Castiel approaches Dean at their first meeting with curiosity and innocence, perplexed by Dean’s lack of faith and feelings of inadequacy. I suppose if my first contact with a human after 2000 years was Dean Winchester, I’d be very curious too. He picked a live one. In their next meeting Dean is even more defiant and angry, still struggling with the idea that God and angels are real. Castiel tries to talk to him rationally, but Dean forces his patience. Castiel had every right to put the so called “fear of God” in him and it worked. Interesting too, since Dean usually doesn’t take threats very well. By “In The Beginning” Dean’s accepted that this guy’s the real deal, which means God is real. This is a pretty big jump for him.
“In The Beginning” really pushed the dynamic between these two. Why did Castiel think Dean needed to know the truth? Why deliver the message in such a harsh way? Going back again to “Houses of The Holy”, Dean states to Sam, “I believe what I can see.” Letting Dean see his family’s tragic history, experience it first hand, is what he needs to accept everything he’s been told so far is real. He has to know the gravity of the situation, how serious Azazel’s plan is, and how much Sam plays a role in this.
This trip back in time is likely as much of a test for Dean as it is to share the truth. Castiel is non-specific with instructions, allowing Dean to do what he sees fit. He judges Dean’s reactions, thus he asks questions in the car about him changing history. He knows anything Dean did would be of little consequence, but has to know the reasons. In the end he tells Dean where Sam is because Dean proves he’s up to the task. He would do anything to save his family.
Castiel knew this experience would personally affect Dean, and his arrival with a deep gesture of sympathy after Dean saw Mary make the deal with Yellow Eyes is very touching and appropriate. Angels can be loving at times, like Father Reynolds said. More loving than wrathful though — that remains to be seen.
Article comments
1 - cassi
Hi, Alice!
Are you a mind reader because after these 3 episodes, I really needed something like this! thanks! After reading your article I feel so much better now!
SPN season 4 has been a hell of a ride. Of course, it has been an enjoyable experience and Kripke even managed to make me a fan of his angel idea due to Misha Collin's great performance. If you had asked me during the summer break what was the worst thing I could imagine for the show, I would have said without any hesitation "angels". I'm still not the happiest camper about the whole end of the world, Anti-christ and angel thing but so far it's better than I imagined. Like you I was ignoring the hints in Faith or House of the Holy, simply because I didn't want or at least hoped that the show wouldn't go into this direction.
The whole "no demon deal for Dean's soul" still makes no sense to me because if Lilith really feared Sam why would they have given Dean a chance to save his brother. I don't get it. That's why "In the beginning" was not the big revelation episode for me. I want to know what's going on with Sam, Lilith and Ruby, so far Sam has shown no sign why Lilith would or should be scared of him. NRFTW was scary for Lilith but not really dangerous. And Ruby could be good but I still have my doubts about her. So when Kripke answers these qestions (I think I wil have to wait until the season finale), this will be the true revelations for me.
2 - Beth
Thank you for making your own brain hurt to put this together for the rest of us. :) You have analyzed most succinctly what I've been struggling with since last season. Sam being the Anti-Christ hadn't occurred to me, but it seems like a reasonable possibility. And I'd much rather Dean be the one to save Sam, rather than *stop* him. One implies redemption, and the other...well, I'd rather not go there.
3 - Tigershire
What did you have in your morning coffee??? What a lot to think about. But it's not like I mind any more than you or the rest of the fans do. GRIN.
I did see a post somewhere, where a fan suggested that perhaps Supernatural should go 6 seasons because, at 22 episodes per season, that would be 66......
Since there seems to be a trend with that number....
Thank goodness it's Thursday.