Robin’s Rambles: “The Man Who Would Be King”
In their midst, unseen by them, Cas spies on what they’re saying. “So, they already suspected,” the angel realizes.
While Dean wipes his face one-handed as he tends to do when upset, Bobby and Sam go back to their prisoner. “Where’s Crowley?” demands Bobby. “Up yers,” repeats Red. Bobby twists the knife in the guy’s leg, wringing a lot of pain-filled screeching from him. “And the worst part is, continues Cas, “Dean, trying so hard to be loyal, every instinct telling him otherwise.”
Now in tears, Red insists he doesn’t know where Crowley is. “You sure about that?” asks Bobby–“’cause we can twist all the way to next summer.” Bobby twists the knife again. “I never even met him!” cries Red–“I don’t deal with Crowley direct.” “Who do you deal with?” asks Bobby. “The dispatcher,” Red says, “a demon named Ellesworth. (Ednote: Sam and Dean collected creatures for Crowley, so they know they never got to deal with him directly. Sounds like a continuity error to me.)
“If there was a demon counterpart of Bobby Singer, Ellesworth would be it,” says Cas. Indeed, a man who looks a damn lot like Bobby, from cap to facial hair, sits talking to a chalice of blood as Bobby would a telephone, “No, I don’t care–I want you to get down to New Mexico and bag me that Wendigo! What? Because the boss says we’re done with them.” A real phone rings. His eyes turn from black to normal. “FBI, Thomas speaking,” he says, “absolutely I sent them, thanks for calling to check–you have a nice day now, bye-bye.” Two men drop off a creature. “Hey hey, not in here, you freakin’ Yeti! Out back!”
“These demons,” says Cas, “would lead the Winchesters to Crowley, and Crowley would tear their hearts out. Cas enters, presses his hands to the faces of the two demons, presses them to the floor and kills them. Ellesworth mutters “Oh God” and tries to exit his meat suit, but Cas presses the smoke right back inside, kills him, and wipes the residue on his trench coat. “I had no choice,” says Cas, “I did it to protect the boys–or to protect myself. I don’t know anymore.”
(Ednote: Oh, sure Cas knows. He just can’t quite admit to himself that he’s become a very bad angel.)
Bobby, Sam and Dean go to check out where Cas just was and find it very clean. They split up, guns ready, to investigate further.
“Lying, sweeping away evidence,” says Cas, “and my motives used to be so pure. After supposedly saving Sam, I returned to heaven. Of course, there isn’t one heaven, each soul generates its own paradise. I favor the eternal Tuesday afternoon of an autistic man who drowned in a bathtub in 1953.” In a lush, park-like atmosphere, a kite flies overhead. Before Cas stands a group of angels, all in black suits with white shirts. “You’re alive,” says Rachel, the angel he killed a few episodes ago. “Yes,” he says, smiling. “We saw Lucifer destroy you,” she says. “Well I came back,” he says happily. “But. . .Lucifer,” she pushes, “Michael.” “They’re gone,” he says. “It was God, wasn’t it,” she says. All the angels step forward. “No,” says Cas, “it was the Winchesters, they brought down the apocalypse.” “But you beat the archangels, Castiel,” she points out, “God brought you back–he chose you, Cas, to lead us.” “No, no one leads us anymore,” insists Cas, “we’re all free to make our own choices and to choose our own fates.” She looks at her fellow angels. “What does God want?” she asks, perplexed. “God wants you to have freedom,” says Cas. “What does he want us to do with it?” she asks. (Ednote: I knew Cas was in trouble here. BIGTIME! These angels were used to being led, given orders. Freedom was a completely foreign concept to them.)
“If I knew then what I know now,” narrates Cas, “I might have said, ‘It’s simple–freedom is a length of rope, God wants you to hang yourself with it.’ (LMAO!) Those first few weeks back in heaven were surprisingly difficult. Explaining freedom to angels is a bit like teaching poetry to fish. And then there was Raphael.” The latter angel, dressed impeccably, handsome and arrogant, sets down a drink. “You came,” he says, “I appreciate the courage that takes.” Cas sees a picture of G. W. Bush on the wall. “Whose heaven is this?” he asks. “Ken Lay’s,” says Raph, “I’m borrowing it.” “I still question his admittance here,” says Cas. “He’s devout,” says Raph, “trumps everything.” “What do you want?” demands Cas. “Tomorrow,” says Raph, “I’ve called for a full assembly of the Holy Host. You’ll kneel before me and pledge allegiance to the flag, all right?” “And what flag is that?” asks Cas. “Me, Castiel,” says Raph, allegiance to me.” “Are you joking?” asks Cas. “Do I look like I’m joking?” asks Raph (He does NOT.) “You never look like you’re joking,” says Cas. (LMAO!) “You rebelled,” says Raph, “against God, heaven and me–now you will atone. We’ll start by freeing Lucifer and Michael from their cage, and then we’ll get our show back on the road.” “Raphael, NO!” cries Cas passionately–“the apocalypse doesn’t have to be fought!” “Of course it does,” insists the other angel, “it’s God’s will.” “How can you say that?” demands Cas. “Because it’s what I want,” says Raphael somewhat petulantly. (Does he think he’s God?) “The other angels won’t let you!” says Cas vehemently. “Are you sure?” asks Raph–“you know better than anyone, Castiel, they’re soldiers, they weren’t built for freedom, they were built to follow.” Cas rises. “Then I won’t let you,” he says. “REALLY?” says Raph, shooting bright white light at Cas, who awakens to find himself lying on his back in his version of heaven, nose bloody, staring up at a red, yellow and blue kite. He begins spitting up blood and rolls over on his stomach to deposit it into the earth. “I’m not ashamed to say that my big brother knocked me into next week,” says Cas looking up at Raphael, who says, “Tomorrow you kneel, Castiel, or you and anyone with you dies.”
(Ednote: Wow, brutal family! Cas is going to be punished for what he did, and now Raph wants to follow in the footsteps of those fools who WANTED the apocalypse to happen? Damn fools! The thought of what Sam went through, all being undone, makes me want to scream, kill and use angel knives on Raphael and all his followers!)
“Place is clean,” reports Sam to Dean. “Like Mr. Clean cleaned,” says Bobby, “kinda OCD for your average demon.” Sam agrees. So what now?” he asks. “We call Cas,” says Dean defensively, “this is usually the point where we’d call Cas for help, right?” “We talked about this,” Bobby reminds him. “Yeah, Dean,” says Sam. “No, you talked, I listened,” says Dean, “this is CAS, guys. There was no one, we were stuck, really stuck, he broke ranks, he has gone to the mat cut and bleeding for us so many freakin’ times. This is CAS! Don’t we owe him the benefit of the doubt at least?” With Dean giving him his own brand of puppy-dog eyes, Sam can’t resist, and reluctantly says, “Castiel, this is really important, we really need to talk to you.” “Castiel, come on in,” says Dean. As the three look at each other, puzzled and concerned, Cas is standing, invisible, right beside Dean. “But I didn’t go to them,” he says, “because I knew they would have questions I couldn’t answer. I guess I was afraid.” “Cas is busy,” says Dean. “That’s all right, we are too,” says Sam, slapping his brother encouragingly on the back, “come on.” “Back to square one,” says Bobby. “What do we do now?” asks Dean, annoyed. “We caught one hunter demon before,” says Bobby, we can do it again.” “DEAN!” shouts Sam. In less than two seconds, three men have attacked Bobby, Dean and Sam, throwing them down with tremendous violence. Before starting to savagely beat Dean’s face, the demon crows, “Crowley says hi!”
(Ednote: I was totally stunned when those demons suddenly attacked! They just appeared out of nowhere and began whaling on the guys! I’m also astonished over Raph’s arrogance, but I gather Cas is a pretty weak angel in the ranks. Working with Dean has emboldened him. Cool! Except, has it emboldened him to take things to a reckless place, like it often does Dean?)
The demon beating Dean’s face gets in three very hard punches, bloodying Dean’s teeth. “Crowley sent his very best,” explains Cas, “I was caught as much by surprise as the rest of them.” Bobby is sent flying through French doors. “And I was left with yet another choice,” says Cas. Sam is tossed on top of a table in a way that would have broken any other man’s back.
“I could reveal myself and smite the demons–of course, Crowley wouldn’t like it, but on the other hand, they WERE my friends.” Cas dispatches the demons, first Dean’s, then Bobby’s, lastly Sam’s. “For a brief moment, I was me again.”
Being in a fox hole with somebody yes they all were together. But this Season can anybody honestly say Dean has been caring about Castiel? or Castiels plight. this Season..?.
Lets see Dean gets the surrogate father and now a brother .Sam would be better off going behind his wall and staying there.
Robin, thanks for your enjoyable article.
Some quick thoughts.
[b]1. What did you think of this episode? Does it seem a re-telling of Sam-Dean? Is Cas REALLY as close as a brother to Dean? That part I don’t agree with and feel it’s an insult to Dean and Sam’s relationship.[/b]
I think it’s fairly obvious that there are similarities between Season 4 Sam and Season 6 Castiel.
I do think that Cas is – well, was – like a brother to Dean. Like men who go through war together on the same side, I’m not at all surprised Dean and Castiel developed a brotherly bond that is comparable to blood brothers.
[b]2. What did you think about Crowley’s offer to Cas? Does it sound good or too good to be true?[/b]
Crowley’s a demon 😛 – I’m fairly sure that if he and Castiel had found a way to break open Purgatory, Crowley would have found a way to siphon all the soul power for himself, cutting off Castiel. I do not think Crowley likes to share, if he can possibly help it.
[b]3. Crowley wants the Winchesters dead. Cas wants them alive. Which of them is going to win that now that Dean and the angel have come to a parting of the ways?[/b]
Tough call – it could go either way, especially with the much touted cliffhanger at the end of Season 6 (whatever it may be).
[b]4. I’ve said before that it was no coincidence that Sam’s soul was left behind. I was sure that Cas raised Sam from perdition, too—where’s his hand tattoo like Dean has? Can we safely assume Crowley ordered Sam’s resurrection?[/b]
I’m a bit confused about this part – there appears to be a number of possible explainations. Maybe rescuing Dean from Hell is different from breaking Sam out of Lucifer’s cage ?
[b]5. Do you think Cas made his slip-up with Superman because he had too much pride or too much humanity?[/b]
I think Dean described Cas best a couple of episodes ago – Cas is, in many ways, still like a child. 😛 He simply did not think fast enough on his feet.
[b]7. What is the outcome of this tragedy going to be? Speculate.[/b]
Everyone appears to die at the end of the Season 6 – including Dean and Castiel appearing to kill off each other in a bloody knife fight ? 😛
1. I enjoyed this episode immensely. It was full of such angst and heartbreak. All of our suspicions as viewers were largely confirmed. It was to an extent a repetition of season 4 between Sam and Dean concerning Ruby, and yet different. I think, in Dean’s POV, that Cas is a brother to him. It’s Dean’s nature—considering how lonely the hunter’s life can be. He’s adopted Bobby as his father. He’s finally returned to his big brother role for Sam in all its glory. He took on the role—even if he had to give it up—father to Ben. Bobby said it best: Family don’t end in blood, boy. Does this elevate Cas above Sam? I don’t think so. For me, it isn’t so much an insult as much as it is a demonstration of how loyal Dean can be to those he allows into his heart. And when they break it, it shatters. This is the second time a “brother” has chosen a demon over him. It’s going to give poor Dean a complex!
2.Cas should have known better. Crowley is a demon, the self proclaimed King of the Crossroads, now King of Hell. His job is to be a smooth talker. As an Angel of the Lord, Cas should have seen what Crowley was doing. I think he was so desperate, knew that Crowley needed the Apocalypse to stay off the rails as much as he did, and assumed that he could somehow keep this in his control. He’s still an Angel, and they thrive upon structure. He had made his own choices while helping Sam and Dean in season 5, but even there Dean called a lot of the shots. Here, Cas was on his own. Because he had decided to tackle it alone, he had no true sounding board to fall back on and reassess a decision before making it. It’s hard to say how it might have been different if he had gone to Dean right away—we’ll never know.
3. Dean might have turned Cas away, but I don’t think Cas will stop protecting him and Sam as he can. Crowley pointed out Sam and Dean’s lengthy demon body count himself—and I have no doubt that the boys will find a way to add him to that list if given the chance. I don’t think Crowley will succeed in killing the brothers. And even if he does, he should now better than that by now. They don’t stay DEAD. Seems the only demon they’ve never managed to kill is Meg! She survives largely by staying far, far away and having escape plans. Either way, I don’t see the boys enduring another death—-the crumbling of Sam’s wall on the other hand—
4. I don’t think Crowley ordered Sam’s resurrection. I do think Cas had good intentions in pulling Sam from the Cage, but I do think he may have left the soul behind on purpose. He just didn’t seem to try hard enough to deny it and the shamed look on his face gave me the impression that he had done so on purpose. Crowley managed to find a way to exploit the situation, however. Soulless Sam, love him or hate him, was good at what he was doing—at least from the King of Hell’s POV. He didn’t have that pesky thing called empathy to get in the way. He hunted creatures, he handed them over, he didn’t ask questions. He was, to Crowley, the perfect hunter for his purposes. Grandpa was just his knowledge fountain. Soulless Sam was his hammer. It is possible that Cas had intended to try and find away to bust Sam’s soul out in a second attempt at jail breaking the Cage, but was persuaded to leave it there only a little longer until they had Purgatory in their grasp. As much of a fast talker as Crowley was in convincing Cas to start the Civil War in the first place, he could have convinced our wayward angel that it wouldn’t be for long and then he could reunite Moose and Soul. It makes sense when you consider JUST how adamant both Cas and Crowley were against the return of Sam’s soul. There’s also whatever power source it provided—-the big question I truly want answered. What if Crowley, in his convincing of Cas to keep it in the Cage, had found a way to tap into Sam’s soul? It’s the questions we have left on the table lingering from this episode.
5. I think Cas wanted to get caught. On some level. Rather it was conscious or not, he wanted to get caught. He knew he was in too deep. He knew that he needed help. He also knew that the likely hood of getting it by a full on confession to Sam, Dean, and Bobby was likely not to go over well. He had to slip up some other way. I think he has become much more human—and thus more prideful as well. I think he’s been twisted around and turned upside down this season in so many ways that he just didn’t know how to stop anymore. He had already lied repeatedly about Sam and his soul. He had deceived the brothers with Crowley. And now that they’ve managed to—judging from this episode—kill the Mother of All for good, left him with little hope to open that door to Purgatory. I think he is realizing that his deal with Crowley is falling apart and fast and that it is time to find another avenue to winning the war in Heaven. The question is: is he too little too late in going to the Winchesters for real this time?
6. I think Raphael is what Cas once said he is early on in the season—a traditionalist. There were, once upon a time, four Arch Angels: Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer, and Raphael. Now there’s only one free. Gabriel was slain by Lucifer. Michael and Lucifer are together trapped in the Cage. I think Raphael wants the prize fight, but not because it’s the script God set forth. He makes Cas’s pride and hubris look tame—despite its tragedy. Raphael has assumed the mantel of God for what it’s worth. I think he wants Michael and Lucifer to have their prize fight so that he can eliminate the winner and fully cement his place as the new ruler of Heaven. Cas was simply a small insect and now thorn in his side to accomplishing that goal. As long as both Michael and Lucifer are alive and in the Cage, Raphael’s position is precarious. If he can find a way to somehow get them to kill each other or kill the winner, they are no longer a hovering threat to his rule. First, though, he has to stomp out this freedom nonsense and the leader of that movement—-Castiel. I somehow think he might not succeed at this venture.
7. I think the outcome of this tragedy will have a wide reaching effect for the end of this season and the majority of season 7. I think it will take a long time for Dean to recover from this second betrayal. And with the other events we know are to come in terms of Sam’s Wall, it’s likely that Castiel will be pushed aside in Dean’s world in favor of Sam. Do I think Cas will find a way to redeem himself—even perhaps before the end of the season? Perhaps. I think he could smite Crowley at any time—Crowley just has him tied up in so many knots that it keeps the angel from doing it—until now. Cas has lost a lot, possibly everything. If he feels Crowley is a threat to Sam and Dean, he’ll kill him—for REAL this time. It’s probably the one thing he can do at this stage to restore any speck of trust Dean might have for him. It’ll be very interesting to see how it plays out whatever the outcome.
And I thank you again for providing us such wonderfully thought provoking questions. It’s always a treat to answer them and see what might come from them.
Far Away Eyes
[b]1. What did you think of this episode? Does it seem a re-telling of Sam-Dean? Is Cas REALLY as close as a brother to Dean? That part I don’t agree with and feel it’s an insult to Dean and Sam’s relationship.[/b]
This was a really heavy episode. It was the first episode we’ve seen from SPN to be told like a confessional (and was it also the first episode where flashbacks actually told a story, they weren’t just there to supplement it?) and one I really enjoyed. Conflicted Castiel is good Castiel.
I’m going to go with Castiel is like a brother to Dean and vice versa. Dean considers him a brother and I don’t think he’d say those words lightly. He said as much in ‘And Then There Were None’ when he said blood doesn’t make you family. Bobby is Sam and Deans father and there’s no blood relationship there. Dean and Castiel fought together, saved each others lives and averted the Apocalypse together. Yeah, I’d say they’re brothers (or were brothers).
[b]
2. What did you think about Crowley’s offer to Cas? Does it sound good or too good to be true?[/b]
The sleazy demon does talk sense! That being said, you couldn’t trust Crowley as far as Castiel could throw him (and I imagine that’s pretty far). Crowley will sell out Castiel first chance he gets. Castiel still seems to think that Crowley is a bit beneath him, something that can be offed in a heartbeat but Crowley has much more experience than Castiel in manipulating people/situations etc to suit himself.
[b]3. Crowley wants the Winchesters dead. Cas wants them alive. Which of them is going to win that now that Dean and the angel have come to a parting of the ways? [/b]
They’re gonna be alive. There is a season 7 after all!
[b]4. I’ve said before that it was no coincidence that Sam’s soul was left behind. I was sure that Cas raised Sam from perdition, too—where’s his hand tattoo like Dean has? Can we safely assume Crowley ordered Sam’s resurrection?[/b]
I though Castiel bought Sam back ever before he met Crowley? Where is the handprint indeed? I assume we’d have seen it in Two and a Half Men (unless there’s a big handprint on Sams ankle. Oh, the indignity!)
I don’t think he (Sam) has one. There are differences between Sam being raised and Dean being raised. Dean’s physical body was on earth therefore it must have been his soul that was raised. Sam was in hell body and soul. Castiel has touched Sam many times during the seasons and it’s never burnt. Perhaps when Dean was raised, Castiel grabbed hold of his soul and this was reflected in the burn on his shoulder. He didn’t do this for Sam. Could also explain why it’s such agony when the soul is handled; it burns.
[b]5. Do you think Cas made his slip-up with Superman because he had too much pride or too much humanity?
[/b]
I think Castiels guilty conscience led him to overcompensate a lot ie he was much more ‘Cas’ than a new, improved, ultra angelic ‘Castiel’ should be (does that make sense?). Look at his manner after Swan Song, all business, no unnecessary words and/or actions.
Now he is saying/doing things that reinforce the more human side of him; throwing in extra quips and jibs etc that Castiel (especially a more souped up Castiel) wouldn’t have done. Even Cas of the past would not have looked to engage in extending a conversation, once he got the apology he’d have vamoosed.
I think the relief of getting away with it caused him to talk without thinking.
[b]6. Why do you think Raphael decided to take over in hell and roll over Castiel the way he did?[/b]
Hierarchy. Michael, Lucifer and Gabriel are gone so Raphael is the only archangel left. Kind of like being fourth in line for the throne, you never assume it’s going to get so far that you would actually have to lead. Therefore, he doesn’t know how to rule so he is overly dominant and aggressive. The whole rule by fear and not love scenario.
Raphael hasn’t a clue what he’s doing, is probably as uncertain as Castiel about the future but he cannot show any weakness whatsoever therefore it’s ‘my way or the high way’. Castiel and Raphael have a lot in common.
[b]7. What is the outcome of this tragedy going to be? Speculate.[/b]
So many tragedies, whichever do you mean!!
Ah, short term, Crowley is going to sell Castiel up the river. Castiel isn’t doing what Crowley wants (kill the Winchesters), he’s threatened him on more than one occasion. Crowley is going to see this as a weakness, realise his situation is precarious and sell him out to a bigger gun (ie Raphael). When Castiel is in trouble, I think Sam and Dean will help him, that’s what family/friends do.
Will Sam and Dean forgive Castiel? Yeah, I think so. Might take a good while before they (esp Dean) trust him again but I think they will.
What will happen long term? No clue but guaranteed it’ll drive us all bonkers over the summer break.
Disclaimer: these are only the tragedies we’ve seen so far. Next week could tell a different story with a whole new set of tragedies!
Thanks for these, Robin.
[b]1. What did you think of this episode? Does it seem a re-telling of Sam-Dean? Is Cas REALLY as close as a brother to Dean? That part I don’t agree with and feel it’s an insult to Dean and Sam’s relationship.[/b]
I loved this episode! It totally rocked! 😆
As for the brotherly relationship between Dean and Cas, I feel that this is the case. I mean, I have a sisterly relationship with my BFF. So why can’t Dean have the same kind of relationship? I don’t think it insults Sam and Dean’s true brotherly bond. Sam doesn’t see it as a threat.
[b]2. What did you think about Crowley’s offer to Cas? Does it sound good or too good to be true?[/b]
The offer was definitely in the category of too good to be true or don’t trust deals made with a snake oil salesman. Crowley is a snake oil salesman if ever I’ve seen one! I think Cas made it because it didn’t have the benefit of an opposing view point having decided to not to go to Dean.
[b]3. Crowley wants the Winchesters dead. Cas wants them alive. Which of them is going to win that now that Dean and the angel have come to a parting of the ways?[/b]
I want Cas to win and I think he will, but the cost will be great.
[b]4. I’ve said before that it was no coincidence that Sam’s soul was left behind. I was sure that Cas raised Sam from perdition, too—where’s his hand tattoo like Dean has? Can we safely assume Crowley ordered Sam’s resurrection?[/b]
I believe that Cas did raise Sam. However, Dean and Sam were in Hell under totally different circumstances. Dean’s soul was in Hell, but his body was still on Earth. So, when the two were joined together, that’s how the hand print on Dean came into being. However, Sam’s whole body and soul was in Hell with Michael and Lucifer. I think Cas had the mojo to get Sam’s body out, but not his soul. With Dean, he wasn’t alone in the rescue, but with Sam, he seems to be on his own. Cas couldn’t get it away from Michael and Lucifer. Those two would have been very interested in keeping Sam’s soul and punishing it for their loss of completing the Apocalypse to its conclusion.
[b]5. Do you think Cas made his slip-up with Superman because he had too much pride or too much humanity?[/b]
On this, I think the answer is both. Cas wanted to be caught. He was running out of answers and the answers that he was coming up with didn’t seem to satisfy him anymore.
[b]6. Why do you think Raphael decided to take over in hell and roll over Castiel the way he did?[/b]
I think you actually mean Heaven. Anyway, Raphael is really no different than Meg. By that I mean Raphael wants the Apocalypse to continue and so does Meg. Both want their chosen champion to win and take over. Crowley and Castiel have both put a monkey wrench in those plans. So, Raphael and Meg are not going to just stand by and take it. They both have agendas to fulfill. I know that Meg wasn’t mentioned, but I feel she has just as much a vested interest in this situation as Raphael. Both are power hungry and ambitious.
[b]7. What is the outcome of this tragedy going to be? Speculate.[/b]
Well, that’s the big question. I don’t envision a happy ending coming up. I mean, it’s going to take a lot to straighten out this mess and I think there are many more casualties to come. I fully expect to see the Angel of Death again. It may come down to God and Death being the only ones able to set things right and correct the natural order. At least we all can take comfort in the knowledge that there will be a Season 7 in the fall. 😀