Why do people keep saying Sam is so great a leadership. He’s not. He’s kind of terrible at it actually.
IMO, there is a difference between being a leader and being in control. What is is doing is putting himself in control. In the past we’ve seen power go to Sam’s head. (Ruby, his visions when he believed he was God’s chosen. Both times he played a part in Lucifer getting free). We see shades of that here with Sam needing to micro managed and do ever little thing himself. Here is why I find this if I look past the tell to the show, Sam really isn’t that effective.
1. Jared, himself said at a con that he doesn’t see Sam as a leader. He sees him more as a behind the scenes kind of guy.
2. Dabb has been trying to force this for two years. It hasnt’ taken yet. If he’s such a ‘born leader’ why does he need forced, inorganic story telling to make it happen. Dabb even admitted he had to get Jensen/Dean off the screen to make this happen and give Jared/Sam that breathing room.
3. He can’t make a hard decision. In the premier Jack and Maggie had no business being on that mission to rescue Cas. But Sam couldn’t say no for fear he’d hurt their feelings. Jack and Maggie were less than useless. And almost died. Leaders can recognize when people aren’t ready.
4. The whole fight scene was ridculous. WHy would a demon even ask a Winchester in the first place. Not to mention, Sam lost that fight. He got lucky the demon literally got distracted by a shiny knife. The demons should have been able to snap their fingers and ended that fight in a heart beat. Prime example of forced inorganic storytelling.
5. They had to completely skip over the important 3 weeks. Why would these guys suddenly be living in the bunker and following Sam in the first place. Epiode 13.23 said they had settled into apartments into town. Sam is a big reason Michael is in this world in the first place. He lead that mission into the AU and ended up dead and needing to be saved by Lucifer. Plus, his plan to leave Lucifer behind was what lead to Michael escaping. Not a great start for “Chief”
6. AU Bobby and the AU hunters had no loyaty to Sam or Dean or anyone. Mihcael destroyed their home and killed their loved ones. Why are they hunting random vampires and werweolves instead of going after Mihcael. Since they don’t care about Dean or Sam they should they be worried if they take out Dean in the process. So this is why it was important to show why these guys are suddenly so loyal to Sam. There is no reason other then forced inorganic story telling. Dabb wanted Sam to lead and army so he was going to make that happen no matter what.
7. Are we really supposed to believe all 30 would just be content to follow “Chief” That none of them would have a problem with Sam or Dean and want them dead?
8. What exactly are Mary and Bobby doing? Bobby was their leader in the AU. These are the people Mary was going to abandon her sons for because they were her people. Shouldn’t Bobby and Mary being taking on some responsbility here. What is Mary doing all day? Her nails and making goo goo eyes at Bobby. She didn’t seem to be phyically out searching for Dean.
9. More avoiding hard decisions. Maggie wasn’t ready to hunt. She should never have been on a solo hunt in the first place. Why was she alone? Remember way back in the pilot when Sam was shocked Dean was hunting along and he was raised in the life.
10. Sam cant’ take criticism. He deserved what Bobby said. He didnt’ recognize he Maggie wasnt’ ready. But point out Sam made a mistake and everyon jumps to his defense and gets offended. Sam can’t grow if people excuse his mistakes and at some point he’s going to make a fatal mistake. People shouldn’t be in jepordy for Sam’s ego.
11. He can’t put his foot down. WHen Jack wanted to go hunt, Sam made Dean be the one to put his foot down rather then tell Jack no. Leaders have to be able to make these kinds of calls even if it hurts someone’s feelings.
12. Leaders are not only held responsible for their mistakes but often for the mistakes of the team under them. The show won’t even let Sam be held responsbile for a mistake he did make.
13. He can’t delegate. When one of the AU hunters didn’t know how to do something, Sam just did it himself. Dean was gone for 3 weeks and has been back for at least 4-5. That’s 8 weeks, approx. Are we really supposed to beleive that Sam’s hunters can’t montior check ins or body cam footage. (Remember when they told the Ghostfaces that cameras werent’ a good idea. because the footage could end up in the wrong hands). Sam doesn’t need to do everything himself. This is what I mean by micro managing.
14. Why arent’ the AU people helping so chief can sleep. Surely Sam can set up some kind of schedule. His not eating and sleeping itsn’t good leadership its a time management problem in this case. He has help available, he’s choosing not to use it.
15. If none of the hunters can do simple administrative tasks that means either Sam failed to teach them or he doesn’t trust them. None of that makes him a good leader.
16. Dean tells Sam he brought Maggie home. Yet Dean did all the heavy lifting in this case. Sam needs to accept responsbility for his failures. He should have told Dean he was the one that was responsilbe. In WIAWSNB, Sam was the one who pulled the needle from Dean’s neck. So why didn’t he recognize it? It it because he’s too tired? Goes back to no time management or not trusting or mentoring those under him.
17. Are these hunters even loyal to Sam? When Maggie came back they all greeted her like she was the 2nd coming but no one even acknowleded or thanked Dean or even Sam.
18. Failure to use resources to make his job easier so he doesn’t have to burn the candle at both ends. What is Dean doing all day? COuldn’t Sam ask him to talk over some of the field/mentoring duties. Dean’s the best hunter there is. Let him use his experience in the field, especially if Michael’s monsters are changing the rules. We’ve seen in the past he’s really good with kids and young hunters.
19. The end of last ep strongly implies Dean was the one who was checking up on Maggie. Shouuld Sam as the leader being doing this?
20. If you ignore the tell and go with the show, Dean was the one calling the shots this ep. He stopped Sam from falling apart. He made sure to try and build Sam up, he helped the guest star by listening and not pushing. he figured out the mosnter and stopped him, and he made sure Maggie was okay.
Dean did all this despite just going through a major trauma. He’s once again burying that to but everyone else’s needs first. Sam, Mary’s Bobby’s the AU hunters, Maggie.
Dean’s actions were clear and concise, and confidant. He has a dominate presence. I think this is because Jensen is the leader on set and not matter how hard Dabb tries he can’t stop that from shining through. Dabb even admitted to this with his breathing room comment.
Sam on the other hand looked awkward and uncomfortalbe in pretty much every scene we’ve seen him trying to lead. If the show wants Sam to grow they need to stop saying he’s natural born and admit he’s struggling. There is nothing wrong with that. If it was coming through the show shoudln’t have to wort as hard as it did in this ep with the tell. It was almost like Glynn knew Dean was coming across as more of the leader so she went overboard with everyone bring it up
Sam is capable of taking charge when he has too but he has not been an
effective leader and he was not “born to it.” He’s struggling, its clear as day. Someone needs to point this out instead of ignoring and whiteswashing all his mistakes.
Dean is the natural born leader. He just comes natural to him. I can’t ignore the show for the tell no matter what Dabb wants.
There is more to leadership than just ideas and commands. Dean showed that this episode. Sam didnt’.
There is plenty of room for both Winchester brothers, with Dean doing more of the field and mentoring stuff and and Sam taking care of organizing and logistics. The show doesnt’ need to say only Sam can do it all because its not true.
Kelli's Tumblr Backup 