History Recap / SupernaturalS09E22StairwayToHeaven

For the series so far = At least 1107 angels, 1041 humans (of which 8 were witches), 167 demons, 58 vampires, 49 ghosts, 36 Jefferson Starships, 21 gods, 19 zombies, 10 hellhounds, 9 werewolves, 7 skinwalkers, 6 changelings, 6 shapeshifters, 5 djinn, 5 reapers, 4 dogs, 4 ghouls, 4 Leviathan, 2 Amazons, 2 arachnes, 2 kitsunes, 2 rugarus, 2 Thule, 2 vetalas, 1 cat, 1 crocotta, 1 deer, 1 dragon, 1 fairy, 1 familiar, 1 Khan worm, 1 lamia, the Mother of All, 1 okami, 1 phoenix, 1 pishtaco, 1 Purgatory creature, 1 rakshasa, 1 rawhead, 1 shojo, 1 shtriga, 1 siren, 1 Titan, 1 wendigo, 1 whore of Babylon, 1 wicked witch, and 1 wraith.

* YankTheDogsChain: Castiel sees the light at the end of the hallway and gushes over how finding the route to Heaven could tip the war, or even help him avert one. What he actually finds is a mock-up prom and a crispy angel cursing him with his dying breath.

* ClassicalMythology: Metatron uses the sphinx enigma to seal Heaven's door.

* ReformedButRejected: Gadreel seems to genuinely reformed, but Dean, juiced up on the Mark of Cain, is having none of it. He pretends to shake his hand--and then slashes him across the chest with the First Blade before being held back by Sam and Castiel, all the while ''growling''.

Castiel tries to lead his army to fight Metatron and some angels committing suicide in his name. Dean on the other hand seems to be embracing the growing desire of violence in him courtesy the Mark of Cain and The First Blade.

* {{Beat}}: "He's in love. …With humanity."
* BoundAndGagged: Dean
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Tessa along with the other brainwashed angels.

* HeroWithBadPublicity / VillainWithGoodPublicity: Metatron has switched strategies after figuring out Castiel was ''too'' good at recruiting and leading an army. The suicide bombers attacking him and his followers turn out to be angels he himself had brainwashed; the attacks not only drive neutral factions to Metatron's side, but undermine Castiel's standing among his own followers.

* OptOut: Castiel's followers, en masse.

* PopCulturedBadass: Castiel, as a result of episode 18's involuntary ArchiveBinge.
** Metatron too, depending on your definition of "badass". The false door to Heaven is laden with traps straight out of the movies (Film/TheLordOfTheRings, Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade, Film/HomeAlone).

* ReformedButRejected: Gadreel seems to genuinely reformed, but a Dean juiced up on Mark of Cain is having none of it. He pretends to shake his hand — and then slashes him across the chest with the First Blade before being held back by Sam and Castiel, all the while ''growling''.

* SuicideAttack: The modus operandi of the "elite squad".

* TitledAfterTheSong: After a song by Led Zeppelin.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Dean is regarded as this by Castiel's followers. Considering how the episode ends, they wouldn't be too wrong.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Dean under the influence of the mark of Cain.

* YankTheDogsChain: Castiel sees the light at the end of the hallway and gushes over how finding the route to Heaven could tip the war, or even help him avert one. What he actually finds is a mock-up prom and a crispy angel cursing him with his dying breath.

* TitledAfterTheSong: After a song by Led Zeppeling.

* ClassicalMythology: Metatron use the sphinx enigma to seal Heaven's door.

** HeelFaceDoorSlam: Narrowly averted, probably. Even with the First Blade, Gadreel's wounds look too superficial to kill an angel. Still, Dean certainly tried.

* WhatTheHellHero: Sam lets Dean have one over lying about leaving the First Blade in the bunker; Dean protests that Tessa's death had been an accident, but by the end of the episode he's too far gone to care.

* Metatron too, depending on your definition of "badass". The false door to Heaven is laden with traps straight out of the movies (Film/TheLordOfTheRings, Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade, Film/HomeAlone).

* TokenEvilTeammate: Dean is regarded as this by Castiel's followers. Considering how the episode ends, they wouldn't be too wrong.

* AxCrazy: '''Dean''' in this episode. The ending scene especially where he ''growls'' with rage.
* BackForTheDead: Tessa the reaper.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Flagstaff gives a good one to Dean but Dean is so pissed and strong he puts her down and tries to kill her terrifying her.
* ReformedButRejected: Gadreel seems to genuinely reform but a Dean juiced up on Mark of Cain is having none of it. He pretends to shake his hand and tries to stab him before being held back by Sam and Castiel, all the while ''growling''.