SPN 5x04 Screencap Meta
Oct. 2nd, 2009 10:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
liptonrm_backupI was going to meta, but I think I'll let the screencaps talk for me.
Screencaps from 5x04 are from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
oxoniensis and screencaps from 1x21 are from Supernatural.TV.
A couple things of note: The visual parallels between John giving Dean the Colt and Dean giving Sam the Knife are pretty apparent (though not shot-for-shot). And I think it serves a similar symbolic/thematic point. When John gives Dean the Colt he's also giving Sam to Dean, again. He's officially marking Dean as an adult and bequeathing his quest onto Dean's sole shoulders, in a sense (you finish what I've started, watch out for your brother). The only fundamental change in the relationship dynamic is that John no longer treats Dean like a grunt but rather a peer, a fellow officer, if you will.
In the latter scene Dean is not bequeathing his own quest upon Sam but he is finally acknowledging that Sam is an adult. One of the largest communication problems that has existed between Sam and Dean is that they have contined to interact on a child-parent level rather than a brother-brother level. Last season when Dean was upset with Sam he resorted to commands and threats, much like a parent, so Sam responded by acting out and sneaking around, much like a surly teenager. In a sense, it's not that they're each other's greatest weakness but rather their immature relationship is.
With the passing of the Knife Dean is functionally saying that he and Sam are partners, utterly and completely. They're finally becoming the unit they always should have been.
I LOVE it when Show is both so subtly smart and so aware of its own canon and character development. It's taken four long years but Sam and Dean have finally matured, both individually and as a team. Thank goodness.
ETA 10/3/09: I just noticed that while Dean is in the same position in both scenes, Sam takes and remains in John's position. Which is yet another indication by Show that Sam is John's heir. While Dean has strived to fill John's parental role both before and after John's death, Sam has grown to take John's place.
Except they're not John, they're Sam and Dean, a fact which may prove to be the world's salvation, as it has almost proved to be the world's damnation. But that's a whole other post entirely.
Screencaps from 5x04 are from
oxoniensis and screencaps from 1x21 are from Supernatural.TV.A couple things of note: The visual parallels between John giving Dean the Colt and Dean giving Sam the Knife are pretty apparent (though not shot-for-shot). And I think it serves a similar symbolic/thematic point. When John gives Dean the Colt he's also giving Sam to Dean, again. He's officially marking Dean as an adult and bequeathing his quest onto Dean's sole shoulders, in a sense (you finish what I've started, watch out for your brother). The only fundamental change in the relationship dynamic is that John no longer treats Dean like a grunt but rather a peer, a fellow officer, if you will.
In the latter scene Dean is not bequeathing his own quest upon Sam but he is finally acknowledging that Sam is an adult. One of the largest communication problems that has existed between Sam and Dean is that they have contined to interact on a child-parent level rather than a brother-brother level. Last season when Dean was upset with Sam he resorted to commands and threats, much like a parent, so Sam responded by acting out and sneaking around, much like a surly teenager. In a sense, it's not that they're each other's greatest weakness but rather their immature relationship is.
With the passing of the Knife Dean is functionally saying that he and Sam are partners, utterly and completely. They're finally becoming the unit they always should have been.
I LOVE it when Show is both so subtly smart and so aware of its own canon and character development. It's taken four long years but Sam and Dean have finally matured, both individually and as a team. Thank goodness.
ETA 10/3/09: I just noticed that while Dean is in the same position in both scenes, Sam takes and remains in John's position. Which is yet another indication by Show that Sam is John's heir. While Dean has strived to fill John's parental role both before and after John's death, Sam has grown to take John's place.
Except they're not John, they're Sam and Dean, a fact which may prove to be the world's salvation, as it has almost proved to be the world's damnation. But that's a whole other post entirely.
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 03:55 pm (UTC)Yes THIS! And it's exactly what I was hoping for when they split up: that they would come back together with a mutal respect and a much healthier relationship. Now they are equal partners. Yes there will still be a little big brother and little brother stuff, I'm sure, because that's the reality of the situation. But for the most part, they'll be walking shoulder to shoulder, neither leading and neither following. They'll be together, forging their own destiny. And THAT is awesome :)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 09:58 pm (UTC)Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes. It's not about what other people say they are, it's about what they choose to be. Together and individually.
We're rooting for you, guys. We know you can do it.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 10:00 pm (UTC)Sam and Dean as nearly-functioning adults. Talk about your miracles. =D
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Date: 2009-10-02 09:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 01:39 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 10:04 pm (UTC)The people who work on Show are just amazingly talented. When they bring their A-game we get some truly great product. It makes a fangirl's brain very happy. =D
no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 02:59 pm (UTC)You should post this over at
no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 03:24 pm (UTC)And ooooo, that community looks very exciting. I think I'll take your suggestion.
Re: welll...
Date: 2009-10-09 10:12 pm (UTC)Come on, Show. We know you can do it.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 10:15 pm (UTC)It really is all about the love. =D
no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 05:20 pm (UTC)Oh, yes!
This is a lovely analysis of the handing-off scenes.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:46 pm (UTC)I love that Show understands and loves the characters as much as the fans do. It's what makes all of this possible.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 07:33 pm (UTC)Plus I love that Dean handing Sam the knife is symbolic of Dean handing Sam back his trust. It's an offer of partnership. I expect they'll have a few slip-ups, before they shed old habits, but if they both work on it ...
Thanks so much for sharing this! Excellent choice of pictures and interesting thinky thoughts. :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:49 pm (UTC)Plus I love that Dean handing Sam the knife is symbolic of Dean handing Sam back his trust. It's an offer of partnership. I expect they'll have a few slip-ups, before they shed old habits, but if they both work on it ...
It all takes me back to the scene in IMToD where Sam is talking to Dean's comatose body and he says that they were just starting to be brothers again. It kind of breaks my heart that it's taken this long for them to start back down that path. Oh, Winchesters.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 12:03 am (UTC)Wow. Very well said.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 01:24 am (UTC)With the passing of the Knife Dean is functionally saying that he and Sam are partners, utterly and completely. They're finally becoming the unit they always should have been
I just friggin love that the show would choose not only to play this note, but play it so well by harking back to this past action. Be still my heart, Show. Be still my heart.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:52 pm (UTC)Yeah, I kind of love it more than a little. =D
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Date: 2009-10-14 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 03:08 am (UTC)And hell yes to the whole thing.
XD *is gleeful*
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:53 pm (UTC)*is gleeful with you*
no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 07:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 05:28 am (UTC)Spot. On.
*joins others in loving your brain*
:)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 04:57 pm (UTC)*loves on Show and its fandom*