Summary

• Death's physical presence instantly increases the stakes for the Winchesters, making their mission to cage Lucifer even more significant.
• Death's role allows for the exploration of new possibilities, such as reviving loved ones, and showcases his nonchalant yet orderly nature.
• Death's fondness for the Winchesters is evident in his interactions with them, even when they make difficult choices. His calmness and relatable quirks make him a compelling character.

Supernatural's original depiction of Death is only in five episodes, with some making a far greater story and performance impact than others. Death, first portrayed by Julian Richings, s the show during season 5 when Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino) is freed from hell, instigates an apocalypse, and binds Death to unwillingly help. Despite being in only a handful of episodes, the character's physical presence instantly increases the stakes for the Winchesters. For instance, Death makes Dean (Jensen Ackles) promise to do whatever he can to cage Lucifer, even if it means losing Sam.

Being Death, he shifts the boundaries of the finality of dying for many characters, introducing the potential for Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean to try and revive each other or other loved ones. Additionally, like other characters on the show played by multiple actors, Death has three iterations over Supernatural's 15 seasons, since the last reaper to perish takes on the role when Death dies. Death, especially Richings' portrayal, can also unexpectedly be an ally for the Winchesters in some of his best appearances, typically being very forthcoming about his motivations and consequences of what the brothers ask of him.

5 Season 9, Episode 1

“I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here”

Death's role in "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" is smaller than his other appearances, but is very important to the trend of the Winchesters outrunning their demises. After the trials to shut the Gates Of Hell, Sam is in a coma and Death appears to reap him. Being one of the last times the Winchesters interact with him, Death's appearance as opposed to a reaper's signifies his fondness for the brothers. He tells Sam it's an honor to reap him and compliments his attempts at shutting the Gates despite being unsuccessful.

Additionally, the episode shows one of Dean's worst betrayals of Sam. Sam, while in his coma, tells Death he's ready to die and asks for it to be permanent. However, before Death can carry this out, the angel Gadreel, as Ezekiel in Dean's form, appears to stop him and get him to agree to a possession. Death's lack of interference speaks to the nonchalance he often displays, and emphasizes him as a being of order who believes in free will, unlike Billie, who exacts order regardless of the consequences when she takes on the role of Death later.

4 Season 7, Episode 1

“Meet The New Boss”

In "Meet The New Boss," Death exhibits his hands-off approach again after Crowley (Mark Sheppard) helps Sam and Dean summon and bind Death to them. These events take place after Castiel (Misha Collins) absorbs the Leviathans from Purgatory. After Castiel arrives and threatens to kill them, he breaks the binding before Death can kill him under Dean's orders. Death agrees to help the Winchesters prevent Castiel's vessel from exploding, since he finds the "mutated angel" arrogant. His solution to get the Leviathans back to Purgatory is what sets the Winchesters' plan in motion, as it gives them a starting point.

Moreover, Death is the first character to explain what Leviathans are. While even Supernatural its the Leviathans were a bad idea, their lore is interesting. They are a glimpse into what supposedly existed before angels and humans. Death expresses he finds them entertaining but that they were locked in Purgatory because they threatened to destroy the world, establishing their threat level as on par, if not worse, than Lucifer and Michael's showdown in season 5. Death also showcases his powers by saying he'll incite a lunar eclipse so that the door to Purgatory can be opened, which s his importance to the Winchesters' success.

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3 Season 6, Episode 11

“Appointment In Samarra”

"Appointment In Samarra" is another example of Death's fondness for Sam and Dean, as well as how his presence on the show allows Dean to explore more avenues when trying to save Sam. In this case, Dean goes to a doctor to stop his heart so that his soul will depart and he can ask Death to retrieve Sam's soul and Adam (Jake Abel) from Lucifer's cage. Death indulges Dean but makes him choose between his brothers as well as wear his ring for a day. Ultimately, Dean chooses Sam and agrees to Death's .

However, Dean fails Death's test when he takes the ring off before the day ends after refusing to reap a dying little girl in a hospital. The chain reaction of other deaths is what leads to Dean removing the ring and realizing that Death knew he wouldn't succeed. Death, pleased by Dean learning a lesson about the natural order, still holds up his end of the deal. This indicates Death's recurring urge to see Dean and Sam succeed, since he gives Sam's mind a wall to help him cope mentally with his damaged soul being returned.

2 Season 10, Episode 23

“My Brother’s Keeper”

Richings' final appearance as Death is in "My Brother's Keeper," where he, once again, offers a solution to a problem posed by Dean. With Dean struggling to fight the violent tendencies associated with The Mark of Cain, he summons Death to kill him. Although Death says the mark won't allow it, he offers a solution: ing it on to someone else. Death, again, provides context and sets up the imminent antagonist, the Darkness, in his conversation with Dean. He explains Lucifer had the Mark first and that it acts as a way to keep the Darkness, who is God's counterpart, locked up.

Dean calls Sam and Death sits by as the brothers fight. When Dean hesitates to kill Sam with Death's scythe, Death says he will do it if Dean doesn't. This shows how, despite his fondness for them, maintaining cosmic balance is still at the forefront for him. Dean kills Death with the scythe, symbolizing an end to the long-running alliance between the brothers and Death, and Riching's last time on Supernatural. Ending the original Death's story at the hands of one of the show's constant threats to the natural order of life and death is a poignant way to hint at later conflict around the same struggle with Billie as Death.

1 Season 5, Episode 21

“Two Minutes To Midnight”

Richings' Death boasts arguably one of the most memorable and praised character entrances on the show, making his first appearance his best. After Sam and Dean defeat the other Horsemen of the Apocalypse, death omens like storms start cropping up. Death's entrance perfectly summarizes the essence of his character with his suave clothing, vintage car, authoritative walk, superior power (he kills a rude erby after he bumps into him), and his love for fast food. Not to mention, his first time on-screen was set to an evocative cover of "Oh Death" by Jen Titus as he exited his car and walked in slow motion.

Richings shared with EW that the introduction to his character sets him up as an all-powerful and intimidating being who is irritated by small things. He explained, "the curiosity that he has with the habits of the humans" and his delight at things like fast food are what make him relatable. Subverting confrontation, like with the other Horsemen, into a conversation with Dean solidifies Death's calmness, which he maintains throughout his time on the show. Balancing the pull of his character's power, nonchalance, and intimidation with smaller relatable quirks are part of what makes Supernatural's original Death such a compelling character.

Source: EW