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tyrsibsI was ready for the SPN Hellatus. Really. I have enjoyed the season so far, I think in part because I have made an effort not to become embroiled in fandom angst. I have also avoided “reading ahead” by way of sneak peeks, spoiler articles, and much of the speculation that flies around the internet. I would watch the trailer at the end of each episode, and avert my eyes to as much of the rest as I could, trying to hold myself to minor postings on a few friendly sites. (I’m pretty much on the fringes of the fandom, but I do like talking about the show, and there’s only so much my husband can take!) It helped.
But December is long, Christmas is over, and I have free time and itchy fingers again—I took a look around at what some of the bloggers and entertainment site writers had said about this season’s road. In spite of the expected differences of opinion, and varying degrees of critical approval, I found myself struck by a common sentiment—“How is Dean going to come back to us?” The affection that most of the writers hold for this character, and for Sam, shone through whatever critical comments they made.
It got me thinking (“A dangerous pastime.” “I know.” --Sorry).
This will come as no surprise to anyone in fandom, of course, but the Winchesters hold an unusual place both for fans and more casual viewers in terms of how we react to what happens to them. They are heroes whom we want to protect. They are tough guys who we love as much for their vulnerabilities and mistakes as for their skills and badassery. And we do love them, almost as if they were family with all the strengths and faults entailed. I tried to put this into sensible terms for my husband last night, but I could see from his expression that I was babbling on, and that he thought I was talking about the usual pop culture crush. I let it go, for his peace.
It occurred to me today what my jumbled brain was trying to say last night with regards to the affection and protectiveness that a lot of fans (including me) have for the Winchesters. It goes beyond their looks, and even beyond the actors playing them (though of course that plays a part, I won't lie). It's unusual, I think, for people to want so badly for characters like these two guys to have some "peace" and to be as worried about their damaged psyches and souls as they are about physical dangers, if not more so. It's certainly a new experience for me, and I am no stranger to geeky obsessions. This morning, though, an analogy hit me that I thought was apt, and I wondered if you would agree. Here's the thing. What we feel when we see Sam struggling with his addiction:
Or Dean succumbing to the Mark of Cain:
Is what we should have felt upon seeing this scene:
Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vadar.
It’s no coincidence that Sam and Dean have used the phrase “going Darkside” when confronting their fears of corruption, of becoming the monster. Like Anakin, their stories revolve around their reactions to corrupting influences, both from inside and out. If they fall to it—if, as Dean says repeatedly over the course of the first 9 episodes, that once the darkness is embraced it will never truly leave, then their end will truly be the tragedy that the Star Wars prequels made a show of but never quite fully embraced.
And the characters we love as we never loved Anakin* will be lost to us, and mourned.
*I say “we”, but I am of course only speaking for myself. Feel free to argue with me in the comments.
But December is long, Christmas is over, and I have free time and itchy fingers again—I took a look around at what some of the bloggers and entertainment site writers had said about this season’s road. In spite of the expected differences of opinion, and varying degrees of critical approval, I found myself struck by a common sentiment—“How is Dean going to come back to us?” The affection that most of the writers hold for this character, and for Sam, shone through whatever critical comments they made.
It got me thinking (“A dangerous pastime.” “I know.” --Sorry).
This will come as no surprise to anyone in fandom, of course, but the Winchesters hold an unusual place both for fans and more casual viewers in terms of how we react to what happens to them. They are heroes whom we want to protect. They are tough guys who we love as much for their vulnerabilities and mistakes as for their skills and badassery. And we do love them, almost as if they were family with all the strengths and faults entailed. I tried to put this into sensible terms for my husband last night, but I could see from his expression that I was babbling on, and that he thought I was talking about the usual pop culture crush. I let it go, for his peace.
It occurred to me today what my jumbled brain was trying to say last night with regards to the affection and protectiveness that a lot of fans (including me) have for the Winchesters. It goes beyond their looks, and even beyond the actors playing them (though of course that plays a part, I won't lie). It's unusual, I think, for people to want so badly for characters like these two guys to have some "peace" and to be as worried about their damaged psyches and souls as they are about physical dangers, if not more so. It's certainly a new experience for me, and I am no stranger to geeky obsessions. This morning, though, an analogy hit me that I thought was apt, and I wondered if you would agree. Here's the thing. What we feel when we see Sam struggling with his addiction:
Or Dean succumbing to the Mark of Cain:
Is what we should have felt upon seeing this scene:
Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vadar.
It’s no coincidence that Sam and Dean have used the phrase “going Darkside” when confronting their fears of corruption, of becoming the monster. Like Anakin, their stories revolve around their reactions to corrupting influences, both from inside and out. If they fall to it—if, as Dean says repeatedly over the course of the first 9 episodes, that once the darkness is embraced it will never truly leave, then their end will truly be the tragedy that the Star Wars prequels made a show of but never quite fully embraced.
And the characters we love as we never loved Anakin* will be lost to us, and mourned.
*I say “we”, but I am of course only speaking for myself. Feel free to argue with me in the comments.
