.
Supernatural
2008-2010 (?)
(opens in new tab)
Angels: Blimmin loads. But mainly Castiel.
Wings? Yes, but they aren’t visible to mortal eyes except as scorch marks when an angel dies and, er, in lightning or something, like at the end of “Lazarus Rising”. That bit’s not very clear.
There’s no underestimating how important angels have been to Supernatural. They reinvigorated a show that had become a little too comfortable with its monster-of-the-week format, their introduction in the very first episode of season four marking the exact turning point the show changed from a “worthwhile” watch to a “must” watch. Most were villains: Raphael, Uriel, Zachariah; some were fallen angels: Anna Milton, Lucifer; while others, such as trenchcoat deity Castiel and Balthazar eventually came round to helping the brothers. Castiel, of course, was the break out celestial servant, initially envisioned as more of a guest star, he became a regular in the fifth season and one of the most popular characters in the show’s history.
The angels themselves are quite unlike any divine interventionists seen before on the telly box. In Dean’s words, they’re dicks. They’re wholly unlikable and utterly lacking in any social skills, rendering them somewhat naïve, occasionally terrifying and very, very funny. After the civil war of season five, Angels have taken something of a back seat culminating with (*spoiler*) Castiel’s “death” in the second episode of the sixth season, though with actor Misha Collins set to return later this season and the fact god’s MIA still to be resolved expect to see the halo heads returning in a big way in the future.