margarittet:

OK, some quick thoughts about the «Cas is stuck in a chair while everyone else is fighting» problem.

First of all, I would like to point out that it took a whole bar full of demons and FOUR pairs of enochian handcuffs to keep him in that chair. Not bad.

Do you realize what a COMPLETE TORTURE it must be for him? He is there, unable to move, while literally his whole family sans Dean is seconds from being killed – and he can just sit and watch? With the terrible knowledge they are there because of him in the first place.

This is a direct parallel to all the TFW 2.0. members in this episode:

1) Jack who lost his powers (and feels completely useless now);

2) Dean who is stuck not being able to move, and just observing what Michael is doing, and how people are dying around him;

3) Sam who has the terrible feeling that Dean is stuck with Michael because he tried to save him, Dean who paid a huge price, and may be dead already or very soon.

Also, once again we are shown that working together is better than working alone (like a hammer to the face actually, it’s almost like an after school special that shows you what happens if you don’t discuss your your plan to work with demons/archangels with your family).

In this episode, everyone feels powerless in some way. They can’t find Michael. They can’t fight demons. They can’t help with hacking, they can’t catch a break. It’s a growing sense of frustration that is overwhelming. And it’s not just Cas being stuck in that chair. It’s everyone.

I also like the parallel we have here with 4.01.

Back then we also had a scene with a bar staffed with demons, and these demons were massacred by Cas. Burnt out eyes and all. Now, Cas is supposedly at his full power just like then, yet he is not able to take down a bar full of demons. Why? Well, rewind to 12×09, when Dean was held by the government and Cas was hunting alone.

Cas has a weakness now. And he is not at his full capability when Dean is gone.

Dean is his weakness, humanity is his weakness, love is his weakness – but hey, we already knew that.

It’s time for SPN to show us love is not a weakness. It’s already showing us your family is your strength, so that’s a good start.