Sam and Castiel haven’t given up on Dean and getting rid of the Mark of Cain, and that means calling on the help of an old friend.

That’s right, Bobby’s back!

I recently spoke with actor Jim Beaver about his return as Bobby in Supernatural Season 10 Episode 17, teaming up with Castiel, and his favorite parts about playing the character.

Read on for more excerpts from the interview…

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This is pretty exciting to have your character back on the show again. Had it been talked about after your appearance in Supernatural Season 9 Episode 1 that you’d definitely be back for an episode in Supernatural Season 10 or was that more of a recent discussion?

I think that was a relatively recent decision on their part. I rarely know more than a few weeks before shooting an episode that they’re going to have me back. Let’s see, we shot this episode in February, and I think they let me know in November, which is pretty early. But yeah, normally, they rarely tell me until close till the episode is happening.

What was it like for you getting to come back to the set and seeing many of the cast and crew again?

Oh, it was great, you know. It’s such a warm and welcoming place there. And not all sets are. For some reason, some sets, some shows are kind of cold and isolate. I always have fun working wherever I am, but some shows you go to the first time and it’s a warm and welcoming place, and Supernatural was that. It just hasn’t changed. The people are as friendly and decent and fun to be around now as they were when I first stepped foot on the set. The only difference is now they are very much a family of mine and we’re all very close.

The last we saw of Bobby, he went to Heaven in Supernatural Season 8 Episode 19. So did you get to have any scenes with Sam and Dean or at the very least get to hang out with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles on set?

It’s kind of a complicated arrangement in how the guys on Earth reconnect with Bobby. Most of my interaction and scenes are with Castiel [played by Misha Collins], which was fun because it’s the first time I can remember that Bobby and Castiel team up for an episode. And you know, whenever you’re dealing with Castiel, things can go haywire. It was really fun, and it was a nice kind of sneaky adventure with kind of going behind the lines in Heaven.

We had a good time, and it was great to see Jared and Jensen as well as Misha. We always have a lot of fun on set.

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So it was probably pretty easy to get back into the role of Bobby again?

Oh, sure. It’s like a glove that fits. It’s one of the reasons I like doing the show. The character of Bobby is so comfortable to me, and I really enjoy playing him.

I work hard as an actor keeping my technique honed and fulfilling the job requirements as perfectly as I can, but that said, Bobby is really easy for me. I just feel like I know him so well, and after 10 years, I better.

Do you have any favorite Bobby-isms or phrases that Bobby gets to say?

Well, you know, both "idjits" and "balls," they showed up in the script one day, and I said, “Really? I have to say this?” I had no idea that those little verbal quirks of Bobby’s would turn into fan favorites. I get more kick out of Bobby’s sarcasm than anything else. He’s got a colorful way of phrasing things.

I think my favorite line of his ever is “Get the hell off my property before I blast you so full of rock salt you’ll crap margaritas.” That’s a great line. [It's from Supernatural Season 5 Episode 20, "The Devil You Know."] But it’s a great line because it’s funny and it has a great rhythm to it, but it’s so perfectly fitted for the character. It’s the only line you need to know exactly who this character is.

That’s one of the things I love about the character is being given such great things to say.

Is there anything you can tease about what’s in store for Wednesday's episode?

Castiel and Bobby have teamed up in Heaven to try and access some resources and possibilities that don’t exist anywhere else. And that’s all wrapped up around Dean and the Mark of Cain.

It’s kind of funny, Bobby also discovers he’s not the only Bobby Singer in Heaven, so that’s kind of fun. And they did a great job technically making Heaven look like this infinite place that just goes on for light years. It’s going to be visually exciting, but I think there’s a lot of heart to the episode.

You know, for a gruff old guy like Bobby, he does seem to be able to occasionally pull tears out of people, so I suspect the fans will need their Kleenex [for the episode].

And if the producers invite you back to Supernatural again would you say yes?

Oh my gosh, Yes! Anytime! I am the luckiest actor in the world. I’m working all the time and I do stuff I enjoy, but it’s such a home to me on Supernatural. I’m absolutely delighted to go back anytime they want me to.

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