THINGS THAT HAPPENED:
Jensen Ross Ackles made the acting choice to pick up Castiel's trench coat and fold it gently like a flag because he believed that's what Dean would've done.
Jensen Ross Ackles was so pissed about the Destiel conflict and Dean treating Cas so harshly in the so-called divorce arc that he confronted the writer (Bobo) about it. He asked for explanation and toning the conflict down.
Jensen Ross Ackles, when asked about what he was most excited to tackle with his character in the final season of the show, took a time to think about his answer and then WITH ZERO HESITATION said: CAS.
Jensen Ross Ackles called Castiel's goodbye (aka the confession) a pivotal moment for the whole arc of the show.
Jensen Ross Ackles asked a crew member to record the confession ON HIS PHONE because he wanted to have the og, unedited version of the confession.
Jensen Ross Ackles said Dean would've said "I love you too" and then hugged Cas.
Jensen Ross Ackles admitted to the crowd of thousands of fans that Dean's biggest regret was not being able to save Cas.
Jensen Ross Ackles wrote a song about Cas.
SUPERNATURAL 6.22 The Man Who Knew Too Much
Jensen Ackels' mind during the homosexual declaration of love
He was flashbacking to the most pivotal moments in their relationship I'm gonna be sickkkkkkkk
I've gotta say, I find the concept of Bedlund trying to Ben-Hur Jensen absolutely hysterical. I'm just imagining Jensen getting a script and being like "Ben?? What's this? Is this gay? This seems gay????" and Ben just soothing him like a frightened horse.
Hahaha - Look it wouldn't be the first time. What is this verb we're working with? Okay. Strap in everyone. The Multi-Oscar-winning 1959 movie 'Ben Hur' had a bunch of gay subtext. The writer, the director, and the second lead actor all knew that Charlton Heston's character, Ben Hur, was gay. However, one person didn't find out until the 1990s: Charlton Heston. The consensus on set was "Don’t tell Charlton, because he’ll freak out." and when Heston found out in the ninties, freak out was exactly what he did. (x) [the movie may have gotten a reference from Misha back in season 6 (x)]
Whether this happened with Jensen on SPN depends on two things.
- Was the character of Dean intentionally written as Bi and, if so, at what point did that become true?
- Did anyone tell Jensen? Did he figure it out? if so, when?
I personally DO believe at this point, I really do, that Bedlund - Ben Hur'd Jensen. I think it was part of the writers room but not all of it, until it was. (Which RN I believe finally happened under Dabb.) I think Jensen wasn't in on it, until he was. So for me? I think he really was in the dark at one point. But at what point that changed? Probably only he can answer that question. and RN? He ain't talking.
In the meantime we can only look at things Jensen has said on the subject - Like this unbearably ambiguous GIF set from @nikadd. Was this tongue in cheek? Legitimate ignorance? You're killing me, Jensen. That cheeky lil smile, Jensen. Nvm - I'm going to kill you instead. It's for my own survival. No hard feelings right? You understand.
UH OH HERE COMES A CUT TO HIDE A LONG DERANGED POST...
I sometimes wonder how people can still watch the show and act like Dean didn’t love Cas.
Even if you don’t believe it was romantic (I personally do). It was far more than platonic love he felt for him.
The evidence is all there.
The longing glances. From early on in their friendship straight through to the end when Cas sacrificed himself for Dean.
Telling him he would rather 'have him cursed or not,' and 'needed him'. Dean's ways of telling people that he loved him.
All their hugs that they shared, which felt far more intimate than any of the hugs between Cas and Sam. Which seemed more brotherly in nature.
The intimate touches he would give to Cas whenever he thought he was hurt, dying or dead.
And finally, that moment when Cas sacrificed himself for him. The moment where he did lose Cas forever. Where he was sobbing on the floor and wouldn’t even answer the phone to his own brother! Dean would never ignore a call to his brother when the world was ending. But at this moment he was in so much pain he just couldn't keep going.
All of that was a man in love with his best friend. Their relationship may not have been perfect, but you can see they still loved each other with their whole heart.
And in some ways they completed each other.
Season 8 [gag reel]
Season 8 [gag reel]