Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Chapter 15 - Stop the Carousel I Want to Get Off

[hearseeno]

The Effect of "Keep Sam Safe" and "Reject All Things Supernatural"

Now let's turn from the family's structure to the values that it holds and trace their effects:

Comments

[impulsiveanswer]

Wow. Just - wow.

Sam and Dean's relationships with John remind me of Judy Blume's book The Pain and the Great One - both believing the other is the preferred son, on the surface because of what he is but really stemming from the insecurity of what I'm not

Fascinating analysis

[impulsiveanswer]

That was one of the best side-by-side comparisons of how Sam and Dean got to where they are that I've read. It makes me understand and sympathize with both brothers and at the same time makes me want to hand your essays over to them, make them read every word, and then, when they're done reading (I may have to quiz them to make sure they got all of your points), tell them that they need to break old patterns and make some new choices.

Well done!

Re: Fascinating analysis

[hearseeno]

Thanks. :)

I'm glad you found it to be fairly even-handed. I definitely have a bias toward valuing the Boys being together and finding middle ground as the best way to address their difficulties, but I really hoped to avoid the trap of sympathizing with one brother to the detriment of the other.

*snork* about quizzing them on the metas.

I think it was Blackcat333 and I who decided that we need a "I should know better" bumper sticker, or, perhaps fridge magnet for the Winchester men, something that they'll have to read every time they look in the mirror. :P

[hearseeno]

remind me of Judy Blume's book The Pain and the Great One

Oh, wow, that takes me back. It's been a long time since I've seen that book.

I trust Eric Kripke, I trust Eric Kripke, I trust Eric Kripke...

*snork* I think there must be a lot of that going on tonight. I'm just picturing him grinning and rubbing his hands in gleeful anticipation of the fans' reactions. As much as we like to torture Sam and Dean, I think Kripke likes to torture us.

Thanks for reading and commenting, ImpulsiveAnswer. I've enjoyed our commenting back and forth.

[pinkphoenix1985]

As painful as it is for them, and for us to watch it happen, it also leaves Sam and Dean free to reconstruct themselves and their relationship on new terms.

I know that it's so painful for me to watch (to the extent of wanting to stop watching) but I'm hanging in there in the hopes that the second part of that sentence does happen and is the positive aspect of them being together as brothers and being stronger as a united unit!

[hearseeno]

So do I, though I wonder if we'll have to wait well into Season 5 for enough healing to occur.

Thanks for all your reading and commenting.

[pinkphoenix1985]

I sure hope so! *crosses fingers*

you're welcome!

Re: really interesting meta(s)

[hearseeno]

Thanks catdancerz. It was really interesting to force myself to delve deeply into the implications and connections of the events.

wow

[supernarttu]

W.O.W. You rock, seriously. :)
I've read all of these and they're all just fascinating.
I'm... speechless... I can't just articulate anything worthy of a praise for this.

You melt my brain. In a good way :)
Which is what tonights finale is also going to do...in a bad way, I'm afraid. But still, can't wait... ;)

Oh, and your analysis about Winchester? Dead on (excuse the pun).

Thank you. Really :)

Re: wow

[hearseeno]

Thanks. It was really fun to trade comments back and forth with you guys, too. Melted my own brain several times. :)

[chiiyo86]

I've read the whole thing as you were posting it, and I have to say, I'm in awe.

This is such an insightful, deep, well-thought meta on the Winchester family, and it represents a huge amount of work. It is gold for a fanfic writer, a good tool to grasp a better understanding of the characters

Family is everything on Supernatural, so it makes sense that thinking about the way this family works helps us to understand Sam and Dean, the decisions they made, and all the recent events. I can only hope with you that the destruction of their relationship will lead to the construction of a new relationship. I guess time will tell.

Thank you!

[hearseeno]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed reading. It was an interesting experience delving that deeply into Winchester family, John, Sam and Dean's psyches, almost... intimate... in a way. :)