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

[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.