'Supernatural' season 11 episode 8 live; Gabriel tricks Sam as imaginary friend Sully

After the week-long break, The CW's "Supernatural" is returning with Season 1 Episode 8 on Wednesday, 2 November. Although the Darkness-filled future is looming over the Winchester brothers, their focus has at least temporarily shifted to Sully (Nate Torrence), an old imaginary friend from Sam's (Jared Padalecki) childhood.

The catch, however, is that Dean (Jensen Ackles) is also able to see him and although Sully seems to be harmless, the brothers catch wind of many other violent attacks, involving imaginary friends around town.

Although from the synopsis "Just My Imagination" may seem like a random episode focusing on yet another supernatural case, with Darkness around, and Sam's yet-to-be-deciphered visions, it isn't just a coincidence that Sam's closest friend entered the picture just in his time of need. Throughout the episode, we will see Sam's relationship with Sully and why he was a necessity in the young boy's life.

Sam and Sully's relationship draws a parallel with Dean and Castiel's (Misha Collins) bromance. Sam shares everything with Sully, things he wouldn't want to burden his brother with. It will be interesting to see Sam with a close friend and Dean becoming more-or-less a third wheel.

More importantly, Sully may not even be Sully at all, but a shape-shifting trickster. Ring a bell? Yes, we are talking about Gabriel (Richard Speight, Jr.), the archangel who has a soft spot for Sam and Dean. When the apocalypse drew close, and Sam and Dean chose not to cooperate with Michael (Jake Abel) and Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino), he tricked the brothers and trapped them in a TV land, trying to get through to them.

Since the arrival of Darkness in Season 10 finale, we have been speculating about revisiting the cage that houses Michael and Lucifer. Now, with Sam's visions about the cage, it is almost certain that they may in fact return in Season 11, in order to help Sam and Dean defeat Darkness.

As Richard, who portrays Gabriel in "Supernatural", is directing "Just My Imagination", it is only fitting that he returns -- proving yet again that no death in "Supernatural" is real death -- and instruct Sam and Dean on how to stop Darkness.

Watch out for Season 11 Episode 8 of "Supernatural" at 9.00 pm (EST) on Wednesday, 2 December. You can also live stream "Just My Imagination" via CWTV.