CW's Supernatural: "The Man Who Would Be King" and Unlocking Purgatory: An Analysis

Creator: Eric Kripke.

Director/writer: Ben Edlund.

The pendulum swings both ways in CW's Supernatural and from one bad episode to a good one, "The Man Who Would Be King" is not about Elvis' rise to musical fame. Instead, it is about actor Misha Collins showing his acting prowess. He delivers a very good performance about Castiel's remorse over the actions he has done throughout the series. It is also about revealing the deal he’s made with Crowley and explaining why Sam is rescued from Hell.

The episode begins with Castiel recounting the Old Testament with the help of cinema auteur D.W. Griffith to tell his side of the story. Intolerence and Birth of a Nation is alluded to, and just how much of these two classic films influence the episode remains to be seen. He begins with season five’s finale as the crucible—about how he would have died, if it were not for a quirk of fate.

Even before the Almighty’s decision to spare this angel, he mentioned how the Winchester brothers taught him everything he needed to know about being human—about how to stand up for himself and what causes to support. In the season five finale where he battled Lucifer, he died. But someone, or some force, has brought him back. From there, Castiel starts questioning himself and what his new purpose in life is. In some ways, he is like Sam when he came back from Hell. One almost to guess if God did bring his favourite son back, or was it actually Death?

Unlike Sam, Cas reveals the deal he has made with the devil, Crowley. In exchange for the souls in hell, Castiel would get the power he needs to defeat Raphael’s plans to bring on the Apocalypse. What Raph wants to do is to create a new world order, and Castiel does not agree. He believes in free will, which is ironic in the Biblical sense, and that angels do not need a number one, a leader to tell them what they need to do.

When considering how they've appeared in past seasons and present, their office suit type hierarchy is suggestive that everyone has a place. And as predicted, viewers are treated to a glimpse of Heaven. Apparently, it is whatever the good-natured soul wants it to be and the Angels walk amongst it. Heaven, and maybe even Hell, is of each individual’s devising.

Hell, on the other hand, is altogether something different. It looks like the directors took a note out of "Death Jr.," a comic book where even the son had to deal with the apocalypse by trying to defeat bureaucracy. The paperwork that's required to even enter Hell is wrought with red tape and one screw up means going to the back of the line. Now who really wants that? Purgatory is a better place to be if that is the case. And in the world of Supernatural, the monsters all go there than somewhere above or below. Even those creatures have a soul and with that kind of power, whoever possesses those essences will have the ability to bring a nuclear holocaust that's unheard of in human imagination. That’s what Crowley wants.

He even offers some of those souls to Castiel in his coming fight. Although never directly revealed, the implication is that he has accepted the deal. As the episode flips back and forth between his self-doubting narrative to Sam and Dean's hunt for Crowley, the extent of Cas' powers is revealed to be that of a Superman. Just like the young Clark Kent before he inherits the cape, there’s an issue with the loved ones should they get caught in the crossfire. That is where Sam and Dean come in. Cas considers them, and Bobby, to be like family.

He also believes that everyone, including those in Heaven, are entitled to free will. On the other hand, Raphael is a bit like Morpheus from the Matrix, preachy and high on himself. He represents a new order that follows the written letter of the law, but Cas is not going to abide by it. He believes that Raphael's need to bring on the Apocalypse will turn the world into a graveyard.

By all indications, Cas is building himself up to be the new Lucifer. He's demonstrating free will to its extreme and also he's showing arrogant pride, the same vices that caused Lucifer to fall. So who is Cas exactly? He says to himself that he is more like a soldier, willing to fight — he even admits that he can easily become the next fallen son. He’s nervous about becoming something more. He doesn't want to be promoted to General. The aptly named episode title is all about Cas, the man who would be king. All he has to overcome is his own vices before the people will accept him.

To have this episode completely focus on Castiel's perspective in this season is very refreshing. More could be made with the other supporting cast, but the likelihood is very slim since there is only a handful of episodes left. This one makes up for the weakly designed "Mommy Dearest," and to see where this season will go will no doubt see a new ruler in heaven and a new king of Hell. To suddenly see all the souls released from Purgatory can easily bring a spectacular cliffhanger to season six.

Episodes at the CW:

Supernatural Episodes at the CW

Available seasons:



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