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infinitejestOver the years, Supernatural has emerged as a show heavily dependent on Judeo-Christian mythology. Sure, they've dabbled in countless cultures and the monsters and spirits thereof; however, a show about the Judeo-Christian apocalypse must de facto give that belief system precedence.
This has led to a most unfortunate inconsistency.
A couple of weeks ago, 5.19 aired. In this episode, entitled "Hammer of the Gods", the Winchesters are captured by various gods from non-Christian pantheons as those gods try to figure out how best to use them as bargaining chips against the Judeo-Christian forces currently waiting to tear the world apart.
This episode had so much potential, but instead further muddied Supernatural's mythos.
Back in Season 3, in "A Very Supernatural Christmas," it seemed like Kripke was going with one of those generic explanations for the measure of a god's power: i.e., that the number of believers affected how powerful a god remained. With that in mind, it made sense to me that two hunters could take on and kill two pagan gods. These particular gods had very few believers and were relatively weak.
Meanwhile, the series has depicted the Judeo-Christian archangels as absurdly powerful. When Castiel and Dean talk about trapping Raphael even for a few seconds, they discuss the idea in terms of a suicide mission. We see that Zachariah (and even angels of Castiel's choir, whichever that is) can travel extensively in time. We see that Gabriel has the power to control reality completely. Every angel from Castiel's choir on up seem able to resurrect someone anytime they want. For all intents and purposes, archangels are little gods in Supernatural's reality.
So, if these are the abilities of angels - mere angels, who are supposed to be less than God, who is only one god among many - how much more powerful should we expect true gods to be? Especially gods who have some believers, unlike those poor pagan bastards from "A Very Supernatural Christmas"?
"Hammer of the Gods" began with promise, depicting the Winchesters as truly aware of their fearful and awesome predicament: trapped among gods the likes of Kali, Ganesha, Odin, and others.
The episode then proceeded metaphorically to castrate them all. (The gods, not the Winchesters.)
First, allow me to make a side-complaint: why the hell are all the gods feasters on human flesh in Supernatural? Furthermore, like these gods, if they fed on human flesh, would deign to kill and dine upon the corpse directly. They'd really have worshippers for that sort of thing. And Ganesha? Feeding on human flesh? Good grief.
(And why the hell did Odin have both his eyes? Come on now.)
Also, while I'm complaining, I'd like to note that I don't think Baron Samedi should have been included as a non-Judeo-Christian god seeing as how Vodou is a synthesis of West African beliefs and Catholicism.
However, allow me to return to my main point. If the gods in the Supernatural mythos are empowered in accordance with density of belief, then Kali and Ganesha should have been the most powerful gods there (along with Baron Samedi). Odin should have had a not insignificant bit of power as well thanks to modern Nordic pagans. Possibly Baldur as well. I can buy that Mercury would have been totally weak, and I'm not really sure about the rest.
Lucifer should not have been so easily able to dispatch them all (apart from Kali, who he really wasn't going to have a problem with). There should have been some epic battles going down at the Elysium Fields. EPIC. Instead, we just got broken necks and generic blood spatters as Lucifer shrugged with disdain and cast them all aside effortlessly.
Now, I understand that Lucifer is not just an archangel: he is also Satan, the devil, and as such he would also be empowered by density of belief. Even assuming that explanation, though, Kali and Ganesha and Baron Samedi should have been able to give him some trouble.
Especially considering Kali's speech on how all the assembled gods there were older than the Judeo-Christian God and this associated Apocalyptic nonsense. Really, Kripke?
Speaking of Lucifer, Lost starts in three minutes! Gotta run.
This has led to a most unfortunate inconsistency.
A couple of weeks ago, 5.19 aired. In this episode, entitled "Hammer of the Gods", the Winchesters are captured by various gods from non-Christian pantheons as those gods try to figure out how best to use them as bargaining chips against the Judeo-Christian forces currently waiting to tear the world apart.
This episode had so much potential, but instead further muddied Supernatural's mythos.
Back in Season 3, in "A Very Supernatural Christmas," it seemed like Kripke was going with one of those generic explanations for the measure of a god's power: i.e., that the number of believers affected how powerful a god remained. With that in mind, it made sense to me that two hunters could take on and kill two pagan gods. These particular gods had very few believers and were relatively weak.
Meanwhile, the series has depicted the Judeo-Christian archangels as absurdly powerful. When Castiel and Dean talk about trapping Raphael even for a few seconds, they discuss the idea in terms of a suicide mission. We see that Zachariah (and even angels of Castiel's choir, whichever that is) can travel extensively in time. We see that Gabriel has the power to control reality completely. Every angel from Castiel's choir on up seem able to resurrect someone anytime they want. For all intents and purposes, archangels are little gods in Supernatural's reality.
So, if these are the abilities of angels - mere angels, who are supposed to be less than God, who is only one god among many - how much more powerful should we expect true gods to be? Especially gods who have some believers, unlike those poor pagan bastards from "A Very Supernatural Christmas"?
"Hammer of the Gods" began with promise, depicting the Winchesters as truly aware of their fearful and awesome predicament: trapped among gods the likes of Kali, Ganesha, Odin, and others.
The episode then proceeded metaphorically to castrate them all. (The gods, not the Winchesters.)
First, allow me to make a side-complaint: why the hell are all the gods feasters on human flesh in Supernatural? Furthermore, like these gods, if they fed on human flesh, would deign to kill and dine upon the corpse directly. They'd really have worshippers for that sort of thing. And Ganesha? Feeding on human flesh? Good grief.
(And why the hell did Odin have both his eyes? Come on now.)
Also, while I'm complaining, I'd like to note that I don't think Baron Samedi should have been included as a non-Judeo-Christian god seeing as how Vodou is a synthesis of West African beliefs and Catholicism.
However, allow me to return to my main point. If the gods in the Supernatural mythos are empowered in accordance with density of belief, then Kali and Ganesha should have been the most powerful gods there (along with Baron Samedi). Odin should have had a not insignificant bit of power as well thanks to modern Nordic pagans. Possibly Baldur as well. I can buy that Mercury would have been totally weak, and I'm not really sure about the rest.
Lucifer should not have been so easily able to dispatch them all (apart from Kali, who he really wasn't going to have a problem with). There should have been some epic battles going down at the Elysium Fields. EPIC. Instead, we just got broken necks and generic blood spatters as Lucifer shrugged with disdain and cast them all aside effortlessly.
Now, I understand that Lucifer is not just an archangel: he is also Satan, the devil, and as such he would also be empowered by density of belief. Even assuming that explanation, though, Kali and Ganesha and Baron Samedi should have been able to give him some trouble.
Especially considering Kali's speech on how all the assembled gods there were older than the Judeo-Christian God and this associated Apocalyptic nonsense. Really, Kripke?
Speaking of Lucifer, Lost starts in three minutes! Gotta run.