When You Stop Running....

[gwaevalarin]

How can this be the worst episode since Caged Heat that makes me want to put it into the same box that says "episodes that don't exist" but at the same time have two or three of the best and most important scenes in the last three years?

Let's talk about those scenes and ignore the rest, shall we?

"I caused a lot of suffering on Earth, but I devastated Heaven. I vaporized thousands of my own kind and I can't go back. [...] Because if I see what Heaven's become, what I made of it, I'm afraid I might kill myself."

This... this is everything I wanted addressed ever since 7x01 (well, almost everything. What about Balthazar?) and at the same time dreaded because I was always convinced that hurting his own family like this had to be the very, very worst thing for Castiel out of everything. I just somehow didn't really expect the show to so fully agree with me on this because it never seemed to care enough about the angels to go there, but now it did and it's the best and worst thing ever.
I'm so grateful they're making this a topic, making this the most important topic for Castiel really, and I just regained a big chunk of trust in this show thanks to this one scene.
So we'll actually watch Castiel go through this, 100% canon and on screen... this season is going to be even more painful than I expected.
Castiel needs to talk to (and listen to) Samandriel as quickly as possible so he learns that his family still cares about him, and that many of them forgive him and miss him. Maybe that will help him forgive himself.

And hey, at least he already was at the point where he wanted to face his pain at the end of the episode, before Naomi interrupted.

Naomi... I don't know. She probably wants Cas to stay out of Heaven because she knows that he can and will reveal and stop her plans - whatever they are - if she lets him in. But maybe, just maybe, she is actually trying to help him in her own way. I don't think I'll ever approve of her way but... intention does count, and when she told him that he should do what he wants to do, that sounded genuienly nice. Who are you, and what are you up to, Naomi?

Either way, I'm so proud of Castiel for not running anymore. After this episode I am convinced that now he will be able heal given time and support (Samandriel?) because he has finally admitted that he is far from okay.

Side note: During the episode I was so sure that this would be the day where we learn that Amelia was never real. All those cuts from "living in your own head/a dream world" to Sam's flash backs, who seemed even more weirdly soft coloured than before. But now with Don alive, maybe she was? Or maybe not? I'm not sure anymore.

Comments

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that it's a good thing that Castiel's decimation of the Heavenly Host -- and his guilt thereof -- has finally been addressed, but there was a lot more going on than just that. :)

You really consider 8.08 to be one of the worst eps ever? Why did you dislike it so?

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

You really consider 8.08 to be one of the worst eps ever? Why did you dislike it so?

For the very same reason I dislike Caged Heat. I don't mind a bit of comedy, and god knows Supernatural can use some lighter episodes once in a while. What I can't stand is making cheap jokes at the expense of proper characterization. And this episode was basically nothing more than one stupid ooc joke at Castiel's expense after the other. Except for the parts where they revealed that Cas is still broken and suicidal, which made the rest even worse.

To be honest, I was very close to turning my tv off just a few minutes in. I'm now glad that I didn't but ONLY for those two or three scenes.

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

I never bought the 'Amelia isn't real' thing myself.

But beside the point - I LOVE this episode and I don't mean as a Dean/Cas shipper (although there was STUFF for that), I mean FOR CAS. It's given him a REAL STORYARC that we are SEEING ONSCREEN all OF HIS OWN. It's so beautiful I could cry. I know it's a painful one, but there'd really be no story without a struggle would there? I am PSYCHED about watching Cas deal with his guilt and grief and come to terms with what he did in Heaven and make peace with the other angels. I really am seeing this as a step torwards a better and healthier life for Cas. And I am equally shocked the shock went there, put a FOCUS on Heaven and angels and, omgomg, had Cas SAY OUTRIGHT he was suicidal. Shit is GETTING DONE with Cas and his emotional situation this season I am OVER THE MOON!

As to Naomi, it's funny this is, sort of turning you against her (well, sort of), because that moment at the end was the first time I... kind of warmed to her? Because I AGREE WITH YOU (about angels - what IS this?) that SHE IS TRYING TO HELP CAS, but her methods are... lacking. Probably because of what free will ended up doing to Cas, I think Naomi has reverted to a 'no free will for angels' stance, so she taking it upon herself to to, ironically, 'free' Cas of free will.

She looked soft when he started insisting he had to go back to Heaven and make things right to me... like she admired him for the idea, and I think she really believes having him do Heaven's will like she is making him doing is a GOOD THING for him, is penance and stuff. IDK. IDK. We'll have to see how things progress (as always). But I have a feeling now that whatever Naomi's game is it's not about punishing Cas. I think, at least in part, it's a misguided attempt to heal him (to cure him of what she sees as earth - and Dean's - corruption, perhaps?)

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree that this could have, SHOULD have been a good episode for Castiel, if they hadn't been so busy pointlessly using him as a comic relief about 80% of his on-screen time.

But I don't want to think about that. I'm tired of it, and for the other 20% I pretty much agree with you.

As to Naomi, it's funny this is, sort of turning you against her (well, sort of),

Huh? Not sort of, not at all. I hated her addition to the show in her first episode, after this one I'm actually intrigued, and interested, and optimistic that there might be some real, relatable motivation behind her actions, possibly even well-meant. How is that turning me against her?

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

Apologies. Mis-read what you were saying about Naomi. When I looked through it sounded like you were unhappy with her. Looking back it's just that you disagree with her methods, which we're on the same page about. That's what happens when I try to discuss things during my breaks at work - NOT a great multi-tasker!

Awesome, then :)

As to your 80%, I don't think Cas was comic relief in those myself. I think all his 'funny' moments were actually kind of... angsty and painful. They were like him trying to lie in Swan Song? A way of him hiding/running. So I think it worked quite nicely. It was a good balance of 'comic' and angst for me, because all the comedy has that intentional undercurrent of Cas struggling with his issues.

But then, I've never hated Cas being involved in comedy moments. I think he has great comic potential. The show has just had trouble balancing that with the rest of his character early on. It got it right for me in this one, although I thought the moment at the start denying him a front seat was unnecessarily pushy. That was a comedy moment that failed for me. But then it wasn't Cas himself being comedic, so...

Can we just have Samandriel back now pls?

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

Cas DOES have a lot of comedic potential, and I don't generally mind Castiel involved in comedic moments. There are a lot of great comedic moments in the last few seasons that make perfect sense for his character. But there is a fine line between painting a character as awkward and making them look stupid for the sake of a joke, and, for me, this episode didn't just cross this line, it happily ran right over it, repeatedly. And that pretty much ruined the entire episode for me to the point where I almost turned it off.
The only time that has ever happened before was Caged Heat, and I don't think even that ones was quite as bad.

Can we just have Samandriel back now pls?
Yes, please!

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

Here's to hoping Samandriel will be in Cas' next episode then!