Castiel

Castiel is an angel of the Lord who was ordered to pull Dean Winchester out of Hell and help him with his mission to stop Lilith from breaking the 66 Seals that would release Lucifer. He seems to be very mysterious and introspective about his assignment from God. In "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester", Castiel revealed to Dean that his directives are to take orders from Dean himself. Sam Winchester was initially in awe of Castiel, for which he is instantly snubbed as being exposed by Castiel by having demon blood and for using his abilities, which are strictly forbidden due to their demonic origins.

Castiel appears to be impervious and resistant to all know forms of spells and hexes, as he effortlessly passed by all the seals that Dean and Bobby Singer scribed inside the warehouse where they all formally met (seen in the attached picture). The human vessel he chooses to inhabit is named Jimmy Novak.

Dean bears a handprint, or the "Mark of Castiel," on his shoulder as a verification and reminder that Castiel physically pulled him out of Hell. In "Are You There God? It's Me, Dean Winchester", Castiel threatened to put Dean back if he doesn't aggressively proceed in his mission to prevent the release of Lucifer. The validity of this threat is unsubstantiated as he revealed that his mission is to follow Dean's orders; more than likely a psychological tactic to motivate Dean.

Although he is an angel, Castiel has admitted certain limitations to his abilities while on Earth. His signature power appears to be instant teleportation, as he is able move effortlessly from one point to the other in the blink of an eye. It is also revealed that any human who was to hear Castiel's true voice would suffer a terrible death, and the only known person to have been able to withstand it was his vessel, Jimmy Novak, as he was communicating with him before taking over his body.

Castiel's physical appearance seems to be that of an average human male who is returning from a hard day's work in an office environment. He sports a pair of dress shoes, dress slacks, unbuttoned white-stripped dress shirt, and loosened necktie accentuated by a beige trenchcoat. Although he has a very dire demeanor, his outward appearance radiates a natural calm and serenity, which makes conversation easy and direct.

Castiel and his fellow angel Uriel make mention of a conversation (which is reminiscent of dialogue in the movie The Prophecy starring Christopher Walken and Eric Stoltz) in relating God's relationship to mankind and the majority of the angelic population being very jealous of humans' ability of free will, as they were considering destroying a town in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester".

NOTE: In folklore, Castiel is the Angel of Thursday, possibly chosen to be a character in Supernatural because it airs on Thursday nights.

Unlike most angels seen in the show, Castiel is interested in humans and is fascinated by the aspects of humanity, such as free will, while other angels like Uriel or Lucifer look at humanity as inferior or with contempt. Castiel also has a respect for God that many other angels in the show don't seem to show, possibly due to the fact that none of them has seen or heard from God in so long and they feel they have been abandoned. Castiel admitted that while he sometimes questions his orders, he will always follow his Father.

Older angels look at Castiel's interest in humans and faith in God has an unhealthy interest and naive belief. Anna Milton called him a hypocrite for believing he could help humans and serve God at the same time when he refused to rebel in order to gain more freedom. Lucifer was disturbed when Castiel showed more concern for his failing vessel than any reaction to the sight of the fallen Archangel himself. Lucifer attempted to convert Castiel to his side, saying he would be a target of hate among the other angels and his Father because of his actions; Castiel responded that while he may have deviated from traditional angel behavior, he would rather die than betray his Father and become what Lucifer was.

Additionally, Castiel is fairly young by angelic standards, though he claims to have met the prophet Luke who was apparently no better than Chuck Shurley in lifestyle and personality. Discussions with Uriel suggest the pair were children by angel standards when Lucifer instigated the first War in Heaven. While Uriel was instantly enthralled by Lucifer's power and charisma, Castiel remembered being frightened and disturbed by the rogue angel.

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 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.

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 has 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 was like "being chained to a comet." When Dean, Sam, Jimmy and Jimmy's daughter Claire are 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 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 three hours long for help. When Castiel arrived, Dean asked him what happend in Heaven, but Castiel wouldn't say. Then Castiel recruited Dean in the service of God and his Angels. Castiel told him to wait yill the Angels summons him. A few hours later he freed Sam from Bobby's panic room he was holding in, 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 captured.

Later Zachariah brought Dean to a chamber, so he would be safe fore the release of Lucifer. Zachariah told that the final seal would be broken that night. Although had a fight with Sam, he tried to contact him on his cellphone, and left a message on his voicemail. Later Dean wanted to talk with Sam and summoned Castiel, by breaking an Stone Angel, on one of the table. Dean asked to visited Sam, but Castiel that he could go everywhere, but not to Sam. Dean asked what they are gonna do with Sam. Castiel said that Sam is gonna do it to himself, but more he didn't want to say. He said it was his destiny. Dean said that destiny was just a bunch of lies, to keep him line. Dean tried to purchase Castiel to help him, but Castiel said that we would be all be hunted, that we would be all dead. In responds Dean said to him that this is worth dying for. But Castiel refused, to Dean's disappointment. 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. Then Castiel hold his bloody hand on the sigil, that drew Zachariah away. He then said that Lillith is the final seal and that Sam is going to break it. He said that he know someone that knows where Sam is 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 Michael's sword—in other words, Michael'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 the episode "Two Minutes to Midnight" (By which point Castiel had been stripped of all his Powers, in other words he was human until after Swan Song) he assisted Sam and Dean against the 3rd Horseman Pestilence by cutting off his finger obtaining one of the 4 rings needed to seal Lucifer back into the pit. In the Season Finale when Michael (Possessing the Vessel of Adam Milligan) was about to fight Lucifer (Possessing the Vessel of Sam) Dean intervened saying he wished to speak with Sam which 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 to explode (Literally). 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 an Archangel, said that he needed to return to Heaven to restore order to the anarchy that will follow Michael's departure.

Season Six
After Castiel returned to Heaven, he found himself in the middle of a Civil War. Raphael wanted to take over and follow Michael's departure and restart the Apocalypse again. Castiel and his followers wanted to stop Raphael, and ever since then, a civil war was started. A year after the Apocalypse, the Staff of Moses was stolen from heaven, and signs of it's power were left on Earth. When Sam and Dean found out the plagues that were unleased upon the Earth, they call Castiel for help. Castiel showed up and told them the staff of Moses was stolen from heaven. He also mentioned that he didn't know what or whom brought Sam back from Hell. Castiel said that he was ashamed, that he aspected more from his brothers and that bothers him.

In their investigation, they find out that an Angel had been trading human souls, for pieces of the staff of Moses. To locate the Angel's name, Castiel performed a ritual to find the angel that bought the soul. The ritual tortued the human kid in order to get the information. When Castiel found 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 go away, but the Angel knew that Balthazar was selling the pieces of the staff. With the staff of Moses, Raphael is willing to win the civil war in Heaven. So Castiel, Dean and Sam are trying to find Balthazar first, and when they did, Balthazar admitted that he stole the weapons from Heaven and that he want to live in freedom. Although Balthazar dissapeared when he found out that Raphael has found him, Castiel was confronted by Angels that were trying to kill him. Castiel offered them to join his side, but they refused and Castiel killed them. Castiel was dissapointed and ask himself the question why they don't listen to him. Then Raphael showed up and told him that they were his followers, and he smashed Castiel away. Just when Raphael wanted to kill him, Balthazar showed up and used the weapons from Heaven to destroy Raphael's vessel. Eventually Sam and Dean showed up and were able to set Balthazar in a circle of holy oil. At the end Castiel let Balthazar go and dissapeared when Dean got angry.

Dean becomes more and more disturbed by Sam's behavior, and prays for Castiel's help. He doesn't respond until Dean calls him about a 'possibly 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 then calls on Castiel once he has Sam unconscious, and asks for him to diagnose Sam. Castiel then 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 from 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 when 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, hellhounds come after the party. Meg distracts Castiel by kissing him, while stealing 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 hellhounds 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 are 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.

Family

 * God (Creator; Father)
 * Zachariah (Superior/Teacher)
 * Other Angels (Brethren)
 * Anna and Uriel (Fellow Soldiers in God's Army)
 * Dean and Sam Winchester (Friends)

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 have often led to humorous situations throught the show and have occasionally almost got him into trouble with humans only for Dean or Sam to fix things. 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 has odd or naïve. Anna and Lucifer have both demonstrated this, with Anna calling him a hypocrite for refusing to rebel in order to gain more freedom. After trying to tempt the younger angel and failing, along with absorbing his like of humans, Lucifer called him a "curiosity".

Being around the Winchester's and his own experiences in the War have taught Castiel several "tricks" that have helped him during the show. While not possesing free will in the same sense has a human Castiel has learnt 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. He also is able to distract Meg long enough to use her and a similiar trick Uriel performed to free Alistair to free himself from a ring of holy fire.

Castiel also posseses a strong moral fibre and incorruptible nature, displayed in several incidents where he has been faced with temptation by other angels and Lucifer.

Immortality: Castiel, like all celestial beings, is not subjected to time, aging, or diseases, and doesn't need to breathe, eat, or sleep to sustain himself. Castiel does, however, like all celestial beings because they're all siblings of one another, age and mature, as he was created sometime after the four archangels were.

Angeilc Possession: Castiel, like all celestial beings, requires a human vessel in order to physically interact with humans on Earth, as it is a law that applies for all angelic beings.

Invulnerability: Castiel, like all angels, is resistent to most forms of harm, and can't even be harmed by a vast majority of beings including demons, but he can be greatly damaged by angelic weapons, or while fighting other angels. Any one of the four archangels can kill Castiel easily.

Super Strength: Castiel, like all angels, dramatically increases the strength threashold of his host.

Healing Factor: When Castiel's vessel does get damaged by something angelic, he can heal the wound(s) instantly.

Telepathy: Castiel, like all angels, can read human thoughts. Teleportaion: Castiel, like all celestial beings, can vanish and reappear anywhere in time, space, and any place on the face of the Earth except for places that are covered in Enochian 'symbols.
 * Dreamwalking: Castiel, like all angels, can enter the dreams and mind of humans.

Time Manipulation: Castiel can easily bend or alter time on Earth, as shown when he teleports the Dean back to the year when Azazel made a bargin with his mother, Mary Winchester, and by sending him back to his present day.

Telekinesis: Castiel, like some angels, possesses a refined skill with telekinesis, as he is able to move humans, objects, and other beings just by thinking. Superhuman Intelligence: Castiel possesses an immense amount of knowledge about planets, the Milky Way Galaxy, humans, witches, and about occult and angelic orientated stuff. Also, Castiel, like all angels, possesses knowledge of Hell and how it works, as he and some other angels were able to bypass through its defenses.
 * Pyrokinesis: Castiel, after being resurrected by God, gained the ability to ignite objects with his mind, as shown when he sets Crowley's bones on fire just by thinking.
 * Demon Oblitheration: Castiel can kill demons just by thinking or simply by touching the meatsuit that they're using.

Induced Sedation: Castiel, like all angels, can cause humans to fall to the ground unconscious just by touching their forehead.

Reality Warping: Although Castiel has never shown the ability to warp reality, but he has on serveral ocassions entered other wormholes in reality to save Dean and Sam, as seen when he trys to remove the Winchester brothers from the Trickster's alternate reality, but fails because the Trickster, later revealed to be Gabriel, banishes him away.

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
 * 6.17
 * 6.19
 * 6.20
 * 6.21
 * 6.22