Well, I'd love to see Crowley back, so if there's an episode's worth of soul to-do, I wouldn't be averse.

It would be great if they made up some other excuses to have Crowley back.

Signed,
Eternal Employment Act for Mark Sheppard.

Eternal Employment Act for Mark Sheppard

Oh, where do I sign up? I saw him in the White Collar pilot and squeed out loud.

I probably don't need to spoilerfont that do I? Anyway.

I would definitely like lots of excuses to see Crowley, yes.

Oh yeah. Although I do hope it's not some big sticking point and drama, too. In other words, I hope Crowley held up his end of the deal, because I'm a little tired of demon deals and looming consequences.

I'm somewhat concerned about how they will have Castiel involved in the Season 6 monster-of-the-week stories yet avoid him becoming a deus ex machina, but I think for this one issue it could work very well. I foresee the brothers getting all blustery with Crowley about returning Bobby's soul, Crowley snarking back, and Castiel quietly noting "Of course he will. He is, after all, well aware that there is no longer anything in Hell capable of protecting him from me should he renege on his promise."

I'm somewhat concerned about how they will have Castiel involved in the Season 6 monster-of-the-week stories yet avoid him becoming a deus ex machina,

This. Yeah, Cas is cute, and Misha's a hoot, but I'm not invested in angelic backseat driving. Or in the character as more than ancillary, or in his character arc, or in deepening relationships, with the possible exception of Sam and Cas' friendship. That feels like something that was let slide in all the rush to Armageddon, and I'm curious. Otherwise I'm pretty much filing my nails and getting snacks till he's offscreen.

I'm fairly confident they won't have Cas rescuing the kids all the time. Now, they're going to have to explain why not--but I'll just go with the majority of fics and assume some conflict between what he might like to do on Earth and what he's responsible for in Heaven.

I think they let Dean and Cas slide a lot post about 5x18, and I'd like that resolved, one way or another--are they that tight? Does the undercurrent of emotion that generated that beaatdown and Dean's snapping at him still exist?

... but I'm not invested in angelic backseat driving.

Nor I. I'm flummoxed as to what more Castiel can do. No offense to Misha (cuz I think he's fab), but quite honestly, I thought they did a nice job of tying things up with Castiel in Swan Song. I wouldn't mind a visit or two, but I'm trying to figure out Cas's post-Apocalyptic earthly value.

I'm trying to figure out Cas's post-Apocalyptic earthly value.

I don't think there's any way to know that until we see how they handle S6 overall. How and why we get Sam back, what Dean's doing, etc.

I like the idea that Cas is invested in Dean to the extent that he does come down once in a while to see what's up, and I'd like to see their issues resolved a little more concretely, too. I think giving Dean (and Sam to a lesser extent) a friend who isn't a sort of default, the way Bobby is, really worked. For me, anyway. Dean and Cas grew to respect and like each other far beyond any heavenly dictate.

I'm somewhat concerned about how they will have Castiel involved in the Season 6 monster-of-the-week stories yet avoid him becoming a deus ex machina

That's my problem too. I don't dislike Castiel. I find him intriguing, but not as a constant presence. And having him around on a regular basis would lessen the badassness of the Winchesters, due to Castiel's ability to transport and explode things and all his other magical/mytical abilities. Really, if he's hanging around with all his superhuman capabilities, what's the point in our guys slogging their way through the case of the week? Castiel can just snap his fingers and fix the problem.

I thought they did a nice job of tying things up with Castiel in Swan Song

I thought they did a crap job! And I'm not just saying that because I slash them. I thought him vanishing and Dean's general lack of reaction really didn't look like it was playing out the depth of emotion they'd shown a few episodes earlier.

They could have wrapped it up in that ep with a few well chosen lines, but it's really the part of it I'm most dissatisfied with.

I can only guess he won't be allowed to be with them much because he's too busy fixing shit in heaven, and maybe he randomly saves them and sometimes randomly messes things up more or randomly gives them quests to go on that angels can't do. That sort of involvement.

I vaguely remember Jim Beaver posting something about not wanting to be a series regular last year because he didn't want to be away from his daughter that much. I'm not sure if I'm conflating my stories though as I know he has turned down some cons for that reason.