Is it just me or is Cas' new tie and trench coat darker than his old tie and trench coat? (also new tie is no longer tied backwards than the old one in S4, idk... halp) What's the meaning of thiiiiiss???
Good evening dear!
Yes, Castiel’s coat is definitely a new one. It is way more similar to his initial trenchcoat - or rather Jimmy Novak’s. I had written about wanting a new kind of coat for Cas at the end of S12 (see here) and the symbolic meaning it would have for me personally. Now I had hoped for something to set him apart more drastically from his former “uniform”, but I do like that he is back in the trenchocat resembling the S4 just in a darker shade.
I personally find that fitting colour wise in so far as Castiel has gone through a whole lot of dark patches since then, so even if he came back an angel (though decidedly depowered if his lack of healing abilities are anything to go by (I would rather prefer it if Cas was close to human power wise anyway).
I can of course only guess what the clothing departments reasons were for Castiel’s “new” coat, but I think for one it does mark a new chapter for him. His shadow!self (Empty!Entity!Cas) made him relive some of his “worst hits” and also in the most superficial sense “addressed” Castiel’s growing depression and feelings of inadequacy. I feel like with the show confronting Castiel with all his past mistakes and traumas was a means to have him grow and heal and move on to become more himself and more in tune with who he is.
If I just looked at the coat as such and how it resembles the S4 coat, I’d say one may read it as a hint of Castiel developing a bit more in that direction of Castiel again - meaning a character with a lot more edge than he has shown in recent seasons, but of course the change in costime may also only be used to allude to Cas “not being Cas”, but housing the Empty!Entity as well (which I don’t hope to be the case, because it would be a repeat of a repeat - plus, if Cas turned out to not be himself - again - I think it would be the final straw for Dean).
I guess, we’l have to wait and see, but this is how I personally would analyze Castiel’s new old outfit. :)
