I guess I should take that opening statement back … somewhat. The one thing I believe we didn’t already know was that Castiel was the one responsible for removing Sammy from hell. As it turns out, it seems Castiel made the decision to leave Sam’s soul in the cage, at least judging by his non-answer to Sam about it. I’m honestly not really sure why Sam would be miffed by Cas’s decision for leaving Sam soulless, at least if the story about his soul being a ripped up mess is true. I guess we could always find out that what Castiel said was a lie … but I’m thinking not.
There’s one question that’s been on my mind since at least partway through last season, and it really came to a head in this episode: Will we ever meet God? I may be wrong, but I think Eric Kripke said he had no plans to reveal God on the show, but … wasn’t that when he was the showrunner? Now that he’s not exactly running the show, could it be that we’ll see God revealed?
The final scene of the episode really seemed to tell me that there’s a better chance than none that God could come back from vacation and make an appearance soon. It just seems awfully incomplete that we get to see demons, angels and even Satan himself, but God’s out of the picture altogether? The fact that Castiel has faith that God is listening tells me it’s not the writers’ intent to keep him hidden for very long.
The next episode of Supernatural isn’t for a couple of weeks, since Smallville takes up two hours next week to show its finale. So far I’m not as on the edge of my seat about the end of the season as I was last season … or really any other season of the show, for that matter. Are you feeling it more than I am? Do you think that the last two hours of the season could be pulled together and be surprisingly amazing? I sure hope so.
“So he burned the wrong bones. So Crowley tricked him.” – Dean
“He’s an angel!” – Bobby
“He’s the Balki Bartokomous of Heaven. He can make a mistake!” – Dean
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on May 06, 2011 @ 22:56 EST5EDT
Now I thought Castiel had said something in his voiceover during the episode about messing that up. He was sort of mad at himself for that, but then said it figured he would screw it up, or something to that effect. I don’t think Castiel left Sam’s soul there on purpose.
I’m with Deb — pretty sure “messing up” Sam was one of the first admissions of hubris by Castiel (in what became a recurring theme through the episode).
From where the last episode ended I feel like we actually learned quite a bit. Rather than Castiel as the “big bad” of the season — causing destruction, bringing about evil and “breaking rules” — we have him as a sort of easily manipulable, overly human champion of the Winchester’s progress. Castiel’s desire to leave Dean to his happy family life was the point of vulnerability Crowley leveraged, like an 80’s TV drug pusher, to start the Soul Swap Meet(TM).
I’m not an action movie (or TV) person, but I feel a bit let down by the lack of payoff so far regarding the “war raging in heaven.” “On screen” at this point we have seen flashes of light and Castiel lying on his back in a field. Still, I found the presentation of Castiel’s issue trying to explain “freedom” to angels enjoyable. Strong leadership versus rule by committee as the impetus for celestial civil war? Why not?
My guess for meeting God? While the show has never been fearful of putting an actor in a role like that, I bet we get the disembodied voice, heard by Castiel, and related to the Winchesters second hand or in flashback. This season? I’m 50/50.
Lots to cover in the two-hour finale. Should be fun.
Wasn’t it at least strongly implied that Chuck was really God in “Swan Song”? The Mary Magdalene joke, the confident, omniscient, un-Chuck-like voiceover, the suit and the fading into the light?
You are absolutely correct, Liz. I think Chuck as God is something I tried to forget.
Chuck’s final scene, the other “clues” you mentioned, and a bunch of other things* strongly support the Chuck as God position (which was apparently confirmed by the creative team).
Following the season finale I created a whole bunch of “God just popped in at the end” style narratives in my head.
I found it difficult to reconcile the strained actions of the character — which began in Season 4 — with the implied conclusion of Season 5. “Endings are hard” — which is why humans created retconning.
*Like this quote, which was worth looking up: Chuck -“Well, there’s only one explanation. Obviously I’m a god… I’m definitely a god. A cruel, cruel, capricious god.”
I’m not a fan either. I had a hard time with all the retconning in season 5, particularly with regard to Dean’s necklace, and then the Chuck-God reveal made the necklace retcon pointless and nonsensical. The prophet Chuck in “The Monster at the End of This Book”, “Lucifer Rising”, “Sympathy for the Devil”, “The End”, and “The Real Ghostbusters” was one of my favorite things in the series; making him God, made him a lot less fun.
Just realised that about the amulet! No wonder they’re very reluctant to bring it back.
Keith, did you snatch these review from Brett Love forever??? :)
When Sam asked about his soul, Cas answered how could Sam even think he’d do that. That’s enough of an answer. Cas didn’t leave Sam’s soul down there on purpose. Watch the show more closely next time. Or better yet, watch the show.
*POST AUTHOR*
Yikes! Still seemed unclear to me, so … sorry?
Well that was kind of rude. I thought it was a bit of a non answer as well. All Cas really need to say was “No” or “Yes”, he said neither and a lot of people got the impression that he didn’t bring Sam with his soul back on purpose. Which may not be anything bad, as he was very reluctant about Sam getting his soul back because of what it would to to Sam.
It was pretty clear Cas didn’t leave Sam’s soul in the cage on purpose and didn’t realize at first what was wrong. He was shocked and hurt Sam even suggested it was on purpose. And Dean seemed to accept that and moved on.