Supernatural wrapped up its twelfth season last week, and it was a humdinger. The two-part story 'Who We Are' and 'All Along The Watchtower' saw the destruction of the British Men Of Letters in the United States, the birth of Kelly Kline's (Courtney Ford) child with Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino), and Lucifer's return to the world. In addition to those massive moments, the season finale also introduced yet another alternate universe to the Supernatural canon, and came with a body count that was impressively high, even by Supernatural standards.

Most shocking of all was the loss of two of the longest-running and best-loved characters in the show (other than the Winchester brothers themselves): Castiel (Misha Collins) and Crowley (Mark Sheppard). The angel and the King of Hell have been with the Winchesters since 2008 and 2009, respectively, and their loss in the same finale is a double-whammy that has fans wondering... could these two really be dead?

The Body Count

David Hadyn-Jones in Supernatural Season 12

It's not unusual for a Supernatural season finale to involve the death of a major character, but this season's finale seemed determined to slaughter everyone in sight.

  • Eileen Leahy: The Irish hunter (played by Shoshannah Stern) was the first to die in the season finale, killed by Ketch's trained Hell Hound.
  • Lady Bevell: Elizabeth Blackmore's portrayal of a buttoned up member of the British Men of Letters came to an end in the finale, her throat slit by Ketch (David Haydn-Jones) in the Winchester's bunker.
  • Arthur Ketch: The psychotic British Men of Letters killer has had a complicated relationship with Mary Winchester (Samantha Smith) this season, and it felt very fitting that she was the one to put a bullet in his brain.
  • The British Men Of Letters: In addition to the death of both Lady Bevell and Arthur Ketch, the remaining British Men of Letters are slaughtered in their headquarters when Sam (Jared Padalecki) leads a cadre of the remaining hunters against them. This effectively ends their attempt to return to US soil. (The battle also takes out a few hunters.)
  • Rowena: Crowley's mother, and the only remaining witch powerful enough to put Lucifer back in his cage, Rowena (Ruth Connell) was tortured, killed, and burned by Lucifer on his escape.
  • Crowley: Crowley managed to die TWICE this episode, first when stabbed by Lucifer - although he escaped by taking temporary refuge in a rat. His second, more lasting demise came as he attempted to take down Lucifer in the other dimension, made accessible when Kelly's birth opens a rip between worlds. Crowley enters with Sam and Dean (Jensen Ackles), intending to perform a spell to send Lucifer back to Hell. The spell requires the sacrifice of a life, and Crowley steps up to try and make it work.
  • Castiel: Everyone's favorite angel has survived an impressive amount over the years, but finally met his end at the end of an angel blade. After believing that he and Crowley finally defeated Lucifer, Castiel steps through the rift between worlds, and is stabbed in the back by Lucifer.
  • Kelly Kline: This was no shock, but the birth of her child killed Kelly Kline.

In addition to all of the death, the finale ends with Mary punching Lucifer back through the rift into an alternate dimension, and falling in after him just before the rip closes. These two aren't technically dead, but they are definitely not part of the main Supernatural universe right now.

What Happens To Angels (And Demons) When They Die?

Misha Collins as Castiel and his wings on Supernatural

The two biggest deaths in the finale, Castiel and Crowley, both seem pretty permanent at first glance.

Castiel was stabbed with an angel blade, one of the only weapons in the entire universe that is capable of truly killing an angel (as well as several other supernatural beings). So far in the series, angels killed with these blades haven't reappeared, so it seems that death by angel blade is permanent. What, exactly, happens to angels at death has yet to be revealed, but it does seem that their souls can be recovered, as God was able to resurrect Castiel in the past. Castiel himself has also survived an angel blade, but only because he was not truly an angel at the time - this time, however, he has no such protection.

Crowley was also killed with an angel blade, which is capable of killing demons and Hell Hounds as well as angels. Unlike his earlier 'death' in the finale, which involved none of the eye-changing and colorful light that a true demon death does, this time it looks like Crowley truly died. The rift also closed, which required a death, so we can assume that he actually did die. Like angels, it's not clear what happens to demons after death - the general assumption is that they are simply wiped out of existence.

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Mary Winchester in the Impala, Supernatural

Dead Vs. 'Supernatural Dead'

Of course, in the Supernatural universe, death isn't always the end. Many major characters have been resurrected throughout the series' run, including Sam and Dean themselves, who have both shaken off death several times. So far, the dead have returned as spirits in Heaven, from time in Purgatory, from torture in Hell, from being caged with Lucifer and Michael, as helpful ghosts, visions, and courtesy of the intervention of God himself. The Winchesters have met, and bargained with, the Horseman of Death and various Reapers. They have met deceased friends in alternate universes, and through time travel. They've dealt with zombies. This season even started with the return of Mary Winchester, who died all the way back in the first season, thanks to a grateful Darkness who wished to do Dean a favor.

Some deaths, however, are more permanent than others. Although the Winchesters themselves keep popping back to life, other big characters aren't quite so lucky. Charlie (Felicia Day) has yet to return from the dead, and many other characters have been seen after death, but haven't actually been resurrected. In addition to the tendency of other characters to stay dead, Castiel and Crowley haven't died in the way that humans do. Death by angel blade is seemingly permanent, and doesn't send the souls of angels or the essence of demons to a specific place where Sam and Dean could go looking for them. In addition, the powerful people who might be able to help (like God, the Darkness, Rowena, the Men of Letters, and various other gods, angels and demons) have all been killed off or have left the Winchesters' circle.

Unlike some previous deaths, therefore, saving Castiel or Crowley is not as simple as heading into Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory and pulling them out. Something major would have to resurrect these powerful beings, and with only the Winchesters left, they may not be coming back.

Resurrection Potential

Supernatural Castiel and Dean Winchester

Of course, this doesn't mean that there is no hope for fans of Castiel and Crowley. There are a few different ways that these two (or just one of them) could still return.

The most obvious option is through the power of Jack, the new Nephilim and son of Lucifer, who was born in the season finale. When Sam found him, he appeared to be fully grown, and with the golden eyes that we saw on Castiel when he used the power of the unborn Jack to smite a Prince of Hell. Jack has been described as having the potential to be one of the most powerful beings in existence, and already healed and resurrected his mother after she tried to kill herself. He may well be able to use this resurrection ability to bring back either Castiel or Crowley - and given his previous connection with Castiel and the angel's position as his protector, this is a very likely scenario.

There are a few other options, as well. These deaths may be a chance to explore the afterlife of a demon or an angel, with the eventual return of either character after a journey through their own afterlives. With the introduction of a new alternate universe where Mary and Lucifer are currently trapped comes the possibility of alternate-universe Castiel/Crowley existing and crossing over (and perhaps even Bobby, bringing Jim Beaver back to the show for more than just a cameo). And of course, God could come back again, and pull his usual resurrection trick on Castiel.

Season 13 Carries On

Mark Pellegrino smirks as Lucifer in Supernatural Season 12

Crowley actor Mark Sheppard has said his departure is permanent, which suggests that the demon really has joined the ranks of Supernatural's dead-dead characters. As for Castiel, if he does return then it likely won't be any time son. This season of Supernatural has been about returning the show to its hunter roots - from Mary's return, to the introduction of multiple other hunters, to Sam and Dean's relationship.

The season 12 finale effectively wiped the slate clean, removing all the most powerful players from the board, and cutting Sam and Dean off from their connections to both the angels and the King of Hell. Coming into season 13 feels a lot like coming full circle, to a place where Sam and Dean are alone (or mostly alone) against the world. They have a hunter they trust (Jodie Mills), but beyond that, they have only each other. Stripping the show down a little has been a huge plus for season 12, so it's likely that season 13 won't be complicating things with too many high-powered beings coming back into play right off the bat.

Instead, season 13 is going to be all about answering one big question: is Jack good or evil? Will he bring about the doom that Dagon prophesied, or the paradise that Castiel saw, and will it be with the help of the Winchesters, or against them?

Next: Supernatural: The 15 Most Cringe-Worthy Moments