Just something I've been pondering

[rogueslayer452]

I've been wondering about Castiel and his powers. It seems the general consensus of fandom thinks that Castiel has been losing his powers bit by bit since he returned, I've seen this being referenced a lot in fics and also in fandom discussions. However, are Castiel's powers really dwindling away?


He said in the beginning of the season that he's been cut off from Heaven so there are certain things he doesn't have full capability of doing such as healing and time travel. This doesn't necessarily mean his powers are slowly draining away from him episode by episode. If that were true, he would have been completely weakened by now. Instead, in the last episode Castiel seemed to possess a bit more power than we've seen from him in previous episodes, and perhaps even more badass than when he did have full capability of his powers from last season. So in my view from this, Castiel is only limited to certain abilities rather than losing them, as he's already stated in 5.02, since I'm sure to him this does feel like he's been weakened or made helpless because of being cut off from his home, but certainly not weak as in feeling his Grace drained from him. As for the 2014 future!Castiel, it's my belief that when the angels had left and Lucifer took power that is when he became completely powerless and "no longer an angel" (at least somewhat, he's still an angel just trapped inside a human vessel). Not before, not along the way, but in the moment when Lucifer had taken control did that occur. And even though we're now seeing Castiel subtly become humanized by his mannerisms with each passing episode, he still has BAMF skills and his some of his powers intact.

Overall, from what I've observed, I think with the knowledge of him having limited access to certain abilities people are confusing that with him losing more of his powers, especially since we've seen over the course of this season just to what extent does this limit him to.

Now I don't know if there's been any kind of articles or interviews explaining whether he is or isn't gradually losing his angel powers, since I don't read anything that could have potential spoilers in them so I don't know if this has already been discussed or confirmed or whatever. These are just my thoughts and opinions on the matter.


This is just me, having thinky-thoughts at like, early in the morning. And it has to do with Castiel, go figure. Heh.

Comments

[silverusagi]

It's funny, I never thought he was losing his powers until I got online and found fandom. And I just didn't understand where everyone was coming from. But the idea is all over fic, and even in discussions about episodes. I don't think he's getting weaker, and I'm not sure why fandom seems set that he is. For a while I suppose it might have seemed like it, but given what we've seen in 18 episodes, I can't find anything that supports he's losing powers. There's been nothing in season 5 that he's done and been unable to do later. He said twice that he was cut off from Heaven (5.02 and 5.13). I read spoilers and interviews, and I've seen nothing discussing Castiel losing his powers or not. But I just don't see anything in canon that supports him getting weaker, even though lots of people seem sure that he is. (There's speculation now about Castiel using up his angel mojo at the end of 5.18 when he banished himself, but I almost wonder if the only reason we're speculating is because so many people want him to lose his powers and are looking for a way for that to happen. Because I don't see how banishing himself would do anything. I suppose the angels he banished himself with could do something to him.)

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

For a while I suppose it might have seemed like it, but given what we've seen in 18 episodes, I can't find anything that supports he's losing powers. There's been nothing in season 5 that he's done and been unable to do later.

Exactly. From all the episodes we've seen there's no further evidence of losing his abilities, and like you said everything he's done this season, with the exception of time travel, he's been able to achieve again. It's very interesting seeing fandom think he is when there's nothing suggesting or supporting such a claim. I guess, on the fanfic front, people could just be trying to find alternative ways of how his character could wind up, either slowing losing his powers or Falling or whatever, which is kind of fine however I've seen that everywhere in fic along with just random discussions, as if it's been canonically proven somehow.

but I almost wonder if the only reason we're speculating is because so many people want him to lose his powers and are looking for a way for that to happen. Because I don't see how banishing himself would do anything. I suppose the angels he banished himself with could do something to him

I don't see Castiel carving the banishing sigil on himself as channeling something powerful from Heaven, either. It's just a resourceful, if not risky, way about defeating those five angels in a short amount of time for the Winchesters to get Adam. That's it. There really doesn't have to be anything special about that other than such a tactic probably hasn't been done on another angel before, so the repercussions of it can be very interesting (since I'm going back and forth whether such an action can have some counteraction or he just banished himself along with the other angels, wherever they go when this happens).

It's interesting that some people want Castiel to lose his powers. I mean, it can be a great challenge for furthering his character development in some ways if that was to be explored, however I would prefer Castiel remain an angel while still being amongst Sam, Dean and the rest of humanity. To have him Fall or become human would be very cliche. I think having a powerful angel on the Winchester side could benefit them, especially Dean.

[silverusagi]

It is interesting that fandom has come to this conclusion. Not saying that Castiel couldn't be losing his powers, but I just don't get why everyone seems to think he is. But then, I've never been much for fanon, and I don't see evidence in canon that Castiel is getting weaker.

I noticed it first in fic. Even in fic that isn't about him falling, it just seems to be assumed that he's losing power. And I just really don't get why everyone seems to think that. I wondered for a while if I was missing something.

I don't actually want Castiel to fall. I like him fine how he is, a slightly less than full power angel. I wouldn't like it if he turned human in S6. And on the one hand, I can see how the story could be handled beautifully. However, at this point, I'm afraid it wouldn't be handled beautifully by the writers (and this is the Sam and Dean show), and I fear that a human Castiel would just end up being a fish out of water/comic relief. They wouldn't have time to focus on what becoming human would actually do to him. And what would a human Castiel do? Join the boys on the road full time? Great in fanfic, but I don't see the show going there.