Supernatural’s Archangels Michael and Raphael – Heaven’s Most Terrifying Weapons

““You didn’t need a weapon at all when you were born one.” ” ― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

My fifth tribute to Supernatural characters is to two of Supernatural’s fiercest and most absolute archangels, Alternate Universe (AU)Michael and Raphael. Even though this Michael is the AU version, he quickly took his place in the long line of known, terrifying archangels who came before him. Both characters have been played by multiple actors, but AU Michael took the cake by possessing the most vessels.

SPN Archangels | Game of Survival by Keya

Supernatural | Archangels by Rainbowcupcake

Who’s in your shadows?
Who’s ready to play?
Are we the hunters?
Or are we the prey?
There’s no surrender
And there’s no escape
Are we the hunters?
Or are we the prey?

This is a wild game of survival
This is a wild game of survival

This is a wild game
This is a wild game, game of survival
This is a wild game
This is a wild game, game of survival

This is a wild game of survival

Maggie Eckford or Margaret Eckford (born November 21, 1985), better known by her stage name Ruelle, is an American electropop singer-songwriter. Her music has been used on television series such as the opening theme songs of Dynasties (“Game of Survival”), Shadowhunters (“This Is the Hunt”), and The Shannara Chronicles (“Until We Go Down”).

It wasn’t long before her haunting songs began to find their way onto multiple television shows and film trailers, and in 2019 RUELLE was named “Top Synced Artist of 2018” by Billboard and #2 in 2020. Her songs have been heard on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, 13 Reasons Why, Riverdale, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, Shadowhunters, Eyewitnesses, Revenge, and Dancing with the Stars – just to name a few. She has also landed songs in promos for the 2016 Summer Olympics, Google’s 2018 year end campaign, and several feature film trailers including Free State of Jones, Bad Moms, and Keeping up with the Joneses.

RUELLE’S latest releases include two EP’s entitled Earth Glow and Exodus, both released in 2019. She is currently writing songs for her next project, set to be released in 2020.

Quotes

Father Reynolds: That’s right. The archangel Michael, with the flaming sword. The fighter of demons, holy force against evil.
Sam: So they’re not really the Hallmark card version that everybody thinks? They’re fierce, right? Vigilant?
Father Reynolds: Well, I like to think of them as more loving than wrathful; but yes, a lot of Scripture paints angels as God’s warriors. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, the glory of the Lord shone down upon them, and they were terrified.” Luke. Two nine.

Michael: Yes, because I am a good son.

You’re wrong. Lucifer defied our father, and he betrayed me, but still… I don’t want this anymore than you would want to kill Sam. You know, my brother–I practically raised him. I took care of him in a way that most people could never understand, and I still love him. But I am going to kill him because it is right, and I have to.” — Michael to Dean Winchester in The Song Remains the Same

Because me and my brother — my Lucifer — when we fought in my world, we thought that God would come back, give us answers — why He’d gone, what we’d done. But, instead, do you know what happened? Nothing. No God. Nothing. And now now that I’m in here, now I know why. God — Chuck — is a writer, and like all writers, He churns out draft after draft. My world? This world? Nothing but failed drafts. And when He realizes that they’re flawed, He moves on and tries again. – Michael, 14.10 Nihilism

You rebelled – 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, 6.20 The Man Who Would Be King

Trivia and Minutiae 

Michael is the only angel to not appear in a vessel specifically introduced as the angel. All other angels shown have appeared in vessels that were introduced specifically as the angel rather than the vessel; Castiel’s vessel Jimmy Novak is the only vessel to be specifically named, and while Nick and Donnie Finnerman initially appeared as themselves, they were immediately selected as Lucifer and Raphael’s vessels. By contrast, Michael has only been shown when using John Winchester and Adam Milligan as vessels, both of whom had appeared before Michael was even introduced as a character.

 

When Michael speaks through a vessel, his voice is noticeably deeper than that of his vessel. This is best seen in 15.08 Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven when Michael responds to Adam off-screen with a deeper voice than the one Adam just used despite Michael appearing as an identical duplicate of Adam.

 

Raphael is the only archangel whose counterpart in Apocalypse World isn’t mentioned or even referenced in passing. Though the fate of Gabriel’s counterpart is unknown, he is referenced by Michael’s reaction to seeing Gabriel in 13.22 Exodus.

 

Raphael’s name means “God Heals.” In multiple interpretations, including the Book of Enoch, Raphael was responsible for binding Azazel to a clear, deserted landscape. He was also mentioned in the Book of Tobit, although he was never mentioned in the Holy Bible. In the Tobit, Raphael healed Tobit of his blindness and delivered Tobit’s daughter, Sarah, from Asmodeus.

 

 

Actors

AU Archangel Michael was played by actor Christian Keyes.

Mr. Keyes’s acting career began in 2005. Besides Supernatural, his work includes recurring roles in 9-1-1 (2019-2020), The Young and the Restless (2020), The Boys (2019), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2018-2019), The Family Business (2018), In Contempt (2018) and Saints & Sinners (2016-2018), among others.

 

Actor Felisha Terrell played AU Archangel Michael in one episode of Supernatural.

Ms. Terrell’s acting career began in 2008. Besides Supernatural, her work includes recurring roles in Tell Me a Story (2019-2020), Ambitions (2019), Shooter (2018), Just Add Magic (2017-2018), Survivor’s Remorse (2015-2017), Teen Wolf (2013) and Days of Our Lives (2009), among others.

 

AU Archangel Michael was also played by Jensen Ackles…

     
Jensen as Michael in 14.02 “Stranger in a Strange Land”

…and Ruth Connell. For both actors, AU Michael was a brief diversion from their primary Supernatural roles.

Ruth as AU Michael in 14.14 “Ouroboros”

AU Archangel Michael is seen in twelve episodes: 13.02 The Rising Son, 13.07 War of the Worlds, 13.14 Good Intentions, 13.22 Exodus, 13.23 Let the Good Times Roll, 14.01 Stranger in a Strange Land, 14.02 Gods and Monsters, 14.09 The Spear, 14.10 Nihilism, 14.11 Damaged Goods, 14.12 Prophet and Loss and 14.14 Ouroboros

 

Archangel Raphael was played by actor Demore Barnes.

Mr. Barnes’s acting career began in 1998. Besides Supernatural, his work includes recurring roles in American Gods (2017-2020), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2019-2020), Titans (2019), 12 Monkeys (2015-2018), Waco (2018), Hemlock Grove (2013-2015), Open Heart (2015), XIII: The Series (2012), The Unit (2006-2009) and The Associates (2001-2002), among others.

 

Archangel Raphael was also played by actor Lanette Ware.

Mrs. Ware’s acting career began in 2000. Besides Supernatural, her work includes recurring roles in The Wedding Planners (2020), Diggstown (2019-2020), Taken (2017), Pure (2017) and Guiding Light (2001-2006), among others.

 

Archangel Raphael is seen in five episodes: 5.03 Free to Be You and Me, 6.03 The Third Man, 6.15 The French Mistake, 6.20 The Man Who Would Be King and 6.22 The Man Who Knew Too Much‎

 

References