With a spin-off series in production at the The CW, it can be fun for fans to look back on the most compelling characters in Supernatural. Gabriel, a villain-turned-hero and trickster-turned-angel who is bursting with witticisms, most certainly fits the bill.
Gabriel experiences quite the rollercoaster of a character arc from his first appearance in season 2 until his official demise in season 13, and his major milestones are marked by just as many humorous lines as profound ones. From turning Sam into a car to starring in an adult entertainment video, Gabriel has some stand-out quotes that speak perfectly to his character.
Providing Perspective
"What You Guys Call The Apocalypse, I Used To Call Sunday Dinner."
When Sam and Dean first discover that the trickster is actually Gabriel the Archangel, Gabe supplies the brothers with this pleasantry to help them understand just how intense his celestial family can be.
This quote is just as waggish as anything that Gabriel says when the audience still believes him to be a trickster spirit, but it puts the powers that Sam and Dean are up against into perspective. To hear the emblematic archangel Gabriel speak on just how simple it is for his family to carry out a war of devastating proportions is a warning to both the Winchesters and the audience about what lies ahead.
Knight Rider Reference
"Wow. Sam, Get A Load Of The Rims On You."
In "Changing Channels," one of Supernatural's most meta episodes, Gabriel turns Sam into the Impala. When Dean demands that Gabe turns Sam back into a human, the archangel is seen to tease the brothers and mock Sam for his newfound appearance.
Sam turning into a car is a reference to Knight Rider, and the theme from show even plays while Dean drives him. Gabriel's affinity for pop culture tends to come through his illusions-- Whether that means conjuring up Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk or recreating a cliche genital herpes commercial. In this instance, though, he seems to tie together his Knight Rider reference with Sam's destiny to serve as a vehicle for Lucifer to walk on earth. As funny as it is, the trickster angel has got a point.
Gabriel Sins
"I've Got The Kielbasa You Ordered!"
This is the line that marks Gabriel's entrance in an adult entertainment film that he leaves with Dean after his season 5 death. Despite the raunchy content, it actually serves as instructions on how to save the world.
Making Sam and Dean watch him in a cheesy Casa Erotica video, with the stereotypical 'stache and all, is a very characteristic way for Gabriel to tell the Winchesters about the rings that belong to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. For an audience who knows that they will not be seeing Gabriel again, at least not for a while, this goofy quote kicks off a fitting send-off.
Brotherly Love
"Lucifer, You're My Brother, And I Love You. But You Are A Great Big Bag Of D*cks."
Gabriel says this poorly cushioned insult to his brother, the devil himself, when the two come face to face in "Hammer Of The Gods," an episode in the latter half of season five.
Gabriel's willingness to stand up to Lucifer with this quote, knowing full well that he likely will not survive the interaction, speaks to the gall that the archangel has. After all, Lucifer is one of the most evil main villains in Supernatural. This is certainly a change in tone from earlier in the season when Sam and Dean called Gabriel out for being too much of a coward to stand up to his family.
The Reveal
"They Call Me Gabriel."
By the end of "Changing Channels," Sam and Dean have managed to figure out that Gabriel is an angel, not a trickster. After they back him into a corner, Gabriel reveals who he is.
It is shocking enough for the audience to find out that the trickster that has been messing with the boys since season 2 is really an angel. However, for the flimflammer to be one of the most recognizable archangels from the Bible is quite the twist. This quote hilariously assigns a roguish personality to one of the most notable biblical figures in Christianity that fans still hope to see more of in a Supernatural spin-off.
Free Will
"No One Makes Us Do Anything."
In the Elysian Fields Hotel, Gabriel says this in his heroic stand-off with the devil when Lucifer threatens his life with, "Brother, don't make me do this."
This quote from Gabriel is a statement about free will. Despite the havoc that he wreaks, Gabriel has always been a likable character. So, it is nice for viewers to see that he has come to his senses in his full understanding of the importance of choice. Even though Lucifer kills him at the end of this conversation, it is safe to say that Gabriel exits the narrative as a valuable member of Team Free Will.
Choosing To Fight
"All I Did On Earth Was Run. I'm Not Running Anymore."
In the season 13 episode, "Exodus," Gabriel says to make sense of his decision to stay and fight Michael rather than run away.
The reason that Gabriel comes down to earth and poses as Loki in the first place is to run from his family. Even when he stands up to Lucifer in season 5, he fakes his death to run from the impending apocalyptic blowout. His refusal to run and face Michael head-on, resulting in his only real death, speaks to his character development.
Defending Humans
"Damn Right They're Flawed, But A Lot Of Them Try To Do Better. To Forgive."
Lucifer has taken issue with God's creation of humans since the dawn of time, leading to his fall and his desire to fight for the apocalypse. Gabriel says this line in defense of humans.
This quote marks a seemingly newfound protective instinct over human beings in the archangel. Sam and Dean are likely the catalysts that make him realize that humans are capable of good, including forgiveness. However, his previous endeavors on earth to serve just desserts to those who harm others show that he has always cared, to some degree, about keeping innocent people away from harm.
Referencing Kubrick
"Whoever Said Dean Was The Dysfunctional One Has Never Seen You With A Sharp Object In Your Hands. Holy Full Metal Jacket."
In "Mystery Spot," Gabriel drops Sam into a time loop that forces him to watch Dean die over and over. Just when he believes that he is out, Dean "dies" again. Gabriel says this about the mental break that Sam seems to have while hunting him down.
Gabriel's quip about Sam being more dysfunctional than Dean is a fairly self-referential joke on behalf of the show's writers. Audiences are plenty aware that both brothers are only as well-adjusted as they can be given their pasts and presents. The Full Metal Jacket jab drives in just how severe Sam's psychological breakdown is. Just as the breakdowns are understandable for the soldiers in the film, though, it is also understandable for a time-loop-swept Sam.