Why Castiel's sudden jump from neutral player to ally and friend of team Winchester?

[absrip]

This is the reasons why Castiel, his characterization and relationship with the brothers have been frustrating me this season.  No screaming or ranting promise, just some puzzlement and me rambling a bit while trying to put the correct words on my problem with this:)

Lets just look at his actions on the show first.

Comments

[coyotesuspect]

Hee, I was just saying the other day that I didn't find Castiel's personality shift from season 4 to season 5 very believable. I'm not complaining per se, because s4 Castiel was a dick, and I really, really hated him. But I like S5 loltastic Castiel, even though he seems OOC.

But you're very right that his personality shift and the boys' trust of him aren't well-explained, and I honestly feel like Sam had more reason to trust Ruby than either Dean or Sam have reason to trust Castiel.

Though I think his motivation for shifting from neutral party to ally of the Winchesters has something to do with his belief that that is what God wants. So Castiel, really, is still following orders.

(And I think maybe some of Dean's "friendship" for Castiel is due to the fact that Castiel tried to help him save Sam at the end of 4.22. Sam's the most important thing Dean has, and if you try to help him save Sam, then you've done all you need to get into his good graces.)

Also, this is a great, quick summary of Castiel's actions and how he's not the great guy a lot of fandom thinks of him as.

In short: Thanks for this! I agree with you so much.

[absrip]

The writers certainly have given us some great Castiel crack already this season, but I think they should have waited with it until the character's new position was more and better established in canon. Now because of him changing sides so late in the game, the writers really need to be careful with how they use him at least to begin with. Crack is fun but it is seriously undermining what little characterization we have of Castiel so far, at least for me:)

And I think maybe some of Dean's "friendship" for Castiel is due to the fact that Castiel tried to help him save Sam at the end of 4.22. Sam's the most important thing Dean has, and if you try to help him save Sam, then you've done all you need to get into his good graces.)

I agree that this would certainly go some way to make Dean trust him, but I still think Dean's jump from being angry and weary of the angel to call him outright "friend" in 5.01 is too big. It's not like Castiel have provided Dean with steady, trustworthy companionship throughtout even the last parts of season 4. He just found out in 4.22 that Castiel have been lying to him about the last seal and knowingly put Sam in danger by keeping this a secret.

So at least a healthy dose of caution should still be very present in Dean view of Castiel until the angel gives him reason to think otherwise. But it's not.

So glad you found most of this useful:P