Spoilery Articles on the ramp-up to the finale
When Carver rejoined "Supernatural" as showrunner at the beginning of Season 8, he took a look at some of the show's successful secondary characters from past seasons, to figure out who would be best suited to advance Sam and Dean's storyline with return appearances this season.
Following that theme, of course, Carver decided to bring Misha Collins back into the fold as a full-time series regular next season. Collins, who guest starred in Season 4 and was a series regular in 5 and 6, was reduced to guest star status in Season 7 and 8.
In Season 9, fans can expect a much more in-depth look at Castiel's life, his relationships, and his choices. We'll come to understand him on a different level than we've seen before.
"One of the things you evaluate when you talk about bringing someone back in a big way is, whether there are new ways to be telling stories with this particular character," Carver says. "And I can't tell you much, but I can absolutely, definitively say that with Castiel -- yes, there's a new way to tell his story. We'll get a very large hint about that in the finale. I think fans are going to be really intrigued."
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PRE-FINALE EPISODES | Sam may look strong, but he's at his lowest point. "The further along in the trials, the worse he feels," previews executive producer Jeremy Carver. That "culminating" effect is "explored in more detail as we move forward." The tests also have another unexpected consequence: They're somehow related - and "not in a very good way" - to several blasts from the past, including the return of Taylor Cole's art gallery owner Sarah Blake. On the angel front, Cas is back with "protecting the tablet and Heaven very much at the forefront of his mind," while the Winchesters seek the help of Metatron (played by Moonlighting's Curtis Armstrong), the reclusive scribe of God. As for Sam and Dean, who didn't start the season on the same page but became united in their goal to close the gates of Hell, the brothers are "going to start to really ask themselves and deal with all sides of the question of, 'How far are you willing to go to get revenge?'"
MAY 15 SEASON FINALE | As the boys' quest and the mytharc escalates, "There are a lot of intersecting plots and personal motivations that are going to come to a head," teases Carver, adding that "several things will be changed forever." Could one new mythology element introduced this season, the Men of Letters, be a part of the finale? After all, it seems Abaddon is back. Plus, Carver tells TVLine, "We will absolutely see the positive and negative effects of being legacies." And yes, there will be "a few" cliffhangers, so prepare yourselves for a long summer.
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IGN: Sam has one more trial left. With a handful of episodes this season, going into the finale, will we learn more about this trial before then, or will that be revealed in the finale itself?
Carver: We’re in a situation here, whether people realize it or not, we’re at a bit of a crossroads here. The boys have two trials down, and Kevin’s fate is rather uncertain here at the end of episode 19. So the idea of finding out about this third trial is very much on the forefront of their minds and something that we’ll be dealing with well before the finale as well.
IGN: Should we take Crowley at his word about Kevin’s mother being dead?
Carver: That’s an excellent question, and I think we can. I mean, you have no choice until Crowley says differently... in Season 14. [Laughs]
IGN: Dean’s seeing a lot of crises for the people around him with Sam, with Castiel. What will Dean’s role be as these things are occurring to these people that he cares so much about?
Carver: The way you asked that is a little bit tough for me to answer, aside from the fact that the boys, they started this season very much -- they were coming from different positions at the beginning of the season. The other thing that really united them was this shared sense of revenge. So I think what Dean and Sam are both going to have to contend with as they march towards the end here is, how far are they willing to go to get this revenge? Because things get pretty hairy.
IGN: Misha [Collins] will be back next season as a regular. Castial, though, he’s gone through a lot, and he’s had a lot of different situations to deal with. Is there any hope for Cas to finally get back to his old, more centered self or - as centered as he can be, with everything that’s going on?
Carver: One can hope. I think Cas is also one of those snakebit guys whose appreciation of humanity, as it develops over several years, has knocked him off stride a bit. It’s a case of the “best intentions can lead to the worst consequences.” It sounds like something he should have said one day, but I’m certain you can find someone who’s quoted around that somewhere. Yeah, I think it’s quoted like a stitch pillow from my grandmother’s house. I don’t know. I’m sorry, Eric! [Laughs]
IGN: It’s very interesting to hear about the return of Sarah Blake from Season 1, because that’s obviously reaching far into the show’s history. So can you talk specifically about bringing that character back and how that came about?
Carver: Well, let me speak in a more general sense, and I’ll give you a little bit of a tease and say that she’s not the only blast from the past to return in the last several episodes. These reappearances are related somewhat to the trials, and not in a good way.
IGN: So it won’t necessarily be a happy reunion for her and Sam?
Carver: I can tell you that -- I’m gonna dodge that one, but she’s not the furthest back we’re going. We’ve got eight years here.
IGN: I’m always curious about Chuck and if we might see him again. Any chance of that?
Carver: Um... I can’t comment on Chuck.
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