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

[kira-bouviea.livejournal.com]

I haven't really given it much thought either way (I'm taking a slight hiatus from reading fanfic) but I'm rather partial to you interpretation. Another thing, perhaps with Castiel's position being what it is, he's gaining knowlegde in just what he can do? Maybe he never reached his full badass potential, because he never had cause before now to explore just what his limits were, but now that he's been cutoff from heaven, he's not quite as powerless as he first thought he would be (time travel issues aside)?

Just a thought.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Now that's a very fascinating scenario that I can get behind. :) And it would make sense too, because it seems most of the angels are being restricted from exercising their ability to think outside the box, whether it be questioning orders or going against the grain, so even with relying on Heaven they were still limited to such freedoms like that. Now a rebel and fighting alongside our Team Free Will, Castiel is able to open himself up to the possibility of other things he can do without the assistance of Heaven. So even with no longer being tied to Heaven's powers he's not exactly powerless or helpless as they would think as he's beginning to understand what he can now do without being held in those restricted bonds he used to be in while underneath his superior's command.

Oh, I really like this idea. A lot. :D