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Blair Sandburg
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Blair Sandburg (middle name, if any, is unknown; "Jacob" is a popular fannish choice) |
| Occupation: | |
| Relationships: | Naomi Sandburg (mom), Blair's Father |
| Fandom: | |
| Other: | also Known As: Chief (only to Jim, who also refers to him by off-the-cuff nicknames related to the situation at hand, notably "my little guppy" during a fishing trip.) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Blair Sandburg is a main character on the TV Show The Sentinel, played by Garett Maggart. An anthropology grad student doing research on "Sentinels," or tribal protectors with hyperactive senses, he is delighted to meet a modern-day Sentinel, Jim Ellison, who agrees to serve as the subject of his dissertation and submit to his sensory experimentation in exchange for help controlling his powers and fighting crime. They also live together. Much Jim/Blair slash has been written. Fanon often has Blair depicted as the more open-minded of the pair due to his background and experiences.
Background
Childhood
Blair was born in 1969 and raised by a single mother, Naomi Sandburg, an anti-establishment dreamer. He is an only child. The identity of his father is unknown.
Academic Studies
During the show, Blair is a PhD candidate at Rainier University in Cascade, Washington, studying anthropology. His specific field of research is of course the phenomenon of "Sentinels," tribal protectors with elevated senses; Jim Ellison becomes the subject of his dissertation.
In addition to his own studies, Blair is occasionally seen teaching undergraduate classes at Rainier as a teaching fellow.
Law Enforcement Work
In order to study Jim's powers and to help him control them, Blair works closely with him on his cases. His official status is observer, but he frequently becomes involved in the investigation. It is an unpaid position. During interviews with witnesses and persons of interest, he is introduced at various times as an observer, a consultant, or more frequently simply as Jim's partner.
Romantic Life
Blair is known as a ladies' man and dates various women casually throughout the course of the series. Very few of his love interests last more than one episode. His infatuation with Maya Carasco, the daughter of a Chilean arms smuggler whom he gets to know as part of a case, is the most passionate depicted on the show.
Names and Nicknames
Blair has no canon middle name; most fans use "Jacob."
Nicknames Jim uses to refer to Blair in fic are often based in canon ("Hairboy," Einstein") but are also, the fashion of fandom, used much, much more in fic than in the show.
One fanon term for Blair is "Blairy Sue," a reference to Mary Sue, and used in a negative ways.
Fanon & Fannish Debates
Blair is "The Guide"
Fanon depicts Blair in a formal role counterpart to "The Sentinel." Fanon partners a "Guide" with every Sentinel and gives him a whole series of roles, obligations, and even powers. The first story to flesh out this fanon was L. Bright's 1996 story Sanctuary, although the first story posted in the fandom, Sacrifice by Laura Schomberg, called Blair a "guide". The show is not specific about the exact nature of Blair's role.
Blair is Jewish
While episodes have referred to Blair Sandburg's bar mitzvah and to his rabbi as well as to his mother's biblical name of Naomi, there have been various debates in fandom about whether or not the character is actually Jewish. (This debate has arisen in many fandoms; for more on the questionable Jewishness of characters, see Judaism and Fandom.)
Blair is a Pacifist
On the one hand, Blair is interested in social change, justice, harmonious forces in the universe, meditation, and other concepts frequently linked to pacifism. On the other, he has selected a fairly violent line of work (and he doesn't dislike his police work; in fact, he praises its excitement). He expresses discomfort at holding a gun in a few episodes, but his objections seem to be largely based on the fact that he does not know how to use it.
Blair is a Vegetarian
Fanon occasionally depicts Blair as vegetarian, but in canon, he has eaten pepperoni pizza and his favorite food (according to his mother) is beef tongue.
Blair Moved Around a Lot as a Child
Canon shines little light on Blair's place of origin before he came to Rainier (or possibly another local school, but he was in Washington for undergrad).
Blair's Completed Master's Thesis Was on Sentinels
While Lee Brackett says that he "read an early undergraduate piece [Blair] wrote on primitive sentinels," canonically, there's no mention of what Blair got his master's degree in, much less what his thesis subject was.
Blair is a Shaman
In "Warriors", Incacha passes "the way of the shaman" to Blair and says that Blair must guide Jim to his animal spirit; this is the only canon reference other than perhaps a joking reference to Blair being "Shaman of the Great City." Fanon has expanded this to mean that Blair has shamanistic power, plans to study shamanism, or sees it as simply one more component to being Jim's guide.
Blair's Hair
See much more at Blair's Hair.
In fanon, Blair's hair takes on even more a life of its own, something that causes many fans to turn the possibility of Blair having to cut his hair into a full-fledged trope. Some fans feel so strongly about Blair retaining his long hair that they appreciate fanfic to have a warning if Blair's hair is in danger. Other fans take the opportunity to portray a short-haired Blair as a very attractive option.
Blair's Lungs
Much is made in fiction of Blair's Compromised Lungs due to his drowning.
Blair's Heartbeat
Blair's Heartbeat conveys a lot of useful information for Jim Ellison.
What Blair Smells Like
Blairscent resembles a variety of earthy, hippy odors, and Jim Ellison is always sniffing Blair.
Blair's Father
Blair's Father is a ripe topic for fannish investigation. Fanon has suggested options ranging from Jim himself (with or without time travel) to David Starsky of Starsky and Hutch.
Blair the Elf
See more at Blair Sandburg: Elf.
Elf AUs are often an opportunity for Hair Fandom, which celebrates characters having long hair. This means Blair Sandburg is an ideal subject for a lot of Blair-as-an-elf fanworks.
Blair's Unreliable Car
Blair as a Trouble Magnet
See The Sandburg Zone.
Blair's Guide Voice
Post-Series Debates
See The Sentinel by Blair Sandburg.
Does Blair become a detective and Jim's partner?
Does Blair remain a teacher?
Does Blair jettison his academic career to keep Jim's secret?