Meta: As of 9.10, is Gadreel a good guy or bad guy?

[caranfindel]

I'm still unsure how I'm supposed to feel about Gadreel. Spoilery for 9.10.

I do believe he had good intentions when he possessed Sam. He used up his own energy to save Cas and Charlie, when he could have saved it to heal himself. And the fact that Sam is mostly healed at the end of 9.10 indicates that he's been doing some work while he was in there (although it could have simply been a plan to get that tasty meatsuit for himself).

So, let's look at Gadreel's good and bad side:

Good

• Healed Sam


• Saved Dean


• Resurrected Castiel


• Resurrected Charlie


• Put Sam in a dream instead of letting him experience possession and torture

Bad

• Let Lucifer into the Garden (truly bad or just tricked/misled/naive?)


• Coerced Dean into kicking Castiel out of the bunker


• Lied to Dean


• Killed Kevin


• Killed Abner


• Stole the Impala


• Refused to leave Sam

Gadreel also has many Sam-like qualities

• Followed the wrong person. And unlike Sam, he didn't have someone he should have trusted telling him not to.


• Did the wrong things for what he believed were the right reasons. Yes, it's horrible that he killed Kevin and Abner (Thaddeus, not so much). But he thought he was saving his people. If I can forgive Sam for killing Cindy the nurse, why can't I forgive Gadreel?


• Didn't question the one who encouraged him to distrust/abandon those he trusted most.

Just a few hours until 9.11, so things may be more black and white after that. But for now, I love that Gadreel is such a gray area for me. What do you think?

Comments

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Ack just ignore me! I am being too negative. I agree with you that it is not yet clear how things will shake out but I'd bet my money on a redemption arc.

[balder12.livejournal.com]

I also bet on a redemption arc. I'd put cash money on the fact that in 9.23 he'll do a heel-face turn, realize how wrong he's been, and die betraying Metatron and saving the Winchesters. I just wish it weren't so predictable. This show could do with a few more chaotic neutrals.

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Well, they surprised me by having the Gadreel story in the first place, so I've got to give them points for that!

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is what will happen, bet my lunch money. (snore)

I like redemption arcs, but again if the character were actually meant to be a real player in the season, he should have been a lot more interesting. I didn't mind his blandness when the main thing I was focusing on was Sam and Dean...

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

I'd say you're being realistic, not negative. And I'm a chirpy little optimist!