Supernatural Brought [Spoiler] Back From the Dead and We Have Concerns

(Warning: This post contains spoilers from Thursday's episode of Supernatural, titled "Devil's Bargain." Read at your own risk.)

Another familiar face has returned toSupernatural, but this time, it's not good news.

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean's (Jensen Ackles) favorite trickster, the archangel Gabriel (Richard Speight Jr.), has somehow made his way back from the dead, but it's unclear how that's even possible. After all, he was killed by Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino) back in Season 5 and God declared his resurrection to be one of the few things out of his reach. Whatever the reason, Gabriel is back and now working for the bad guys as Asmodeus's (Jeffrey Vincent Parise) captive, which doesn't bode well for the Winchesters and the rest of Team Free Will.

Here are three reasons Gabriel's return is cause for concern:

It looks like he's been through a lot.

Instead of the mischevious archangel known for consistently pulling one over on our beloved Winchesters, we were met with a tortured version of the character. His disturbing appearance -- complete with a bloody face and lips sewn shut -- suggests that wherever he's been, it's a place you don't want to find yourself in. There's no telling how he'll get back to his old, fun self or if he ever will, but one thing is clear: This new Gabriel is not someone we'd like to run into.

He's been assigned a dangeous mission.

Gabriel might be working for Asmodeus but, to be fair, it seems to be totally against his will. Still, he's been tasked with the difficult mission of killing his brother Lucifer and we all know how things went the last time he tried that. The stakes are even higher now that Lucifer has been declared the new King of Heaven and grows stronger each day. With the Prince of Darkness now backed by the angels and the Prince of Hell breathing down his neck, the odds are truly against the trickster.

Somebody's going to get hurt and we've got a good guess as to who that might be.

The Winchesters and Asmodeus are headed for one major showdown and usually when two major forces collide, death and destruction follow. For Gabriel, who is about to enter the wrong side of the war, things are looking especially dire. There's a small chance he may con his way out of this supremely difficult situation but maybe don't get your hopes up.

Supernatural airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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