Samantha Carter: Mary Sue or Role Model?

[campylobacter]

In the same mimetic vein as the entry posted by fanfic author & friend lolmac Looking for Daniel in all the right places wherein she asks for advice from "ardent Jacksonians" about how to write Daniel, and what's good or bad in the way he's depicted in canon & in fanfic, I'm asking the Samantha-stans, Carter-istas, Sam-fanatics & Stargate fans on my F-List (anons, too!):

How do you write Sam Carter in character?

I've been STUCK on TWO fan fiction stories in which I can't resist writing from this amazing military astrophysicist's PoV, but am having major anxiety that I might get her wrong.

1. What is it about Sam that you love?
2. What makes you squee?
3. What do you most love to see her do?
4. What are the elements of a Sam story that you love the most?
5. What do you really like seeing her do in fic? On the show? Both?
6. What is the most epic of Sam WIN?
7. What annoys and pisses you off when you see it in fan fiction?
8. What are the stupid/shallow/careless misinterpretations of Sam that must be avoided?
9. What qualifies as Sam!Fail?
10. Any other pointers, tips, criticisms, & pet peeves also welcome!

RELATED: Meta: The Evolution of Samantha Carter (or Why I Love Sam) by rachel500
http://rachel500.livejournal.com/165064.html

Comments

Part 1

[thothmes.livejournal.com]

1.What is it about Sam that you love?

That she is a strong female character who is not (after Children of the Gods and Emancipation) chiefly noted for her sex object characteristics. Sam's value to the team is not her beauty, but her competence.

2.What makes you squee?

Seeing Sam hold her own. She takes down Turghan, she slugs Ba'al, and when someone dares to step on her command turf on Atlantis, she brushes him back in short order.

It's not just physical though. I love her sarcastic little asides too. Welcome to my life! You blow up one little sun...

3.What do you most love to see her do?

Sam is so often used as a technobabble delivery system, that I love to see those moments where she is just interacting with her teammates. Being there for Daniel-as-Machello and calling him "Sweetie", teasing Cassie in the infirmary after Nirrti leaves, ducking her head to hide a grin at one of Jack's comments, all her little moments with Daniel and Teal'c in Cold Lazarus, being oblivious to the nature of Graham Simmons' crush until Daniel points it out, coming back from shopping with Vala.

4.What are the elements of a Sam story that you love the most?

I like to get to see some of Sam outside of work, her back story, her hobbies and interests, what makes her tick outside the base. I loved finding out that she alphabetizes her shelves, to see her family pictures set around her living room, to find out that she may be a genius when it comes to all matters scientific, but she's too work-obsessed to bake a cake when she can buy one, and she can't draw for beans. I'd love to have known what sort of relationships she maintains outside of work other than her family and (sort of) Alex Colson.


5.What do you really like seeing her do in fic? On the show? Both?


It's nice when we get to see both sides of Sam, Sam the professionally kick-ass and competent, combined with Sam that's so head-driven that she's sometimes a little clueless as to the emotions and motivations within and around her. It's not that Sam doesn't have emotions. She is loving and kind. When Daniel ascends and again when Jack is lost with Maybourne, she is distraught. She cannot walk away from Cassie in the bumker. But it takes her waaay to long to figure out that Pete is a big ol' dead end, and she deliberates a looong time before convincing herself to get engaged to him too. She cleary over-thought and under-felt that one. This is why Sam is not a Mary Sue. Professionally she's great, in her personal life, she's muddling along. And like I said, she can't draw. If she were a Mary Sue, she'd give Leonardo a run for his money in the sketch department.