I wonder if they could have him win the battle in Heaven, and then choose not to stay up there.

Either that, or redefine how Heaven interacts with our world. With the Purgatory issue on the table and a civil war in Heaven and one in Hell (was that stated or implied?), I can see a shaking up of the old order.

It does seem weird that we don't have an antagonist [snip] are they really going to introduce a completely new character in the back half of the season?

I wonder if it would be plausible to promote Meg to main antagonist, or if that would be too much of a stretch? To take Matt's idea of leftover oppponents in a slightly different direction, they could pull someone out of storage we've assumed is gone. That could either be very effective (I still remember the HSQ of Darla's reappearance on Angel) or a storytelling disaster. Still, it's another possibility to consider.

I just watched an interesting vid about desouled Sammy and fandom: [link]

I wonder if it would be plausible to promote Meg to main antagonist

Thing is, it's been someone that's been the background antagonist all along, which is why I don't think Meg or Samuel could be promoted into that position. But I wouldn't be surprised to see her again, even if it's to kill her off.

In general, I don't like when fandom does works with fandom in it, because they all seem to be earnest in a way that doesn't include me. I wasn't hurt or betrayed by Sam's soullessness or the rift between the boys. Sera doesn't owe me anything, and she knows how to work the boys just fine (zimchan's assertion that fandom knows better how to play with Sam and Dean is just entitled bullshit, IMO--they are not ours, it's nor measured that way) and when I don't like it anymore, I'll just stop watching.

But that video is muddy to me. I'm not entirely sure what segment of fandom is being shown there, and in what way. I just flinch when they show impassioned screenshots of people freaking out over plot developments. It strikes me as overwrought.

Raphael's in charge of Heaven? I thought he was fighting Cas for control of it.

Well, yeah, but I'm fairly confident Castiel isn't interfering with souls making it to their intended afterlife. Well, except for Dean's. And Bobby's, I guess.

We don't know what those creepy refugees from The Shining that appeared in the visions from the alpha vampire were yet, do we? Maybe that's more than just disturbing imagery of past victims.

Well, yeah, but I'm fairly confident Castiel isn't interfering with souls making it to their intended afterlife.

We don't have any evidence that anyone's doing that. Just that Balty is buying them ahead of death. Raphael hasn't been shown to have any involvement in the soul plot yet. Just that he's been trying to collect the heavenly weapons to fight Cas to free Michael and Lucifer. In fact, I'm not clear if he's officially trying to take Cas's sheriff badge, but I guess that's implied.

Unrelatedly, what is people's favourite bit of completely unsupported fanon? I think mine is hooker Dean.

There are more. Apparently, he needs to know what hat to wear to breakfast with China.

Misha has a rich fantasy life.

Favorite unsupported fanon? Hmmm. I have to think about that.

His eyes are so beautiful in this one. I think I'm looking at it wrong.

But, like, REALLY beautiful.

I think it's because the netting calls attention to them.

I can't believe I actually just said that.

In fic where they wax rhapsodic, I'm all "yeah, they're nice, I dig it."

But, oh god, those are gorgeous.