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Here’s the background: I had my original thoughts on the episode – I liked some and was a little disappointed in the looseness of the writing, but overall it was awesomely scary. Then, I visited some forums and was forced think a little more about the apparently high level of “Wincest” that was present. That caused me to respond to a response to my post. Then, I wondered whether I was a hypocrite. Read on…
Without having rewatched last night’s Supernatural with a critical eye, I’m wondering if I articulated myself clearly enough about my *issues.* Honestly, my own reaction is bothering me. Damn_you_kripke was able to laugh off and truly enjoy the episode with the subtext and all, but I really wasn’t. Now, it wasn’t that the entire episode bothered me, in fact, I rather enjoyed this one. However, there was a moment somewhere in there – I think it was with drunk!Sammy where I thought – where suddenly the show wasn’t quite the show. It sort of caught my eye, then it was amplified to exponential levels on the Internet.
Now, I don’t actively seek out RPS or anything, but I don’t question the amazing chemistry that Jared and Jensen have with one another. I am actually entertained by the creative pursuits out there that touch on this. You can’t really deny it, AND? So cute together! Heck, maybe I will seek it out, just to see what all the fuss is about.
On the other hand, there’s the slash stuff involving the characters of Dean and Sam. I can’t really get myself all that excited for it. Why? Well, the characters are BROTHERS for one. One of the things that I love about the show is the dynamic of family. The way that the brothers interact and truly love each other really gets to me. Their relationship with their father is intensely complicated and the writers have done amazing job in fleshing that out over the past year and half. When you add that other element? I just can’t get into it.
Now, this is complicated to understand. It has been bothering me quite a bit since last night. Why can’t I get giggly about J2 in the show? I want to see a hug, but I don’t want to see them making out… or more. Am I homophobic in that regards? I certainly don’t think that I am. In fact, one show that I do watch has even more homoerotic subtext to it, and I crave more – it’s just another aspect of that show. (That show is the preceding one: Smallville. The REAL relationship isn’t between Clark and Lana, but between Clark and Lex. It’s amazing considering that show is the number one CW show among the target male demographic. )
So, what gives? My analytical English major background tells me that I should consider the close correlation between sexual relationships and sibling relationships. What is it that the text is trying to say? Could I draw a different analogy that relates to something beyond Supernatural and the Winchesters as brothers? Perhaps the archetypes that the brothers represent need closer examination. Is Kripke really making some commentary on masculinity and male relationships – perhaps that all male relationships carry a homoerotic element and by presenting that relationship in the form of brothers, he’s forcing us to the very edge of that assertion? (Why not take it to the extreme limit and see if that assertion holds true there?) Are we, as viewers (therefore readers of the text), supposed to forget that they are brothers and look at it as a merely being about the complexities of a male relationship. I can see that type of analysis in their relationship—were they only friends and not brothers.
I rather enjoy analyzing the show. But, I also enjoy “squeeing” over the show. I am satisfied with taking the brotherly relationship at face value—that they are brothers and nothing more. If anything, you could deduce that a familial relationship, particularly a sibling relationship, carries more weight than a sexual one. You will never be closer to anyone than to you own family. I like to look at how their status as brothers comes into play with every other aspect of their lives. All relationships are complicated; this show happens to focus on the family one.
Then there’s the other part that actually makes me a hypocrite. I enjoy PWT. The homoerotic subtext makes me laugh. It’s a running joke that adds to what makes that text what it is. However, that show contains a decidedly innocent aspect that naively asks, “Why are you laughing? We’re just brothers.” I think it’s brilliant and the creator does a fine job of never crossing over into that area – just teasing us and teasing the show for what subtext had appeared last season. Those characters are brothers. Yet, I am not bothered.
Of course, PWT has evolved into something all its own. It is no longer the Dean and Sam of Supernatural, but the Dean and Sam of PWT. These characters had different personalities and different type of relationship. I guess there’s something to be said for the fact that the show is the primary text whereas PWT is a secondary, interpretive text.
So, what’s the difference between the J2 stuff, PWT, and the actual show?
Last night felt like a shout-out to the fans. It was as if the writer snatched up every idea on every fan wish list on the Internet. The incorporated fanfic clichés, fans wishes, and played up running gags from previous episodes. It was one big love letter to those dedicated fans.
As a dedicated fan, of course I giggled and enjoyed it. However, it felt off. I’ll be able to articulate this more clearly after I’ve watched the episode again with a more critical (and less scared) eye.
I love the fact that the writers respect the fans; however, I do not want the fans to control the direction of the show. That could get old and clichéd very, very quickly. I wonder if someone who wasn’t a part of that particular fan community could have enjoyed this episode as much. I believe so, because the creepy factor was at level 10. The boys looked good, and there were some interesting moments regard the Big Secret about super-special Sammy. (I’ll touch on the actual plot in a different post.) Plus? SoakingWet!Sam. Woohoo indeed.
So, is the difference with PWT and J2 and the show about pushing it too far to the edge? I like the hinting that plays with the obvious chemistry between the actors… but when the actors make me believe that these characters are real people? That’s something different. I forget that Dean and Sam are really Jensen and Jared in the moment of the show. I buy into their relationship as brothers. While the show didn’t actually REALLY have the let’s get it on moment, the fact that so many fans could deduce that put it into my head.
Am I overreacting? I think so. In fact, it wasn’t all that big of a deal to me during the episode. What really caused it was reading some comments that highlighted those sexual moments during the show that I was willing to accept – maybe a shout-out to fans, maybe not. MAYBE, it’s really my fear that the writers took so much from the fandom, that it wouldn’t be a stretch to * go there.*
I love the brotherly love. Damn you OtherFans for causing me to overthink it and get all worked up.
Without having rewatched last night’s Supernatural with a critical eye, I’m wondering if I articulated myself clearly enough about my *issues.* Honestly, my own reaction is bothering me. Damn_you_kripke was able to laugh off and truly enjoy the episode with the subtext and all, but I really wasn’t. Now, it wasn’t that the entire episode bothered me, in fact, I rather enjoyed this one. However, there was a moment somewhere in there – I think it was with drunk!Sammy where I thought – where suddenly the show wasn’t quite the show. It sort of caught my eye, then it was amplified to exponential levels on the Internet.
Now, I don’t actively seek out RPS or anything, but I don’t question the amazing chemistry that Jared and Jensen have with one another. I am actually entertained by the creative pursuits out there that touch on this. You can’t really deny it, AND? So cute together! Heck, maybe I will seek it out, just to see what all the fuss is about.
On the other hand, there’s the slash stuff involving the characters of Dean and Sam. I can’t really get myself all that excited for it. Why? Well, the characters are BROTHERS for one. One of the things that I love about the show is the dynamic of family. The way that the brothers interact and truly love each other really gets to me. Their relationship with their father is intensely complicated and the writers have done amazing job in fleshing that out over the past year and half. When you add that other element? I just can’t get into it.
Now, this is complicated to understand. It has been bothering me quite a bit since last night. Why can’t I get giggly about J2 in the show? I want to see a hug, but I don’t want to see them making out… or more. Am I homophobic in that regards? I certainly don’t think that I am. In fact, one show that I do watch has even more homoerotic subtext to it, and I crave more – it’s just another aspect of that show. (That show is the preceding one: Smallville. The REAL relationship isn’t between Clark and Lana, but between Clark and Lex. It’s amazing considering that show is the number one CW show among the target male demographic. )
So, what gives? My analytical English major background tells me that I should consider the close correlation between sexual relationships and sibling relationships. What is it that the text is trying to say? Could I draw a different analogy that relates to something beyond Supernatural and the Winchesters as brothers? Perhaps the archetypes that the brothers represent need closer examination. Is Kripke really making some commentary on masculinity and male relationships – perhaps that all male relationships carry a homoerotic element and by presenting that relationship in the form of brothers, he’s forcing us to the very edge of that assertion? (Why not take it to the extreme limit and see if that assertion holds true there?) Are we, as viewers (therefore readers of the text), supposed to forget that they are brothers and look at it as a merely being about the complexities of a male relationship. I can see that type of analysis in their relationship—were they only friends and not brothers.
I rather enjoy analyzing the show. But, I also enjoy “squeeing” over the show. I am satisfied with taking the brotherly relationship at face value—that they are brothers and nothing more. If anything, you could deduce that a familial relationship, particularly a sibling relationship, carries more weight than a sexual one. You will never be closer to anyone than to you own family. I like to look at how their status as brothers comes into play with every other aspect of their lives. All relationships are complicated; this show happens to focus on the family one.
Then there’s the other part that actually makes me a hypocrite. I enjoy PWT. The homoerotic subtext makes me laugh. It’s a running joke that adds to what makes that text what it is. However, that show contains a decidedly innocent aspect that naively asks, “Why are you laughing? We’re just brothers.” I think it’s brilliant and the creator does a fine job of never crossing over into that area – just teasing us and teasing the show for what subtext had appeared last season. Those characters are brothers. Yet, I am not bothered.
Of course, PWT has evolved into something all its own. It is no longer the Dean and Sam of Supernatural, but the Dean and Sam of PWT. These characters had different personalities and different type of relationship. I guess there’s something to be said for the fact that the show is the primary text whereas PWT is a secondary, interpretive text.
So, what’s the difference between the J2 stuff, PWT, and the actual show?
Last night felt like a shout-out to the fans. It was as if the writer snatched up every idea on every fan wish list on the Internet. The incorporated fanfic clichés, fans wishes, and played up running gags from previous episodes. It was one big love letter to those dedicated fans.
As a dedicated fan, of course I giggled and enjoyed it. However, it felt off. I’ll be able to articulate this more clearly after I’ve watched the episode again with a more critical (and less scared) eye.
I love the fact that the writers respect the fans; however, I do not want the fans to control the direction of the show. That could get old and clichéd very, very quickly. I wonder if someone who wasn’t a part of that particular fan community could have enjoyed this episode as much. I believe so, because the creepy factor was at level 10. The boys looked good, and there were some interesting moments regard the Big Secret about super-special Sammy. (I’ll touch on the actual plot in a different post.) Plus? SoakingWet!Sam. Woohoo indeed.
So, is the difference with PWT and J2 and the show about pushing it too far to the edge? I like the hinting that plays with the obvious chemistry between the actors… but when the actors make me believe that these characters are real people? That’s something different. I forget that Dean and Sam are really Jensen and Jared in the moment of the show. I buy into their relationship as brothers. While the show didn’t actually REALLY have the let’s get it on moment, the fact that so many fans could deduce that put it into my head.
Am I overreacting? I think so. In fact, it wasn’t all that big of a deal to me during the episode. What really caused it was reading some comments that highlighted those sexual moments during the show that I was willing to accept – maybe a shout-out to fans, maybe not. MAYBE, it’s really my fear that the writers took so much from the fandom, that it wouldn’t be a stretch to * go there.*
I love the brotherly love. Damn you OtherFans for causing me to overthink it and get all worked up.
Current Mood: 
contemplative
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