Dear Supernatural Writers,
Let me begin this letter with a huge “thank you” for bringing back Castiel. Misha Collins has brought to life with perfection the unique and entertaining character you created. Now let me say, that although I’m glad he’s back, there is almost nothing good about what you’ve done with the character since then.
Thankfully, the amnesia didn’t last long, but as soon as Castiel gets his memory back, he’s stuck sitting in a psych ward for episodes, while the boys fight the good fight without him. I get that he sacrificed for Sam, but Castiel fans did not want him to come back just to not really be back. Why would you underuse the fact that you’ve got Misha Collins back where the fans want him?
I also get that this was “retro” season and that Castiel and all of his supernaturalness was interfering with two humans fighting demons everywhere, and winning. But you could still go retro with a sidekick. It’s not like it’s unprecedented for Sam and Dean to have help — their dad, Jo, Ellen, Ash, Bobby, Bela — they’ve even had supernatural help before — surely you remember Ruby? You could even make an argument for Chuck/God.
Let’s say that you were still hell-bent on the boys not having supernatural help this season (or that you were planning all along for it to be Bobby’s ghost). The beauty of Castiel is not his supernatural powers, but his chemistry with the boys. You didn’t need to give him his powers back. He could still be a sidekick, bantering with the boys, doing what we all love so much about him. We don’t need his magic for Castiel to be magic.
I know he’s likely to play a larger role in the final two episodes, and the inevitable takedown of the Leviathans, but Castiel’s presence could have been mined for so much more greatness than sitting in a psych ward. I’m mourning the loss of Castiel’s character all the more because his return was so misused. So please, make up for it in the final two episodes of season seven.
Which leads me to the fact that nearly every sidekick of Sam’s and Dean’s is … dead. Will Castiel live to see the finale, or will he be a casualty of the Leviathans? That would be a travesty, because Misha Collins’ return has been underused in every way and you could totally make up for it in season eight. Just sayin’.
Sincerely,
Debbie, a loyal fan of Supernatural, seasons 1-6 (season 7 pending)
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on May 03, 2012 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
I SO agree with everything you said, Debbie! I also hope that the character Castiel survives the season finale and that we see him in season eight. If Castiel is returned, only to be permanently killed off again, I will not be a happy fan. Indeed I will be furious. I love Dean and Sam (I have been a fan since season one), but Castiel has become an important part of the series for me. If the writers ditch anything at the end of season seven, it should be the Leviathans. The Leviathans have been about as interesting as a hangnail!
I waited so long for Cass to come back… Now I’m just not that thrilled to watch Supernatural anymore…
Anyways, I hope to see Crowly too. :D
Excellent letter! I couldn’t agree with you more about Castiel. He is a wonderful, complex character to have him be brought back for such a short time only to be written off the show again would be extremely disappointing. Here’s hoping we see a lot more of our favorite angel in season 8. :)
Everything you said times a million. I get that him maybe sweeping in to save the boys with his angel powers might get old after a bit. But like you said, the point of his character is his relationship with Dean and Sam, not necessarily his powers. Everyone’s probably seen the clips for the next ep by now, but
Show Spoiler »
apparently he’s coming back but now he’s some sort of childlike mental case.
Just grr. I really hope we get real Cas back so that he can start repairing his relationship with the boys properly (although of course him taking Sam’s hallucinations probably went a long way towards that). And yes to season 8. Even if they just bring him back recurring (like he was in season 4), I’ll be happy. The boys need some friends and now that the writers have recklessly killed off everyone who was close to them, they need a familiar friend more than ever. The show is just too depressing otherwise.