ut rather that they show felt the need to show us that conversation.
My gut response to that conversation is that they needed to have a sounding board for Dean so Show could explain why he was doing what he was and so they flipped-flopped Bobby's characterization so he could play devil's advocate.
As for Sam, I think Dean's priorities (killing Ruby and recovering Sam) were basically equal. For Dean, Sam's happiness has never come above Sam's safety. I think he saw Ruby and made an tactical decision to take her out, especially because they suspected her of having freed Sam originally. Even if he could get Sam back, there's no reason to think she wouldn't just free him again.
Sam's attempt to pick a fight in 4.20 seemed to be an attempt get Dean to talk, to clear the air and start toward a resolution, not just being a jerk.
I think you're giving Sammy waaaaay too much credit here. XD The closest we saw to Sam in his right mind was their earlier car conversation, where Dean tried to find out what was going on and Sam admitted that he was scared. Sam wasn't seeking to clear the air though, he wasn't trying to own up to anything or resolve anything, he was still very much hiding and keeping secrets.
Flash forward to the next car conversation. Look at their body language, the evocative words chosen. Sam was definitely trying to instigate a response, but he wasn't looking for a positive one. He wanted Dean to blow up so he could get angry himself. It wasn't to give Dean a chance to understand, it was to allow Sam to justify and excuse his actions and with as aggressively violent as the blood makes him, there's no doubt in my mind that Sam was (possibly subconsciously) hoping it would turn physical as well.
In a way, it was a repeat of their conversation in 4x16 where Dean said he was tired and Sam told him to get angry instead. Except that getting angry has only ever lead Sam to lose control and become overconfident and what good has that done to anyone? Dean's apathy also doesn't solve any problems, but he's been able to work past that on several occasions and actually make progress (with Sam, with the angels). We've yet to see Sam do so in regards to his anger.
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Date: 2009-05-13 05:00 pm (UTC)My gut response to that conversation is that they needed to have a sounding board for Dean so Show could explain why he was doing what he was and so they flipped-flopped Bobby's characterization so he could play devil's advocate.
As for Sam, I think Dean's priorities (killing Ruby and recovering Sam) were basically equal. For Dean, Sam's happiness has never come above Sam's safety. I think he saw Ruby and made an tactical decision to take her out, especially because they suspected her of having freed Sam originally. Even if he could get Sam back, there's no reason to think she wouldn't just free him again.
Sam's attempt to pick a fight in 4.20 seemed to be an attempt get Dean to talk, to clear the air and start toward a resolution, not just being a jerk.
I think you're giving Sammy waaaaay too much credit here. XD The closest we saw to Sam in his right mind was their earlier car conversation, where Dean tried to find out what was going on and Sam admitted that he was scared. Sam wasn't seeking to clear the air though, he wasn't trying to own up to anything or resolve anything, he was still very much hiding and keeping secrets.
Flash forward to the next car conversation. Look at their body language, the evocative words chosen. Sam was definitely trying to instigate a response, but he wasn't looking for a positive one. He wanted Dean to blow up so he could get angry himself. It wasn't to give Dean a chance to understand, it was to allow Sam to justify and excuse his actions and with as aggressively violent as the blood makes him, there's no doubt in my mind that Sam was (possibly subconsciously) hoping it would turn physical as well.
In a way, it was a repeat of their conversation in 4x16 where Dean said he was tired and Sam told him to get angry instead. Except that getting angry has only ever lead Sam to lose control and become overconfident and what good has that done to anyone? Dean's apathy also doesn't solve any problems, but he's been able to work past that on several occasions and actually make progress (with Sam, with the angels). We've yet to see Sam do so in regards to his anger.