Castiel

"I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition."

- Castiel

Castiel, a Fallen Angel of the Lord, was responsible for pulling Dean Winchester out of Hell in "Lazarus Rising." It was his job to help prevent Lilith from breaking the 66 Seals that, once broken, would release Lucifer from his cage. Once Castiel learned that the Angels wished to free Lucifer, he defied his Angelic siblings and died trying to help Dean prevent Sam from breaking the last seal.

After he was killed by Raphael, Castiel was resurrected by God and appointed as the Winchester brothers' protector to prevent them from becoming the vessels of Michael and Lucifer. When the Apocalypse was averted, he started a civil war in Heaven to prevent Raphael from restarting the Apocalypse once again. Thinking he couldn't be outsmarted by a demon, Castiel teamed up with Crowley to claim the souls of Purgatory. He ended up betraying Crowley and absorbed all the souls, resulting in his powers reaching the level that of a God, but at a high price: the powers that the evil souls granted him warped Castiel's mind, causing him to proclaim himself as the new God.

During an attempt to rid himself of the extra souls, Castiel is overpowered by the Leviathans inside him. When the Leviathans leave to take over new forms Castiel was presumed dead, but survived - apparently resurrected by God yet again. Dean finds him living as an amnesiac named Emanuel.

Appearance
As an angel, seeing Castiel's true form will result in blindness, as the appearance of his natural visage is so overwhelming that it is capable of burning Human or Demon eyes from their sockets (as seen in "Lazarus Rising"). However, Castiel stated certain, "special people" are able to tolerate his true appearance and voice. Although his true form has never been seen, it is known that he has two feathered wings and his true form is approximately the size of the Chrysler Building.

For humans, they see him as the appearance of his Vessel, Jimmy Novak, who is an average man in his thirties. He sports a pair of dress shoes, a black suit, an unbuttoned white-stripped dress shirt, and loosened blue necktie accentuated by a beige trench coat. Although he has a very dire demeanor, his outward appearance radiates a natural calm and serenity which makes conversation easy and direct. He occupied Jimmy's body because he had prayed for it.

Personality
Like most angels, Castiel expresses little to no emotion. Despite this, he does not display the blank apathy or mocking superiority complex that seem to characterize angels such as Uriel or Lucifer. His lack of emotion and understanding of human traits such as sarcasm has often led to humorous situations throughout the show and have occasionally almost got him into trouble with humans, ultimately leaving Dean or Sam to amend the situation.

Unlike many of his brethren, Castiel still has faith in his father, though not to the near zealot-like level displayed by Michael. While he admits he may not always understand what God wants and question the reason for it, he would always follow his father to the best of his abilities. This, along with his interest in humans, has caused other angels to label him as odd or naive. Anna and Lucifer have both demonstrated this, with Anna calling him a hypocrite for refusing to rebel in order to gain more freedom. Castiel frequently exhibits what could be referred to as friendly affection towards Dean, and seems to at the very least come close to expressing regret, hesitance, and anger several times.

Being around the Winchesters and his own experiences in the War have taught Castiel several "tricks" that have helped him during the show. While not possessing free will in the same sense as a human, Castiel has learned how to "bend" the rules at times in season 4. The best example is when he informs Dean about Chuck's archangel thereby giving Dean the idea to use him to save Sam from Lilith ("The Monster at The End of This Book", season 4 episode 18). He also is able to distract Meg long enough to use her and a similar trick Uriel performed to free Alistair to free himself from a ring of holy fire ("Abandon All Hope"). It is also possible he learned from the demon Crowley to wipe out loyalist of his adversary e.g. Raphael. Castiel also considers himself to be the Winchester's personal guardian angel.

When Castiel is brought back from the dead after Lucifer kills him, he begins to develop a sense of pride. During Season 6, Castiel's personality begins to change. It's this pride that made him fail to realize that when he brought Sam back, he brought him back soulless. It is also because of this pride that Castiel makes a deal with Crowley, and starts the civil war in heaven.

Upon absorbing the souls, Castiel claimed himself to be God, though later Death refers to him as a mutated angel. Previously acting kind and assuring but also fierce at times, Castiel had now become nearly purely cold and evil as seen when he kills Raphael without any second thoughts before demanding that Dean, Bobby, and Sam kneel before him and tell him they love him or he will destroy them if they forgot their place and rise up against him.

After recovering his memories, Castiel's normal personality returned, and he was overcome with guilt over what he had done, how many he had killed, and for releasing the Leviathans, even questioning why he was still alive.

Following his awakening, his personality was greatly modified, due to a combination of what he had taken from Sam and his own guilt. It made him inattentive, overly calm, uncaring and seemingly dim. He also became a pacifist, and refused to fight, even when being attacked, as well as overly optimistic, perceiving many negative things in a positive way.

However, in "Survival of the Fittest", he stepped in front of Dean when Dick approached him (thus participating in conflict), and held Dick in place as Dean kills him.

His original personality or at least some of it, seemed to return, after he and Dean were sent to Purgatory.

Early Life
Discussions with Uriel suggest the pair were children by angel standards when Lucifer rebelled against Heaven and refused to bow down to humanity. While his brother was instantly enthralled by Lucifer's power and charisma, Castiel remembered being frightened and disturbed by the rebellious archangel. Castiel had been stationed on Earth for at least 2,000 years while being in the same garrison as Anna Milton, acting as his superior, and Uriel. Castiel was there when the world was first created. He watched as the first fish emerged from the ocean. He also watched them build the tower of Babel, among other historic events.

In 2008, Castiel speaks with his true vessel, Jimmy Novak, in Pontiac, Illinois. When Jimmy is watching television, Castiel's voice distorts the picture and causes him to scream in pain and his body to spasm until he finally blacks out. Later, Castiel would tell Jimmy to put his in arm in boiling water and that he would be unharmed as a way to prove his faith. With his wife believing that he's going crazy, Jimmy asks Castiel what he wants from him and how he can help. Castiel explains that he needs to use Jimmy as a vessel, to which Jimmy agrees to as long as his family is protected. After receiving consent, Castiel possesses Jimmy. Before he leaves, Castiel is confronted by Jimmy's daughter, Claire, and tells her that he is not her father.

Season Four
When Dean Winchester broke the first of the 66 Seals that would allow Lucifer to walk free, the angels took action. They fought their way to Hell and Castiel freed Dean from the pit. Dean awoke in a grave and made his way to the surface, not knowing how he had been resurrected; the only clue he had was a large imprint of a hand near his shoulder.

After reuniting with Bobby Singer and Sam Winchester, Dean tried to learn what had rescued him from Hell. He also discovered that he'd been dead and buried for four months. Eventually, Dean took matters into his own hands and with Bobby's help, set a trap for the creature and protected himself and Bobby with multiple Devil's Traps and other anti-demon devices.

Castiel arrived and the hunters shot at him as he passed through the Devil's Traps with ease. Castiel quickly knocked out Bobby with a mere touch and Dean stabbed him with Ruby's knife but it had no effect. Castiel explained who he was to Dean and that God has work for him.

After people who were supposed to be dead seemed to be rising from the grave, Castiel appeared to Dean and explained to him that this was one of the 66 Seals, "The Rising of the Witnesses." Castiel told him that Lilith was attempting to break 66 of the seals which would lead to Lucifer walking free on Earth and then the Apocalypse would begin. The angels had been fighting to stop the demons, but the odds were against them. He explained to Dean that he must help stop the breaking of the seals as well. Castiel also showed that he was not a force to be underestimated or even taken lightly as in a chilling tone, he told Dean to start showing him some respect or he'd change his mind and throw him back into Hell again.

One day when Dean was asleep, he woke up to find Castiel sitting beside him. Castiel, without speaking, tapped Dean and brought him back in time to an important few-day period. It showed Dean the connection between Azazel and Mary Winchester, and answered questions that had always been on his mind. Castiel said that the reason he had brought Dean back to that period was to make sure that he was caught up with all of the facts. He also explained that the angels are still unaware of Azazel's endgame. Castiel also told Dean about Sam's developing abilities and that he was going too far down a dark path and that if Sam did not stop using his powers, then the angels would kill him.

Sometime later, Castiel and his partner Uriel met with the Winchesters when they were in the middle of hunting a witch. The angels explained that the witch was trying to summon the demon Samhain from Hell and that this was another one of the 66 Seals. The angels said that they would have to destroy the entire town and all of its residents to ensure that the seal would not be broken. The brothers argued against this and assured Castiel and Uriel that they could stop the witch from summoning Samhain. Unfortunately, they failed and Samhain rose, breaking another seal.

When the angels learned that a woman named Anna Milton could listen in on angel's conversations they grew worried. If the demons were able to get to her before them, the demons would know everything that the angels were planning. But Castiel knew the truth: Anna had once been an angel, a superior to him who disobeyed. She cut out her Grace and fell to Earth, where she was reborn as a human. Castiel and Uriel knew though that the only way to ensure the safety of their plans were to kill Anna. While Castiel was hesitant about this, Uriel enforced the idea that it was absolutely necessary. Castiel and Uriel found Anna along with the Winchesters. The angels ordered Sam and Dean to hand over Anna, but they refused. The angels attacked them and almost retrieved Anna, but were sent away by a ritual Anna performed. They later were able to find Anna with the Winchesters again, but soon discovered that they had been led into a trap when Alastair arrived with a group of demons. The angels and demons fought over who would take Anna and the battle ended when Anna retrieved her Grace and vanished.

When Alastair tried to break another seal by killing two Reapers on the night of the Solstice, Castiel managed to capture him. The angels held Alastair captive and when seven angels had mysteriously been killed, Castiel assumed that demons were behind the attacks. He and Uriel recruited Dean to interrogate the demon. During the interrogation, Anna returned and spoke with Castiel. She told him that she knew how he was feeling and that he was beginning to develop human emotions. Castiel refused to believe this and yelled at her, causing her to leave. Shortly after, the Devil's Trap Castiel had made to hold Alastair somehow malfunctioned and Alastair nearly killed Dean. Castiel fought the demon but was almost defeated when Sam came to his rescue, using his psychic powers to kill Alastair. While visiting Dean at the hospital, Sam criticized Castiel for being so cold-hearted as to risking Dean's life. This sunk into Castiel's head and he went to Anna for help, telling her he needed to know what to do; she told him it was time for him to decide on his own for once. Castiel investigated the broken Devil's Trap further and learned that it was Uriel who was behind the malfunctioning Devil's Trap and the angel killings. Uriel reminded Castiel of the times when Lucifer was one of the greatest angels and also spoke about how God isn't doing anything and they must follow someone who would. Castiel refused and the two angels fought. They were evenly matched until Anna arrived and killed Uriel. Castiel then went to Dean and confirmed that Dean was responsible for breaking the first seal by giving in to Alastair's torture. Dean begged Castiel to find someone else because he wasn't fit to stop the Apocalypse.

Castiel later appeared when Dean interrogated Chuck Shurley, who was writing a book series based on the Winchester brothers, explaining that Chuck was a Prophet of the Lord. When Dean asked him for help in saving Sam from Lilith, Castiel was initially hesitant to help, but dropped him a hint by telling him that Prophets are protected by archangels, and that if a Prophet is in the same room with a demon, then the archangel will descend to smite the demon.

Castiel then came to Dean while he was dreaming and told him to meet him at a certain location, saying that he had something to tell them. But when Dean and Sam arrived, they found him unconscious in a wrecked building with dead demons. When he awoke, the brothers found that Castiel had abandoned his vessel, Jimmy Novak, who describes being possessed by Castiel like "being chained to a comet." When Dean, Sam, Jimmy and Jimmy's daughter, Claire, were being held hostage by demons, Jimmy was shot and Castiel returned to possess Claire and helped save them all. While Castiel tried to comfort a dying Jimmy, Jimmy pleaded with Castiel to take him back as a host and Castiel accepted. When Dean asked Castiel what happened, he coldly replied, "I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean. I serve Heaven; I don't serve Man. And I certainly don't serve you."

Later in "When the Levee Breaks" Castiel was summoned by Dean, who was screaming for three hours for help. When Castiel arrived, Dean asked him what happened in Heaven, but Castiel wouldn't say. Then Castiel recruited Dean in the service of God and his Angels. Castiel told him to wait till the Angels summons him. A few hours later he freed Sam from Bobby's panic room in which he was held captive, because of his addiction. Later Anna confronted Castiel about why he released Sam. Anna said that Sam was even worse than they had expected. Castiel told he has his orders to follow and then said to Anna that she shouldn't have come. The next moment two Angels stood beside her, and took her captive.

Later Zachariah brought Dean to a chamber, so he would be safe for the release of Lucifer. Zachariah told him that the final seal would be broken that night. Although had a fight with Sam, Dean tried to contact him on his cellphone, leaving a message on his voicemail. Later Dean wanted to talk with Sam and summoned Castiel by breaking a Stone Angel on one of the tables. Dean asked to visited Sam, but Castiel said he could go everywhere except to Sam. Dean asked what they were going to do with Sam. Castiel said that Sam is going to do it to himself, but he didn't want to say more. He said it was his destiny. Dean said that destiny was just a bunch of lies, to keep him in line. Dean tried to persuade Castiel to help him, but Castiel said that they would be all be hunted, that they would all be killed. In response, Dean said to him that this is worth dying for. But to Dean's disappointment, Castiel refused.

A few moments later, Castiel confronted Dean and drew an Enochian Sigil on the wall with his own blood. Then Zachariah appeared and asked what he was doing. Castiel pressed his bloody hand on the sigil, banishing Zachariah. He then said that Lillith is the final seal and that Sam is going to break it. He said he knew someone that knew where Sam was and teleported Dean with him.

Castiel teleported Dean and himself to Chuck, the prophet of the Lord. Chuck was confused and said that this is not supposed to be, that they were not in the story. Castiel said that they would make it up. When they found out that Sam was at Saint Mary's, Chuck’s computer goes off and bright light fills the room. Castiel said it is the Archangel and teleported Dean to Saint Mary's, so that he could hold the Angel off. At Chuck’s, Castiel looks up at the bright light. Chuck puts his hand on Cas’s shoulder, and when Castiel gives him a look, he removes it.

Season Five
After witnessing the release of Lucifer from Hell, Dean and Sam go to Chuck's house to find Castiel. There they are told by Chuck that the archangel smote Castiel; they even find one of his teeth tangled in Chuck's hair. Later, when the Winchesters are trying to track down Michael's sword in their father's old storage unit, Zachariah and his angels arrive to inform Dean that he is Micheal's sword—in other words, Micheal's vessel. When Dean refused to give his consent for Michael to possess his body, Zachariah started inflicting various kinds of physical pain on him and Sam (breaking Sam's legs and removing his lungs, and giving Dean stage-four stomach cancer), all the while refusing to kill them. Castiel then miraculously appeared and dispatched Zachariah's men, then forced Zachariah to heal the Winchesters and leave. He then used his powers to carve Enochian Sigils on their ribs, keeping them hidden from all demons and angels, including Lucifer.

After rebelling against the angels, Castiel's powers began to deteriorate whilst he searched for God using Dean's amulet. However, despite his vanishing strength, he continued to be invaluable to the brothers saving them on numerous occasions.

In "Dark Side of the Moon", when the brothers are ambushed and killed by several hunters furious with them for causing the Apocalypse, Castiel warns the brothers that Zachariah is looking for them in Heaven and they should attempt to contact an angel named Joshua, who is rumored to speak to God. When the brothers return from death, Sam reveals that God wants nothing to do with them, causing Castiel to abandon his belief in God and return Dean's amulet, stating that it's worthless.

In "Two Minutes to Midnight," (at which point Castiel had been stripped of all his powers) he assisted Sam and Dean against the 3rd Horseman, Pestilence, by cutting off his finger and obtaining one of the 4 rings needed to seal Lucifer back into the pit. In the Season Finale when Michael (in the vessel of Adam Milligan) was about to fight Lucifer (in the vessel of Sam) Dean intervened saying he wished to speak with Sam. This prompted Michael to remove Dean, however, before he could respond Castiel threw a molotov of holy fire at Michael sending him back to heaven for a brief time. Lucifer turned to Castiel, furious by the fact that Castiel harmed his brother, and caused Castiel's vessel to explode. Shortly after the battle between Sam and Lucifer, Castiel was resurrected by God with his angelic powers restored and upgraded, allowing him to restore Bobby Singer to life. Castiel, presumably now a seraphim, said that he needed to return to Heaven to restore order to the anarchy that will follow Michael's departure.

Season Six
After the Apocalypse was averted, Castiel returned to Heaven where other angels awaited him. He tried to tell them about freedom, but none of them understood. Castiel finds out that Raphael wanted to take over and follow Michael's departure and restart the Apocalypse. Unable to stop him, Castiel wants to turn to Dean, but can't. Then Crowley shows up with a deal to find Purgatory and offers Castiel power to stop Raphael. So Castiel begins a civil war in Heaven.

When Sam and Dean found out the plagues were unleashed upon the Earth, they called Castiel for help. Castiel showed up and told them the Angelic Weapons were stolen from Heaven. He also claimed that he didn't know what or whom brought Sam back from Hell.

During their investigation, they find out that an Angel has been moonlighting as a crossroads demon. To locate the angel's name, Castiel performed a ritual to find the angel that bought the soul. When Castiel learned it was his old friend, Balthazar, an angel follower of Raphael showed up and attacked Castiel. Castiel managed to defend himself and let the angel get away, but the angel knew that Balthazar was selling pieces of the Staff of Moses. So Castiel, Dean and Sam try to find Balthazar first, and when they do, Balthazar admitted that he stole the weapons from Heaven and that he want to live in freedom. When Balthazar disappears, Castiel is confronted by angels who want to kill him. Castiel asked them to join him, but they refused and Castiel killed them. Afterwards, Raphael showed up and told him that they were his followers and smashed Castiel. Just as Raphael was about to kill Castiel, Balthazar showed up and used the weapons from Heaven to destroy Raphael's vessel. Eventually, Sam and Dean showed up and were able to trap Balthazar in a circle of holy oil, but Castiel let Balthazar go.

Dean becomes more and more disturbed by Sam's behavior, and prays for Castiel's help. Castiel doesn't respond until Dean calls him about a possible loose nuke, much to Dean's aggravation. Castiel apologizes, but reassures Dean on his theory that Sam is not Lucifer, explaining that all angels would feel his presence if Lucifer was free. Castiel also states he doesn't know what's wrong with Sam, but he promises to make inquiries.

Dean calls on Castiel once he has Sam unconscious, and asks for him to diagnose Sam. Castiel informs both brothers that physically, Sam is perfectly healthy, but his soul is missing. He guesses that Sam's soul is still in the cage with Michael and Lucifer. When Sam goes with Samuel as his only lead, Castiel follows Sam and Dean to the Campbell Compound to check if Samuel has a soul or not, which he does. However, before he can do any more to help, he states he needs to return to Heaven, but reassures Sam and Dean that their problems "always come first", and will keep in touch.

Castiel is later called on for assistance by Sam, who tricks him into leaving Heaven by saying he and Dean have found the Ark of the Covenant. Sam coerces Castiel into joining them along with the demon Meg and her minions to confront Crowley. Castiel tries to track down Crowley by means of a ritual, which leads them nowhere. When the group is caught by Samuel as they search through his quarters, Dean asks for the angel to leave back to their motel.

Sometime later, while Sam and Dean are looking through records trying to find Crowley, Castiel is confounded by watching porn, which he states just happened to be on the TV. He creates an awkward moment, even weirding Samuel out upon arriving at their motel. He leaves with the group after Samuel gives them the location of Crowley's prison. Before leaving for the prison, Castiel suggests to Dean that he doesn't think restoring Sam's soul is wise. He supports his statement with the fact that his soul has been locked in the cage with Michael and Lucifer for more than a year, and they have been doing nothing other than taking their frustrations out on Sam. He theorizes that if they try to force the damaged, tortured soul back into Sam, and if they fail to deal with the problems, then Sam will suffer horrifically.

The group then leaves for the prison, and Castiel finds a back entrance inside. Shortly after, hell-hounds come after the party. Meg distracts Castiel by kissing him, and steals his angelic blade. Castiel, surprisingly, responds to this by kissing her back, stating he learned that from the porn he was watching earlier. The boys then run off while Meg holds off the hell-hounds with the angel blade. Later, Castiel is banished by a blood sigil cast by Samuel, while the Winchesters are taken captive.

While Crowley has the boys pinned to the wall, Castiel reappears, carrying a large bag. After Crowley taunts him about his losing war against Raphael, Castiel reveals that the bag contains his salvaged bones. The angel asks the King of Hell one last time if he can restore Sam's soul or not. Crowley says he cannot, and Castiel proceeds to burn his bones, turning him to ash.

A short moment later, outside the prison, Castiel later admits that he is on the losing side of the civil war in Heaven, and expresses disappointment as he wishes much of the time that circumstances were different. Dean then reassures the angel that they will help in whatever way they can, and that the brothers are his friends. Castiel then turns to Sam, and reassures him that they will find another way to get his soul back. Sam then asks him to dispose of the monsters that still remain inside the prison, to which Castiel presumably leaves to do so.

After Sam gets his soul back, Castiel comes to check up on him, and tells Dean that he doesn't think Sam is ever going to wake up. A few hours later Sam wakes up and reunites with his brother. Later on Sam, now with his soul, calls Cas. Castiel comes and tells Sam he is glad to see him well, despite everything. Sam catches on and tricks Castiel into telling him the truth.

In "My Heart Will Go On," Castiel saves Sam and Dean from Fate, when she tries to get her revenge for



stopping the apocalypse. He tells the brothers if they want to live, they need to kill Fate. So Sam and Dean draw Fate out and just as they face their death, time freezes. Castiel confronts Fate and she reveals the real reason why Balthazar saved the Titanic. It was because Castiel ordered Balthazar to do it for the souls. She threatens to kill Sam and Dean unless Castiel fixes history. Castiel orders the creeping Balthazar to stop and right history.

In "Frontierland," Cas returns to send Sam and Dean back to the Wild West so the brothers could acquire ashes of the phoenix, the one thing that could kill the mother of all. He tells Sam and Dean they have only 24 hours, after that he will no longer be able to find them. During the time the boys are in the Wild West, Castiel's lieutenant, Rachel, confronts him about his side dealings Castiel is doing to win the war. This leads to a duel between the two, and Castiel emerges the winner and wounded. He soon heads to Bobby's, draws a symbol in his blood and passes out. As time grows short, Castiel re-awakens, but is very weak and low on power. In order to "power up" he tells Bobby he needs to touch Bobby's soul. Once powered up, Castiel brings the boys back.

Now with the ashes, the hunt for Eve is on. Castiel comes to Sam and Dean asking for Eve's location, but they too are unsuccessful. Sam suggests that they find a monster who would be willing to give them Eve's location. Castiel finds and brings Lenore, who gives them Eve's location, in exchange for her death. Sam is hesitant, but Castiel brings Lenore her end. This action makes Sam and Dean concerned about Castiel and his circumstances. Once they arrive in Organ, Castiel discovers he can't use his powers, and is now powerless, thanks to Eve. Castiel is later revealed to be working with Crowley after the Winchesters' encounter with Eve.

The truth finally comes out in "The Man Who Would Be King." Castiel recounts history from his point of view and how the Winchesters inspired him. Castiel also begins to notice that Sam, Dean and Bobby are getting suspicious of Castiel and believe he is working with Crowley. Castiel recounts about his return to heaven and his favorite place (the heaven of a 40 year old man who drowned in a bath tub). This is after him bringing back Sam from hell, sans his soul.



At the time, Castiel did not know Sam didn't have his soul. He also tries to get other angels to embrace freedom, but the angels don't know how. Then Raphael tries to make Castiel bow to him, and Castiel refuses. Due to his misfortune, Castiel is no match for him. Castiel tries to get help from Dean, but seeing Dean retired makes Castiel rethink this. Then Crowley approaches Castiel with a deal, so Cas can become more powerful. Castiel begins his deal with Crowley. With this deal, Castiel starts the civil war in heaven. But when Crowley begins to threaten the Winchester's lives, Castiel becomes protective of them. Although Castiel managed to keep the secret for a while, he slipped up with information he got from spying on them. Later the boys trapped him in a ring of holy fire and confront him about his betrayal. When demons come, Castiel tells the boys to run and they leave him in the ring of holy fire. Crowley comes in and saves him. Castiel leaves, and comes to Dean, trying to explain the situation. Castiel tells Dean that he did this for Dean but Dean does not want it this way. Castiel responds that Dean can't stop him and says he's sorry and disappears.



In "Let It Bleed," Castiel has taken one of the Campbell diaries, and is investigating an incident in which H.P. Lovecraft opened a portal to another world. Sam prays for him, telling Cas that Lisa and Ben have been kidnapped by Crowley, and asks for help. Castiel listens unseen, and does not answer, but goes to confront Crowley. He insists that the demon not harm Lisa and Ben, but Crowley refuses to make such a promise. Balthazar later calls him. He asks Cas if he is planning on opening the door to Purgatory; Cas lies that he is not, but Balthazar is not fooled. Castiel asks if he is with him, or not. Balthazar says he is.Castiel goes to Dean, arriving just in time to save him from a demon. He apologizes for Lisa and Ben, revealing that he did not know Crowley's plan. Dean is skeptical, and angry. Castiel asks him again to support his decision to tap the souls in Purgatory. He pleads with him that he has always done what the brothers needed him to, asking little in return. Cas asks them to trust in him, and promises to bring him his family afterward. Dean is unwilling, and Castiel leaves. After Dean and Sam rescue Lisa, Castiel comes to the hospital where the gravely injured Lisa is not expected to survive. He apologizes again, but Dean is not forgiving. Castiel says that he did not come for Dean, then places a hand on Lisa's forehead, healing her. Both Dean and Cas acknowledge that this does not change their situation, but Dean asks for an additional favor. Castiel removes all Lisa and Ben's memories of Dean. Later Castiel finds and takes Dr. Visyak, the creature he needs to open Purgatory.

In "The Man Who Knew Too Much," Castiel and Crowley torture Dr. Visyak until they obtain what they need to open Purgatory. She escapes and contacts Bobby and the Winchesters, telling her story before dying in an alley from her injuries. Castiel comes to the three hunters, who are outraged. Dean tries to argue with him again, but Cas cuts him off, saying he no longer cares about Dean's opinion. He then touches Sam's head, breaking the mental wall, and promising to repair him as long as Dean stops the opposition.

Castiel meets with Crowley, who has assembled the necessary ingredients. The angel wants to renegotiate their deal. He will not give Crowley the souls, so Crowley can either flee or die. The demon leaves Castiel with the blood for the ritual. Later, Castiel confronts Balthazar. He says that Dean is coming, and someone among them is a traitor. Balthazar asks him who it is, and Castiel lies that he does not know, and wants Balthazar to investigate. While the other angel is distracted, Castiel stabs and kills him. Just before the ritual is meant to begin, a cloud of demons descends around the building, and Crowley appears. Castiel tries to kill him, but cannot. He has a new partner in Raphael. Castiel is surprised at the partnership with their differing goals, but both seem to think they have taken the best course available. They demand the blood; Castiel throws them a jar and leaves. Crowley conducts the ritual, and though Bobby and Dean try to interrupt, completes it.

Nothing happens and Castiel reappears. Crowley realizes that he switched the blood, and conducted his own ritual. Castiel displays his power briefly in a flash of energy. Crowley, realizing the game is up for the time being, wisely disappears, and Raphael asks for mercy.

But Castiel is not in a forgiving mood. He snaps his fingers, obliterating Raphael to pieces in mere seconds. He turns to Dean and Bobby. He was right, he says, and he did save them. Dean nervously agrees, then suggests that Castiel should return the souls, and disarm himself. Castiel says he has Raphael's followers to deal with. Dean is worried, and reminds Castiel that he is family, and he doesn't want to lose him. Castiel says that he has no family anymore; he will not give up the souls.

Using that moment, Sam stabs him from behind with an angel sword, but nothing happens. Castiel greets him, then says the sword will not work because he is not an angel anymore. He says that he is their new God, and that they must venerate him, or be destroyed. As he says those words, Dean, Sam and Bobby look on in horror, realizing with shock that their former ally and friend has become a power-hungry angel who believes that he is God.

Season Seven
Castiel waits for Sam, Dean, and Bobby to show their respects. Bobby goes to his knees, and motions for Sam and Dean to do the same. Dean begins to kneel, but Castiel stops him, and orders Bobby to stand, saying that there is no point if they do not mean what they do. Castiel observes, without turning to look, that Sam is not doing well. Dean reminds Cas that the former angel promised to fix Sam when it was over. Castiel cuts him off; his promise was contingent on Dean not opposing him further, and oppose him Dean did. Castiel tells them he has no need to kill them, though he no longer has any regard for them, and will let them live if they do not plot against him.

Castiel sets out to right the wrongs he sees. He destroys Raphael's followers in Heaven, and tells the angels that he no longer thinks free will is what Heaven needs. Instead, he will give them a firm hand. He appears in a church, reveals his identity, and smites a hypocritical preacher. He leaves an image of himself in the stained glass as he departs, and accidentally burns a pew as welts appear on his hand.

He finds Crowley hiding in a RV, and tells him that he may retain his position as King of Hell, but that Castiel will choose which souls he receives. He leaves after looking at yet more open places on his skin. He gives money to a blind man on the street, and heals the man for his faith. The man is grateful, but surprised when his first sight is of Castiel's blistering face.

&nbsp As he walks through the street, he sees a blind beggar asking for money and declares him to be a true disciple of God, and heals his eyes as a miracle. At a nearby bathroom, he looks in the mirror and stares at the blisters covering his face and hands. His stomach begins to bulge and contort as the Leviathans demand to be let out. He puts them down and says, "I control you."

Sam, Dean, and Bobby summon Crowley, who reluctantly gives them a spell to bind Death. They work it, and an irritated Death appears, followed shortly by Castiel. Dean orders Death to kill 'god'. Death says he sees only a mutated angel, one whose vessel is disintegrating. Castiel, sounding uncertain, says he will heal himself when his works are complete. Death replies that Castiel swallowed Leviathans when he emptied Purgatory, not just souls, and that is the danger. Castiel frees Death from Dean's binding spell.

Castiel leaves. At a political election office campaigning for a senator of whom Castiel disapproves, he is stopped by one of her aides. Castiel asks the man to see that he is a good god, that he means the best for his children. He awakes some time later in a pool of blood on the floor. He has slaughtered the entire office. At Bobby's place, Sam prays for Castiel to reconsider and give up the souls. A few minutes later Castiel appears, disheveled, bloody, and looking ill. He says he needs their help.

He listens to Sam's call and agrees to put all the souls back in Purgatory. Before the opening of the door, he expresses regret at what he has done and wishes that he could have restored Sam back to normal, and promised to do so if he survived. After he lets out all the souls, Cas passes out but wakes up. He automatically begins to contort and struggle as the Leviathan had held on to his body are trying to take over.

Castiel is soon overpowered by the Leviathan who in turn take control of him, presumably taking him far away. They begin by throwing Dean and Bobby against a wall before saying that they're going to have fun now.

Soon after flinging them, his vessel begins to ooze black blood, and Dean smugly points out that the vessel can't contain the power of the Leviathans. They leave saying they will be back for Dean.

The Leviathans are able to guide Castiels vessel to a water reserve and the vessel explodes in a whirlpool leaving the Leviathans to escape into the water. Later Cass' trenchcoat is found, Dean folds it up and takes it with him.

It was later revealed in "Slash Fiction" that the Leviathans learned of Sam and Dean's aliases from Castiel's mind before they sent him away. Castiel returns in The Born-Again Identity, but has forgotten his previous life as an angel. He now lives as Emanuel, a healer with his wife. Dean finds him again after word of his healings get out. Dean saves his wife and asks him to heal Sam. After regaining his memories as he is defeating multiple demons, Castiel attempts to rebuild the wall in Sam's mind only to discover that it was destroyed. In one last effort to redeem himself Castiel shifted the hallucinations of Lucifer from Sam's mind to his own in order to save Sam. Castiel then looked on in horror as he could only see Lucifer's face as he is committed to the Mental Institute.

In "Reading is Fundamental", Castiel has recovered from his insanity, albeit with a more carefree, eccentric personality. He reveals that he is no longer affiliated with Heaven, thus he is a Fallen Angel.



In Survival of the Fittest he returns to the Winchesters and encounters Crowley, who is holding a grudge for Castiel betraying him. Crowley reveals that Castiel is essential to defeating the Leviathans, being able to see past their human exterior. He at first refuses to help, but after some convincing he agrees to help. Dean and Castiel confront Dick, and succeed in killing him, however the two are transported to Purgatory (Castiel at this time appears to regain his personality.) Castiel then disappears leaving Dean to fend for himself, alone in Purgatory.

Powers and abilities
Since his first appearance, Castiel possessed astounding abilities and was one of the most powerful beings the Winchester brothers have ever met at the time. Uriel seemed so sure of his powers that he felt confident that if Castiel joined him and his fellow rebels, they would be powerful enough to challenge Heaven and free Lucifer from his Cage. And even Anna, despite having once been Castiel's superior, chose not to directly confront him after Castiel appointed himself as the Winchesters' guardian, and instead went back through time in an attempt to ensure that Sam and Dean are never born. Even when not at full strength, he was shown to be a very capable fighter due to him killing several of his angelic siblings when he was fighting to prevent the Apocalypse. Castiel displayed the following powers when he was a mere angel:

Angel abilities:

 * Angelic Possession - Castiel needs to use a vessel while on Earth. As an angel, he needed the vessel's permission.
 * Astral Projection - Castiel was able to project the shadows of his wings for Dean.
 * Chronokinesis - Castiel can travel forward and backward in time, and he can take passengers.
 * Eidetic Memory - Castiel has the face of every prophet etched into his memory.
 * Healing - Castiel could instantly heal the wounds, diseases, and toxins of humans.
 * Immortality - Castiel as an angel doesn't age.
 * Invulnerability - As an angel, there are very few things able to kill Castiel.
 * Killing Touch - Castiel is able to kill lower-level demons and other beings like monsters with a simple touch.
 * Resurrection - Castiel brought Dean back from the dead.
 * Sedation - Castiel can cause instant unconsciousness in humans.
 * Soul Reading - Castiel is able to determine the state of someone's soul. He is also able to use a soul as a power source.
 * Superhuman Stamina - Castiel never tires, and does not need to eat, sleep, drink, or breathe to sustain himself.
 * Superhuman Strength - Castiel is physically stronger than humans, lower-level demons, and most monsters.
 * Supernatural Perception - Castiel can see things hidden to humans.
 * Telekinesis - Castiel can impart kinetic energy on matter with his mind.
 * Telepathy - Castiel is able to read the minds of humans and lower-level angels.
 * Teleportation - Castiel can travel from one place to another instantly, without occupying the space in between.
 * Voice Mimicry - Castiel once perfectly imitated Bobby Singer's voice.

After second resurrection

 * Invisibility - Castiel is able to become unseen by humans.
 * Memory Manipulation - Castiel can erase, restore, alter, and fabricate memories.
 * Pyrokinesis - Castiel can generate, manipulate, and extinguish fire.
 * Reality Warping - Cas, in one instance, altered reality, by shaking a 'Sorry' board-game, and having everything instantly set up.
 * Holy White Light [after obtaining millions of souls from Purgatory ] - Castiel can create large amounts of energy.

After absorbing the souls from Purgatory

 * Highly Advanced Reality Warping - Castiel was able to project his desires into the physical or spiritual world(s) as he killed thousands in Heaven according to Hester. Castiel could kill humans with a thought or word as well as perform miracles like making the blind see. Castiel even told Crowley when he summaried that Hell was being downsided, that he would have done away with it completely, a spiritual realm. However, even when imbued with the power of nearly 30-40 million souls from purgatory, Death mocked him calling him a mutated angel. Death told Castiel he had met God, and that Castiel was certainly no God. He was nowhere as powerful as Death as the latter could have killed him. Notably, Castiel was concerned with keeping Michael in Lucifer's cage, but as Castiel gave up the souls he had absorbed it's unknown how his soul-enriched powers would compare to Michael's.
 * Invincibility - Castiel was immune to almost any form of harm (though Death and God could have killed him).
 * Molecular Combustion - Castiel killed Raphael and caused his vessel to explode by simply snapping his fingers.

Family

 * God - (Creator; Father)
 * Michael - Brother; superior
 * Raphael - Brother; arch-enemy
 * Zachariah - (Former Superior/Teacher)
 * Anna, Uriel, Balthazar, Hester, Inias - (Fellow Soldiers in God's Army)
 * Other Angels - (Brethren)
 * Sam and Dean - Surrogate brothers 
 * Daphne Allen - Wife (as Emanuel)

Relationships

 * Dean and Castiel - Castiel and Dean's relationship.
 * Sam and Castiel - Castiel and Sam's relationship.
 * Minor Relationships - Castiel's other relationships he encounters.
 * Meg and Castiel - Meg and Castiel's relationship.

Season 4

 * "Lazarus Rising"
 * "Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester"
 * "In The Beginning"
 * "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester"
 * "I Know What You Did Last Summer"
 * "Heaven and Hell"
 * "Death Takes a Holiday"
 * "On the Head of a Pin"
 * "The Monster at the End of This Book"
 * "The Rapture"
 * "When the Levee Breaks"
 * "Lucifer Rising"

Season 5

 * "Sympathy for the Devil"
 * "Good God, Y'all"
 * "Free to Be You and Me"
 * "The End"
 * "I Believe the Children Are Our Future"
 * "Changing Channels"
 * "Abandon All Hope..."
 * "The Song Remains the Same"
 * "My Bloody Valentine"
 * "Dark Side of the Moon"
 * "99 Problems"
 * "Point of No Return"
 * "Two Minutes to Midnight"
 * "Swan Song"

Season 6

 * "The Third Man"
 * "You Can't Handle The Truth"
 * "Family Matters"
 * "Caged Heat"
 * "Like A Virgin"
 * "The French Mistake"
 * "My Heart Will Go On"
 * "Frontierland"
 * "Mommy Dearest"
 * "The Man Who Would Be King"
 * "Let It Bleed"
 * "The Man Who Knew Too Much"

Season 7

 * "Meet The New Boss"
 * "Hello, Cruel World"
 * "Shut Up, Dr. Phil" (seen in Dean's nightmare)
 * "The Born-Again Identity"
 * "Reading Is Fundamental"
 * "Survival of the Fittest"

Trivia

 * In folklore, Castiel is the Angel of Thursday, possibly chosen to be a character in Supernatural because it (then) aired on Thursday nights. This is also pointed out by Crowley in the episode "The Man Who Would Be King."
 * It is more likely, and was mentioned by the writers, that Castiel is based off of Castiel. It is mentioned by the producers as well. This is more likely because Castiel's behavior follows more closely to Castiel due to the melancholy nature. Castiel and Uriel are both referred to angels of Saturday. Following suit, Uriel is a mentor to Castiel.
 * Castiel is the first angel to be revealed in the series, although Gabriel has the distinction of being the first one to appear albeit in the guise of the Trickster.
 * Castiel is the last main character to be revealed to this date.
 * Castiel has used 2 vessels, Jimmy Novak and his daughter, Claire Novak.
 * In the episode 'Red Sky at Morning', Sam uses a chant to summon spirits that mentions Castiel, along with other miscellaneous angels by name (the name Azazel is also mentioned)
 * Castiel is the only long time ally/friend of the Winchesters that is not dead.
 * Castiel is the only Angel to go to Purgatory without dying.
 * In the show Castiel has died 3 times (Lucifer Rising, Swan Song, and Meet The New Boss). In Survival of the Fittest he mentions to Dean after each death he is brought back again as a punishment resurrection and it's worse every time.
 * Castiel, after becoming a "mutated Angel" by absorbing all of Purgatory's souls, when he teleports, the wing flapping sound is no longer heard, insinuating that it affected his true form. After sending them back, he becomes a Angel again.
 * He was resurrected by God again after his death from the Leviathans.
 * Upon shifting Sam's condition onto himself, after he awaken, in his insanity he becomes obsessed with bees. In 7X21, he admits to wanting to watch them, Dean mentions he once appeared on the Impala covered in bees in 7X22, and in "Survival of the Fittest" he offers Crowley honey.