The Man Who Would Be King 6x20: A Supernatural Review

Summary

Castiel tells his story of what has gone on the entire season that the audience has not been aware of and his reasons behind it. He divulges why he has teamed up with Crowley to break into Purgatory; he needs the power of the souls there so that he can defeat the archangel Raphael who wants to start Armageddon - again.  Supernatural 6.20 "The Man Who Would Be King" Promo

Review

“The Man Who Would Be King” written and directed by Ben Edlund, is a beautiful example of a well-crafted episode. The first shot sets the tone for the entire episode and offers up the perfect symbology for Castiel – he is alone. 

What you don’t realize, until the end, is that so much has transpired and he’s lost the support of Sam and Dean. Once you have all of the information, when you see this first shot again you can appreciate what it represents – Cas alone, uncertain, dejected, and lost. 


This is also the first time the fourth wall gets shattered, when Castiel looks directly into the camera to implore the audience “Let me tell you everything.”

Supernatural has stretched that fourth wall a bit with the meta episodes, but this is the first time a character has ever outright acknowledged the viewer in such an explicit way. After Castiel retells his story, he begs for guidance from his father, God. What does that imply? Is the viewer God? Or is it that God is out there watching but silent? Much has been said and written about Eric Kripke inserting himself as Chuck aka God. Is Edlund speaking to Kripke here? By the sixth season, Kripke had stepped down as showrunner but was still available for the new showrunner, Sera Gamble.

In the final lines of the episode, Cas pleads, “That’s why I’m asking you Father, one last time, am I doing the right thing? Am I on the right path?” 

So much existential angst! This is a very human moment for Cas, although I doubt he recognized it as that. We see a deeper side to an angel who is growing through his short friendship with the Winchesters. This story reminds us that Castiel is very old, thousands of years, but he is also still very naïve about humanity. Castiel becoming more human, having a better understanding of humans, is where his story arc goes in future seasons - after he comes back from death, again. It is such perfect symmetry to have the episode begin and end in the same manner.

This screen shot does not do the graphics justice

This episode brings a great deal of depth to the character of Castiel who is often viewed as emotionless and robotic, especially in the early episodes. In fact, all the angels are often portrayed this way. They are either hateful, power hungry douchebags or flaccid, robotic douchebags. Cas is the only angel learning and growing and that is all because of his time with the Winchesters. Part of the narrative is Cas talking about what he has learned from the Winchesters – how to stand up, what to stand for and what generally happens to you when you do. The vfx team really shines this episode. The 3D look of this blood splatter was incredible! 

After Dean learns of Cas’ betrayal and escapes Crowley’s wrath, Cas surprises Dean so they can have a chat. I want applaud Serge Ladouceur’s touch here. First, look at how this is backlit. The blue “moonlight” effect really makes the angel warding sigils stand out. But I want to point out a hint you are being given in this scene. A hint at what is coming in the next episode. What is the one thing that is lit the most in this scene? The books on the far left of the screen. Those books are center and the most lit things in the entire shot – why? Remember, things aren’t done on Supernatural accidentally. As we find out in the next episode, Cas came to Bobby’s for a reason – to steal a book! The journal of one Moishe Campbell, which will lead to him getting into purgatory. Like Dean said in episode 6.17 “My Heart Will Go On”…

But we have to talk about a heart-touching exchange between Cas and Dean. The moment when Dean admits that Cas is family. 

Again, the screen shot does not do this moment justice

Dean: Look, next to Sam, you and Bobby are the closest thing I have to family. That you are like a brother to me.

We all know how Dean feels about his brother. For Dean to include and equate Cas with that level of love is a powerful statement. The one thing Dean prizes most is family so Cas’ betrayal has truly hurt Dean. Think back to Sam’s betrayal at the end of season four, when he chose Ruby over Dean, and how hurt Dean was by that. But until this moment, Cas didn’t really think Dean thought of him that way. You can see it in the slight softening of Cas’ eyes and the way his mouth opens somewhat, he was surprised by this admission.

Questions. Problems. Concerns. Observations.

The use of “Me and Mrs. Jones”, which is playing in the background as Crowley and Castiel talk while in Crowley's laboratory, is brilliant! The line in the song, “We got a thing going on”, obviously refers to the business arrangement that Cas and Crowley have the entire season. 

This is such a well-crafted episode. There are a lot of people that worked hard to put it together. Everyone from the incredible performances of all the actors, right through to editors, and the music scoring by Christopher Lennertz. But none of this would have happened without the beautiful storytelling ability of Ben Edlund. I heard someone say once that anyone can learn the mechanics in which to be a good writer but it takes special talent to be a good storyteller. Ben Edlund is an exceptional storyteller. I make no secret and no apologies for my admiration for Ben Edlund. I think he is an extraordinary genius. I often point to this episode when people ask me to explain my viewpoint. This episode is as close to perfect storytelling as you can get. I rank it second only to “Swan Song” and believe me, with well over 200 episodes for this series, that is saying something.