Playground
| Under Construction This page is currently being developed by a single author. Editing by others may cause a conflict of information. If you'd still like to contribute, see the discussion page. |
The playground, located somewhere in Arkansas[1], is an area that the angels have designated as the sole earthly portal to Heaven after the Fall. It is the portal's second known location, following a warehouse in Pray, Montana.[2] The portal can be opened with a special sigil known as Metatron's Cube, drawn into a sandbox. The playground is typically guarded by one or two angels. After the revelation that there are only nine angels left in existence, Naomi chooses to close the gate until Castiel can locate Gabriel and bring him back to Heaven.
In 11.01 Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire, Efram states that they moved the portal's location following Metatron's breakout. Despite this, the portal is seen to still be in the playground in 12.15 Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, suggesting that it had either been moved back or Efram was lying.
In 14.08 Byzantium, Castiel reports that all of Heaven's gates are open once again following the Cosmic Entity's attack on Heaven. However, the angels continue to use the portal, as seen in 14.18 Absence, since they are still unable to use their wings. Though the portal was closed, Castiel was able to use angel radio to reach out to Naomi, causing Dumah to arrive.
Episodes
9.23 Do You Believe in Miracles?
In order to get to Heaven in an attempt to defeat Metatron by destroying the angel tablet, Gadreel leads Castiel to the playground which is actually a door to Heaven. Gadreel explains that the door is guarded by two of Metatron's most loyal angels—Asariel & Purah—whom he recruited himself. Asariel and Purah are seen in the vessels of a mother and daughter, inconspicuously spending time at the playground.
Gadreel asks Castiel how he plans to persuade Asariel and Purah to let them into Heaven. Castiel holds up a pair of angel cuffs and explains that he plans to act as Gadreel's prisoner. Gadreel then leads a handcuffed Castiel into the playground where he manages to manipulate Asariel and Purah into believing that Metatron gave orders to capture Castiel and bring him to him. They get to work with redrawing the spell to open the door.
After Purah draws the sigil, the portal begins to open and Gadreel and Castiel step through into an elevator in Heaven.
10.02 Reichenbach
As Castiel is sleeping, Hannah drives to the playground in order to get to Heaven to confront Metatron about taking Castiel's grace. When Castiel wakes up in an empty car at the playground, the angel guarding the portal is the one who informs him that Hannah is in Heaven.
10.10 The Hunter Games
Castiel paces beside Metatron's Cube drawn inside a sandpit at the playground, watched by two guarding angels. Castiel muses that "they" should be here by now, and asks the angels whether there's been a delay. One of the angels tells him that all they do is watch the door, they then ask who Castiel is waiting for. Just then, angelic light emanates from the sandpit portal and Ingrid and another angel appear with a bound and blindfolded Metatron between them. Ingrid hands Metatron over and tells Castiel she did this at great risk. Castiel acknowledges her risk and tells her he asked her to do this because he knew she agreed with his belief that it is the angels' mission to protect humans. He goes on to further explain that he can eliminate a threat to humans with Metatron's help. Ingrid tells him to return Metatron unharmed before she and the other angel disappear again in a mist of angelic light and sand.
After Castiel removes the bag over Metatron's head, Metatron gloats that he knew he'd get out of prison. Castiel tells him it's temporary and explains that he needs his help. As Castiel drags Metatron by the arm across the playground, Metatron comments that Castiel is looking good and questions whether he borrowed more grace. Metatron then questions whether that's what Castiel needs his help with. Castiel tells him that what he needs help with isn't about him.
They get to Castiel's car, and Metatron stops when he sees Sam get out, thinking he's about to kill him. Instead, Castiel and Sam take Metatron to the bunker's dungeon, needing his help with ridding Dean of the Mark of Cain.
10.17 Inside Man
Castiel and Sam arrive at the playground, where they are met by Hannah. Castiel tells her of their need for Metatron to learn more information about the Mark of Cain. Hannah apologizes but refuses to give Metatron up, stating he is too dangerous to be set free. As Sam and Castiel leave, Sam moves to plan B, breaking Metatron out.
After meeting with psychic Oliver Pryce and communicating with Bobby in Heaven, Sam and Castiel talk Bobby into helping them out by opening the gate from Heaven. Castiel and Sam stake out the playground and once the gate opens, Castiel makes a run for it, fighting off an angel as he jumps through the portal. After retrieving Metatron and taking him to the playground, Castiel removes his grace, rendering him human.
12.15 Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
12.19 The Future
Castiel takes Kelly Kline to the playground where she is to step into Metatron's Cube and die upon her soul's ascent into Heaven. Upon arriving, they are greeted by Joshua, who is almost immediately killed by Dagon. Sam and Dean soon arrive, but are quickly dispatched by Dagon, who destroys the Colt. As Dagon goes to kill Castiel, he becomes imbued with the power of the Nephilim child, allowing him to incinerate Dagon, killing her.
13.07 War of the Worlds
Castiel meets with Dumah in the playground about Jack Kline, wondering if the angels might have him. However, Dumah denies it before revealing that the angels are in danger of going extinct and wish to use Jack to create more of their kind. Two other angels join Dumah, who reveals that they wish to use Castiel to get to Jack, leading to a brief skirmish between the angels. The skirmish is interrupted when Lucifer, recently returned from Apocalypse World, suddenly appears and intimidates Dumah and the other two angels into fleeing back through the portal. Exhausted by his use of power in his weakened state, Lucifer sinks onto one of the playground's benches to recuperate but rebuffs Castiel's approach with an angel blade.
13.13 Devil's Bargain
After escaping the Winchesters and Castiel, Lucifer and Sister Jo arrive at the playground where they speak with Dumah and two other angels. Dumah immediately orders Lucifer's death, but is quickly dissuaded by Lucifer who reminds her that even when he's weakened she can't kill him. He makes an offer to both create new angels as well as give the angels back their wings, in exchange for instilling him as the new undisputed and unquestioned ruler in Heaven.
13.19 Funeralia
Seeking Heaven's aid in locating Gabriel, Castiel enters the playground, angel blade in hand, only to find its guardian, Indra, attempting to get drunk. Indra, who appears to be despondent and suicidal offers, no resistance to Castiel, even offering to let him kill him and say they fought, before allowing him entry into Heaven.
After learning that Heaven may crumble due to the lack of angels from Naomi, she sees Castiel off as he continues his search for Gabriel, locking the entrance on her return to Heaven, until Castiel can bring back Gabriel.
14.18 Absence
14.19 Jack in the Box
After learning what Jack has been up to, Castiel returns to the playground to use the portal to reach Heaven. Due to the cold and the snow on the ground, Eremiel has a fire going in a trashcan in the playground which he warms his hands over. Eremiel refuses to let Castiel back into Heaven on Dumah's orders and draws an angel blade to stop him. However, Eremiel loses their fight and is forced to let Castiel through the portal.
Trivia
- In the Abrahamic religions, the idea of a "stairway to Heaven" is known as Jacob's ladder.
