I'm mostly killing time until I run out of disaster documentaries to watch on NatGeo.

[apocalypsos]

Ah, Tuesdays. *happy sighs*

Reading those Misha Twitters reminded me of something I wanted to say about Castiel, mostly in response to critiques I've read of Castiel's behavior this season, the things he's done, and why he did those things. I understand where people are coming from, I do ... I guess I just want to unload and say why those same behaviors endeared Castiel to me hardcore.

It's just ... going up against all of heaven is HARD. Whenever I read people's questions about why Castiel didn't defy orders sooner, I think, "But he's not Sam. He's Dean.."

It's taken Dean four seasons to turn into the kind of man who'll defy John's orders. He spent a long time not questioning that man. Hell, he still doesn't take criticism of John well. But he'll defy John's orders if they come to Sam. He'll struggle like CRAZY, but he'll do it ... for a good goddamn reason.

Dean served under John, in a way, for twenty-five years. Castiel's served under these angels and supposedly under God (as far as their orders have said) for centuries, millenia, even. And he doesn't have a Sam to be a good goddamn reason for him to defy orders. He had none.

While Sam's been turning into John for the past four seasons, Dean's been turning into Sam, thanks in part to Sam's influence and in part to the machinations both sides of the supernatural divide have been putting them through. This leaves Castiel as Dean way back in season one -- the good soldier, the loyal servant. And he needs a Sam to pull him out of that.

If it took Dean as long as it has to buck John's influence, I'm not surprised that Castiel -- who's defying an entire angelic army -- would take longer, only brought as far as he has by an apocalyptic emergency.

He's not totally there, of course -- the moves he made in Lucifer Rising are going to have to be dealt with the same way that Sam's reaction to being played for the last two years will come back to hit us next season as well -- but it's a journey that's starting with a single difficult step.

And he took it.

So ... yeah. YMMV, but that's my take on things, so. *fidgets*

Comments

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

THIS! *smishes you*

I think it's hard for us in general to wrap our brains around the idea of absolute, unquestioning obedience. As a species we're so hung up on the idea of free will and choices, that I don't think it occurs to us that some choices can come with such a huge price tag that you really would think twice (or more times) before making them.

Cas pretty bluntly laid out the price tag for helping Dean get to Sam. "We will be hunted." When you think about the implications of that it's pretty staggering that he had the stones to do what he did. Castiel has always been portrayed as the good soldier, the one whose faith never wavered.

For him to take that step to active defiance of an order is YOOGE. And it's only the first step. Dean had his first outright act of defying John back in Season 2 when he refused to follow through and kill Sam to keep him from going dark-side.

That's two full seasons ago and *after* John's death, and Bobby still had to call him on acting like his father. This stuff is not easy to shake.

But it does make for awesome drama.

[goodbyebird]

You're forgetting how he's in love with Dean ;)


...hee silly aside, yes, you're completely right.

[foenix.livejournal.com]

I don't see why Castiel's motives are being questioned. He's the good soldier. MOST of the heavenly host is, really. They saw what God did to the last guy to stand up to him, and his minions, and they don't want that.

Coupled with your observations, it ain't that hard, people. ;)

He's the good soldier, but everything heaven has done the past few months have really made him sit up and take notice, from Anna, to...well, everything really.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think we'll get more Anna, because in the angel scope of things, Anna is the Sam if Castiel is the Dean.

[nyoka.livejournal.com]

Yes, this.

[fufaraw]

::Nods:: I hadn't thought of it quite that way, but from here it makes sense.

It's going to be interesting watching where each of them goes, emotionally, this season.

[loony-moony.livejournal.com]

I tend to think Castiel's been having tiny little niggling doubts beforehand too. Anna's Fall must've influenced him in some way, what with her being his superior. So yeah, possibly not a tzunami, but...a small quake in the bottom of the ocean.

[ficangel.livejournal.com]

THIS. If the show seemed to be justifying Castiel's actions, maybe I could work up some ire? But they're not. They're explaining, it's totally different. And, well, the guy has gone from having scarcely a single independent thought--safe and comfortable if nothing else--to bringing all of heaven and hell down on his ass because it's right. Damn, most people flail as much or more about whether their parents will approve of their life plans, let alone what God Almighty will think. He has some massive fury coming his way from Sam and Dean, but I don't mind giving him some compassion in the face of his uncertainty, realizing how far he's come.

[wingsunfurled.livejournal.com]

I think....I love you. ♥

[labseraph.livejournal.com]

YES!


*points above*