Ezekiel’s ultimatum in Supernatural Season 9 Episode 3 kicked Castiel to the curb for fear of putting everyone at risk in the bunker.

I still don’t quite understand the logic, especially if Sam and Dean want to help protect their friend. It makes sense to have Castiel in close proximity rather than running out and coincidentally being able to save him from killer angels.

It’s not like the angels are going to stop, and the revelation that the spell of casting them out of Heaven is irreversible means those feathered soldiers of God are going to have plenty of time to take out their anger on the graceless Castiel. It’s going to be tough to fight back when you’ve got no powers and Sam and Dean aren’t around.

I wonder how long he can stay away before it becomes necessary to bring him back into the fold.

Supernatural Season 9 Episode 6 followed up from Castiel's banishment from the Men of Letters lair and established his employment, his new name Steve (in the purple striped shirt, he could have worked on Blue’s Clues) and a continuation of his adaptation as a human.

Unfortunately, he’s stuck cleaning “accidents” in the bathroom and babysitting. Being human is tough work, but his resilience and good natured personality does ring true even at his worst of times.

And that includes trying to fight off a special kind of angel who helps those in pain by obliterating them into a pink nothing. He was a rather creepy character, but one taken care of really easily.

He definitely reiterated how human Castiel is and fighting angels becomes a lot more complicated.

Thank goodness Dean was in town to slide that angel blade across the floor so Castiel could take out the pink angel.

And I’m glad Dean was the one who went to see Castiel, especially since it was his decision to send him packing. That said, I was a little surprised at how the whole matter wasn’t really discussed besides a “sorry” and “good job adapting.” It just felt too simple in a matter that’s way more complicated.

Sure, the scene where Dean was helping Castiel prepare for his date was humorous and sweet, and I liked how he recruited his old pal into helping try and solve the case. But after it all, to send him back right into the store because he’s human and the angels aren’t really his problem anymore?

So what happens when another angel shows up and Dean and Sam aren’t around? As much as the learning to be human story line is interesting, it’s still hard to understand why he can’t do that with the Winchester brothers.

Back at the lair, Sam and Kevin were left to bargain with the King of Hell to translate portions of the tablet even the prophet couldn’t read.

Of course, any scene with Crowley will have its fun sarcastic wit, and the bloody phone call was perfect for that, including getting put on hold and transferred. I wonder if demon calls get 4G?

And yet... Abaddon has quickly been scooping up souls and taking command. Crowley seems already to be a thing of the past, and all tied up in the bunker isn’t looking to change anytime soon. But what the heck was he doing when Sam was spying on him? And is he the same Crowley he used to be or did the humanity that began to show in Supernatural Season 8 Episode 23 really change him more than anyone realized?

At least Sam and Kevin learned the angel spell is irreversible. Maybe there’s some other way to fix the problem? It's not a good revelation for the Winchesters but I'm sure they'll figure something out, right?

As much as this was a return back to the main storyline not much really changed or moved forward except for a few bits and pieces. The angels are still everywhere, Castiel is by himself as a human, Sam has no idea about Ezekiel, Crowley is still locked up, and the brothers are nowhere near closer to finding a solution amidst all their problems.

It was an OK hour, but I wasn't wowed or engrossed throughout. I'm just hoping the series kicks itself back into gear and gives us more like Supernatural Season 9 Episode 1 and less Supernatural Season 9 Episode 5.

There's just so much potential in all the current elements laid out for this season that I'd hate for it to be squandered and end up a meandering mess.

Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.