Underrated Sam Post!
Idk what everyone’s opinion is but I for one am a huge fan of Sam and feel she isn’t talked about enough. So this is her appreciation post.
First of all I love how she stands firm on her ground. When Don first meets her he says he wasn’t expecting to see someone like her. (Now idk what he meant I always took it as he expected a man to be there and she’s like whats wrong with that?). Her anger is justified cause first she has to wait for Don which she was patient enough to do so then she gets pushed off via Kim’s fault. But she forgives don after seeing how hard he is trying being a single father to Cleo and Kim.
Next, she puts up with both Cleo and Kim to different degrees. She deals with Kim’s brattiness and if anything tries to be inclusive by removing certain artifacts (in the episode where Kim doesn’t like the things shes brought from her travels) and overall is patient with her (eg. Episode where she doesn’t want to share the bathroom) she doesn’t really get mad and forgives her for ruining the wedding. They kinda bond in the episode when Don wants to watch a sports game and the two actually were planning on going shopping together. In the episode where they go to the beach she compliments Kim’s bathing suit and for the wedding she offers for both Cleo and Kim to be bridesmaids. She tries to bond with Cleo and even says if anything is wrong she can talk to her. Issue is that Cleo is a mermaid and can’t really say that so she runs off. She is considerate of the girls as she says that she feels her an don rushed the relationship and that’s why they are acting out and genuinely loves Don she supports his fishing (often hoping he’d get a catch) and she offers money even tho she doesn’t need too for family vacations and stuff. For the wedding she doesn’t care where the wedding is held just him.
And I especially love how shes so much more than a stepmother. Shes a geologist and that plot line comes into play later in season 3 as she indirectly helps Cleo via connections or information about mako island, moon patterns, ocean / wildlife. Love how in her kindness she is a firm boss who doesn’t like Ryan poking around Mako Island and threatens his job if he keeps going there. She doesn’t push to be a stepmother in the girls lives if anything she keeps her space and most of the disciplining comes from Don which tbh he is a good father he punished (while not fair) Cleo and Kim for the bathroom fiasco it does show he cares about his wife being respected. Anyways, in an era where stepmothers are portrayed as evil or whatever I think Sam is the best example of a good and realistic stepmother. Someone who doesn’t necessarily fill in a motherly role yet is dependable which is the healthiest + realistic type of relationship one can have.