Canon? or Fanon?

Last updated September 1, 2000

Certain conventions are used frequently in The Sentinel fanfiction. While most are based on canon (something that was actually telecast in an episode), others were used somewhere along the line by a fan writer and just seemed so plausible that other writers accepted them as reality and a Sentinel mythos was born... Recently we've started called repeated fanfiction mythos "fanon" as opposed to "canon."

Conventions:

Blair is anti guns.

Blair's attitude toward guns appears somewhat contradictory in canon. As this is a complicated issue, Blair's attitude towards guns and violence has been give a page of its own for discussion.

Blair is Jewish.

Although never stated explicitly onscreen, there is supporting evidence that this is canon. In Night Train Blair states that he received his Swiss Army Knife as a bar mitzah gift. Then in Mirror Image, when Blair complains, "I've got a bad feeling about this," Jim replies back: "Tell your Rabbi."

Blair is referred to as "the kid."

Mirror Image is the first episode where Jim actually refers to Blair as "the kid." Simon is the one who tends to call Sandburg "the kid."
-- Spotted by Linda.

Jim is referred to as "Big Guy."

Although in Fanon, "Big Guy" is Jim's nickname of choice, Blair has *NEVER* called Jim "Big Guy" on the show.
-- Pointed out by Mick C.

Jim can pick out Blair from a crowd by the familiarity of his heartbeat.

This is a long-standing staple of 'The Sentinel' fandom, but the only time Jim has used his senses to locate Blair in a crowd was in The Trance. However, in fanon Jim is frequentely depicted listening to Blair's heartbeat (to find him, to know if he's hurt/scared/etc., to ground himself, to fall asleep, or for simple comfort). The first use of this heartbeat fanon convention that the Nightowl can remember is Michalina's "Experiment" vignette from December 1996.

The Corvair as an unreliable piece of junk.

This is pure fanon. The Corvair NEVER broke down on screen, and Blair seems to have cherished and loved it deeply, no matter how many stories hinged on it being an unreliable piece of junk. Thanks for the info, Jo. The first use of the unreliable Corvair that the Nightowl can think of was in Kristine Williams' series back in the late fall/early winter of 1996.

Jim's Cascade PD Sweatshirt.

Jo informs us about this perennial favorite, that much admired, widely worn, adorable and deeply comforting item of apparel that Blair has borrowed from Jim in job after job after job: "The legendary Cascade P.D. sweatshirt. Never seen Blair wear one. Never seen Jim wear one. Never seen any proof on the show that Jim owns one, or even that the department offers such an item, for sale or to its members. But boy is it a cute idea!" The first reference to the sweatshirt that the Nightowl can remember is in an early Kristine Williams story.

Blair feels the cold more than Jim.

In the stake-out in Light My Fire, Blair is so chilled he puts on a scarf, gloves and a fuzzy hat with ear flaps. In the stakeout in Mirror Image, Blair again complains about being cold.

Jim's role as Blair's "Blessed Protector."

The term "Blessed Protector" has been used only once in canon, in Cypher in the tag where Blair is teasing Jim. The term has never been repeated on the series. Another thanks to Jo for this information.

Blair's nipple ring.

Again, the only time the nipple ring has been mentionned on the show was in Cypher. It appeared in the same tag where Jim and Blair are teasing each other. From the context of the exchange, you couldn't tell if the ring was real or just something said as a joke. However, in Ice Man, we get a clear view of Blair's chest as Jim tapes his ribs, and there's no nipple ring present.

Three-year timeframe.

Although the actual ellapsed time between the pilot and the finale of Season 3 is just a little over two years and a couple of months, Blair states distinctly in Night Shift that he and Jim have been together for three years.

Blair does not get paid by the Cascade PD.

This is now canon. Sarah points out that in Murder 101 Simon says to Blair, "Sandburg, you know we don't pay observers."

Blair does not pay Jim rent.

This issue was never addressed in the show until Sentinel Too part 2, when Jim jokes about the rent in the hospital to cover up his emotions over Blair's narrow escape from death. This causes the Nightowl to feel that it is canon that Blair does pay rent.

Blair sits up studying until the early hours of the morning.

This is canon. In Hear No Evil Blair even sets the alarm clock to 'wake' himself up from studying in order to go to bed.

Blair is a health food nut.

Stinky Green shakes in Neighborhood Watch aside [g], Mick C. thinks this impression is derived from Blair's weird cooking habits and his objection to Wonder Burgers (maybe he's worried about Jim's cholesterol). The fact of the matter is that Blair's been seen dining at Mr. Tube Steak (Foreign Exchange) and before that he and Jim are getting lunch at a hotdog vendor (Love Kills). They run off to the truck with their dogs. A true health food nut would go into seizures before letting a hotdog pass their lips.

Blair is a vegetarian.

Kelly Hudson points out, "I'd like to add one thing. Blair is *not* a vegetarian as he is portrayed to be in so many fanfics. His own mother even says he's not in Spare Parts. What I have seen through episodes is a man who tries to be careful of what he puts in his body. He prefers eating lean meats, but will eat junk food occasionally. We've seen him eat hotdogs at least twice with Jim. In the most recent hotdog feast, he really seemed to like them. While he drinks a health shake every morning, he's also been seen eating pizza with Jim and Simon, Golden incident excluded."

Blair prefers tea to coffee.

Kelly also points out that Blair seems to drink as much coffee as tea, not really seeming to have a preference. Nightowl adds there are coffee references from the beginning, especially the cafe lattee in Seige. The biggest reference to tea was in Second Chance.

Detectives Rafe and Brown are partners.

The idea that Detectives Rafe and Brown are partners is a fanon idea, never stated explicitly in canon, although they do appear together in many episode scenes.

Blair has always had long hair.

This would appear to be fanon as Blair's mother Naomi says that Blair's long hair is a new look for him in Spare Parts.

Jim can sense electromagnetic charges.

In Murder 101 Jim tells Taggert that there's an electromagnetic charge in the room. When Joel questions how he knows, Jim replies, "You don't feel the hair on your arms standing up from static electricity?"

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