Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel in "Supernatural" season 13 episode 13, "Devil's Bargain"
Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel in "Supernatural" season 13 episode 13, "Devil's Bargain" The CW Television Network

“Supernatural” season 14 will see a more profound bond grow between Sam and Cas. The upcoming season of the US series will be changing some relationship dynamics, with Dean out of commission for a while.

The last time Team Free Will worked together was in season 12 finale, in which Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles), Castiel (Misha Collins) and Jack (Alexander Calvert) worked on a case together. That was before Dean agreed to be used as archangel Michael’s (Christian Keyes) vessel to save Sam and Jack from Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino).

With Michael refusing to give up Dean’s body and using it as his own, TFW will be missing one key member when the show returns for its 14th season. This unfortunate development will at least make two characters grow closer together.

In an interview with EW, Collins said although Cas had become a brother to the Winchesters, the angel was closer to Dean, and their bond was “formed the moment that Cas pulled Dean out of Hell.” Cas also raised Sam from perdition, but he left behind something really important (i.e. Sam’s soul). In any case, Sam and Cas did not have the same intense connection, but that would change soon.

“Sam was initially more weary of Cas. They have grown closer over the years and we see that in the beginning of the season. They’re showing care and concern for one another to an extent that we haven’t quite seen before,” he said.

Sam and Cas had been left together before. In season 9’s “First Born,” Sam bonded with the seraph while Dean was out with Crowley (Mark Sheppard) to look for the first blade. They also had grown closer that time, but it appears that, based on Collins’ comments, they would become even more so. After all, Dean would be Michael apparently far longer than he had been a demon.

Misha Collins as Castiel and Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester in "Supernatural" season 9 episode 11, "First Born"
Misha Collins as Castiel and Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester in "Supernatural" season 9 episode 11, "First Born" The CW Television Network

“Michael does stick around longer than people might think, but Dean’s not going to be gone long,” Ackles told EW.

As for what Cas and Sam would do without Dean, the angel would naturally “pull out all the stops” to bring him back, while Sam, based on the trailer, would probably find himself in another leadership capacity.

“He’s willing to make any kind of deal with any kind of devil in order to Dean back,” Collins said of Castiel, which is the usual and repeated narrative of any of the main characters. “He’s attempting to form unsavoury alliances and leaving no stone unturned. The entire hunter clan is wildly searching for any possible solution to the problem.”

“Sam is grateful in a strange way almost to have something to do,” Padalecki added.

“Supernatural” season 14 will return on air in the US on Oct. 11. There is no air date for Australia yet.