Sera talks about the introduction of angels to the mythology, Castiel, Dean’s faith issues, and Sam and Ruby's strange relationship.
A seven-week hiatus can be rather maddening. Given Supernatural’s explosive season four and the mind-boggling material that’s been presented for ten episodes, this long time to reflect has left me with more questions than answers. I’m sure I’m not alone.…
Article comments
126 - susana
"....I would be thrilled with equality...."
me too!!! i don´t understand why equal treatment bothers some people...
"....When we get an episode like What is and What Should Never Be for Sam, or Dream a Little Dream, or any ENTIRE episode that really delves into his issues or who he is or what he belies, then I'll agree. Mystery Spot is as close as we have come to that, and that showed us a facet of Sam--scary obsessiveness and determination, but there's more to him than that. Much more...."
i agree!!! i want that kind of episodes for sam!!!
127 - Erika
"I must say, this is not typical behavior for this fandom. I'm pretty shocked by all this."
Sadly, this is entirely too typical of this fandom! Sam fans have also been more outspoken this season, to be sure. Some people don't like that at all.
I look forward to your analysis of Sam's character. Sam has actually had a lot of growth and change as a character, which is good. But the frustration has been one of depth of presentation. The show gives this depth to Dean, with all kinds of special this, that, and those to show him off every season. Meanwhile, Sam is forced to emerge from the shadows, while the spotlight is always on Dean. It is for this reason that I find Jared Padalecki one of the best actors on television; he has to build Sam on screen without much writer focus, dialogue, or bonafide scenes. Look at what he did in Jus in Belo, where he barely had any dialogue at all. He's silent, but he doesn't disappear. Or how wonderfully responsive he is in A Very Supernatural Christmas. I love Jared's acting, and I think it deserves more public support. I would love it, too, if the writers GAVE him better and bigger material to work with.
What a lot of Sam fans are asking for is for Sam to have the added depth, detail, and attention the show has no problem giving to Dean. You could do this with five and ten minute scenes. Hell, three minute scenes if that's all you've got. The question that's been killing us is why Sam can't have five minutes here and there to let viewers inside his character. Why is he cut out of special episodes so often? Why is he cut out of family episodes, family moments? Sam has been turned into an orphan by this show, and now it feels like he's dying of neglect. Yeah, we'll be getting more Sam and his arc this season, but it all feels like it's been built on one lost opportunity after another. And that's sad.
128 - Freyja
Alice- I want to thank you for a great interview, and I have faith and trust in Eric and the show. It hasn't let me down before. ;) Then again I don't watch just for one brother.
*shakes head* so sad to see this has turned into Dean vs Sam again. Then again I am not surprised it's been a regular theme throughout the entire season. So damn tired of a great interview being ruined in the comments with fandom wank.
Deal with your wank on your on boards, don't spill it out onto a blog or article. Makes the entire fandom look childish and immature.
If you don't want to watch anymore then stop watching.. It's just that simple.
Again Alice thanks for the interview, I am looking forward to the second part.
129 - Jamie
Thanks for the interview Alice. I've really come to enjoy your entries. :)
Shame about the childish behavior trashing your comment section, but I guess some people are just fail when it comes to that "life" thing.
130 - Jemma
Alice thanks for this interview it was one of the most interesting and revealing I've seen so far!!! Being an old fan of the show who's become quite a huge fan of the angels-vs-demons mytharc (and of course, Castiel, damn he's gorgeous!) I was really happy with some of these answers.
Sorry about all the ridiculous complaints cluttering up your comments, I just wanted you to know that a lot of Fandom was really excited about this interview, and you and Sera certainly hit a lot of things the fans wanted to know, so thank you very much for this!
131 - Lulu
"Sadly, this is entirely too typical of this fandom! Sam fans have also been more outspoken this season, to be sure. Some people don't like that at all."
No. Some people dislike the inherent hypocrisy of the same Samfans who have been telling Dean fans to shut up and call them all kinds of vicious names for whining while they screech their own complaints every chance they get. They also view disagreement as oppression and seem to think they are entitled to let their opinions stand unchallenged.
132 - Suze
Enough! Take it outside and pull each others hair in the carpark. You're making us all look stupid.
Never argue with drunks or religious fanatics ... You could add Supernatural zelots to that list too.
If Sara does get a look at this lot she'll just kill herself laughing.
133 - hermit
"Look at what he did in Jus in Belo, where he barely had any dialogue at all. He's silent, but he doesn't disappear."
Funny that you should say that. When that episode came out, the Sam fans cried foul because Sam was practically invisible.
The writers aren't giving Jensen anything special. Sam had the mytharc, the powers, and everyone's attention for the past three years. It's been all about Sam since the series began. If Jared couldn't make Sam more prominent, it's not Jensen's fault, nor the writers. I'm a bit tired of the Sam fans accusing the writers of not giving Sam anything, when Sam has had everything.
This season, there is finally a balance. Yes, now both brothers are important, it's not just all about Sam. So the Sam fans go on a warpath because God forbid Dean should be just as important as Sam and the Dean has more reason to live than being all about Sam.
That, to me , is what riles the Samfans up. Because Dean is not all about Sam now, that Castiel is not about Sam, that the story has gone beyond Sam into something that is bigger than both leads and while both are just as important, equally, they are still soldiers in a bigger war, as it should be. The apocalypse shouldn't involve just one human being
But that is what the Sam fans wanted. Sam to be the Christ, the Anti-Christ and the superhero all rolled into one. For Sam to have the action, the emotional and the center arc. In other words, what fans like Bright, and other Sam fans want is the All Sam Show, with only Jared Padalecki starring in his all one man show.
"What a lot of Sam fans are asking for is for Sam to have the added depth, detail, and attention the show has no problem giving to Dean."
The show didn't give that to Dean, Jensen did.
134 - Missy
"The show didn't give that to Dean, Jensen did."
Someone once said that an actor's job is not just to take what they're given and play it straight, but to suggest to the writers how to write for that character... to humanize and give the character depth in the performance, which thereby inspires the writers to run with that fleshed-out characterization. Ie, the very best characters are created by a symbiotic relationship between talented writers and a talented actor.
I think this is what's happened with Dean. The written script had one Dean, Jensen got a hold of the character and developed him further with the performance, the writers got a hold of that Dean and developed him further with their own creative input, etc. Occasionally this causes problems, in that he gave subtle indications that things were not totally as they appeared in the family (when Sam said that John considered Dean to be perfect, Jensen gave a little look of skepticism/surprise, for example) and the writing takes it too far (Dream a Little Dream, anyone?). And sometimes it's done just perfectly (All Hell II, for example, or Dead Man's Blood.) But for the most part, the small unscripted moments, or the way that he chose to play certain scenes, have translated into the audience and the writers understanding Dean on a deep, almost instinctive level, and therefore his character becomes easy and fun to write for. And therefore the writing in more Dean-focused episodes is better, because there's that symbiosis feeding both of the creative forces behind the character.
For Sam, we've gotten a LOT of characterization, and much of it has been positive growth in terms of Sam getting better at his job, becoming devoted to the hunt because of guilt over his father and then out of a need to stack his karma and save himself, dealing with a potential monster inside of him and what that means for the rest of his life and his agency, etc. I don't think it feels as instinctive as it does with Dean, however, because I think it developed more from a linear, thought-out storyline than organically from the performance. Sam's always had a very defined character arc, and the evolution of his character happens the way it does because that's where the story is. Also, Jared plays things very straight... I don't think it's as give-and-take as the writerly relationship with Jensen's performances. They tell him to do something, he does it competently, and then they tell him to do something else. With Jensen, I believe it's more that they tell him to do something, he does it competently, but also in a creative way that inspires more thought on the part of the writer for future directions. It's a more "living" process, and therefore Dean is more vibrant, somehow. He's a combination of the creativity of both parties, actor and writer, rather than a creation of the writer who is competently conveyed by an actor.
I don't know if all of that makes any sense, but just from interviews and my gut feeling about their relative places in the plot from the very beginning, I suspect that's what the difference is. And for what it's worth, I don't think either method is better, I think it's just the difference in styles between an actor sticking to the writer's vision 100%, and an actor inhabiting a role so completely that what's written takes on dimensions it may not have had in the script. Todd Farmer, the writer for MBV, talked a bit about Jensen's acting in the movie, and there's quite a bit in his stories about this kind of creativity in Jensen as well... it's a much more engaged and collaborative way of approaching the work.
135 - *bright73
I think we have living proof of Jared's creativity in BUaBS, picking up Meg's mannerism and channeling them, and if you read the script for the sex-scene in Heart and compare what Jared added, there's even more proof of Jared's creativity in adding even more complexity to the sexually withdrawn Sam-character.
Sam is just as vibrant but he is not all over the place like Jensen's character is. I was hoping that aspect of the character was the writers' decision and not the actor's. I'm thinking of how Dean is supposed to handle fear in Fresh Blood and then in Yellow Fever. I always thought it was the writers'/director's doing Dean a major discredit with the sudden OTT behavior, but I stand corrected.
I was coming here to check if Part 2 was out but frankly, I think that all this passive- aggressiveness against Sam, Jared and Sam-fans has had me change my mind. I see myself nominated like one thing or another by people I have no idea who they even are.
It's all this thinking and telling others what they do, think and feel that occurs here that has me bow out, once again. I am failing Jared and Sam, I know. I should stand up for him but if the writers and even the creator aren't, who am I to do so?
I only wish Jared gets out of this asap. I'll be the first to give and standing ovation if Sam is killed off, never to re-appear on the show again.
136 - Missy
"I always thought it was the writers'/director's doing Dean a major discredit with the sudden OTT behavior, but I stand corrected."
Hee. Brand-new writers like the guys writing YF probably take a while to adjust to the show, and as I said above, there are occasional missteps. But you know that, Bright. ;) And I think anybody who can read understands the difference between what I posted and your passive-aggressive mischaracterization of it. :)
137 - kk
Hi, Alice.
I'm trying to post a few links for you with more discussion about Sam's characterization so you can see that it's not just a couple of boards duking this subject out, it's more widespread. But your spam filter is pinging it as spam and won't let me post. Is there another way to send these links to you?
138 - Kay
"Sam is just as vibrant but he is not all over the place like Jensen's character is. I was hoping that aspect of the character was the writers' decision and not the actor's. I'm thinking of how Dean is supposed to handle fear in Fresh Blood and then in Yellow Fever. I always thought it was the writers'/director's doing Dean a major discredit with the sudden OTT behavior, but I stand corrected."
I don't think you can compare the way in which Dean's fears were displayed in Fresh Blood vs. Yellow Fever. In Fresh Blood, Dean was at the point where he was in denial and he was acting out in a reckless manner. Sam recognized Dean's behavior (as being something that Sam has seen in him before when Dean is afraid) and called him on it. Jensen's performance was wonderful in the episode (as was Jared's) and he was spot-on with Dean's characterization.
But in Yellow Fever, Dean's display of fear was a symptom of a DISEASE (ghost sickness). This disease manifest itself in the form of extreme paranoia in it's victims. There was nothing "OTT" about Dean's normal display of fear here, because Dean wasn't supposed to be "himself." The sickness affected his ability to cope with stress and then adding in the extreme paranoia symptoms plus a lot of alcohol, and you have a really messed up Dean. Not that I loved the way the episode was written in general, but it was supposed to show Dean reacting and acting in an *extreme* manner and Jensen played it perfectly.
It seems to me that the writers know that one of Jensen's strengths in his range (he's great at both comedy and drama, and everything in between), so maybe that's why they tend to write script plots that allow for Dean to be the more dynamic character -- knowing Jensen has such a keen grasp of his character that he can handle a wide range of emotions as the script mandates, and all the while always keeping in character. I know that for me, Dean is a very vibrant and fascinating character and I think Jensen does an outstanding job in his portrayal. I believe Sera has commented before about Jensen's keen ability to make a vanilla line "work." Oh and also her most recent comments here, "Needless to say, Jensen kills it. Very talented actor, that Jensen. You may have noticed." Yes Sera, I certainly did!
"I was coming here to check if Part 2 was out but frankly, I think that all this passive- aggressiveness against Sam, Jared and Sam-fans has had me change my mind."
But isn't that exactly what you're doing in your passive-agressive comments about Jensen? And I'd like to add that I don't understand how some Sam fans feel justified to criticize Dean/Jensen fans by throwing out insults, like this "EDG" label. I realize that there are quite a few *Jared-only* fans that tend to comment on (spam!) these blogs since they usually include comments like *bright73: "I only wish Jared gets out of this asap. I'll be the first to give and standing ovation if Sam is killed off, never to re-appear on the show again." But why, Alice, you would even think about paying these type of fans any kind of lipservice is BEYOND me because it seems to be that many comments here come from a very biased place where the *primary* concern is how they view Jared -- not Sam, and not the show.
And to be perfectly honest, I think certain fans got so used to Sam being THE main character in the mythology of the show that it's thrown them for a loop that Kripke has given Dean his own storyline in the show's mythology, because Sam does get his share of characterization. And I further think that the popularity of the angel storyline has added to their frustration, since NOW there is a supernatural being who thinks DEAN is special (yay, Castiel!), when for 3 years, all we ever heard from the demons was how special Sam the Demon King/Anti-Christ is.
As for the brothers -- I am hopeful that the emotional separation between them (as painful as it is now) will be explored and dealt with, and that it will mean characterization for both. But for now, I'm really enjoying the build-up to a confrontation (I'm guessing) and then both boys can deal with their feelings and their issues out in the open.
So, as a fan of the SHOW (not just *one* actor in the show), I am so very thankful to Kripke & Co. for this season. I think they've made a great move by expanding the mythology, adding the angels, and giving Dean his own mytharc (like Sam has ALWAYS had). I'm so glad the ratings are so great that the CW noticed and is going to give us another season!
139 - Kate
//Thank you Dr. Dreadful for keeping on top of things! I must say, this is not typical behavior for this fandom. I'm pretty shocked by all this.//
Oh Alice, you obviously don't hang around the parts of fandom I do. This has been happening ever since last season when Dean got a little more in the story. It's out of control, and I've even seen Sam fans hope for his death because if "They are going to treat Jared this unfairly, Sam might as well die." Mature people, real mature.
Thanks for the interview anyway. Wish people would shut up and take this to a message board.
140 - Marthe
Alice. If you're waiting for tempers to cool before posting part 2 of the interview, looks like it's going to be a while. These kids just won't behave. ;-)
Thanks for the interview Alice! I do look forward to part 2, whenever i is published. Love your blogs!
141 - Sandy
Thanks Alice for the great interview. Im looking forward to watching Supernatural when it returns in the US.(Season 2 is FINALLY going to show from next Friday here in NZ...pffft took them long enough).. Some of the comments are funny on here, some quite shocking. These SPN fans are really passionate thats for sure. I've no complaints of course. Apart from having to wait for a LONG time before S4 is on dvd so I can watch it properly! :)
142 - Rachel
Missy, Bright, could you two give it a rest so the rest of us could get the second half of the interview? Bright, you're obviously a Sam fan from Limp Sam, Missy, you're obviously a Jensen fan from TWoP. You two obviously have seen each other on another board and have a personnel reparte going on. You're both way over the top.
143 - Missy
Oh, Rachel. I suppose it's not way over the top to whine about your own show complaints while labeling others' complaints "hissy fits".
You should probably leave the peacemaking to someone who hasn't participated in the mud-slinging... it'll have more credibility that way.
144 - Lana
"Alice. If you're waiting for tempers to cool before posting part 2 of the interview, looks like it's going to be a while. These kids just won't behave. ;-)"
Well all these kids are from limp!Sam, which is basically TWoP, but for Sam!Fans, so don't expect them to cool down much. Me, being a huge Sam and Jared fangirl, can't stand limp!Sam. It seems to consist of hating Dean, Bobby, Castiel, and just about any other character that isn't all about Sam.
145 - Lana
"And I don't think I want an episode with Castiel's POV."
OPENING. O.P.E.N.I.N.G. You do know this happens every. single. episode. Right?
146 - Kate
// Pages of agreement that Sam should be written/killed off the show and replaced with Castiel. //
Please show me these. I've seen ones of Sam fan who hate Dean hate Bobby for loving Dean more, hate Castiel for not being about Sam, hate Uriel for being mean to Sam, then love Ruby because she loves Sam.
Stupid people come from bothsides, don't act like they don't
147 - KK
"all these kids are from limp!Sam"
Uh, no, not all of us who are unhappy with Sam's treatment and lack of characterization are from limp Sam. I had never even heard of that forum till I came here.
148 - Missy
"OPENING. O.P.E.N.I.N.G. You do know this happens every. single. episode. Right?"
Hee! And, well said, Lana. There've been a lot of episodes that haven't opened from the POV of either Winchester boy. I don't know why Sam fans are making such a huge deal out of this, except that they just hate that a supernatural being actually has a smidgen of interest in Dean, and they're trying to find something, ANYTHING, to bash him for.
149 - Sandy
Wow some of you are acting like kids. Imagine what Jensen and Jared would think if they read this stuff! Embarrasing to say the least...
150 - breezy
oh wow.
first of all i thought the interview was very informative and interesting, alice.
second: why is everyone geeking out? all yall who are hating on the writers/characters/actors/whoever need to chill. don't watch the show if it makes you this miserable and upset. seriously, don't hate. it is a SERIOUS waste of energy.
151 - Karmyn
Hi Alice, thanks so much for posting this brilliant interview! I look forward to Part 2 of Sera's interview, to your analysis of Sam later in the week and most of all - the new episode.
I'm proud to be a Supernatural fan. While I'm shaking my head and scrolling very quickly through many of the previous comments, I'm also reminding myself about the gems amongst our fandom. We have many passionate, fascinating, intelligent and dedicated fans as well as excellent reviewers like yourself, Bardicvoice, Refur and many others. I want to see thought-provoking, articulate, reasonable and coherent analyses - you never fail to deliver. Thanks again and I look forward to your next post.
152 - kiscinca
Thanks for the article Alice and looking forward to part two. I am a Sam fan too and agree with those expressing their concerns.
153 - Alice Jester
For anyone who wishes to send me links or private messages, I added a "contact us" section on my personal website. The link can be found on my profile or click on the url next to my name at the top of this message.
Part 2 is coming very soon. Just trying to work out some last minute editing kinks!
154 - Erika
Sam fans have been upset with this show since John died - that's the beginning of season 2. Everything has revolved around Dean since then. And Sam's mytharc hasn't done him any good at all on this show. Dean is a Fonzie character, Fonzies write themselves and take over their shows, happens all the time. I just don't relate to Saint Fonzie like many do, and prefer Sam, who I feel is more human. That's just my emotional approach to the show.
Everytime the writers hand something big and difficult to Jared, he nails it and then some. His acting is wonderful and nuanced, and he is every bit an equal to Jensen.
Also, even if Jared were completely horrible, I would expect the writers to do their job and put in scenes that support Sam's characterisation and plot. They have failed at his time and time again.
It's not that I've stopped obsessing over the show, just that I'm sad about how it continues to disappoint in an area of very basic writing.
155 - ana teresa
bueno, a mi me gustan los dos chicos, pero de verdad que esta temporada, el pobre sammy casi no aparece en la serie, y eso es muy triste. Los dos hermanos deberian tener la misma cantidad de minutos al aire.
156 - ana teresa
bueno, a mi me gustan los dos chicos, pero de verdad que esta temporada, el pobre sammy casi no aparece en la serie, y eso es muy triste. Los dos hermanos deberian tener la misma cantidad de minutos al aire.
157 - Lana
"Everything has revolved around Dean since then."
Really, so the YED in that season revolved around Dean. Sam's "I will go bad Dean, and you will have to kill me." All revolved around Dean. The special kids revolved around Dean. The YED's plan also revolved around Dean. Ruby and Lilith also revolve around Dean?
That's Dean taking over the show? Dang, that's the worse take over I've ever seen.
158 - Missy
Oh, Erika. :) You just don't get it, do you? The boys are co-leads. There are TWO protagonists in this show. No matter how much you want it to revolve solely around Sam, no matter how much you hope Jensen is just gonna stop being talented and Dean is gonna stop being interesting, it's never gonna happen. There are two leads, and you'd be better off getting used to the idea.
159 - Josie
Yes, there are two leads. The complaint of Sam fans is that really stopped happening this season when Dean took over the majority of the show. It's been a progression of losing Sam as a lead character that some fans started seeing in S2. We don't want the Sam show. We want the brothers back, which includes giving Sam something of substance to do.
160 - Sara Isabella
you Dean/girls what is wrong with all you?. Kripke is messing the show because of you, at this point for you he could kill Sam and do the show with Dean and Castiel and everything would be a nice and cute fanfic. Teh show is about the both of them but Dean's season four is too much. Jensen is funny, cute, and kinda hot but sadly is not enough.
And I don't think is stupid to talk in here, we have a rigth to express our mind, we can't let happen what happened with Smallville.
161 - Dawn
Hello, I just found this and I must say that we shouldn't attack eachother. We are free to say our opinions and it doesn't matter if we are rigth or wrong because Kripke will do what he please and we don't care much at leats that we are Dean fangirl.
About Limp!Sam, I think there are so fans that are rigth, but Dean needs his own space too but for a Sam!Girl SPN became all a Dean Show.
YED, Ruby, Lillith, John, Bobby...they may be connected to Sam but is ALWAYS affecting Dean more than Sam.
Is Dean who has been in a coma, in hell, sold his soul, was kidnapped, lost his mother, miss his father, is mistreated, attacked by any evil thing, wanted by God, saved from hell, suffering from PTSD, who cries every episode, who is the center of attention. Dean even had ALL a episode about himself.
I think we need more Sam. And not, I'm not a Sammy!Girl and not I'm not idiot or blind or jelous.
Oh and about Sam dying, it seems like that could happen because a lot of fangirls are acting like the poor guy shoul have never lived. and for other Sam is good while Dean is the center of attention.
162 - Yanes
I'm almost sure all you are the same Fangirl. Just one person.
163 - snwicked
Hey Alice
Nice interview! Always great to read Sara's thoughts about the show! I love her writing!
Where is Part 2 of this interview?
Thanks again for a great interview!