Meta: The Nature of Death on Supernatural

[hells_half_acre]

The Nature of Death on Supernatural
(AKA: How my former love of the anime Bleach affects my Supernatural world-view)

Yesterday, I was talking to someone in comments on "To Being Half a Person" about S6. They expressed disappointment that God brought Cas back at the end of S5, but (so far) did not bring Gabriel back.

This got me thinking that I should

Comments

[liliaeth]

I think another reason why God hasn't brought Gabriel back is because well... I don't think he ever died in the first place

[hells_half_acre]

YES!

This is the ONLY excuse I would accept for Gabriel coming back, because I agree with all your points. If Gabriel could use one clone against Lucifer, he could use two and put on a proper show.

Not to mention the fact that we know that angels CAN effectively fake their own deaths - Balthazar had done it before we even met him. Whereas Gabriel may have just disappeared from Heaven one day, Balthazar fooled people enough that Castiel mourned for him.

Anyway, yes, Gabriel could come back under that excuse, but no other - in my opinion, anyway.

[liliaeth]

Like he told the Winchesters after they saw Kali killing him with his angel killing sword: "Why would I give her the real deal, that thing could kill me"

(or something like that*g*)

[borgmama1of5]

I agree with your interpretation. And that it would be a cheat to bring Gabriel back, unfortunately.

[hells_half_acre]

Thanks. It's sad because we like him...but then, we like a lot of people who are dead. :P

[claudiapriscus]

I don't think the show has thought it through that far. They'll bring back anyone they feel like bringing back, though thankfully demons haven't been part of that (we'll see where this purgatory thing goes.) My feeling is that they had the vague idea that if demons could bring humans back to life, so could angels, and since angels were created by God, if he felt like bringing them back he could do so.

[hells_half_acre]

Well, whether they've thought about it or not, I hope they don't start bringing back those-who-I-believe-are-the-permanently-dead. Otherwise, I'll be pissed off.

[claudiapriscus]

Hah, yeah. THat's the worst thing about conflicts with head-canon. It's what makes the most sense, it's what you've been operating on...and but unlike with a retcon, all you can say is, "well, my idea was better." (The whole god/chuck thing is one of my biggest pet peeves in that area.)

[hells_half_acre]

Very true.

[fannishliss]

first off, I totally agree with Lilaeth regarding the poss. of G faking own death. I thought this at the time and would have no problem if it came around.

second of all, I love your hourglass idea and the GOD HATH NO DOMINION zone. I also enjoy the idea of the natural order being thrown off in terms of your diagram. cool.

In terms of storytelling it is very helpful that there is at least some zone where God hath no dominion.

I also fully agree that heaven hell and purgatory are all basically the same zone. I would also add, faerie, just because that's what Neil Gaiman derived from the lore, and we all know that Show are a pack of Mad Neilies. :D

[fannishliss]

But wait! How did God bring back Castiel again?? Did Lucifer and Raphael have a soft spot for him that they exploded him instead of using their swords?

Michael killed Anna with fire. She could also come back??

[hells_half_acre]

Apparently they weren't in the mood for close combat, so they just exploded him instead of using the angel killing sword.

And yeah, unless we're told otherwise, Anna COULD still be brought back (but probably ONLY by God).

[hells_half_acre]

Agreed!

I forgot about the faerie zone - but yeah, it's added in there with hell and purgatory and all that stuff.

[khek]

I like your theory, but think the obliterated angels/demons/Gabriel will depend on where the show goes with Purgatory. They could make Purgatory somehow the place for everything that's not in Heaven or Hell...and have some kind of hierarchy similar to heaven/earth/hell there. If they do that...

I have wondered if Gabriel faked his death. The fact that his image was interacting with the Winchesters (through the porn DVDs) could mean that his consciousness was somehow aware and functioning, somewhere. Plus...I really liked the Trickster/Gabriel. I want him to still be alive.

[hells_half_acre]

True true, it really does depend on what they do with Purgatory. For instance, I'm not sure if burning a demons bones permanently kills them or sends them to purgatory...

I want Gabriel to be alive too - I really thought that when they played that DVD there would be some trick about it that would bring him back.