Supernatural season 7 continued Friday night with episode 17, "The Born-Again Identity," Misha Collins' return. Sam continued to get worse, but Dean refused to give up on his brother, so he sought help from a healer. If you missed any of the episode, read a full recap of "The Born-Again Identity" here because there are spoilers ahead.
Did Castiel Redeem Himself?
Even when Castiel didn't have his memories, there was just something about him (if it walks like a Cas, talks like a Cas, it must be...a Cas in there someplace) that was so familiar, especially when Dean told him smiting the demons was just like riding a bike and he pointed out he didn't know how to do that either. The scene where he did remember as he took care of the angels had to be one of the best of the episode, up to an including Meg's "That was beautiful, Clarence."
The big question going into this episode was whether or not Castiel would redeem himself. Death toll aside—which he himself brought up—he was the one to tear down the wall in Sam's head, which led to the state he's been in. So did he make up for what he did? Yes. Castiel was redeemed, but that doesn't mean things can just go back to how they were before this whole mess. (And that's assuming they find a way to help Castiel considering he's now the one seeing Lucifer.)
Castiel's "fix" of Sam by shifting the problem into his own head only had to happen because of what he did. Yes, he realized what he did was wrong, but that doesn't automatically fix things, and as was revealed in the episode, there may be no way to fix Cas now. His actions led to the wall crumbling to dust in a way that he couldn't fix it, so he did all that he could and shifted it to himself (and now that photo Misha Collins tweeted a while back makes complete sense). Now, the question is whether or not they'll find a way to fix Castiel, and if so, how. This isn't something that's going to have an easy solution, and they're not pretending it will.
Lucifer Gets Creative, Jared Padalecki Shines
Overall, it was a strong episode. You had some snarky lines, Lucifer commentary, more Meg, even a ghost hunt, and demons. You knew that Crowley's "hands-off" agreement could only last so long—especially with Castiel out there. Hopefully this is setting up another appearance from Crowley soon. There was also the too-brief return of the trench coat to make you smile, though it once again was gone by the end when Castiel became the new patient in the psychiatric ward.
Mark Pellegrino has always been amazing as Lucifer, and that's still true just as a hallucination. You have him playing cat's cradle, reading from the DSM ("Narcissistic personality disorder. Okay, now this one I could have. Sets unrealistic goals, check. But trouble keeping healthy relationships? Not so sure about that one, thoughts?"), and even reading Three Little Pigs. With Misha Collins set to be in at least two other episodes before the end of Supernatural season 7, you have to wonder if they'll show more of Lucifer in Castiel's hallucinations when that happens.
Jared Padalecki brought his A-game in this episode as well, from suffering from hallucinations and solving a case to the electroshock therapy scene. He has been impressive all season as Sam suffered from the hallucinations and got progressively worse, and that all culminated in this episode, up to and including the end as he argued that they couldn't leave Cas in the psychiatric ward.
It was also good to see Meg back. She's one of the few recurring characters who have survived all these seasons (granted, in a different body), and while you can never trust her, it's always fun to see her around, especially in scenes with Castiel. The episode ended with a way to bring her back—getting a job in the psych ward and still determined to one day kill Crowley.
What did you think of Supernatural season 7 episode 17 "The Born-Again Identity"? Do you think Castiel was redeemed?
Photo Source: TV.com
© Meredith Jacobs 2012
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 2
About Castiel though, what it looks like to me is that he's been sent down to Earth, to live as a human, until he re-learns what he seems to have forgotten. Fortunately for him, the information is still in his head, even though he doesn't consciously remember it.
I seriously hope that he finds some way to get rid of Lucifer because that guy is just a pain in the rear. Maybe Dean and Sam will go back to the hospital in another episode and try to get Castiel to remember how to use his angelic powers to get rid of that pest.
Or, how about this: when the last episode finally comes, something happens to make Lucifer see how confused he's been, and he repents by coming back to Earth (with no special powers) as a human, and keeps reincarnating, until he gets it right...kind of sort of like some say, we are doing....