I haven't commited meta in a while

[fufaraw]

...and oh yeah, spoilers from JIB, if that's a thing for you.


With all the commentary from J2 that's come out of JIB, I'm feeling sort of vindicated about the last four seasons--no, I didn't imagine it,  and no, I'm not the only one, and yes, they *have* been paying attention, and they feel the same way. This all arose from watching the video fans recorded at JIB and generously shared online. No I wasn't actually there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXRgZ91yIe4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDL0hOrzjQQ

Jensen made some pretty bald statements, "Dean is an emotionally engaged character (by inference, Sam is not)," and "Jared's been phoning it in for four years", suggesting that since the Carver administration tanked Sam's search for Dean in purgatory, there hasn't been much for Sam to do, or for Jared to play. He immediately said, "I'm just kidding," and then "No, I'm really not." and "I feel like I just commited blasphemy," whether he meant making the comment about Jared, or not toeing the line of PR from the show's producers, or both. He then sat down to try and pick delicately through a legally actionable minefield to explain his comments. At another time, he said, "We know you guys are patient. The hope is, in Season twelve, you won't have to be."

So there you go.

Jared said there were scenes written, and some filmed, that were cut for time--Sam again taking low priority to where the director, showrunner, producers, wanted the storyline to go. He felt "sorta sad" that those scenes weren't aired, because they helped explain Sam's headspace, and a lot about his fear and terror of Lucifer, his reactions and (I'm inferring from what he said) lingering trauma to all that Sam's been through.

It appears to me that, with Carver's departure, and the network CEO on board, and new contracts negotiated, the actors may have used their continued participation as a barganing chip for more control of the storyline. I would certainly hope if that possibility existed, that they took advantage of it.

Jared also said that the actors--Jensen, Misha, Mark, Ruth, Rob, and himself, did sit and discuss the storylines, get into motivations and possible outcomes and far-reaching consequences, continuity, things that have been set up previously that they, as well as we, would like to see pay off.

He also complimented the Italian audience for paying attention and asking these sorts of questions, that he and, presumably, the other actors, appreciate viewer involvement and investment in the story. Which made me feel wistful. It's always seemed that both Jared and Jensen open up at JIB--they speak more freely, and there has been news that's broken there first, before it did in the US. And also, it makes me wistful that he doesn't seem to feel that the US audience is involved in the story, or that we have, loyal to the characters and the show, suffered through bad scripts and terrible character assassination for the last few years, or that we've even noticed.

In any case, I have some renewed hope for the finale, and for the coming season. I may be a fool, but hope is nice to have, after such a long drought.

Comments

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting comment for Jensen to have made. I personally feel that the Carver years have been ones of odd choices with occasional flashes of brilliance. I know that people complain that Sam has no story, but I don't think they've been especially kind to Dean either. Sometimes, it's felt as though the show would have been happiest if it could have gone on without either of their stars appearing. It's a weird sensation to watch a show with the feeling that TPTB in charge of the show hate their own headliners.

[fufaraw]

Isn't that the strangest thing? It really has seemed, fairly frequently, that the showrunners and producers have been bored to the point of active dislike for the show and their actors. That if it wasn't a paycheck they'd willingly see it fail and get canceled so they could move on to something more interesting. I may have imagined a certain level of resentment from them that the actors work hard to keep the fans engaged enough that the show Just Won't Die. And yes, I've gotten that feeling of disdain for the show, shown in deliberate sabotage of canon and treatment of the characters, coming off the honchos for a few years, now.

It's a shame the guys have to get out of the US to let some of this "leak" to fans--if indeed that's what's happened this past weekend.

Or, you know, I could just be a big ol' conspiracy theorist. Could go either way.

[tabaqui]

I've been seeing this around the interwebz, and the first couple of times it was framed as a 'see, Dean/Jensen hate Sam/Jared and our poor baby never gets nuthin'!!' so I kinda skipped it.

But reading your (not hysterical) post makes me sad, because these boys work so *fucking* hard, and to be sidelined like that has done a *huge* disservice to Jared (and Jensen) and the story, and the show, itself.

I've been nervous about the new showrunners not having any real attachment to the show, but now I think the boys will be keeping them on track (i do so hope).

[fufaraw]

Jensen was dropping little hint bombs through the whole weekend, and both of them had joint panels with Misha, and both of them cozied up to Misha during the panels. Someone mentioned the chairs were farther apart than usual in the J2 panel, and Jared dropped a couple of digs at Jensen in his solo panel, too. But anybody seriously suggesting a rift between J2 couldn't see the two of them in the closing ceremony and keep to that theory. Yes, they're actors. But I choose to believe the support--both ways--is genuine.

I filter here and Tumblr so restrictively I'm always surprised when I run across someone from the faction that has wanted Sam married and Jared off the show so that Cas could ride shotgun and their OTP could drive into the sunset together. It's a huge part of SPN fandom, and the pressure they bring to bear isn't negligible. I'm interpreting (and maybe it's just wishful thinking and delusion on my part) Jensen's hints as the Js, especially Jensen, finally have some say in where the storylines will go. At least I hope that's the case.

[tabaqui]

I think it is. You only have to see them together to totally get that they really do like each other in 'real life', and I don't think they act that for the camera at all. Well, okay, i think they act goofier and Jensen does more of his double-take stuff for the camera, but their friendship? Seems as strong as ever.

I think they both are 100 percent aware of how easily any executive could make their lives a living hell, so - they do have to toe a certain line.

I don't get the 'we hate Sam/Jared' crew. It's bizarre and confusing. The brothers *are the show*. They've both said that *so* many times.... Beyond weird.

I do *so* hope they get a little more say! That would be awesome.

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the comment about dialing it in, I took Jensen to mean that what was written for Sam in the last few years barely stretched his talents at all emotionally - so not that Jared didn't give it his best but that with a better script he would give more.

It really seemed to me on the early panels that they were dialing down on fuel for shippers - but then after a while and pushing what they had said about the show anyway kinda though 'fuckit' or couldn't keep it up because the later ones were full of inuendo and touching - and yeah epic hug.

My own headcanon on Carver is honestly that after the mess of storylines this season he either got a push or went looking for an alternative because he knew he was screwed. Surely he can't be unaware just how bad it is?

God, how I hope the boys are able to have more say. Pretty please.