Further addendum on Castiel this season.

[rogueslayer452]

Now I can't tell whether people are simply being reactionary based off of the episode itself or truly believe in the words they are writing out, but so far people have been completely overreacting the the revelation the newest episode gave us particularly with Castiel being in cahoots with Crowley. Most of these reactions isn't even new, since there has been plenty of fan speculation for a while now about Castiel being "evil" and "betraying" the Winchesters because of him not being entirely truthful and having ulterior motives all season long.

Let me make this absolutely clear for everyone:

CASTIEL. IS NOT. TURNING. EVIL.

It's almost like people are wanting him to become evil or something without looking at things rationally from his perspective and the circumstances he's been dealing with. Remember, the greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Good people can end up doing bad things, making questionable choices and decisions and doing morally ambiguous tasks for the greater good, especially when they're underneath a great deal of stress and pressure like Castiel has been all season. He's in deep desperation, he's had to make certain sacrifices, certain compromises due to the heavy weight he's carrying. Does this mean that Castiel is turning towards the "dark side" of things? Absolutely not.

I mean come on y'all, look at this face:



Does this look like the face of someone who is intentionally and legitimately enjoying doing horrible things? No. That's not what the definition of "evil" means, which people seem to be throwing around a lot lately as if justifying his secretive behavior. Castiel is questioning himself, he is afraid of what he is becoming, he is literally begging in the 6.20 preview to be stopped in heading in this direction. That is not a sign of someone who is turning darkside. That is a sign of someone struggling so desperately with the situation they are in, and don't want to be a part of anymore.

This is called being morally conflicted. Castiel is caught between a rock and a hard place and he's out of options, and has to take a risk which may be a necessary evil in order for things to be set right. And this is a realistic approach to many things that happen in life. Not everything is easy to attain, and sometimes you have to make certain compromises, even by bending the truth, to ensure that.

Never mind that the Winchesters have done questionable things, too. They've worked and compromised with demons to achieve their ends, yet people haven't referred to them being evil or have turned "dark side." What makes them the exception?

Here's the thing though: this is an interesting direction to be taking Castiel's arc because it shows a certain kind of development from where he was. He started out being an obedient soldier who begun having doubts and questioning his faith and his orders (S4) then after rebelling against Heaven and joining in Team Free Will in stopping Lucifer and the Apocalypse while learning about humanity (S5), and now he's on his own trying to maintain Heaven and end this civil war (S6). However with that, he's also learning the weight of this responsibility and that not everything is as simple as it seems, and because of it he's had to sacrifice certain things he believed in which is making him question, yet again, where his loyalties truly lie. Are they with Heaven, will he be able to make certain compromises to win at any and all costs, or is it with the Winchesters, that he simply cannot do this because he would jeopardize the only friends he has and deeply cares about? It's an entirely new ballpark for him and he's at loss at what to do, he's emotionally drained, completely wrecked and he doesn't want to lose anything. He can either lose the war, or lose the Winchesters. He sees no middle ground at this point, and unfortunately this is the price of war. War changes people, they start viewing things in a different light, from different perspectives than how they used to before, it makes them question situations that ultimately challenges their own morality.

And you know what? The fact that Castiel is actually questioning all of this shows his humanity. This is a good thing, and it pleases me that this is the direction they took with his character, particularly because he would have to deal with these kinds of hardships if he were to be the "sheriff of Heaven" and trying to maintain peace and equilibrium upstairs, esp for over two years.

My only concern is how the show is going to handle this. This is a potentially great character arc that can be royally screwed up in its execution, like many things have this season. Just please, please, for the love of God don't character assassinate our dear precious angel, Show. Otherwise I will never, ever forgive you.


Sorry for the long-winded rant. I just have lots of feelings regarding this, okay? Plus I'm worried, I'm biting my nails for these last few episodes of the season because it literally is the "make it or break it" for me with this show as a whole, and it all depends on this one character who I deeply am attached to.

Comments

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

It has always been the idea of him being conflicted, and his doubts, and charge on through it all anyway attitude that has drawn me to him. He is a heartbraking character and they have found a new direction to take him that is fascinating and developing his character, and I love it. It might break my heart, but I adore it anyway, or maybe beacuse of it.

I'm exactly the same. I find such characters more fascinating because nobody is straightforward good or evil. To have good characters do horrible things and struggle with the consequences of their actions, or alternatively having supposedly bad characters understanding and finding their own humanity, is more intriguing than anything else in stories. This is the kind of depth I am attracted to because it makes you identify with the characters more or at least empathize with with situation.

As heartbreaking as it is to see Castiel at this roadblock, completely and utterly desperate and on the brink of just falling apart, it makes me appreciate his storyline and arc throughout the show and everything he's had to deal with. I feel more connected to him than the Winchesters, at this point. Which is kind of just my thing, but you know. ;)

Even the conflict between Cas and Dean doesn't really worry me as long as the writers don't take it too far. They have always travelled a rocky road, its part of what makes them so interesting, and I'm a complete sucker for angst.

Definitely, although while I love my angst I love it when it's appropriately placed. This season has had them being at odds ends with each other for no reason. There's no explanation for them just being indifferent and I'm very confused and upset that they choose that route, and it's gone back and forth. In this last episode they seemed more buddy-buddy than they have all season, which is strange. This is the fault of the writers, imo.

Now this will definitely have them being angsty with each other, which again with the heartache, but it'll be necessary this time.