SPN Mini-meta on something in the end of 4.10

[caffienekitty]

Random thought about the end of 4.10 that everyone else has probably already discussed.

It occurred to me, during the end scene of 4.10, Dean kept calling Sam Sammy. Now, that stood out for me as a bit awkward, and a bit... hm. Something not settling right about it. So, here's my scrambled thoughts on it.

Dean's obviously distraught. Like hugely. He's calling Sam 'Sammy' and deliberately not looking at him. The only way he can let this out is not looking at Sam. Sammy is an endearment, a family callback to their younger days, Sammy is the innocent Sam. Not the Sam who wants Lilith's head on a plate, not the Sam who tries to access powers given to him by the demon who killed their mother, not the Sam who has a demon as a mentor. He's talking to innocent, twelve year old Sam who is still inside, who Dean has to believe is still inside his brother. The one that needs him and the one who needs his protection and care.

Thing is, what he's saying at the end of 4.10 is the very last thing he'd want to burden his brother with, and the last thing he'd want to admit, and stain what's left of the innocent Sam. But in a way, not conciously, but in a way... I think he's calling Sam 'Sammy' to get him to realize Sam is still in some part the bratty little brother Dean gave the last of the Lucky Charms to, to ground him. Or something. I don't know.

I think it's also because, well, Sam is what breaks Dean. He'd made the Deal for him, he probably broke in Hell to protect his brother. Dean's worked his whole life on keeping Sam safe and as much as possible, to keep him innocent. He needed Sam to still be that pudgy 12-year-old. Not this psychic-powered dangerous person, affiliating himself with demons. Dean's not speaking to the adult Sam there, he's speaking to his little brother, one who maybe in Dean's mind can still be kept innocent if Dean tries hard enough.

Gah. Does that make any sense?

Comments

[weesta.livejournal.com]

I hadn't noticed the use of "Sammy", probably because I couldn't hear the talking over my weeping. I get what you're saying about Dean needing to be talking to his little brother because of where Dean needs to be mentally. *sigh* Oh boys.

[caffienekitty]

I didn't cry at that scene. I think I was too stunned. And yes. Oh, boys.

[smalltwndreamer.livejournal.com]

Ah! I like it! Watching the scene again last night - the use of "Sammy" seemed awkward in a way. Maybe I'm reading a little more into it now after reading your meta, but it *does* sound as if Jensen was leaning into the name a little bit, putting an emphasis on it. So yes, I buy what you're thinking.

*nods at your big thinky brain*

[caffienekitty]

There were a couple "Sammy's" that were really almost drawly with emphasis. I kind of wonder how much of the detail of what made it to screen in that scene was scripted, and how much of the delivery Jensen improv'd in character.

[blackcat333-99.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed how Dean reverted to the "Sammy"s. I think you might be on the right track. I also wonder if there is an element of "Sam" being the guy who might not understand/forgive -- because "Sam" survived Dean's death (eventually, with Ruby's prodding/help), Sam was able to move on, Sam is now independent and his own man, and strong with powers and... Dean needed to tell the Sam who is his brother, his family, the person whom he'd forgive anything and who would return it... Not that this Sam wouldn't. But just, mentally, admitting just how badly you are broken... I think I'm saying what you said above, just in a different way. And it also distances him from leaning on Sam as anything more than a listener, really. Because Sammy is from Before, and Sam is of the Now, so NowSam can sympathize but Dean was emotionally leaning on Sammy. So Dean can then compose himself, put his gameface back on, and go to business as usual with Sam, Sam of the "wanting Lilith's head on a plate. Bloody." Sam.

I dunno. But it's fun to wonder about.

[caffienekitty]

"Sam" being the guy who might not understand/forgive

Hm... that's an interesting point. I don't know if with Sam's experience surviving with Ruby and descending into that same bloody-minded revenge driven pragmatism that John exhibited, whether he's even forgiving himself, and I can see how, if Dean is after forgiveness and understanding from Sam, he might think that the NowSam is not going to have the capacity for forgiveness anymore.

However, I don't think Dean is after forgiveness there. Or really understanding, even. I don't think he's thought that conciously about why he's telling Sam what happened other than to release the strain and because Sam heard Alastair and if Dean doesn't say something about it, Sam might start badgering with questions, so Dean's letting this out in a situation where he feels safe and in control, rather than in a slowly built-up pressure of questions he doesn't want to answer followed by an explosion.

I dunno. But it's fun to wonder about.

I would dearly love to hear what Ackles' view of that scene is, what's going on at that moment with Dean and why, with the Sammy's and the not looking and all that.

[auriliawestlake.livejournal.com]

It makes quite a bit of sense, but doesn't Dean tend to revert to calling his brother 'Sammy' whenever he's emotional (unless he's just trying to get a rise out of the ginormotron)?

[caffienekitty]

Quite often, but these were really odd in the emphasis, so I figured I'd meta.