In season 12 episode 22 of Supernatural, Sam Winchester is tasked with rallying fellow hunters together to fight a common enemy. He was able to expertly voice his opinions and feelings towards his audience and win them over to his side. He did so using emotional appeals, powerful delivery, and his own credibility as a famous hunter.
Sam was able to appeal to the emotions of the audience by explaining how the enemy is after all of them. This brings fear into the minds of the other hunters, but they quickly realize that Sam has a point. They realize that if they don’t act, then they’ll be the next ones dead. At this point in the show, other hunters were being hunted by the enemy, and the audience knew that these killings needed to stop.
Sam was also able to deliver his speech extremely well. He spoke with pure confidence, which led the others to believe that he knew what he was talking about. There were no stutters in his delivery, which makes the speech and its message even more powerful. Because of his powerful voice and good choice of words, Sam seemed like he was sure that his plan would work.
Finally, Sam used his credibility as another persuasive tool. The audience knows that Sam and his brother had faced many enemies before. The brothers always found a way to win, no matter who the enemy was. This boosted the faith that the other hunters had in Sam and his plan to take down the enemy.
All in all, even when in a tough situation, Sam Winchester was able to persuade others into following him into what could turn into certain death. He used his own emotions, credibility, and speaking skills to prove that the audience was following the right person.
I liked the rhetorical methods you mentioned, especially that of ethos. As you said, Sam’s credibility comes from the context of the situation and the events leading up to it, which requires the viewer to look back to gain such insight. Thanks for the post!