Billie
| |
| Name | Billie |
| Actor | Lisa Berry |
| Dates | ???? – 2017 (killed by Castiel) 2017 – 2020 (absorbed into the Empty) |
| Location | The Empty |
| Occupation | Death Reaper (formerly) |
| Episode(s) | 11.02 Form and Void 11.10 The Devil in the Details 11.17 Red Meat 11.23 Alpha and Omega 12.06 Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox 12.09 First Blood 13.05 Advanced Thanatology 13.19 Funeralia 14.10 Nihilism 14.20 Moriah 15.09 The Trap |
It's funny to hear a Winchester talk about the finality of dying. This reality, it has rules, Dean. So many rules. And one of them: kill one incarnation of Death, like you did. The next reaper to die, takes his place. So, when Castiel stabbed me in the back, turns out I got a promotion. New job. New gear.
– Billie, 13.05 Advanced Thanatology
History
Billie is a reaper who was collecting souls in Superior, Nebraska, after the Darkness was released. After the death of Death, Billie made it her mission to ensure that the next time Sam and Dean Winchester die, they remain dead, threatening to take their souls to the Empty to ensure it. After getting killed by Castiel, she is reincarnated as the new Death and gains more understanding of the importance of the Winchesters' roles and their survival. However, its later revealed that Billie's true plan is to become the new God once God and the Darkness have been killed. Thanks to the sacrifice of Castiel, a mortally wounded Billie is absorbed into the Empty by the Cosmic Entity.
Characteristics
Personality
Due to the Winchesters killing the original Death, Billie held a grudge against them, and upon first meeting Sam, told him in no uncertain terms that she intended to send both Winchesters to the Empty when they died to ensure that they could never return.[1] While Billie couldn't kill the Winchesters herself due to the rules, she eagerly awaited her chance when they died or needed her help to be able to reap them.
Despite her stern and uncompromising demeanor, Billie is not unsympathetic to the suffering of others. When she attempted to reap Mary Winchester at Asa Fox's funeral, Billie brought up how much Mary was suffering due to being resurrected after thirty-three years dead and offered her peace. When Mary refused, Billie offered that if any of the Winchesters wanted a final peace, they could call her to reap them.[2] Later, while she refused to resurrect Crowley for Rowena, Billie expressed sympathy and understanding for the witch's suffering and attempted to help Rowena find peace in her loss.[3]
After becoming Death, Billie gained a greater understanding of the universe and everyone's place in it. While openly admitting she was still not a fan of the Winchesters, Billie was reluctantly forced to acknowledge that they had a greater role to play than she would like. As a result, Billie resurrected Dean herself when he died, but was intrigued to note how much Dean had changed, particularly when he offered Billie a selfless deal in exchange for information, one that she took without hesitation. Billie also took the time to offer Dean insight into her role as Death and what she had learned since they last met.[4]
A major aspect of Billie's personality as both a reaper and Death is her uncompromising stance on the rules of the universe. The reaper Jessica even pointed out at one point that Billie is all about the rules and was clearly unwilling to cross Billie by breaking them.[3] Billie's biggest rules are "what lives, dies,"[1] and "no direct interference." Even when Rowena started changing people's fates, Billie refused to directly interfere or let her reapers get involved, only sending Jessica to act as a resource for Sam and Dean. As a result, Jessica refused to do anything at all to help beyond give information, even when Dean was in danger.
Despite her stance on the rules, it's indicated that over time Billie has become somewhat less uncompromising, at least in very serious situations. God at one point comments that Billie is always "sticking her scythe in where it doesn't belong."[5] Due to the threat from the Apocalypse World Michael, Billie directly interfered by rescuing the Winchesters, Castiel, and Jack Kline from the grasp of Michael's Monsters, something she called "a calculated risk." With all but one version of Dean's fate showing Michael taking him over and using Dean to destroy the world, Billie passed Dean the information he would need to avert that, but left it up to Dean whether or not to use what she gave him.[6]
In her biggest breach of her own rules to date, upon Jack's death, Billie hid him in the Empty and not only brought Jack back personally, but she provided Jack with a plan that would let him become strong enough to kill God, and information on each of the Grigori he targeted.[7]
The Cosmic Entity eventually reveals that Billie's true goal all along has been to eliminate God and the Darkness so that she can take over as the new God in the power vacuum that will be created. According to the Entity, this is an extension of Billie's obsession with the rules as she wishes to return everything to the way it should be.[8]
Powers and abilities
- Soul control – As a reaper, Billie had a measure of control over the souls in the Veil, drawing them into Rowena's soul bomb to help kill the Darkness.[9]
- Telekinesis – Billie was able to telekinetically throw Sam and Dean to keep them from interfering in Mary's attempted sacrifice.[10]
- Biokinesis – As part of her deal with the Winchesters, Billie was able to stop their hearts and temporarily kill them.[10]
- Chronokinesis – As both a reaper and the new Death, Billie has displayed control over the flow of time, freezing time around Dean both times he died and they met in the Veil.[11][4]
- Teleportation – On many occasions, Billie has shown the ability to teleport. As Death, she was able to teleport the Winchesters and their allies from Michael's base to the Men of Letters Bunker without even being in the vicinity.[6]
- Resurrection – As per her deal with the Winchesters, Billie resurrected them both a short while after killing them.[10] As Death, she was able to resurrect Dean after his temporary death to find the bodies of Dr. Avery Meadows's victims.[4] She has also displayed the ability to resurrect beings from the Empty, bringing Jack back from the dead with his Nephilim powers intact.[7]
Weaknesses
- Angel blade – As a reaper, Billie could be killed by an angel blade.
- Cosmic Entity – Billie fears the Cosmic Entity as it is capable of killing her, which is shown when it drags her into the Empty.
- Death's Scythe – As the new incarnation of Death, Billie can now only be killed with her own scythe. Dean slices her hand and shoulder with the scythe. While not immediately fatal, these wounds caused her body to slowly rot away and she claims they would eventually kill her.
Episodes
11.02 Form and Void
As Sam is researching possible ways to cure the sickness that came with the Darkness, the song "O Death" begins reverberating through the hospital halls. When he goes to investigate he finds a woman singing the song while crouched over a dead body. Sam surmises she is a reaper, and asks her name but she is not forthcoming. Sam apologizes for his hand in killing Death. Billie tells him she is sorry too, but that people are still dying and souls need collecting. She says that she is "here" to deliver a message to Sam: All the times Sam and Dean have come back to life ends now, and the next time they die, they won't be going to Heaven or Hell -- whichever reaper comes to collect their souls will throw them into the Empty, a place that nothing can come back from. She tells Sam she can feel that he is dying and that he is "unclean in the biblical sense;" she then departs, telling Sam she will be seeing him real soon, revealing her name to him before disappearing.
11.10 The Devil in the Details
When Dean finds out Sam is in Hell with Lucifer, Crowley sends him to Kenesaw, Nebraska, where in a derelict-looking building he finds Billie standing behind the door. Billie demands the password from Dean and after some protest, he acquiesces to her demand and sings "Camptown Races." Dean initially assumes Billie to be a demon, but is corrected by her. She tells him she is working with Crowley and not for him, citing that with the state of things currently, it's a good idea to have the King of Hell owe you a favor. She hands Dean a large wooden box and walks over to a pair of doors with sigils painted over them. She touches them, causing them to glow, and then opens them to reveal a stairway to Hell. As Dean begins walking down, Billie stays behind and closes the doors.
Sometime later, Billie is sitting around reading a comic book when Castiel suddenly appears before her. She nonchalantly greets him and gives him access to Hell.
11.17 Red Meat
Believing Sam to be dead and desperate to bring him back to life, Dean overdoses on a handful of pills in order to get a face to face with Billie. Once he is out of his body, Billie emerges from a white light and freezes the room, telling Dean she is savoring his death. Billie quickly realizes that Dean is too much of a martyr to commit suicide, and asks him what he wants from her. He tells her he needs Sam back. Billie looks at Dean confused, but Dean continues to attempt to make a deal which Billie coldly passes on. Dean appeals to Billie by telling her the Darkness is still free, and Sam can stop her, otherwise once she gets started the world will burn, destroying everything and everyone including Billie. When Billie questions Dean how Sam can stop the Darkness, Dean can't answer. Billie applauds Dean for pretending to want to save Sam for the "greater good," but sees right through Dean and knows he's doing it for himself, because he can't lose his brother. Billie tells Dean that even if Sam could stop the Darkness, the answer would still be "no," as the Winchesters have lost all their second chances. When Dean attempts to trade his life for Sam's, Billie once again refuses, telling Dean she is here to reap him, not bargain, and remarking on the irony that Sam is not dead, but Dean soon will be. Billie extends her hand and tells Dean his time is up and that the Empty is waiting for him. As Dean stares blankly at Billie, Dr. Kessler injects a syringe of adrenaline into his heart to revive him, prompting a dismayed Billie to walk out of the room and into the white light from whence she came.
11.23 Alpha and Omega
After Sam and Dean collect the ghosts that have resided at Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Billie appears, watching the Winchesters walk away. Later when Sam and Dean return to the Bunker, the security system seemingly shuts down as Billie makes her entrance. She tells Sam and Dean she saw them at Waverly Hills and questions why, with the world coming to an end, they would be out "busting ghosts." They tell of their plan to collect souls for a bomb to kill the Darkness. Billie simply replies with an "okay" and offers to help them. With the crystal in her hand, souls begin whooshing into the Bunker to it in increasing volume. When asked how many she collected, Billie tells them a couple hundred thousand, having raided the souls stuck in the Veil.
12.06 Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox
Billie appears outside of the house of dead hunter Asa Fox and tells Dean that something is killing hunters inside and she has already reaped a soul within. Billie is amused by Dean's efforts to get in and agrees to get him inside in exchange for him owing her one. Billie is able to throw Dean through the warded door and into the house. The next morning, Billie appears and tells Dean he owes her one: Mary Winchester. Billie tells them she's a believer that what's dead should stay dead and states that she can tell that Mary doesn't want to be alive and offers her mercy by taking her to Heaven. After Billie confirms that she can't kill Mary due to the rules, Mary declines. Billie tells the Winchesters that if any of them ever change their mind they should call her and then she disappears.
12.09 First Blood
A desperate Dean calls Billie for help for escaping from Site 94. Billie makes a deal bound in blood with the Winchesters where she will kill them for a time and then bring them back to give them a chance to escape. In return, one Winchester must die for good at midnight. At midnight, Billie appears in the road, stops Mary's car, explains the deal, and demands the Winchesters keep up their end. Mary offers herself up in her sons' place and goes to take her own life, but before she can, Castiel stabs Billie from behind with an angel blade, killing her and stating that the world can't afford to lose any of the Winchesters.
13.05 Advanced Thanatology
After Dean temporarily induces his own death, his reaper Jessica realizes who he is and reports that Dean Winchester is in the Veil. When Sam's attempt to revive Dean fails, Dean is surprised by the sight of Billie, who reveals that after Castiel killed her, she became the new Death, explaining that when Death dies, the first reaper to be killed after him will take up his mantle. Telling Dean they need to talk, Billie teleports herself and Dean to a place she refers to as her "reading room." She tells Dean that she has heard that he and Sam have been jumping universes and questions him how that is possible. Dean tells her that as Death she should know, but Billie replies that this information eludes her, much to her annoyance. Realizing Dean has the upper hand, he strikes a deal: in exchange for the information, Billie must release the souls trapped in Meadows' home. Billie agrees to the terms and has Jessica usher the souls out of the Veil. Curious as to why he didn't ask her to revive him, Dean tells her he figured it was a moot point and was prepared to die. Billie tells him he has changed and no longer has the same bravado of a man that has died multiple times. Dean explains that after his recent failings, he is prepared to die if it is his time. Billie, however, shows Dean a shelf with notebooks dedicated to him, and the various ways that he may die based on his choices in life. she tells Dean that now is not his time, and that with her taking on the mantle of Death, she sees the big picture, and much to her chagrin, she finds that he and Sam are important and that they have work to do and that's all he needs to know. When Dean attempts to ask her about Mary, Billie sends him away, resurrecting him.
After sending Dean away, Billie begins reading from one of the many notebooks on Dean's shelf.
13.19 Funeralia
After Rowena attempts to change her fate and summon Death by killing Sam Winchester, Billie appears. She warns that Rowena is upsetting the natural order. Rowena replies that she will stop if Billie brings Crowley back to life. Billie denies her request, and when Rowena threatens to kill Sam, Billie encourages her, telling Rowena she doesn't do blackmail, despite knowing that killing Sam would cause unforeseen consequences to the natural order. When Rowena fails to kill Sam, Billie attempts to comfort her by telling her "some things just are... and everyone has to live with that." She tells Dean she will see him soon and departs with Jessica.
14.10 Nihilism
In a desperate attempt to escape Michael's Monsters, Sam calls upon the Reaper Jessica whom Billie had following the Winchesters around. However, the Reaper Violet appears instead and reveals that Billie now has Reapers following them around in shifts. Sam attempts to convince Violet to teleport the group to safety, but she refuses due to Billie's rules. Despite this, Sam, Castiel, Jack, and Michael are suddenly teleported to the Bunker.
Later, as Dean recuperates in his room, Billie appears to him. Having heard the story of the others' inexplicable escape, Dean realizes that it was in fact Billie who was responsible, despite it being against the rules. Billie admits to rescuing Sam and the others, stating that she "took a calculated risk" and asks Dean not to tell anyone. Billie chides Dean for ignoring her warnings about crossing universes; Dean replies that it was worth it to rescue Jack and their mother. Billie reminds Dean of his visit to Death's Reading Room and all of the notebooks showing the various ways he could die. Billie warns Dean that all of those notebooks have now changed: all but one fate has Michael escaping his prison in Dean's mind and using Dean's body to destroy the world. Billie hands Dean the notebook containing the one fate where Michael loses, shocking Dean at what it reveals must be done. Billie tells Dean that it's up to him to decide what he will do with the information and departs, leaving Dean with the notebook.
14.11 Damaged Goods
Dean reveals to Sam that Billie told him that the only way to stop Michael is the Ma'lak Box. Because no one knows how to create one, Billie provides Dean with the instructions he needed.
14.20 Moriah
When God returns, He comments that He preferred the old Death over Billie, whom God states sticks her scythe in where it doesn't belong.
After Jack Kline is killed by God, Billie appears in the Empty with Jack and the Cosmic Entity. After Jack asks what's happened, Billie tells him that they need to talk.
15.03 The Rupture
As she prepares to sacrifice herself to save the world, Rowena reminds Sam of Billie's prophecy that Sam will be the one to kill her while trying to convince Sam to do it.
15.06 Golden Time
When Sam suggests that they can both use Rowena's resurrection spell, the Witch Mother tells him that a spell like that will only work once before Billie discovers the loophole and closes it to prevent its further use.
15.09 The Trap
As Jack looks around the Empty, Billie appears behind him to announce that, "It's time."
15.11 The Gamblers
A resurrected Jack reveals to a Grigori that he is hunting the angel and knows of his deeds because Death told him. Jack later explains to the Winchesters and Castiel that Billie kept him stashed away in the Empty for safety until God left the Earth. Once God was gone, Billie resurrected Jack and provided him with a plan that she claims can make Jack become strong enough to kill God Himself.
15.12 Galaxy Brain
15.13 Destiny's Child
After the Winchesters encounter alternate versions of themselves, Billie appears in the bunker to explain that the alternate Sam and Dean were fleeing the destruction of their world by God who is almost done destroying alternate universes and will soon turn His attention back to theirs. Billie states that she has come to bring Jack his second quest and that while the first was meant to strengthen his body, the second will be of a more spiritual nature. Billie orders the Winchesters, Castiel, and Jack to find the Occultum, though she refuses to explain what it will do and says she doesn't know where to find it. After they accept, Billie pointedly warns the group that they must be careful and not draw attention to themselves or they risk everything. Billie's plan is ultimately revealed to be to use the Occultum to restore Jack's soul, which is successful.
15.16 Drag Me Away (From You)
Billie pays a visit to Dean while he's on a personal case with Sam in Wadsworth, Ohio. She tells him that Chuck has destroyed his last world and will be arriving soon. She says she has given Jack his final instructions and that they should be ready for the fight.
When Dean asks Billie how she convinced Jack to kill himself to stop Chuck, she tells Dean she told Jack the truth -- that the only way Dean will be able to forgive Jack is by sacrificing himself to kill Chuck.
15.17 Unity
Billie's instructions lead Jack and Dean to Adam, the first man, who has spent the last 300,000 years finding a way to kill God. Adam reveals that the plan that Billie is using is actually his and that Billie has been giving them a hand.
Using the Key to Death, Sam visits Death's Library in search of Billie, but finds the Cosmic Entity who is attempting to force the reapers to call Billie for it. The Entity reveals that Castiel's visit to the Empty in search of Ruby had shaken its trust in Billie and her plan. To Sam's shock and horror, the Entity explains that Billie wishes to kill God and the Darkness in order to take over as the new God herself in the power vacuum that will be created. Billie intends to put everything back as it belongs: the Entity asleep, the angels and demons back in Heaven and Hell respectively, those who should be dead gone again and those from other realities back where they belong. Though the Entity has found God's death book, only Billie can read it. Sam convinces the Entity that Billie sent him and it gives Sam the book.
Returning to the Bunker, Sam attempts to stop Jack from killing Chuck and Amara in order to stop Billie's plans. At the same time, Chuck reveals to Amara that He actually manipulated time and space to get events to this point and goaded Billie, all as part of His true ending. Sam reveals to Dean Billie's true intentions, stating that if she succeeds, all of the people that they have saved will die and everyone they rescued from Apocalypse World will be sent back to a world that no longer exists. Sam eventually talks Dean down, causing Chuck to depart in a rage after stating He no longer cares what happens.
15.18 Despair
Billie suddenly appears and angrily tells the group that they've done enough and were so close, but Dean points out that Chuck saw the whole thing coming with Sam stating that it was doomed. Billie insists that it was doomed because of them. Castiel states that Billie led Jack through his trials and knows what is happening to him and so can stop it. However, Billie states that can't stop it but she can do something else: grasping Jack by the chin, she causes him to vanish and reappear in the Empty.
Billie explains to the Winchesters and Castiel that she sent Jack to the Empty because it was "the only player on the board that could possibly absorb that impact" with Chuck and Amara gone. Billie confirms that it's done now and that Jack is "maybe" dead. Dean reminds Billie that she told them that it was a suicide mission, but Billie clarifies that she had only said that taking out Chuck and Amara would be fatal, which Castiel realizes is because it would cause a chain reaction. However, the Cosmic Entity is different, not as strong as Chuck or Amara but vast and if both it and Jack survive, it will be pissed, especially after what she just did. Dean is unsympathetic and Billie reminds them that the Entity can't come to Earth, which Sam confirms, stating that it can't come without being summoned.
Dean and Castiel demand that Billie bring Jack back if he did in fact survive, but Billie refuses until she gets what she came for. Billie demands Chuck's Death Book back from Sam, but Sam confronts Billie about the fact that she had always intended to betray them once they defeated God in order to take power herself and how everyone who got a free pass or a second chance, were all gonna die, including Sam and Dean. Sam accuses that of being the order she wants restored and her true endgame. Billie doesn't deny it and Castiel points how Billie lied to everyone. Sam questions what would stop Billie from stabbing them in the back if he does give her the book, but Billie says that Sam has no choice as Jack won't last long even if he is still alive and if they want him back, Sam will give her the book now.
Sam reluctantly brings in the book, but drops it on the table instead of handing it to Billie directly. Billie opens the book to the end, revealing that since they ruined the last one, the book has a new ending. Dean impatiently demands that she bring Jack back now, but she shushes Dean and just continues reading. Visibly pleased by what the book says, Billie comments that it's interesting before bringing Jack back from the Empty. However, Billie states that Jack is hers as Jack is still useful. As Billie prepares to take Jack and leave, Dean grabs her scythe and swings at Billie. Though Billie avoids a killing blow, Dean slashes her shoulder, causing it to glow and Billie to drop Chuck's book. Tossing Dean aside, Billie grasps her wounded shoulder and teleports away without Jack, the book, or her scythe.
Billie walks through her library where a reaper states that he has put up the warding that she asked for which should stop the Entity from getting back inside. Billie confirms that the plan has in fact changed. Subsequently, when people start vanishing from existence, the Winchesters suspect that Billie has begun to strike. After discovering that Eileen is gone too, Sam decides to get everyone somewhere safe for as long as he can while Dean decides to kill Billie using her scythe in order to stop Billie for good.
Armed with the scythe Dean and Castiel enter Death's Library using the Key to Death. Dean finds Billie standing at her table where she quips about it being the part where she greets him with "hello, boys" before doing so as Castiel emerges as well, armed with an angel blade. Billie mockingly asks if Dean intends to kill her with her own weapon, commenting that he'd better improve his aim. Dean states that he wasn't trying to kill her before, but now she's killing all of his friends. Calling it interesting, Billie throws Dean across the room and begins choking Castiel before lifting him off of the ground, reminding him how he stabbed her in the back. Dean attacks Billie again with the scythe, pinning her to the wall and cutting her hand. As Billie struggles to keep the scythe away from her throat, Dean states that it's over and demands that Billie call it all off and stop killing his people. To Dean's shock, Billie reveals that she is not responsible for killing Dean's friends and he is in the wrong place. Billie reveals that if people are disappearing, it's most likely Chuck who is responsible and thus Dean is just wasting time by coming after her. Billie then explains that Dean had mortally wounded her earlier and shows Dean and Castiel her festering shoulder wound. As a result, while Billie doesn't care about Dean's friends and family, she now wants him dead and is pleased to have the chance to make that happen. Disarming Dean, Billie strikes him across the face and swings her scythe at Dean and Castiel, who dodge the strike. Billie throws them with telekinesis and the two flee through the door back to the Bunker with Billie chasing after them.
As Dean tries to figure out what to do, Billie appears on the Bunker's balcony, her wounded right hand now wilted and shaking, and causes pain in Dean's heart. Chasing them, Billie calls Dean rule-breaking and death-defying and everything that she lives to set right, to put down, and to tame. Dragging her scythe against the wall, Billie continues taunting Dean while casually strolling through the Bunker after Dean and Castiel. Billie chases the two to the dungeon where Castiel puts up a ward in blood that blocks Billie's grip on Dean.
Undaunted, Billie begins pounding on the door causing the sigil to start sparking as Billie slowly breaks through it. Castiel suggests that they can wait Billie out since she is already dying from her wound and if they can't, they fight. Dean knows that they'll lose and that he just led them into another trap because Dean couldn't hurt Chuck and so needed something to kill instead due to his anger. In order to fulfill his deal with the Cosmic Entity, the one being capable of stopping Billie, Castiel expresses his love for Dean and experiences a moment of true happiness. As Billie finally breaks through the door, a portal to the Empty opens. Billie slowly approaches, watching as Castiel shoves Dean to the ground to protect him. The Entity sends two dark tendrils through the portal, one of which absorbs Billie and drags her to the Empty while the other does the same with an unresisting Castiel.
