11-20-2002

Guestvision By: Lola

Who is Really the most loyal?

Now, I don’t want to be a trader to my beloved show or it’s fans, but it seems that the classification most people have designated for the main characters are slightly inaccurate.

Most people consider Sam to be the tried-and-true, ultimately good character; and think of Al as the character endeared to us despite his obvious moral flaws. I offer counter perspective.

It seems to me Al is the more loyal friend of the two. At 19 years Sam’s senior, Al almost acts fatherly in his protectiveness. In the book Prelude, which explains the design and construction of the project, Sam’s purpose in building Ziggy is alluded to when he laments the death of his brother, Tom. In the episode “Sea Bride” Al avoids the topic of his first marriage when Sam mentions it. The episode “M.I.A.” reveals this to be a deeply tragic experience for Al, whose wife had him declared ‘presumed dead’ while he was M.I.A. Sam follows the rules and doesn’t help Al change his life for the better, although he had every opportunity after he saved the life of Sgt. Scaggs.

Isn’t a bit unsettling that he had no problem preventing his own abandonment in the series’ second episode, “Star-Crossed”? Even after “M.I.A.”, in the very next episode no less, Sam doesn’t mind breaking the rules to help save his brother, sister, and father.

However, the argument of loyalty can be made in the second part of “The Leap Home” when Al sacrifices his freedom and ultimately his marriage to Beth when asked for help by Sam. Al helps Sam save Tom knowing it was going to cost him the thing he so desperately desired, and very likely the purpose of the leap.  

For the sake of Sam, Al has done many things – including made peace with the Church, gotten himself fired from the project, and even gotten himself shot! He’s gone to the mat at least once for funding on the project, and he’s never asked to change the past for the sake of his sister of father, who both died. Moreover, the only fight to occur between them was started by Sam (Play it again, Seymour)! Al has saved his life at least 30 times, and Sam seems only unappreciative of his efforts and short with him and the project a great deal of the time.

Do not misunderstand. I really like the character of Dr. Sam Beckett and I believe he is wonderful and amazingly courageous for tackling each assignment from God, Time, Fate, Whatever. But he isn’t flawless. It just seems to me that Al deserves a little more credit than he usually gets for guiding Sam, occasionally pulling him from the fire, and holding the project together on his side.

What do you think???

Lola