Eightball - Supernatural Season 8 Predictions
Analysis of episodes from Season 8 and predictions for the remaining episodes.
WARNING: Spoilers for all episodes through 8x19 Taxi Driver. Additional warning: there may be spoilers for not-yet-aired episodes referenced.
Below are a list of predictions for the final four episodes of Season 8. All of this is mere speculation. Enjoy.
Arc: Sam quit for a year
Prediction:
Naomi, or the angels in general, got to Sam.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
First, it's not just that Sam didn't look for Dean. It's that Sam quit hunting for a year, and right now the only reason we have is that he "found something."
Yes, he fell in love, but anyone who watched the episodes saw it took a while for Amelia to warm up to him. In all those weeks, taking care of an injured dog, he never opened a book about where Dean could've gone? He didn't care what happened to a sixteen year old kid kidnapped by Crowley? I could buy leaving Meg to die, after all she was the reason Ellen and Jo are dead, but Kevin, Castiel, and Dean? What the hell was Sam doing with his time if not at least thinking about them?
Initially, I bet Sam backed off hunting monsters because of Crowley; at the end of 07x23 Survival of the Fittest, the demon said, "It's your job to make sure that doesn't happen!" Regarding the Leviathans getting another leader and getting another big plan. Sam had to work for Crowley once, he wasn't about to do it again.
But, letting Crowley kidnap a 16-year-old prophet? Not Sam's style.
Okay, so if something is sinister here about Sam's year off, what makes me think it's Naomi? Don't forget, of the two brothers, Sam is the praying type. I don't think it's a stretch to say that he might pray something like, "Hey, angels, I know you hate my guts, but your prophet was just stolen by the King of Hell, and I have no idea how to find him..." Finding Kevin might be the one reason Sam would risk talking to another angel besides Castiel.
In 08x17 Goodbye Stranger, Sam says, "If the demon tablet can lock the gates of hell, what can the angel tablet do?" This is almost verbatim to what Naomi says to Castiel in 08x10 Torn and Frayed after he killed Samandriel.
Certainly not damning evidence, but Sam didn't seem to care that Castiel lied about the tablet. He was willing to dismiss the fact that Cas was abusing his position and power to manipulate them both, and while Sam is generally more understanding than Dean, we can't forget that the last time Cas lied to the brothers and abused his power, Castiel broke his brain and then went on a killing spree. Something tells me Sam's casual dismissal was... how shall we say, programmed into his brain?
The other reason I suspect foul play here is that... everyone keeps bringing it up and Sam makes no real effort to explain himself or even to lie. Like he knew doing nothing to help Kevin, Cas, and Dean was not only wrong, it was just plain messed up.
Arc: Closing the Gates of Hell
Prediction:
No, they won't. Sam will complete the third trial then choose not to shut the gates.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Right now, Kevin has half a tablet, which means there is a lot of information they don't have. Specifically mentioned in one episode (08x07 A Little Slice of Kevin) was "The Demonic influence on the collective tapestry of the soul." Notice that Kevin is missing that piece of the demon tablet, and he hasn't made any indication that he's read that section at all.
So what is the demonic influence on the soul? I mean, the subtler kind that normal folk experience... not possession and crap like that. The answer: temptation. Not evil, just temptation. Temptation to disobey... to exercise free will. Therefore, for Free Will to exist and be utilized, demons must exist. Maybe they need to have their asses kicked back to hell, sure, but locking them away forever will cripple humanity's free will.
Had Kevin had a chance to read the entire tablet, I feel certain it would have said something along those lines. In short, closing the Gates of Hell, is like Apocalypse, Plan B-a-go-go.
Arc: Castiel
Prediction:
Castiel's relationship to humanity is deadly important.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Rescuing an angel out of purgatory takes some skill, and it cost angels to get him out. So why waste that effort on pulling out Castiel? He killed tons of angels... brought the Leviathans who killed off even more angels... essentially, if angels become extinct, Cas would be largely responsible. Why waste any more lives pulling that dude out of monster land?
Sure, Dean trusts Castiel. He's the only angel that Dean trusts. Maybe Samandriel was suppose to test the waters, see if Dean would open up to another angel. But even then... it's hard to believe that Dean is that valuable a chess piece. And that there's no other way to manipulate him.
So Castiel, and his close relationship to at least one human, makes him damn valuable for some reason. Either it relates to betrayal (i.e. having Castiel murder Dean) or it relates to choice (i.e. forcing Castiel to choose between humanity and angels). But specifically, it must be Castiel... just like Dean and Sam were "THE" Vessels... Castiel is "THE" angel.
Arc: Metatron
Prediction:
Metatron fills in the gaps but leaves out some information.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
He was the scribe, so he knows what the tablets say. But either he's in Apocalypse Plan B-a-go-go, or he's neutral.
Spoilers released say that Metatron will first appear in 08x21 The Great Escapist. But is he the one escaping, or is it someone else? The description says Castiel is ducking the angel patrols looking for him -- or more specifically, the tablet.
Naomi tried to pop in and chat with Dean, and he didn't give her an inch. So maybe Metatron is just the next move they have when Castiel isn't available.
Arc: Kevin Tran
Prediction:
Kevin Tran is also under Naomi's control.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Kevin Tran has been messed up since 08x10 Torn and Frayed. He went from being a teenager in hiding to being a burnout husk of a human being with "nothing more important than this," meaning the tablet.
A high-achieving student like Kevin would have certainly been used to no sleep, little personal time, etc. from his high school years. Obviously, now he's dealing with demons, and his life is on the line. I get it, bigger picture than a kid who wants to go to a good college. But his entire personality did a 180 between 08x07 and 08x10, which just happens to be when Castiel reappears and tells Naomi that Kevin is being kept safe... and Cas knows where he is. This leads me to believe that Naomi, or the angels, got to Kevin. His safe house isn't protected from them.
Naomi is making changes to angel's Vessels (RE: 08x17 Goodbye Stranger) not the angels themselves. So she knows something of human anatomy. She also knows the Winchesters are looking for the other piece of the tablet, so she needs Kevin to translate the trials from the tablet before they succeed, otherwise he'll be able to easily read the entire thing, like with the Leviathan tablet.
Of course, this is a bit diabolical even for an angel, unless she's got a bigger game plan. (See More on Plan B-a-go-go.)
More on Plan B-a-go-go
See Closing the Gates of Hell first.
In Apocalypse, Plan B-a-go-go: Sam must be the one to close the Gates of Hell, not Dean. Unlike his brother, Sam was chosen, so to speak, by Hell. Demons gave him power so he could work with Hell. The trials will purge him of any demonic blood/influence, changing his entire molecular structure according to Cas, so that he can reject the influence on his soul and shut the gates. Just say no to demons, Sam! Maybe that example is flippant, but it makes sense. Dean might've spent time in hell, but it's because he CHOSE to give his soul. Sam didn't do that. Hell chose HIM.
The primary reason for my suspicion is that angels often manipulate people by leaving information out. Kevin has half the tablet... and we know Cas was under Naomi's influence as soon as he popped out of Purgatory. That means Castiel was already under Naomi's influence when he went in to save Kevin and the tablet from Crowley; she could have ordered him to split the tablet in two, causing the prophet to only get the How-To section on closing the Gates of Hell. [This would explain why Castiel didn't just shazam the tablet over to Kevin, or use telekinesis, or any other angelic ability to keep the tablet whole.]
Another indication is Naomi bumping into the King of Hell, like you do, and not smiting his ass, or even trying. Maybe she couldn't kill him, or she's not a fighter, but she's got that demon-zapping angel light... instead, she chats him up. Really?
That being said, I don't think the Gates will be shut. Partially because we've been here before, circa 04x22 Lucifer Rising. It's possible Sam shuts the gates, not getting the memo in time, but he's already done that the one time, so I'm thinking this time they figure it out. Sam completes that third trial, is all ready to slam the gates, then CHOOSES not to. Even when all the demonic influence on his soul is purged by the trails - when he finds out the demonic influence on the soul is what makes free will, well, WORK - he chooses to leave the gates open to maintain humanity's free will.
The Meaning of "Clip Show"
Prediction: "Clip Show" will be something similar to the Winchester Gospels.
Note: The title of 08x22 will be "Clip Show."
The prophet Chuck Shurley didn't read tablets, he had visions and wrote them down. In 05x22 Swang Song, he disappeared, literally, as if the failed attempt at the apocalypse rendered his existence moot. In 07x07 A Little Slice of Kevin, Castiel confirms that only one prophet can be around at a time, which means Chuck is dead or he's no longer a prophet. Translation: The Winchester Gospels stopped.
In continuation of the theory that closing the gates of hell is actually Apocalypse Plan B-a-go-go, the prophet will gain a new power. Chuck was writing down stories for initial apocalypse. With that out, he went poof. But now that a new one is in order, the prophet needs to start writing again. Kevin will start having visions... this will make up the Winchester side of "Clip Show."
Two of the guest stars on the show are from the first season (01x02 Wendigo and 01x19 Provanence), the third is from the seventh season (07x05 Shut up Doctor Phil). All of these people were at the mercy of non-demonic forces: monster, ghost, witch. Arguably, the Wendigo is human-turned-monster by his/her own actions, at least according to the lore. Provance has the ghost of a serial-killer child. The people who died in Shut Up Doctor Phil did so because of two powerful witches. Essentially, you could say these 'saves' were from the evil side of humanity... not from demons or 'true monsters' like vampires.
Crowley needs to find something, anything, to stop the Winchesters, and short of capturing Sam, Dean, or Castiel, there's really no good way to draw the Winchesters out. So what is Crowley to do? My best guess is that Crowley attacks/captures Castiel in 08x21, who either escapes or is saved, leaving Crowley with no good options... other than kicking up the past and spilling blood.
So, Crowley picks up the books entitled 'Supernatural' and reads the series. Then starts killing off the people Sam/Dean saved in the past. OR, perhaps, he has them possessed. That's more of Crowley's style, right? I don't know if Kevin will actually be in the episode proper, but I'm guessing he'll be the one to pass along the news to Sam/Dean that Crowley's targeting their past saves.
I understand why a lot of people think Castiel will lose his wings. The title is certainly suspicious enough; but then again, no one got married in "Season 7, Time for A Wedding"... not really, anyway. I suppose it's possible Cas cuts out his own grace, since the summary released for the episode says the archangel Metatron "enlists" Castiel to help him "mull over" the problems at home (heaven). I think the episode will less be about Castiel falling and more about him coming to final terms with his mistakes in Season 6/Season 7 and ultimately the episode will cover the true costs of free will.
In short: Kevin will get visions that he needs to write down; these will be combinations of both past and present events. And Sam and Dean will be forced to either (1) push ahead and complete the last trial, letting people die horribly in the process or (2) stop what they're doing and go after Crowley directly.
Other/Misc. Predictions
Prediction: Castiel will kill Crowley
I think it'll go down in 08x23, and Castiel won't be a full-throttle angel. Either his powers will be gone ('wings clipped') or his powers will be 'off' via sigils or warding magic... whatever the case, Cas will kill Crowley like a human hunter - stabbing him via the Demon-Killing knife or angel blade.
Prediction: Sam will be elevated to pure humanity.
The trials are purging him and/or his, and the end result with be a pure, un-influenced human being. Like how humans were initially created.
Prediction: The angel tablet isn't about locking angels in heaven.
It's about angels in general, their place in things, etc. Naomi told Castiel in 08x17 Goodbye Stranger that the angel tablet will "Do things for heaven" which is interesting, since the only one who should be able to read it is Kevin Tran. So, what does she mean? Unless there's some mojo there that'll help revive dead angels, like Gabriel, Raphael, etc.
Prediction: Crowley has hired one of the Fates to help him.
In 08x19 Taxi Driver, Crowley is bitching to someone about how he needs Kevin Tran... and he jokes that they got her from a "Temp Agency." At first I thought she, too, might be a rouge reaper of some kind, since we just learned about them. But her demeanor reminded me of Atropos in 06x18 My Heart will Go On, and she specifically mentioned that she had "two sisters, both bigger."
That's it! My crazy conspiracy theories abound...
WARNING: Spoilers for all episodes through 8x19 Taxi Driver. Additional warning: there may be spoilers for not-yet-aired episodes referenced.
Below are a list of predictions for the final four episodes of Season 8. All of this is mere speculation. Enjoy.
- NEW: The meaning of "Clip Show" [2013-04-23]
- Arc: Sam quit for a year
- Arc: Closing the Gates of Hell
- Arc: Castiel
- Arc: Metatron
- Arc: Kevin Tran
- More on Plan B-a-go-go
- Other
Arc: Sam quit for a year
Prediction:
Naomi, or the angels in general, got to Sam.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
First, it's not just that Sam didn't look for Dean. It's that Sam quit hunting for a year, and right now the only reason we have is that he "found something."
Yes, he fell in love, but anyone who watched the episodes saw it took a while for Amelia to warm up to him. In all those weeks, taking care of an injured dog, he never opened a book about where Dean could've gone? He didn't care what happened to a sixteen year old kid kidnapped by Crowley? I could buy leaving Meg to die, after all she was the reason Ellen and Jo are dead, but Kevin, Castiel, and Dean? What the hell was Sam doing with his time if not at least thinking about them?
Initially, I bet Sam backed off hunting monsters because of Crowley; at the end of 07x23 Survival of the Fittest, the demon said, "It's your job to make sure that doesn't happen!" Regarding the Leviathans getting another leader and getting another big plan. Sam had to work for Crowley once, he wasn't about to do it again.
But, letting Crowley kidnap a 16-year-old prophet? Not Sam's style.
Okay, so if something is sinister here about Sam's year off, what makes me think it's Naomi? Don't forget, of the two brothers, Sam is the praying type. I don't think it's a stretch to say that he might pray something like, "Hey, angels, I know you hate my guts, but your prophet was just stolen by the King of Hell, and I have no idea how to find him..." Finding Kevin might be the one reason Sam would risk talking to another angel besides Castiel.
In 08x17 Goodbye Stranger, Sam says, "If the demon tablet can lock the gates of hell, what can the angel tablet do?" This is almost verbatim to what Naomi says to Castiel in 08x10 Torn and Frayed after he killed Samandriel.
Certainly not damning evidence, but Sam didn't seem to care that Castiel lied about the tablet. He was willing to dismiss the fact that Cas was abusing his position and power to manipulate them both, and while Sam is generally more understanding than Dean, we can't forget that the last time Cas lied to the brothers and abused his power, Castiel broke his brain and then went on a killing spree. Something tells me Sam's casual dismissal was... how shall we say, programmed into his brain?
The other reason I suspect foul play here is that... everyone keeps bringing it up and Sam makes no real effort to explain himself or even to lie. Like he knew doing nothing to help Kevin, Cas, and Dean was not only wrong, it was just plain messed up.
Arc: Closing the Gates of Hell
Prediction:
No, they won't. Sam will complete the third trial then choose not to shut the gates.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Right now, Kevin has half a tablet, which means there is a lot of information they don't have. Specifically mentioned in one episode (08x07 A Little Slice of Kevin) was "The Demonic influence on the collective tapestry of the soul." Notice that Kevin is missing that piece of the demon tablet, and he hasn't made any indication that he's read that section at all.
So what is the demonic influence on the soul? I mean, the subtler kind that normal folk experience... not possession and crap like that. The answer: temptation. Not evil, just temptation. Temptation to disobey... to exercise free will. Therefore, for Free Will to exist and be utilized, demons must exist. Maybe they need to have their asses kicked back to hell, sure, but locking them away forever will cripple humanity's free will.
Had Kevin had a chance to read the entire tablet, I feel certain it would have said something along those lines. In short, closing the Gates of Hell, is like Apocalypse, Plan B-a-go-go.
Arc: Castiel
Prediction:
Castiel's relationship to humanity is deadly important.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Rescuing an angel out of purgatory takes some skill, and it cost angels to get him out. So why waste that effort on pulling out Castiel? He killed tons of angels... brought the Leviathans who killed off even more angels... essentially, if angels become extinct, Cas would be largely responsible. Why waste any more lives pulling that dude out of monster land?
Sure, Dean trusts Castiel. He's the only angel that Dean trusts. Maybe Samandriel was suppose to test the waters, see if Dean would open up to another angel. But even then... it's hard to believe that Dean is that valuable a chess piece. And that there's no other way to manipulate him.
So Castiel, and his close relationship to at least one human, makes him damn valuable for some reason. Either it relates to betrayal (i.e. having Castiel murder Dean) or it relates to choice (i.e. forcing Castiel to choose between humanity and angels). But specifically, it must be Castiel... just like Dean and Sam were "THE" Vessels... Castiel is "THE" angel.
Arc: Metatron
Prediction:
Metatron fills in the gaps but leaves out some information.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
He was the scribe, so he knows what the tablets say. But either he's in Apocalypse Plan B-a-go-go, or he's neutral.
Spoilers released say that Metatron will first appear in 08x21 The Great Escapist. But is he the one escaping, or is it someone else? The description says Castiel is ducking the angel patrols looking for him -- or more specifically, the tablet.
Naomi tried to pop in and chat with Dean, and he didn't give her an inch. So maybe Metatron is just the next move they have when Castiel isn't available.
Arc: Kevin Tran
Prediction:
Kevin Tran is also under Naomi's control.
How-did-you-come-to-that:
Kevin Tran has been messed up since 08x10 Torn and Frayed. He went from being a teenager in hiding to being a burnout husk of a human being with "nothing more important than this," meaning the tablet.
A high-achieving student like Kevin would have certainly been used to no sleep, little personal time, etc. from his high school years. Obviously, now he's dealing with demons, and his life is on the line. I get it, bigger picture than a kid who wants to go to a good college. But his entire personality did a 180 between 08x07 and 08x10, which just happens to be when Castiel reappears and tells Naomi that Kevin is being kept safe... and Cas knows where he is. This leads me to believe that Naomi, or the angels, got to Kevin. His safe house isn't protected from them.
Naomi is making changes to angel's Vessels (RE: 08x17 Goodbye Stranger) not the angels themselves. So she knows something of human anatomy. She also knows the Winchesters are looking for the other piece of the tablet, so she needs Kevin to translate the trials from the tablet before they succeed, otherwise he'll be able to easily read the entire thing, like with the Leviathan tablet.
Of course, this is a bit diabolical even for an angel, unless she's got a bigger game plan. (See More on Plan B-a-go-go.)
More on Plan B-a-go-go
See Closing the Gates of Hell first.
In Apocalypse, Plan B-a-go-go: Sam must be the one to close the Gates of Hell, not Dean. Unlike his brother, Sam was chosen, so to speak, by Hell. Demons gave him power so he could work with Hell. The trials will purge him of any demonic blood/influence, changing his entire molecular structure according to Cas, so that he can reject the influence on his soul and shut the gates. Just say no to demons, Sam! Maybe that example is flippant, but it makes sense. Dean might've spent time in hell, but it's because he CHOSE to give his soul. Sam didn't do that. Hell chose HIM.
The primary reason for my suspicion is that angels often manipulate people by leaving information out. Kevin has half the tablet... and we know Cas was under Naomi's influence as soon as he popped out of Purgatory. That means Castiel was already under Naomi's influence when he went in to save Kevin and the tablet from Crowley; she could have ordered him to split the tablet in two, causing the prophet to only get the How-To section on closing the Gates of Hell. [This would explain why Castiel didn't just shazam the tablet over to Kevin, or use telekinesis, or any other angelic ability to keep the tablet whole.]
Another indication is Naomi bumping into the King of Hell, like you do, and not smiting his ass, or even trying. Maybe she couldn't kill him, or she's not a fighter, but she's got that demon-zapping angel light... instead, she chats him up. Really?
That being said, I don't think the Gates will be shut. Partially because we've been here before, circa 04x22 Lucifer Rising. It's possible Sam shuts the gates, not getting the memo in time, but he's already done that the one time, so I'm thinking this time they figure it out. Sam completes that third trial, is all ready to slam the gates, then CHOOSES not to. Even when all the demonic influence on his soul is purged by the trails - when he finds out the demonic influence on the soul is what makes free will, well, WORK - he chooses to leave the gates open to maintain humanity's free will.
The Meaning of "Clip Show"
Prediction: "Clip Show" will be something similar to the Winchester Gospels.
Note: The title of 08x22 will be "Clip Show."
The prophet Chuck Shurley didn't read tablets, he had visions and wrote them down. In 05x22 Swang Song, he disappeared, literally, as if the failed attempt at the apocalypse rendered his existence moot. In 07x07 A Little Slice of Kevin, Castiel confirms that only one prophet can be around at a time, which means Chuck is dead or he's no longer a prophet. Translation: The Winchester Gospels stopped.
In continuation of the theory that closing the gates of hell is actually Apocalypse Plan B-a-go-go, the prophet will gain a new power. Chuck was writing down stories for initial apocalypse. With that out, he went poof. But now that a new one is in order, the prophet needs to start writing again. Kevin will start having visions... this will make up the Winchester side of "Clip Show."
Two of the guest stars on the show are from the first season (01x02 Wendigo and 01x19 Provanence), the third is from the seventh season (07x05 Shut up Doctor Phil). All of these people were at the mercy of non-demonic forces: monster, ghost, witch. Arguably, the Wendigo is human-turned-monster by his/her own actions, at least according to the lore. Provance has the ghost of a serial-killer child. The people who died in Shut Up Doctor Phil did so because of two powerful witches. Essentially, you could say these 'saves' were from the evil side of humanity... not from demons or 'true monsters' like vampires.
Crowley needs to find something, anything, to stop the Winchesters, and short of capturing Sam, Dean, or Castiel, there's really no good way to draw the Winchesters out. So what is Crowley to do? My best guess is that Crowley attacks/captures Castiel in 08x21, who either escapes or is saved, leaving Crowley with no good options... other than kicking up the past and spilling blood.
So, Crowley picks up the books entitled 'Supernatural' and reads the series. Then starts killing off the people Sam/Dean saved in the past. OR, perhaps, he has them possessed. That's more of Crowley's style, right? I don't know if Kevin will actually be in the episode proper, but I'm guessing he'll be the one to pass along the news to Sam/Dean that Crowley's targeting their past saves.
I understand why a lot of people think Castiel will lose his wings. The title is certainly suspicious enough; but then again, no one got married in "Season 7, Time for A Wedding"... not really, anyway. I suppose it's possible Cas cuts out his own grace, since the summary released for the episode says the archangel Metatron "enlists" Castiel to help him "mull over" the problems at home (heaven). I think the episode will less be about Castiel falling and more about him coming to final terms with his mistakes in Season 6/Season 7 and ultimately the episode will cover the true costs of free will.
In short: Kevin will get visions that he needs to write down; these will be combinations of both past and present events. And Sam and Dean will be forced to either (1) push ahead and complete the last trial, letting people die horribly in the process or (2) stop what they're doing and go after Crowley directly.
Other/Misc. Predictions
Prediction: Castiel will kill Crowley
I think it'll go down in 08x23, and Castiel won't be a full-throttle angel. Either his powers will be gone ('wings clipped') or his powers will be 'off' via sigils or warding magic... whatever the case, Cas will kill Crowley like a human hunter - stabbing him via the Demon-Killing knife or angel blade.
Prediction: Sam will be elevated to pure humanity.
The trials are purging him and/or his, and the end result with be a pure, un-influenced human being. Like how humans were initially created.
Prediction: The angel tablet isn't about locking angels in heaven.
It's about angels in general, their place in things, etc. Naomi told Castiel in 08x17 Goodbye Stranger that the angel tablet will "Do things for heaven" which is interesting, since the only one who should be able to read it is Kevin Tran. So, what does she mean? Unless there's some mojo there that'll help revive dead angels, like Gabriel, Raphael, etc.
Prediction: Crowley has hired one of the Fates to help him.
In 08x19 Taxi Driver, Crowley is bitching to someone about how he needs Kevin Tran... and he jokes that they got her from a "Temp Agency." At first I thought she, too, might be a rouge reaper of some kind, since we just learned about them. But her demeanor reminded me of Atropos in 06x18 My Heart will Go On, and she specifically mentioned that she had "two sisters, both bigger."
That's it! My crazy conspiracy theories abound...