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time to appreciate jared padalecki and his portrayal of sam winchester: a thread.
0. this thread is focusing on jared's portrayal of emotions through expression and gesture, as well as his acting in general. this was made with major help from people like @samdeanss @catboyjared @walkerswhore and the rest of scrunchie! also, any gifs used were found on tumblr.
I. [leaning close, wanting comfort]
in 4x21, sam is left to detox and thus hallucinates various things - one of them being the mother he wished he had. in this scene, jared uses simple facial gestures to help portray the comfort sam always wanted from his mom.
in 4x21, sam is left to detox and thus hallucinates various things - one of them being the mother he wished he had. in this scene, jared uses simple facial gestures to help portray the comfort sam always wanted from his mom.
II. [twitchy and anxious]
throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.
![II. [twitchy and anxious]throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Epohar7XYAIpYDq.jpg "II. [twitchy and anxious]throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.")
![II. [twitchy and anxious]throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Epoha2hXcAUu-3m.jpg "II. [twitchy and anxious]throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.")
throughout s4, while sam was dealing with his demon blood addiction, there are many times when sam is seen to be struggling immensely. when ruby is away, sam begins to withdraw and is highly anxious while waiting for her to show. he cannot sit still.
II. - PART 2: jared does another example of sam's struggle with hunger when famine comes near. he's hungry and desperate and knows that won't be able to control it. it's entirely overwhelming and jared portrays that well.
III. [swallowing and seeming distant]
in 15x04, sam meets a boy who says "I killed someone I loved! i'm a monster" and is undeniably reminded of dean's similar words in s4. sam is affected and since he is not openly emotional, he is quiet about his painful reminder.
in 15x04, sam meets a boy who says "I killed someone I loved! i'm a monster" and is undeniably reminded of dean's similar words in s4. sam is affected and since he is not openly emotional, he is quiet about his painful reminder.
IV. [desperation and emotional pain]
in the s8 finale, jared does probably his most emotional performance without being over the top. sam is suffering and it is seen through his face and his eyes. honestly, it's pretty self-explanatory.
in the s8 finale, jared does probably his most emotional performance without being over the top. sam is suffering and it is seen through his face and his eyes. honestly, it's pretty self-explanatory.
V. [shift in behavior - gadreel]
during gadreel's possession of sam, there are various shifts in sam's demeanor and movement when gadreel takes over. for example, here, there is a very large shift between sam and gadreel. jared manages to go from happy to stiff quickly.
during gadreel's possession of sam, there are various shifts in sam's demeanor and movement when gadreel takes over. for example, here, there is a very large shift between sam and gadreel. jared manages to go from happy to stiff quickly.
V. - PART 2:
in addition to shifts in behavior, jared also manages to show the difference between sam and gadreel through body movement. in this scene, gadreel is rather creepy and aggressive - things sam usually aren't. his eyes are also devoid of any major emotion
in addition to shifts in behavior, jared also manages to show the difference between sam and gadreel through body movement. in this scene, gadreel is rather creepy and aggressive - things sam usually aren't. his eyes are also devoid of any major emotion
V. - PART 3:
to further support, there is this scene from 9x03 where there is a rapid shift between gadreel and sam. jared plays it seamlessly.
to further support, there is this scene from 9x03 where there is a rapid shift between gadreel and sam. jared plays it seamlessly.
VI. [shifts in behavior - lucifer]
now, with lucifer, there is a huge, distinct shift in behavior and attitude. lucifer is formal and reserved, often seeming calm and scary at the same times.
now, with lucifer, there is a huge, distinct shift in behavior and attitude. lucifer is formal and reserved, often seeming calm and scary at the same times.
VI. - PART 2:
in the season 5 finale, the difference between lucifer and sam is majorly touched upon. in this scene, sam is angry and aggressive, while lucifer is relaxed and not emotional at all.
in the season 5 finale, the difference between lucifer and sam is majorly touched upon. in this scene, sam is angry and aggressive, while lucifer is relaxed and not emotional at all.
VII. [emotionless]
soulless sam is one of the best examples that help showcase jared's ability to express emotions simply. throughout the entirety of s6, sam is shown to have a lack of empathy and jared helps show this through empty eyes and careless faces, like this one.
soulless sam is one of the best examples that help showcase jared's ability to express emotions simply. throughout the entirety of s6, sam is shown to have a lack of empathy and jared helps show this through empty eyes and careless faces, like this one.
VII. - PART 2:
in this scene, sam is discussing how dean has disappeared. normal sam would be panicking, but this sam has no emotion in his face - which helps show how soulless he really is.
in this scene, sam is discussing how dean has disappeared. normal sam would be panicking, but this sam has no emotion in his face - which helps show how soulless he really is.
VII. - PART 3:
another great example of jared's ability to show sam's soullessness is this. sam's eyes don't move and his smile is hair-raising. jared has hammered home the fact that sam is not sam anymore all through facial expression.
another great example of jared's ability to show sam's soullessness is this. sam's eyes don't move and his smile is hair-raising. jared has hammered home the fact that sam is not sam anymore all through facial expression.
VIII. [creepiness]
I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift
![VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpoyGJ3XEAQPzDG.jpg "VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift")
![VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpoyGRkXUAcUXQG.jpg "VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift")
![VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpoyGaXXYAM9_B3.jpg "VIII. [creepiness]I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift")
I know I've already discussed this, but I wanted to add this scene from s14 since it also shows a shift jared does between sam and another version of sam (demon sam in this case). he has the bad smile and the dark look in his eyes, and that shows the shift
IX. [suffering]
when sam is in the mental hospital, he's literally going insane because of lucifer and yet, he's not acting totally crazy. he's suffering from hallucinations, he's emotionally and spiritually exhausted. jared manages to show this in subtle, but powerful ways.
when sam is in the mental hospital, he's literally going insane because of lucifer and yet, he's not acting totally crazy. he's suffering from hallucinations, he's emotionally and spiritually exhausted. jared manages to show this in subtle, but powerful ways.
IX. - PART 2:
as seen here, sam is utterly exhausted. he can't sleep, he's hearing voices, and is being tormented. jared doesn't make this over-the-top, instead showing sam suffering quietly (like he always has), and he shows the pain through his face and his gestures.
as seen here, sam is utterly exhausted. he can't sleep, he's hearing voices, and is being tormented. jared doesn't make this over-the-top, instead showing sam suffering quietly (like he always has), and he shows the pain through his face and his gestures.
X. [familial longing]
it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.
![X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EppEtF-W8AYoDVA.jpg "X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.")
![X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EppEtQkXYAAHGCZ.jpg "X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.")
![X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EppEtYWXUAE0UR3.jpg "X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.")
![X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EppEthVXUAA9lt5.jpg "X. [familial longing]it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.")
it's a well-established fact that sam had no relationship with his mother and had a poor one with his father. in these two scenes (4x13 & 4x16), jared shows how emotional sam is when he's around the mother he never had.
X. - PART 2:
even though sam and john never got along and this interaction was a little ooc, sam's reaction to john saying "I love you" shows how much sam had really wanted a good relationship with his father.
even though sam and john never got along and this interaction was a little ooc, sam's reaction to john saying "I love you" shows how much sam had really wanted a good relationship with his father.
XI. [pained relief]
during the trials/this scene, sam tells dean that when he was young, he knew that he could never go on a hero's journey because he wasn't "clean". jared helps show that sam desperately hopes these trials will finally clean him through a pained, relieved face.
during the trials/this scene, sam tells dean that when he was young, he knew that he could never go on a hero's journey because he wasn't "clean". jared helps show that sam desperately hopes these trials will finally clean him through a pained, relieved face.
