Supernatural is so beloved by its fanbase that it’s hard to see the misgivings of the long-running fantasy TV show. However, there’s no denying that the series had some terrible plotlines and scenes. One of the most unforgivable decisions was killing off an on-and-off-again Winchester ally, Crowley. Despite being a powerful demon who first and foremost served his own interests, Crowley is one of the most likable Supernatural characters.
This show had a serious problem with killing off supporting characters. While that’s not an uncommon trope in series focusing on so much death and destruction, the audience couldn’t get behind the consistent death of likable characters. Supporting characters like Crowley brought nuance and diversity, making the storyline enjoyable even when the misguided decisions of the Winchesters became insufferable. Many Supernatural deaths threatened the popularity of the series, but Crowley’s death nearly broke the fandom’s trust in the show’s storytelling abilities.
Crowley as a Villain Was Still Likable
- Crowley (played by Mark Sheppard) first appeared in Season 5, Episode 10, “Abandon All Hope…”. Crowley is a central focus in this episode, eventually aiding the Winchesters in their quest to stop Lucifer.
Calling Crowley a villain before an ally is debatable because when he first appeared in Supernatural in Season 5, he aided the Winchesters by providing the Colt to defeat Lucifer. He continued to aid them throughout the seasons. However, he was never a reliable character, consistently turning on the Winchesters whenever it benefited him. Some of his most villainous acts include using Bobby’s soul to manipulate Sam and Dean, working with the Leviathans until they endangered him, targeting the prophet Kevin Tran to use the demon tablet to unleash Hell on Earth, and manipulating Dean into getting the Mark of Cain, which inevitably leads to Dean becoming a demon.
For most of the seasons Crowley is featured, he goes from being an ally of convenience to a villain when it best serves his motives. The Winchesters never trusted the demon, though they kept accepting his aid despite the countless backstabs. This complex characterization didn’t make the King of Hell any less likable as a central Supernatural character, however. On the contrary, viewers were intrigued by his honest personality, even when he used deception to get his way. Crowley was charismatic, sassy, and morally gray. Even when he was manipulating and scheming, audiences knew what to expect because he was unapologetic in serving his own interests.
Crowley is One of the Best Turn-Coats in Supernatural
- Crowley was a key player in the “Demon Dean” plot of Supernatural. Though the dynamic between Demon Dean and Crowley is a cherished aspect of the later seasons, this plotline is one of the most popular in the series.
Supernatural has some great standalone episodes, but the overarching storylines define the complexities of the show. The theme centering good vs evil wasn’t black and white, with many characters believed to be one thing turning to the other side. In addition to seeing creatures like werewolves and vampires choose to do good things, viewers witness characters like Castiel turn on the supposed “good guys,” like angels, to protect humankind and the world. Crowley is one of the most beloved turn-coats in the show. Despite being a demon and doing heinous things, there’s an underlying goodness to his character. His devious plots never fully come to fruition, and fans never see Crowley do anything catastrophic like the dozens of other villains.
After Season 9, when Dean becomes a demon, Crowley is less villainous and more ally. After turning Dean backfires on him, he works with Sam and Castiel to help turn the Winchester back to human. Even when he turns back to his villainous ways in Season 10, becoming a slave to Lucifer (possessing Castiel’s body) finally turns the would-be ally into a changed character. More than Crowley wants to get what he wants, he wants to ensure that Lucifer is unable to rule Hell with an iron fist. Audiences respected that Crowley allied with the Winchesters to take out one of the ultimate bad guys, even if he did so to protect himself.
The Death of This Legend Was Unforgivable
- Despite being an on-and-off-again villain, Crowley dies admirably. He sacrifices himself in Season 12, Episode 23, “All Along the Watchtower”.
In many ways, Crowley’s inclusion in the series completed the Supernatural team. Sam and Dean have various allies throughout the show, but the angel Castiel and the demon Crowley are representatives of the immersive fantasy world of Supernatural. The Winchesters may fight the forces of darkness in earlier seasons, but the show becomes more complicated with enemies like angels and God. Having both angels and demons as defenders of the world emphasizes a major theme in the show: the balance of good and bad forces.
Crowley died a couple of times in Supernatural. However, his final demise happened in the Apocalypse World plotline. Using a spell that requires a life sacrifice, Crowley kills himself with an angel blade to seal Lucifer in the other world. This was an admirable way for the beloved character to die, but a seemingly unnecessary one. This plot line felt pointless, especially since Lucifer continues to be an enemy that needs to be stopped. For this reason, Crowley’s emotional sacrifice felt like a cheap shock-value scene. Tugging on fans’ heartstrings can be an exciting thing in shows, but only if the emotional moment is worth the heartbreak. Many viewers despised this conclusion to Crowley’s arc.
Killing Off Supporting Characters Was Supernatural’s Downfall
- Crowley is not the last devastating death. In the final seasons of Supernatural, beloved characters such as Rowena, Castiel, Mary Winchester, and eventually Sam and Dean perish by the finale.
Though some viewers argue Supernatural’s final season was better than it was given credit for, there’s no doubt there was a decline in popularity and viewership in the last few seasons. Constant death isn’t necessarily a problem in most fandoms, but excessive deaths for seemingly no reason are the downfall of many great TV shows. As was the case for Supernatural. The show had several controversial deaths, including Bobby Singer, Charlie Bradbury, Crowley, and Castiel. Some supporting characters got a more positive send-off, such as Rowena sacrificing herself and then becoming the Queen of Hell. However, many supporting character demises were sad for the sake of emotional reactions or shock value.
The death of Crowley was nearly enough to finally break the fandom’s trust in Supernatural’s writers. It was no longer enough to keep Sam and Dean Winchester alive. The fans of this long-running show had emotional attachments to characters like Crowley. While a great and epic send-off for likable characters may be accepted, the consistent pointless deaths were frustrating. During an unpopular storyline like Apocalypse World, losing Crowley was the final straw. Dedicated fans stuck around to see how the last few seasons would play out, but others turned away from the show following this devastating and ridiculous death.
The show still has a dedicated fanbase and many viewers still yearn to see a Supernatural revival in the near future. However, many fans want to get more of the show to see if a fresh plotline can restore the show to its former glory from earlier seasons. An addition to this series has the potential to correct the wrongs, such as bringing back beloved characters to give them an admirable ending.
Source: cbr.com