Season 8 non-thoughts

[ratherastory]

I have lots and lots of thoughts about Season 8. The problem is that I'm a little too anxious to post them here or anywhere else, because it feels like all I've seen online lately is people getting more firmly entrenched in a pro-$brother position. As though somehow one brother has to be unconditionally right and the other unconditionally wrong. A lot of it is anti-Sam, which hurts my little Sam!girl heart, but I've seen enough anti-Dean commentary to make my stomach hurty as well. :P In fact, it's making me actively avoid any meta/commentary posts even by people I normally trust, because I can't trust that the comments won't be full of vitriol, and I'm worried that even these lovely, sane people might somehow fall down the same rabbit hole and then I would be sad. (No, it's not rational, whatever.)

I hope I can safely say that it isn't about who's right and who's wrong. Both boys have been very badly damaged/hurt by what happened, and they're each coping in their own way. They're both entitled to their feelings, and they're both right and wrong. That's always been the strength of the show: that every character has their reasons for what they're doing, and while we may disagree with the choices they make (and for the record, mistakes are choices by definition, otherwise they'd be accidents), we can understand where they're coming from and why they're acting the way they are.

Also, it feels like it's frowned upon to not have strong feelings about the season. You're supposed to love it or hate it, but you're not allowed to like some parts and not others. God forbid I enjoy the show but at a lesser level of involvement than I used to feel.

In short, I don't think I can post my thoughts without having to put in several thousand caveats first, and that is sucking the fun out of it.

FML. People, PLEASE don't post comments in here about how Show is "clearly" favouring one brother over another. You are PROVING MY POINT about why I am reluctant to post anything or even click on meta links. Take it to your own journals! Please and thank you.

Comments

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I saw the link, as she's on my flist, but I'm not clicking on anything these days. I can't trust that the comments won't suddenly devolve into "Sam is a spoiled asshole who doesn't deserve Dean!" or "I want someone to kick Dean's ass for being so awful to Sam!" :P I realize I'm not being rational, but I won't put myself through that after getting burned last week.

But yes, I am having ALL the feelings about this season!

[sinka.livejournal.com]

I just read the meta (which is really really awesome and understanding both POVs) and the comments and I would tell you to read it. People is having really good thoutfull and deep conversations there, without wank and without hating on any of the brothers. And In fact they make some really good points that have made me like this episode a lot better.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

And yet... *points down* It only takes ONE comment. I may sneak over there and try not to scroll too much. Eep.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hee... I was going to comment about how I haven't experienced that hate when I saw this comment by harrigan. I feel like I've either been lucky or sheltered to not have read the bro hate. Mine you, I don't wonder far from LJ so that might help.

The thing that I've loved seeing fans having a really thoughtful discussion on the scene (and episode) without it becoming a brawl on who is right or wrong. I've always maintained that the scene has nothing to do with who is right or wrong. It's so much deeper than that.

In the past the boys fighting used to stress me. Then, after a couple of seasons of them basically getting along, I feel ready for them to finally thrash out some of their more deep seated issues.

If you read nothing else over there I do recommend de_nugis's comment. It's rather beautiful.

But I hear ya. I sometimes wonder if the nastiness is due to some fans not enjoying the show anymore and therefore need to find ways to "blame" one bro or the other. It always puzzles me that they don't look beyond that to see the bigger picture. But perhaps they just don't want to.

*hugs*

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

You're lucky. *points to latest comment* I posted here about how I'm worried about accidentally stumbling on brother vs brother wank, and instead someone brought it to me. How thoughtful. :P

So you can see why I'm leery of clicking on things. Even my sane friends like you have posts that are popular enough that they can attract people who will want Sam to be unconditionally right or Dean to be unconditionally right. It drives me nuts.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

GRRRR! How annoying! And so damn shallow.

And considering what I wrote I am surprised I haven't had any wank posted. One came close but other than that the thinky thoughts have been amazing. Fans are so clever - and when the discussion is civil it's fabulous fun.


xx