Samantha Manson

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Nickelodeon - | debut="Mystery Meat" - | age=14 - | creators=Butch Hartman - | alliance_color =background: #ffc0c0 - | status=Active - | spouse=Danny Fenton - | alliances=Danny Phantom (Boyfriend), Tucker Foley (Best friend), Undergrowth (temporarily her "father") - | aliases=Sammy-kins, Sam, That Punk Girl from Danny Phantom- | relatives=Jeremy Manson (father), Pamela Manson (mother), Ida Manson (Grandmother) - | powers=Experienced in ghost fighting, usually reliable, vast wealth. Temporarily control over plants. Samantha "Sam" Manson is a fictional character from the Nickelodeon animated series Danny Phantom created by Butch Hartman. She is the leading female character and love interest of Danny Fenton/Phantom. She is voiced by voice actress Grey DeLisle Samantha, or Sam as she prefers to be calledcite episode |title=Control Freaks |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-06-25 |season=1 |number=20] , is one of Danny Fenton/Phantom's best friends. She is a polarizing figure on the show due to her often extreme interests. She however is a standard supporting character for the protagonist in the show, Danny Phantom. she was originally intended to be a "dark and mysterious girl" with knowledge of supernatural world. Butch Hartman Interview, March 30, 2006 http://hometown.aol.com/zcat6/IntBH2006p2.html] ] Verify credibility|date=July 2008 She was also intended to have a psychic link with Danny but the idea was discarded because the developers didn't want to give the characters too many unique talents, preferring Danny to be only character with special powers.

Character

Sam is a self-proclaimed goth much to her parents' dismay and a strict ultra-recyclo vegetarian.cite episode |title=Mystery Meat |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-04-03 |season=1 |number=1] She wears dark clothing and has great interest in the subliminal and netherworldly, but combines this with an outspoken attitude on vegetarianism, animal rights and environmentalism. Her personality is less dreary than the stereotypical "goth" persona is usually portrayed. Based on how she conducts herself, it would be fair to say that she labels herself as goth more as an outlet for her independence and individuality than to embrace the stereotypical goth behavior.cite episode |title=Micro Management |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-01-27 |season=2 |number=39] She has openly admitted to being a "cat person" cite episode |title=Shades of Gray |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-09-24 |season=1 |number=10] and goes by the name of "Chaos" in the Doomed video game, of which she is an extremely proficient player. cite episode |title=Teacher of the Year |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-10-18 |season=1 |number=12] She is a fan of punk, metal, and techno/electronica music, monster movies--with her favorites being female monsters "Femalien", "Terminatra", and "Nightmerica" (all based or parodied on various monster and/or horror films)cite episode |title=Memory Blank |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-06-24 |season=2 |number=21] --and Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. Sam also has a collection of old vinyl punk-rock records from the 70s and 80s. [Source: Nickelodeon Magazine] Sam is extremely athletic and at times can show a perky demeanor which is at odds with the Goth culture she typically embraces.cite episode |title=Micro Management |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-01-27 |season=2 |number=39] Sam also seems to be the more studious of the three friends and has shown the ability to speak multiple languages.cite episode |title=Urban Jungle |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-10-09 |season=3 |number=39] Her parents, Jeremy and Pamela Manson are extremely wealthy, having inherited from the great inventor of the deli toothpick cellophane-twirling device; although she keeps this a secret with only her two best friends knowing, as she'd rather earn real friends, rather than through "popularity and fake friendships that come with wealth".cite episode |title=Attack of the Killer Garage Sale |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-04-17 |season=1 |number=4] She has an often strained relationship with her parents due to their optimistic, insisting on calling her Samantha, forcing her to dress like them, not accepting Sam for who she is, colorful personalities as opposed to her darker outlook in life. ("I'm a creature of the night doomed to a family of morning people."). She's often annoyed with them as well whenever they get involved in her life but still shows love for them both, concerned when they're in trouble.cite episode |title=Pirate Radio|series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-07-22 |season=1 |number=23] While she's not shown often Sam's grandmother, who calls Sam Bubala, giving a clue to Sam's Jewish heritage cite episode |title=The Fright before Christmas |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-12-06 |season=2 |number=30] , is more supportive of Sam than her parents as she supports all of her granddaughter's individualistic decisions, having been a bit of a nonconformist herself in her youth. Sam's grandmother is the only member of the Manson family who accepts Sam for who she is. In spite of her wealthy upbringing, Sam is not so much spoiled as she is bossy and can sometimes appear to be hypocritical; Sam temporarily forces her Ultra-Recyclo Vegetarian diet on the entirety of Casper High despite her claims of individuality,cite episode |title=Mystery Meat |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-04-03 |season=1 |number=1] she advises Danny against using his ghost powers for abusing bullies, but in another episode, she suggests that he uses them to scare people away from buying environmentally threatening trucks.cite episode |title=Memory Blank |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-06-24 |season=2 |number=21] It is clear that she would do anything she could to help Danny in his numerous battles against his enemies as well as keep him out of trouble. Of Danny's two best friends she is most likely to take whatever risks necessary to save/help Danny. Out of the trio consisting of Danny and Tucker, Sam is the most rational and mature, often thinking more realistically compared to the boys as well as pushing to Danny to focus on ghost hunting rather than being distracted. However expressive she may be, Sam still hides her inner most feelings inside, especially her secret crush on Danny. More often than not her inability to speak her heart causes her pain as other girls become aware of him cite episode |title=Flirting with Disaster|series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-01-13 |season=2 |number=32] .

Appearance

Sam is always seen with short black hair cut into a pageboy style with her bangs angled into a point. She wears a small forward facing ponytail on the back of her head which is in held back by a green hair scrunchie or hair tie. She is always seen wearing purple lipstick which matches her lavender eyes. She wears a black belly baring tank top with a purple oval in the center. She wears a short black skirt with a green crosshatch design over purple leggings along with black combat boots. Around her neck she wears a black choker with matching black bracelets, though in occasional close up scenes she is shown wearing a purple wristwatch with a spider, black cat, bat and a skull in place of the 3,6,9, and 12 respectively.cite episode |title=Identity Crises |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom |network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-10-08 |season=1 |number=11] In one episode, a picture of Sam is shown with one side of her head shaved in more of an Emo or Punk style cite episode |title=Fanning the Flames |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom |network=Nickelodeon |airdate =2004-10-08 |season=1 |number=11] . Whether or not this is a reference to an earlier character design is unknown.

Plot Overview

Sam has had her share of troubles and adventure, ranging from being turned into a ghost dragon briefly while wearing the amulet of Aragon,cite episode |title=Parental Bonding |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-04-09 |season=1 |number=2] to accidentally erasing Danny Phantom's existence by unknowingly making a wish Desiree grantscite episode |title=Memory Blank |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-06-24 |season=2 |number=21] to being nearly being a bride to Prince Aragon in cite episode |title=Beauty Marked |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-02-24 |season=2 |number=34] and becoming possessed by Undergrowth, a plant ghost, as his 2nd-in-command.cite episode |title=Urban Jungle |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-10-09 |season=3 |number=46] She is also responsible for designing Danny's "DP" emblem which he kept for the remainder of the series.cite episode |title=Memory Blank |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2005-06-24 |season=2 |number=21] She has known Tucker and Danny since the 2nd gradecite episode |title=Splitting Images |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-04-23 |season=1 |number=5] . Both Danny and Sam consistently denied any romantic associations with each other throughout the series,cite episode |title=Fanning the Flames|series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-10-08 |season=1 |number=11] . Though Sam's affection for Danny is quite obvious to most of the other characters on the show, through her shows of jealousy cite episode |title=Parental Bonding|series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2004-04-10 |season=1 |number=2] whenever Danny is with another girl and her stuttering to confess her feelings frequently. Sam's feelings for Danny have often put her in a great deal of turmoil. She has had to watch Danny pursue relationships with other girls -- most notably Valerie Grey,cite episode |title=Flirting with Disaster|series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-01-13 |season=2 |number=32] At one point she had a boyfriend herself, leading to awkward situations.cite episode |title=Double Cross My Heart |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-05-05 |season=2 |number=39] The issue was resolved between Danny and Sam during the climax of the series finale, ending with the two finally coming to terms with their feelings for each other and working out the terms of a romantic relationship.

Relationships

Danny Fenton/Phantom

Danny Fenton/Phantom considers Sam to be one of his best friends. The two frequently quarrel, but always make up. They gradually realize their feelings for each other though the series and by the series finale, it is clear they are embarking on a romantic relationship. It is also obvious that Sam has feelings for Danny even before Danny realizes his feelings for her. In "Double Cross My Heart" cite episode |title=Memory Blank |series=Danny Phantom |serieslink=Danny Phantom | network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-05-05 |season=2 |number=39] Sam cringes when Danny asks her if she knows how it feels to like someone she couldn't date. Ironically, Danny asks her this question because he feels that way about his enemy, Valerie Gray. Sam's feelings for Danny stem from her admiration of his good use of his superpowers and his individuality as a fellow high school outcast.

Tucker Foley

Sam also considers Tucker Foley to be her best friend, but the two are opposites (his meat habits as oppose to her vegetarian, his lighthearted behavior to her more down-to-earth method) and they often bicker over even the mundane reasons. She also sometimes considers him to be an annoyance, but is shown to still enjoy his company.

Jazz Fenton

Sam originally has no relationship with Jazz Fenton. Upon Jazz's admittance of her knowledge of Danny's ghost powers, Jazz begins to assist Tucker, Sam, and Danny in capturing the various ghosts which attack Amity Park. Near the end of the series in the episode "Girls Night Out", Sam gains respect for Jazz's ghost-fighting abilities when her plan to rescue Amity Park from Penelope Spectra, Ember McLain, and Kitty is successful. Both of them work together without disagreement in the latter episodes.

Gregor/Elliot

First introduced in "Double Cross My Heart", his only appearance in the series, Elliot attempts to impress Sam in order to date her. He disguises himself as a Hungarian foreign exchange student name Gregor and tells Sam he is a goth and a vegetarian. Danny, suspicious of his claims, follows him and Sam on a date one night using his invisibility power and begins to suspect him of associating with The Guys in White. This upsets Sam and she considers actually dating the boy. However, Gregor accidentally reveals his identity as a womanizing American teen, and Sam loses interest in him.

Prince Aragon

In "Beauty Marked" Price Aragon wishes for a human bride, so he sends his sister Dora to find a suitable woman via a beauty pageant. Danny is chosen as the judge of the pageant and accidentally crowns Sam the winner. Sam is transported to Aragon's castle where she undergoes training to be his queen. Danny and Tucker botch her attempt at freedom but eventually Dora's stands up to her brother and Sam is set free.

Undergrowth

Undergrowth, a plant ghost, overshadowed Sam and became her "father" once he took over Amity Park. He turned her into his "daughter"/2nd-in-command because of her love towards nature. He went as far as giving her plant-related powers to serve as a new "mother" for Undergrowth's plants, although she was mind-controlled by him the whole time.

References