also a little concern by the claim that Jensen's second statement was damage control. Because if he was unhappy and now he's saying he's wasn't unhappy, then he's lying. And while Jensen is tactful and professional and protective of his privacy and only reveals what he wants us to know, I've never gotten the impression that he outright lies about his opinions and feelings.

And yes, there is more than one way to interpret what he said. You'll notice that the only interpretation that the news media and much of the fandom took it was negative.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where you got the idea that I wasn't disappointed in S5 as a whole. There was a LOT about S5 that bugged me. It just wasn't the same stuff that bugged you.
Oh, i know you had issues with S5 i just meant your feelings about the season weren't that dark as mine after the finale. The last 3 eps just killed the whole season for me.

I'm also a little concern by the claim that Jensen's second statement was damage control. Because if he was unhappy and now he's saying he's wasn't unhappy, then he's lying
I'm not sure i see it that way though. He's an actor and saying polite things about his work place is a part of his job. You can't publicly say that your boss is an asshole even if you think that way and i don't see it as lying. Actually it's boss' job to be sure your workers are comfortable with their jobs. In Jensen's case i think he explained it all very good. He didn't deny he was all that happy but he assured he's happy now - perfect damage control. And i'm saying it in a good way. He's saving Sera's ass.

[saberivojo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review of the article hon. I had heard that there were some reservations from Jensen too but that they were regarding the "softness" of Dean. I trust that Jensen will play Dean as he thinks Dean needs to be played. I also think that Sera and the rest of the staff at SPN does value what Jensen brings to the table and how he feels about things. In my heart. I think that if Jensen really hated something and felt it was completely out of character for Dean he would say something and it would be taken into consideration and changed. I do believe that. Because I don't think Jensen would be vocal unless he thought it was 100% wrong and Sera and Kripke and everyone would trust his instincts on it.

That's just my opinion. Not worth the paper it is written on but...

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

No problem. This is the first I've heard of any of this, and I really think that the fans and the media (such as it is) have blown it out of proportion. Like I said, I totally get what Jensen was saying, and I love that he knows enough to take what they give him and make it Dean's.

I've also noticed something of a pattern with Jensen: if he doesn't like something, he won't say anything until after the fact, when it's over and done with and it's water under the bridge. I'm thinking specifically of his disappointment in the finished product of Devour, and how I've never heard him say anything bad about Jessica Alba, though she made things difficult for him during Dark Angel. I've not found him saying anything about it until after the fact, after she'd apologized and they'd made amends, and things are good. He speaks nicely of her.

Or the scene in "Lucifer Rising" that he expressed some displeasure with, but couldn't exactly go against the creator of the character.

So, yeah, I totally get that Jensen was frustrated with Dean seeming to be "softer" on the page. And he's honest about his frustration. But I also got the impression that he's moved beyond that and is working as hard as he ever has to bring Dean to life.

Ya know?

[saberivojo.livejournal.com]

Well, I agree. But I think that has something to do with Jensen being the professional that he is. I also get the feeling that he just plain does not like to be negative toward his fellow actors/directors and crew. I also think that he is very careful about what he says and how he says it. He reminds me a bit of me in that respect (no, I don't think that he and I are soul mates or anything) but just that I try to think before I speak and consider the ramifications of what I am going to do or say. I am not the kind of person to throw caution to the wind and say whatever I want no matter who gets hurt. He is reserved and calculated. Usually. It is kind of fun to see him relax a bit at times and speak his mind.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally agree. He's professional, and positive, and knows when and how to present himself. But that's kind of my point: he doesn't say anything until after the fact. So if he's expressing reservations about how something was written, it's in the past, and he's moved on.

I haven't read the entire article, because I don't want to be spoiled, but just the portion I read, it sounded like his chagrin was from the beginning of the season. Jared said Jensen played it well and kept it true to character. It's all stated in the past tense, which makes me think that everyone is reading something into this that might not still be there.

Does that make sense?

[blacklid.livejournal.com]

*APPLAUSE*

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

What you said. :)

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

*bows*

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Interesting analysis of the semi-character swap.

You are right about the Dean-like Sam missing a key element: the bravado. And I hadn't identified it in words, so thank you.

It's going to be an interesting season. Hair-pulling and nail-biting and shrieking at the TV screen, but interesting...

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Hair-pulling and nail-biting and shrieking at the TV screen

Isn't that why we started watching the show in the first place?

;-)