Vaguely metaish thought about LoM fic, very vaguely inspired by...

[hmpf]

reading titles and summaries of Valentine's Day fic at the comm, I suppose.

I just discovered that - in addition to my general allergy to 'soulmates' ideas etc. - I have a particular dislike of the idea that Gene is somehow the first and only person Sam has met who is really 'right' for him. It's the shippy version of "only 1973 is the right place/time for Sam, he could never be happy in 2006/2007", I suppose. In both cases, I don't like how the problem is externalised. The problem - Sam's problem - is *Sam*. Not 2006. Not other people. *Sam* is the one who is so screwed up as to be unable to live, or love.

Right. Back to the &%§#!% thesis. *sigh*

Comments

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

The problem - Sam's problem - is *Sam*. Not 2006. Not other people. *Sam* is the one who is so screwed up as to be unable to live, or love.

Yes, but I would counter that Gene is the first person to show any positive effect on Sam's screwed-up-ness.

Not that I subscribe to the idea of soulmates either. But, you know, Sam *is* a little more likable when he's around Gene.

Yeah, but at least part of that is due to...

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

the fact that in 1973 Sam is in a situation where he isn't in control, and where the most fundamental certainties have crumbled - including a lot of false certainties about himself that he's been using to shield himself from other people and the world in general. It's not the magical rightness of Gene, it's the whole am-I-dead/dying/insane/back-in-time thing that makes 1973!Sam more likeable (even to himself) than 2006!Sam.