Shipper Manifesto: Jack & Sam
21 Nov 2011 03:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jennickelsTalk about waiting until the last minute. This is due tonight and I just kept putting it off and putting it off. It's nothing profound but I still can't seem to write anything much lately. It is what it is. Maybe someday I can put my love for this couple into some more colorful and better thought out words.
It's no secret that I'm a Sam/Jack shipper. It's pretty obvious just by looking at my icons and list of stories. There's just something about Jack and Sam that pulls me in and makes me get all gooey inside. I started watching SG-1 long after the series went off the air. I don't really remember the first episode I watched but the next day they had a viewer's choice marathon on so I got to see all the best episodes. Many of which were very shippy. And I just fell in love.
Colonel Jack O'Neill is the older, somewhat bitter and jaded commanding officer of SG-1. His life hasn't always been easy. The loss of his son in an accident he blames on himself and subsequent divorce from his wife has left him a little withdrawn. He has absolutely no intention of starting a relationship, especially not with anyone under his command.
Sam Carter is a brilliant up and coming officer assigned to Jack's team against his protest. She's a scientist first and holds a somewhat awed, hero worship for Jack when they first meet which is quickly replaced by well-earned respect for his abilities as a military leader and as a man. She would never think to break the regulations regarding relationships between officers.
What I like best about Jack and Sam is that they are so very much alike in very different ways. They are both focused, determined, dedicated, loyal and honest...to the military, their friends and their principals. How those similarities manifest is completely different for each person. And despite that, they are both very, very different. Their interests and likes are in complete opposition to each other.
Yet, they work. Maybe it's the "opposites attract" mentality or, maybe, it's their underlying similarities that draw them together. Either way they make a great couple. They compliment each other and balance each other.
Neither started out with an intention of falling for the other. In fact they actively tried to avoid it but deep personal relationships tend to be forged during high stress situations and there's nothing more high stress than what SG-1 does. They need each other whether they'd ever admit that to anyone, each other or even themselves.
The regulations may keep them apart physically but they will always love each other underneath and they've both recognized that over the years, grown together and forged ahead when they could.
And, they're just so darn cute together:
No matter the distance...
...or the time, reality or universe
Jack and Sam are just meant to be.
What I like best about Jack and Sam is that they are so very much alike in very different ways. They are both focused, determined, dedicated, loyal and honest...to the military, their friends and their principals. How those similarities manifest is completely different for each person. And despite that, they are both very, very different. Their interests and likes are in complete opposition to each other.
Yet, they work. Maybe it's the "opposites attract" mentality or, maybe, it's their underlying similarities that draw them together. Either way they make a great couple. They compliment each other and balance each other.
Neither started out with an intention of falling for the other. In fact they actively tried to avoid it but deep personal relationships tend to be forged during high stress situations and there's nothing more high stress than what SG-1 does. They need each other whether they'd ever admit that to anyone, each other or even themselves.
The regulations may keep them apart physically but they will always love each other underneath and they've both recognized that over the years, grown together and forged ahead when they could.
And, they're just so darn cute together:
No matter the distance...
...or the time, reality or universe
Jack and Sam are just meant to be.
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no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 06:41 am (UTC)I am a firm believer in letting each fan find their squee wherever they find it, and so I take no issue with those who want to ship Jack and Sam with others. What ever makes them (the fans that is) happy is fine with me, as long as it doesn't lead to unpleasantness like character bashing, or denegrating the squee of others.
Still, I'm always left feeling a little o_O when people say that they "can't understand Sam/Jack because those two have zero chemistry."
Some personal show goggles are very strange.
no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 06:51 am (UTC)Still, I'm always left feeling a little o_O when people say that they "can't understand Sam/Jack because those two have zero chemistry."
Me too. I don't get it but, eh, it takes all kinds. I can't see any chemistry between Sam and Daniel but some people swear by it. Or Jack and Daniel. But if it makes them happy...so be it. I'm sure there's a canon couple on some show I watch that I just don't "see" that other people probably squee all over (I'm too tired to actually think of one off hand).
no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 07:13 am (UTC)After all, I was an Original Trek fan, and Kirk/Spock is the slash pairing most slashers cut their eye teeth on, and I never saw that one either, and yet soooo many do.
As to canon couples that I just don't see? That would be Sam and Pete. Pete's a nice enough fellow once you get past the early Stalker!Pete phase, but I just don't see it panning out. Of course this is clearly what the writers intend. Still, I have no quarrel with those who want to write reams of Sam/Pete twuw love. Fandom should be fun.
I think with me, being the daughter of a writer, I'm always deconstructing the writing, and looking for TPTB's intent in each scene. Given a limited amount of time to tell a story, there is no room for scenes that serve no purpose. As a result, I tend to invest more in the canon ships for any given show. It seems like swimming against the current to try to find other unintentional ships.
Others seem to revel in the challenge. It's a lovely game. How many ships can you spot in this scene? I love the energy and the way that this mindset cheerfully insists that each character, no matter how minor or monstrous deserves to have their moment to love and be loved. It probably says some pretty nice things about how they view their fellow human beings.
no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 07:22 am (UTC)Thought of a canon pairing I never got: Young and TJ. Their shippers squee over them and I never felt a single thing for them. In fact, I always felt their relationship was forced and uncomfortable. But whatever. I liked TJ with Varro but she chose Young. Shrug.
I never got the Kirk/Spock thing either. I rather like Spock/McCoy just for the giggle factor.
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Date: 22 Nov 2011 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 07:36 am (UTC)That movie cracked me up. The first time I saw it I wasn't completely unspoiled so I was sitting there going, "um, that's not right...Kirk's dad didn't die, WTF is going on?" I was so confused but kept watching to see where they were going. It took me awhile to realize it was an alternate reality (I might have been a little tired the first time I saw it). I did a literal facepalm when it finally hit me. As a sci-fi fan I should have seen that coming a mile away.
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Date: 22 Nov 2011 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 05:02 pm (UTC)As I was going through screen caps I noticed there are so many scenes where they never look at each other at the same time. I had so many of them. It's why I decided to go with 2 caps to a line. But then I ended up choosing a bunch where they were looking at each other, lol. Those are all some of my all time favorite Jack/Sam scenes. And I love the look in Sam's face in the title cap. I don't even remember what episode that is from but she looks so satisfied and Jack looks a little mystified.
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Date: 22 Nov 2011 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 22 Nov 2011 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Nov 2011 01:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Nov 2011 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 26 Nov 2011 08:19 pm (UTC)(BTW, purely personal opinion, but I also like the layout and design you're using on your journal now. I hadn't seen this one before.)
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Date: 26 Nov 2011 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 27 Nov 2011 12:18 am (UTC)