Gabriel
| 300px | |
| Name | Gabriel |
| Actor | Richard Speight Jr. |
| Dates | Before Humanity - 2010 |
| Location | Unknown (Gabriel was slain and killed by Lucifer) |
| Occupation | Archangel |
| Episode(s) | Disguised as The Trickster: 2.15 Tall Tales 3.11 Mystery Spot As Gabriel: 5.08 Changing Channels 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods |
Contents
History
Origin
Soon after God established and constructed the foundation of Heaven itself, he created an Archangel named Michael, and soon after Michael's creation, Lucifer's creation soon followed which was also followed by Gabriel and Raphael's creations; Canon has yet to given an explanation as to who was created first, Gabriel or Raphael. Soon after the creation of mankind, Gabriel and his three other brothers began to bicker and they started arguing over whether or not they should continue to follow God's commands. Gabriel soon became aware and realized that the only option in which he could take and be happy was to abandon his heavenly family and flee to Earth. He later did so and when he arrived on Earth he claimed some unknown Vessel and re-shaped his identity to match that of a common Trickster's. He then cut himself off from the Host and finalized a new occupation in which he took part of by giving criminals 'just deserts' which mainly concerned of him punishing the criminals which followed and flowed through varies and ironic trends that often mirrored their original crime. But he was later revealed to have been an Archangel all along, which forced him to reclaim his angelic occupation.
Just like there's a chance that Cupids may be capable of instantaneous manifestation, Gabriel also may be capable of this because him using a Vessel was never mentioned in Canon whereas the other Archangel’s Vessels were presented in Canon.
Season 2
Sam and Dean go to investigate a series of strange deaths based on urban legends, but have no success figuring out who is responsible. They unknowingly encounter Gabriel in disguise as the school's night janitor during the course of the investigation. It isn't until Bobby suggests that they are dealing with a Trickster that they track him down. However, the 'Trickster' is waiting for them, and he offers them a peaceful resolution so long as they let him leave to terrorize another town. Naturally, the Winchesters refuse and attack him, with the help of Bobby. However, the Trickster easily rebuffs them by conjuring beings (scantily clad women, chainsaw wielding psychopaths) to fight for him, while he sits back and enjoys the show that is put on before him. Nonetheless, Dean manages to stab him (a bloodied stake will kill a Trickster) while he is distracted, causing his creations to disappear and the fight to end. Although the hunters believe they bested him, the Trickster survives the ordeal, having created a copy of himself for Dean to kill.
Season 3
Sam and Dean get caught in an infinite time loop, where Dean dies each day in increasingly strange ways, and only Sam remembers when the day restarts. Sam continually fails to save Dean despite his memory of the previous days. It is only after a hundred or so repetitions of the day that Sam realizes that it is the Trickster at work and manages to locate the culprit. He threatens their tormentor with a blood covered stake, causing the Trickster to reveal himself and agree to break the loop. However, immediately after the loop is broken, Dean once again dies, and remains dead.
Throughout the next several months, Sam becomes a far colder and more calculated person as he attempts to track down the Trickster, killing whatever threat he can along the way. Eventually, it is the Trickster who calls the younger Winchester to him, where he tries to drive in a point: that the two brothers continually sacrificing themselves for one another would bring no good, and when people die, you just have to learn to accept it and live with it. Nonetheless, Sam pleads with him to turn back time to that Wednesday so that he can save Dean. Reluctantly, the Trickster agrees, lamenting that the whole situation had become boring months ago for him anyway.
Season 5
5.08 Changing Channels
The Trickster traps Sam and Dean in a series of TV shows in an attempt to drive home the lesson that they must play their roles' as Michael and Lucifer's vessels. Sam and Dean finally work out that he is an angel and trap him in a ring of Holy Fire. He confirms that he is indeed the Archangel known as Gabriel. A long time ago, he left Heaven to live on Earth, as he could no longer bear the sight of his brothers fighting each other. He then tells the Winchesters that they are destined to be the vessels of his brothers, as they mirror the relationship between Michael and Lucifer. He says he's sorry they couldn't have a happy TV show-like ending, but it's a destiny they must face. The brothers refuse to accept this, and begin to leave. Gabriel calls after them and ask if they really plan to leave him there forever, to which Dean replies that they wouldn't, since they don't "mess with people" like he does. Dean then extinguishes the fire by turning on the sprinklers, and leaves Gabriel with a final thought: in the end, this wasn't about his brothers' fight or about the Winchesters' destiny, but how the archangel was too much of a coward to stand up to his family.
5.19 Hammer Of The Gods
Gabriel turns up at the meeting of the gods who are trying to work out a way to stop the Apocalypse. They know him as Loki The Trickster, and don't realise he is an Archangel. Gabriel explains to Sam and Dean that he is there to save them, and he once had a relationship with Kali, and doesn't want her, or the other gods, killed. Gabriel tells Sam and Dean that Kali has bound Sam and Dean to her with a blood spell. He goes to her room, pretending to romance her in an attempt to retrieve the boys' blood, but she is not fooled by his ruse and draws his blood, binding Gabriel to her also.
In front of the other gods, Kali reveals that she has discovered that Gabriel is an Archangel, and she uses what she thinks is an Archangel Killing Sword to stab him. He appears to die, but instead sneaks out of the hotel. While hiding in the Impala, he tells Dean to get their blood from Kali so they can escape. Dean suspects that he cares for the other gods, but Gabriel is unable or unwilling to use his blade to kill Lucifer.
Lucifer arrives at the hotel some time later and kills most of the gods. He is about to kill Kali when Gabriel intervenes. He tells Lucifer that he has no legitimate grievance, he is merely jealous that humanity replaced him in God's affections. Gabriel says he is not on Lucifer's side, or Michael's but that he has come to agree with God, that humanity is better than them. Gabriel then tries to kill Lucifer with the Angel Killing Sword by sneaking up on him while a Gabriel copy is speaking. However, Lucifer recognizes the trick and turns the sword on the real Gabriel, killing him. Lucifer is shown to grieve for his brother's death, albeit only a little.
After their escape, Sam and Dean play a Casa Erotica DVD that Gabriel gave Dean. In it, Gabriel tells them they may be able to re-imprison Lucifer, and that the keys to his cage are the rings of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Powers and Abilities
- Gabriel can teleport himself to any location on Earth; he often appears unexpectedly and disappears randomly. It is assumed that he can teleport groups of people to any location on Earth, although he never displayed teleportation in this manner. He can make angels disappear simply by snapping his fingers.
- Gabriel can see the future as well as send himself to the future.
In 5.08 Changing Channels, he told Dean and Sam that he along with his brothers, Michael, Lucifer and Raphael all knew how everthing was going to end, as well as knowing that Sam and Dean were going to be The Vessels for Michael and Lucifer. In 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods, he told the Winchesters that he skipped ahead and saw how everything was going to end. Although he may have missed a few details, because otherwise he would’ve foreseen his death and would’ve prevented it5.19 Hammer Of The Gods
- Gabriel can create virtually anything out of thin air2.15 Tall Tales
- Gabriel can alter reality as well as create time loops/pocket universes; he also can choose who is aware of the repetition3.11 Mystery Spot, 5.08 Changing Channels
- Gabriel is relatively weaker than Michael and Lucifer, but he can still harm other archangels5.19 Hammer Of The Gods
- Gabriel can morph his body into any human-shape3.11 Mystery Spot, 5.08 Changing Channels
- Gabriel can also create illusions; in 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods, he creates a copy of himself, and this copy-cat possesses most, if not all, of the real Gabriel's powers2.15 Tall Tales, 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods
- Gabriel can revive dead people; he brings Dean back to life after he died many times in one of Gabriel's time loops3.11 Mystery Spot
- Even though he is younger and relatively weaker than Lucifer, he proved capable of harming Lucifer5.19 Hammer Of The Gods
Vulnerabilities
The Colt can damage and harm Gabriel, but it cannot kill him. Holy Fire can bind Gabriel to a fixed location; if he were to step out of the circle, his Vessel would be destroyed. An Archangel Killing Blade can kill Gabriel. Other Archangels can harm Gabriel
Notes
- One of Gabriel's weapons is Gabriel's Horn of Truth.
Trivia
- The identity of Gabriel's Vessel remains unknown.
Gabriel in Lore
Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger from God. Based on two passages in the Gospel of Luke, many Christians and Muslims believe Gabriel to have foretold the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus.
Islam further believes he was the medium through whom God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, and that he sent a message to most prophets, if not all, revealing their obligations. He is called the chief of the four favoured angels and the spirit of truth, and in some views is a personification of the Holy Spirit.
Gabriel's name means "God is my hero"
Links
- Spn_Gabriel - LJ community for Gabriel
- Gabriel/Sam comm on LJ. It's tagline is: "Well, that's hell of a height difference."
- Interview with Richard Speight on the death of Gabriel
- Rec list of Gabriel fic
- Trickster, Lord of the Roads
- Online petition to bring back Gabriel
