But I very much agree that he set the tone of the show and had a huge influence on it. I think that he's noticeably missed on the show regardless. You might be right that he helped guide the writing, and it would be really interesting to know if bringing Dean in as an actual mytharc counterpoint to Sam was his influence.
Yeah, I know he wasn't the writer, but he had such a long-standing influence in the genre field that Kripke was blessed to have snagged him in the first place. In fact, one wonders if Kim would have moved onto another project by now, like almost all the talent they once had have done? Even Edlund has one foot out the door this year. Hm.
But I do think Kim was the "adult" voice on the show, probably kept Kripke and Gamble in line a lot of times. Kripke said more than once in commentaries that he was pulled back from some really bad Dean choices, and I believe the person who likely pulled him back was Manners. Considering Dean's role in the mytharc began falling apart after Kim died and even before season four ended, I have to think that it was Kim who may have pushed for treating Dean and Jensen like the co-lead he was supposed to be in the first place.
One interesting thing I remember thinking during S4, especially in OTHoaP, was, "Huh. So they're making Dean the hero of the mytharc? How's that going to play against the original premise of Sam being the hero? Hm . . . . " I guess they never truly found a completely satisfactory way of working through that particular challenge.
I don't cut them that slack - it would have been easy if they honestly employed the "symmetry" they claim they like, except never end up doing (I don't think that word means what they think it means). No Dean fan ever asked them to cut Sam out of the hero moments - but it was always easy enough to put both brothers on equal footing and make them an actual team that they never really seem to be in reality. Kripke and Gamble overtly made the choices they did to cut Dean out.
IA with you about how the angel story line devolved into a stupid family squabble. Such a waste - it all started out with such lofty ideas.
I have a soft spot for Dean (and Jensen) too, of course, no question about that. It's why I've hung on the last two seasons even though he's being sidelined more and more. I just haven't decided if I can continue to do that this year. But even if I stop watching entirely, I'll never stop loving Dean Winchester. He'll always be one of my all-time favorite characters, thanks to Jensen's portrayal of him. :)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-08-22 12:18 pm (UTC)Yeah, I know he wasn't the writer, but he had such a long-standing influence in the genre field that Kripke was blessed to have snagged him in the first place. In fact, one wonders if Kim would have moved onto another project by now, like almost all the talent they once had have done? Even Edlund has one foot out the door this year. Hm.
But I do think Kim was the "adult" voice on the show, probably kept Kripke and Gamble in line a lot of times. Kripke said more than once in commentaries that he was pulled back from some really bad Dean choices, and I believe the person who likely pulled him back was Manners. Considering Dean's role in the mytharc began falling apart after Kim died and even before season four ended, I have to think that it was Kim who may have pushed for treating Dean and Jensen like the co-lead he was supposed to be in the first place.
One interesting thing I remember thinking during S4, especially in OTHoaP, was, "Huh. So they're making Dean the hero of the mytharc? How's that going to play against the original premise of Sam being the hero? Hm . . . . " I guess they never truly found a completely satisfactory way of working through that particular challenge.
I don't cut them that slack - it would have been easy if they honestly employed the "symmetry" they claim they like, except never end up doing (I don't think that word means what they think it means). No Dean fan ever asked them to cut Sam out of the hero moments - but it was always easy enough to put both brothers on equal footing and make them an actual team that they never really seem to be in reality. Kripke and Gamble overtly made the choices they did to cut Dean out.
IA with you about how the angel story line devolved into a stupid family squabble. Such a waste - it all started out with such lofty ideas.
I have a soft spot for Dean (and Jensen) too, of course, no question about that. It's why I've hung on the last two seasons even though he's being sidelined more and more. I just haven't decided if I can continue to do that this year. But even if I stop watching entirely, I'll never stop loving Dean Winchester. He'll always be one of my all-time favorite characters, thanks to Jensen's portrayal of him. :)