I don't ship that particular couple so that argument never flew for me, although it did for a lot of people and good for them.
I've been in the position of holding on because other people needed me to. You can't fall apart because if you do, there isn't anyone else who will hold it together. Sam spent the early part of the season trying to keep Dean stable. He also truly believed Mary was alive and although not safe, at least reachable and not necessarily being tortured. He saw the potential that Jack could open the rift so they could find Mary. Dean felt none of those things. Then they find out that Mary is alive, Cas, their friend, is alive. They find out the rift can, in fact, be opened. So the things that were fueling Dean's depression have been ameliorated. However, all this has played to Sam's insecurities. Mary is being tortured. Jack, the kid he cares for is lost. The only way he saw to open the rift, Kaia, is dead. Most importantly Dean doesn't need Sam to be an optimist any longer, so Sam can finally just collapse.
Going back Sam has had to push down his feelings to support Dean. In season two, Dean flat out told him that he had no right to mourn John. In season 3 Dean told him he had no right to be upset that Dean was going to die, because Dean was entitled. In season 8, Sam had to be the one that saw the light at the end of the tunnel and take on the trials, because Dean was so depressed he was suicidal. In season 9 Sam had to "get over" being mad at Dean for tricking him into possession, because Dean had run off and gotten the MOC in a fit of pique. In season 10 Sam had to de-demonfy Dean who was trying to kill him. In season 11, Sam had to deal with Dean having a "special connection" with Amara AND he had to let Lucifer be his roomy because GOD HIMSELF supported the angel that had tortured Sam and God had zero interest in talking to Sam about anything. Last season Sam had to cope with Dean's anger and disappointment at Mary.
The only other times Sam had a chance to deal with a not in emotional crisis Dean was 1) season six when he was soulless and really didn't care, plus Dean had Lisa and was coping. 2) Between seasons 7 and 8 when he was with Amelia and her father pointed out that he was a MESS and like someone who had been through a meat grinder. We were only allowed to see Sam AFTER he had some time to heal from losing Dean, because God (and Carver) forbid, we had to focus on Dean's massive, massive sense of betrayal and giving 5 seconds to Sam's state of mind might have taken away from that.
So, there hasn't been a lot of times when Dean wasn't in emotional turmoil. Now that Dean is coping Sam can finally let go and have the full fledged breakdown he totally deserved.
However, I'm reasonably sure that this will be a one, maybe two episode thing and then Sam will get right back to being strong and optimistic.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2018-01-30 08:18 pm (UTC)I've been in the position of holding on because other people needed me to. You can't fall apart because if you do, there isn't anyone else who will hold it together. Sam spent the early part of the season trying to keep Dean stable. He also truly believed Mary was alive and although not safe, at least reachable and not necessarily being tortured. He saw the potential that Jack could open the rift so they could find Mary. Dean felt none of those things. Then they find out that Mary is alive, Cas, their friend, is alive. They find out the rift can, in fact, be opened. So the things that were fueling Dean's depression have been ameliorated. However, all this has played to Sam's insecurities. Mary is being tortured. Jack, the kid he cares for is lost. The only way he saw to open the rift, Kaia, is dead. Most importantly Dean doesn't need Sam to be an optimist any longer, so Sam can finally just collapse.
Going back Sam has had to push down his feelings to support Dean. In season two, Dean flat out told him that he had no right to mourn John. In season 3 Dean told him he had no right to be upset that Dean was going to die, because Dean was entitled. In season 8, Sam had to be the one that saw the light at the end of the tunnel and take on the trials, because Dean was so depressed he was suicidal. In season 9 Sam had to "get over" being mad at Dean for tricking him into possession, because Dean had run off and gotten the MOC in a fit of pique. In season 10 Sam had to de-demonfy Dean who was trying to kill him. In season 11, Sam had to deal with Dean having a "special connection" with Amara AND he had to let Lucifer be his roomy because GOD HIMSELF supported the angel that had tortured Sam and God had zero interest in talking to Sam about anything. Last season Sam had to cope with Dean's anger and disappointment at Mary.
The only other times Sam had a chance to deal with a not in emotional crisis Dean was 1) season six when he was soulless and really didn't care, plus Dean had Lisa and was coping. 2) Between seasons 7 and 8 when he was with Amelia and her father pointed out that he was a MESS and like someone who had been through a meat grinder. We were only allowed to see Sam AFTER he had some time to heal from losing Dean, because God (and Carver) forbid, we had to focus on Dean's massive, massive sense of betrayal and giving 5 seconds to Sam's state of mind might have taken away from that.
So, there hasn't been a lot of times when Dean wasn't in emotional turmoil. Now that Dean is coping Sam can finally let go and have the full fledged breakdown he totally deserved.
However, I'm reasonably sure that this will be a one, maybe two episode thing and then Sam will get right back to being strong and optimistic.