Sam and Dean will side with Castiel because he's their friend

I'd like to think they're siding with Castiel because he's trying to prevent most of humanity from being wiped out, and they'd do that even if they didn't like him. Raphael's been pretty clear about what he wants to accomplish, and the collateral damage that would ensue.

But it doesn't even matter why they're siding with him. They don't really have the ability to make a difference in a war between the angels. All that will happen is that they'll keep getting used as pawns between the angels -- Castiel, Balthazar, Raphael -- and I find it frustrating to see them put in that position. I'd rather see them in storylines where they have more agency.

They don't really have the ability to make a difference in a war between the angels.

How can you possibly know that?

My guess is the reason we haven't seen more of that war is because it's not the main plot point, it's not the season end game. I assume that's purgatory/Mother, and that the angels and what they know about souls will play into *that* somehow. In the meantime, though, it seems we need to know that there's still unrest in heaven, and that souls have something to do with it.

You brought up the why explicitly, and I disagree. I also think there's plenty of room for the writers to put them in positions where they're the only ones that can fulfill certain tasks that are vital to the success of Castiel's mission. They were important before they were vessels (they failed--but they were important), so I don't see why they can't be important afterwards.

For that matter they were important as a "stick to distract Virgil". Made a difference in letting Castiel get the weapons. I know they were pissed at being used, but really Sam and Dean Winchester don't have a ton of moral high ground when it comes to using people for the greater good.

Incidentally about Castiel letting Raphael live: maybe I was reading the tactical situation wrong, but it looked to me like Castiel could indeed have taken down Raphael, but not before he Raphael took down Sam and Dean. Castiel is willing to use Sam and Dean if that is what it takes to save the world, even risk them, but not willing to sacrifice them.

Sorry, I didn't mean to duck out of the conversation. Every time I get a sentence typed in Connor (my Newfie) bounces up with a toy in his mouth and wants to play. And I can't really ignore a 165 pound puppy!

I don't see why they can't be important afterwards

I would assume they will always be important to whatever storyline is going on because they're our Big Damn Heros. My first thought when contemplating the Winchesters being the lynchpin in the Angelic Battle is just that it would be too much of them being the Special Snowflakes, and that they're pretty damned impressive and remarkable as they are, they don't need to be thrust into the center of yet another mythic battle. But I suppose whoever plots out season long story arcs will decide where to go with them without asking my opinion on the matter. It's just that I was so relieved to have them back to where they are talking to one another again and I was enjoying them beginning to find their footing as hunters again. Now it seems as though they are going to be pushed around again.

I'm watching O Brother, Where Art Thou and in the KKK scene, the head dude sing "O Death". I like the version from SPN better but I hadn't realized I had heard it before.

Camper Van Beethoven did a version of O Death in 1988. CVB version.

Also - is that freaky, stalker girlfriend in the Droid ads played by the same actress that played the seducing Lilith in "Lucifer Rising"?

GAHHH. I had just settled in with a cup of tea to watch Show, only to find that my DVR failed me.

headdesk

Oh, Anne. SUCK.

Yeah, sumi, that's Lilith.