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verobatto · 3 years

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Unrequited Destiel...

The Legend of The Sun and The Moon

I just wanted to explain in a few words to those that are asking why Dean didn't reply to Cas or why is Jensen talking about angelical way to feel things.

I know they're a lot of post saying WE TOLD YOU THIS AND THAT, and is true. Because if you read my Destiel Chronicles from the beginning, you will see I ALWAYS CALLED THE UNREQUITED LOVE FROM CAS AND DEAN'S POV.

Some of you disbelieves this idea, but is the only way to intepretate why Destiel is the slowest slow burn ever.

No more intro, let's suffer together...

Season 4 and 5 JUST A FLIRTING GAME

Once Dean was pulled out from Hell, Castiel wanted to talk with him. He didn't wait a second. Things blew and it was messy, and even Bobby was scared that that thing would hurt his idjit. But it was just Cas, trying to speak with Dean, desperately trying to reach him in his true form. Why? Because he wanted to talk with him. He had to explain Dean's mission but also, he felt fascinated. And even more after their first meeting face to face when he was finally able to find a vessel.

And Dean just it took him just a little of his time to feel the same fascination. The almighty angel, that could see right through his soul.

But also the angel that said things like...

And we have the handprint too, such an intimate sign between these two.

Castiel showing him, honestly showing him with words and actions, his special interest on him:

"My superiors begun to question my sympathies. I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You."

How would Dean take this here? The poor guy just decided to check out the angel, and speechless as he was at that moment, couldn't reply to it. "Is he flirting with me? Does he know how gay this sounds?"

Then Cas rebel against Heaven for Dean. Dean pushed him, the whole he pushed Cas to help him. If you rewatch season 4 Dean is constantly asking Cas to help him. Because he already know Cas was different. Because he felt Cas was his friend, his ally, and something else it was growing up in his chest.

While Cas pushed him against the wall, cut his forearm and drew the sigil, Dean's face is full of awe. He can't believe this soldier powerful angel is doing this for him.

And then... "We're making it up as we go."

Gif credit @cyxnrose

The beginning of season 5 is a very busy Cas searching for God, but also, the flirtation begins. Dean is like a cute boy flirting with his crush. The second meaning jokes, trying to figure out if Cas catch it is hilarious. But he will understand 'Cas doesn't understand that reference.'

From Dean's POV in these two season, we coul under he thinks angels are junk less.

Season 6: The profound Bond and the Longing

The romantic feeling from both sides began to flow even more when Castiel goes into the black side, and the first Destiel break up appears infron of our eyes in the middle of a very romantic scenes.

Gif credit @starlightcastiel

Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind

The last gif is out of discussion, bot men looking at each other with sad eyes, longing and as if their conversation isn't over. Dean being disappointed at Cas and Cas trying to make him see his point. Everything he does, he does it for Dean.

And now we know why it is.

Season 7: Mourning Dean and the Jealousy

Even with Showrunner Sera Gamble trying to focus Dean's morning into a Wincest subtext, we had put king Ben Edlund came to the rescue in episode 7x09.

Putting things in order, we were faced with Dean's source of depression: Castiel's death.

So, after that, when Cas really comes back, the reunion is another romantic movie. The MEMORY LOST trope.

And then... Castiel's pseudo wife...

The trope is getting better with the spicy Jealousy in Dean's eyes.

Gif credit @impalaofgrace

So he can't completely enjoy Cas is back because:

1) He doesn't remember him: so, how can be mad or anything else if Cas doesn't remember any details of their break up?

2)The guy has a wife! Okay, so, he has a wife, he easily got a wife from... Nowhere?

And then Meg comes and he is Jealous all over again!

Dean is a really mess of feelings, but in the end, when Cas recalls everything, and when I say everything, i mean Dean, because the majority of his memories was him, Dean just pulls out from his car Castiel's bloody trenchcoat and gives it him back!

So, if there was any doubts about why was Dean mourning and depressed for, we have the confirmation!

Then, let's turn the page, because now is Cas the mess... Depressed and suffering, because he almost destroy heaven, but, do you know what cares the most to Cas and when he cheers up? Yes...

When Dean says... "I RATHER JAVE YOU, CURSED OR NOT" Castiel immediately changed his face, he smiles, and kept staring at Dean with heart eyes. He was happy because Dean was forgiving him. Because since he recovered his memories, the biggest cause of it was Dean's rejection. Dean not being able to forgive him. That was the main cause of his sadness. That's why he avoided reality, he didn't have a cause, because his cause was Dean and Dean was mad at him. But now? Cas is happy again. That's why he decides to come back to battle. "I'll go with you."

Season 8 Purgatory of love and Pining!Dean

Okay, is in this season, Carver era, when Dean's POV has a turning point about Castiel and his true feelings for him and is in this season, when Dean starts pining strongly for the angel, and feeling his love is unrequited.

The cause of it, is Purgatory. The Purity about Purgatory resided in the capacity of that place to resides in abolish every human necessity to let the mind to focused in what really matters. In this case for Dean was SURVIVE AND CAS.

So we can say that what remained pure in Dean's heart was TO FIND CASTIEL.

That's why he prayed to him every night, and that's why in the moment Cas CONFESS he ran away to protect him, something in Dean changes forever.

Gif credit @agusvedder

If you pay attention to Dean's face reaction here, is the expression of the man that realizes in that precisely moment his feelings for Castiel. Even Cas stares to a side, because there was Benny watching them, and the thing he was about to say it was too intimate. I did it to protect you.

Dean, the Big Protector, is being protected by Castiel. So, in Purgatory, Dean Winchester find out his not platonic love for his best friend.

Then we had the entire season with pining!Dean and deception.

Dean's mind invented one excuse for Castiel running away from him because thinking his best friend abbandoned him, was just too painful. He does this again when Cas pushed him inside the gate and he stays in Purgatory. Dean just rewrote in his mind the whole sequence. Imagining that Cas was defeated. But the reality was, Castiel wanted to stay. And when Cas reveals this truth to the hunter, Dean's face is a mix of deep sadness and deception. He felt really rejected by his friend. He felt his unrequited romantic love for him. But he will feel it more stronger in the crypt scene, with the brainwashing and how Castiel's love for Dean broke th connection. But he left. That was a real rejection the hunter barely could handled.

Season 9: Pinning!Castiel and Human!Cas

When Cas became Human, he has to face all the intensity of human's feelings. In this season, is time for our angel to realize his romantic love for the hunter.

Castiel will mirroring Dean's pining in season 8, and he will also feel rejected by him.

Just like Dean in season 8, Castiel will feel his romantic love is unrequited, after Dean kicked him out from the bunker, being this the parallel to the crypt scene.

But then Cain's mark comes, and everything gets worst.

Season 10: Castiel is Dean's Colette

The whole Cain's mark was the visual sign of the Destiel handprint (profound bond) attempt of break.

With Cain and Dean going through a perfect parallelism in which Crowley was placed in the friend's spot, Sam in the brother's spot and Castiel in Colette's spot. Blatant and canon exposure of what Cas means for Dean.

But now, is time for Dean, after came back for being a demon, to feel unrequited again. And this is a detail that could be not seen, but it caught my attention.

CASTIEL: At least temporarily. It’s a long story. Crowley, stolen grace. There’s a female outside in the car.

This is what Castiel says when he goes into Dean's room and after Dean praises him...

Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind

Dean had been with Crowley when he was a demon this whole time, so Cas was heartbroken. Even this season opens with a very depressed Castiel in the bed just let himself die because Dean was gone. So, that's why Cas says this.

So you went with Crowley, i have a female in my car. See? I don't need you.

He was Jealous, and now Dean gets Jealous, but he also gets the sensation again of his love for Castiel is unrequited.

The episode that followed this one, Dean goes into a blind date with random chick he took from a date app (very ooc, but he did it because he had his heart broken and because he thought CAS had cheated on him while he was gone as a demon.)

Season 11: Dean resist a forced bond with Amara because he's bonded with Castiel

Season 11 is a blatant exposure of Dean's feelings for Castiel. There a lot of hints throughout the season telling us Dean is in love, just like in season 9 there was hints of this with Castiel. (Again, mirroring each other).

Dean resisted Amara because of his love for Castiel. But Cas is oblivious about this.

When Castiel is possesed by Lucifer, Dean switch's into desperate mode. If he was worried about his attraction for Amara, now the only thing he cares was Castiel, exposing again WHO DEAN IS IN LOVE WITH.

But when Dean wanted to rescue Castiel, and Cas didn't want to come back to him, it hurt him worst. Again, just like in season 8, Dean can't handle Cas doesn't want to come back with him (first from Purgatory and now from being possesed). Again Dean feels rejected and unrequited. That's why when Cas is back and the end of the world is close... Dean says these words...

"You're our brother, Cas. I want you to know that."

And Cas' face...

Gif credit @mad-as-a-box-of-frogs

That's a man with the heart broken, mostly because we know now he was in love with Dean CANON FACT! (sobbing louder).

Season 12 and the confusing I LOVE YOU

This season was full of married couple situations, but mostly, we had Castiel's I Love You in the barn, before "dying".

At first Dean thinks the angel was saying this as goodbye, expressing into words his feelings for the Winchesters. Because as and angel, maybe Cas was feeling he has to protect them all. But then he says this singular I Love You to Dean, and the guy doesn't know how to take it. It was a platonic ILY? A non platonic ILY? Does angels feel the same like us? Does he sees me as a brother? Dean was truly a mess, so he decides to respond to that with a Mixtape.

But, when Castiel disappears for days, he sinks again into that sensation of unrequited romantic love.

Then Cas comes back, and then he goes away again, and then he dies.

Season 13: The reunion and the meaning of Castiel coming back

Dean's mourning for Cas can't be interpreted otherwise than LOSING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.

And the longing for his angel plus some Nougat powers, brought him back.

The thing is, Dean didn't expr as his feeling for Castiel and when the angel asked him that he needed to believed that he came back for a reason, Dean goes...

Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind

This sound like if he was recruiting Cas for war. And Cas' took it as that. So he came back to soldier angel mode. Because, okay, if Dean and Sam needed him to fight, he will fight.

Unrequited Love again.

Season 14 Healing Dean and the prelude of the break up

Post-possesed Dean is a follow up of self knowledge and self growing. He was healing the whole season.

But in episode 14x04 we heard Dean being Jealous or hurt because Castiel didn't go to rescue him and then because he goes into hunts with Jack. Unrequited love again.

Did Cas miss me as I missed him?

Is the first time Dean will actually name the word LOVE talking with the kid.

And then Mary dies and everything is a mess.

Dean yells YOU ARE DEAD TO ME, and how sad that sounds now that the angel had died again. Saving his life.

Dark clouda over our ship...

Season 15: And Maybe is not too late...

In season 15 we lived the angst of the Destiel break up, but then their reunion in Purgatory was beautiful.

Again, facing the fact that he could lost Cas one more time, Dean went down on his knees and prayed to him, and because he was in Purgatory, his heart and mind were released from any distraction, and he was plenty focused in the love he feels for his angel.

He cried, and begged for him to come back.

And he found him, following his heart, the profound bond he has with Castiel.

But, when he was about to say something that he hadn't said in the prayer, Castiel cut him off. So... Again the hunter had to swallow his words and the unrequited love punch him again.

Then... Castiel's romantic love confession took Dean by surprise, because, now that you read all the clues i gave you and i convinced you that Dean and Cas thought their love were unrequited, you will understand Dean's reaction.

Gif credit @spnsmile

Dean didn't can't believe Cas had loved him the way he does this whole time and now, he will lose him again. Is too much pain he can't handle.

For a lot of reasons we had analyzed so many times (Dean's arc has to have a closure expressing his ILY to the angel, the Empty plot is not ended, Etc) Is logical to think Cas will come back in the last episode, and this slow burn story will end with them being together, finally.

To Conclude:

The legend of the Sun and the Moon talks about two lovers that can't be reunited but they love each other deeply.

Is accurate with Destiel, because these two men had always being pining for each other but never be able to be together as they wish.

Castiel always thinking Dean doesn't reciprocate his romantic feeling for him and Dean thinking because Cas is an angel, he doesn't love him back romantically.

The Sacred Oath always playing in Castiel's POV as an impediment too and Dean's love clocked in shame too.

The deal with the Empty had been settled as we suspected in season 14, as a romantic plot. So, it has to have a closure.

These thoughts are based on the volumes from my assay "The Destiel Chronicles", currently in it's 87th volume.

See you soon! Have faith!

Destiel Is Forever!

Tagging @gneisscastiel @emblue-sparks @magnificent-winged-beast @weird-dorky-little-d @michyribeiro @maleansu @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @dea-stiel @mybonsai1976 @anarchiana @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @mishtho @dancingtuesdaymorning @feathered-cas @bre95611 @zoerayne2426 @justmeand-myinsight @that-one-fandom-chick @proccastinate @studio-hatter @pepevons @poorreputation @mrsaquaman187 @dizzypinwheel @jawnlockwinchester @dwstiel @ladygon @shippsblog @la-random-fangirl @lets-try-this-again-please @mychemicalobsession514 @destiel-shipper-11

@asphodelesauvage @2musiclover2

Buenos Aires November 17th 2020 8:33 PM

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what-do-1000-swords-look-like · 3 years

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Jonsa vs Destiel - romantic coding without the complete follow through

This was actually a meta I started back in December. I know by now we all pretty much know that yes, Destiel is a thing, we know it was written with romantic intentions in the end and it was indeed romantically coded, that Dean loved Cas back (”acting choices” among many other examples), and all of it. But back in December, I was still trying to make sense of what we got in that finale, for Destiel, for Dean, for Sam, for Team Free Will 2.0, for common narrative sense -- all of it. So when I started comparing GoT to SPN for this post, this came out of it. Because I realized that I had seen this sort of situation of will they or won’t they come up before, only coming to the halfway point and then backing off.

I should note that yes, the Jonsa pairing would be considered one of fictional incest since they are cousins (and were raised as siblings), and while I normally don’t go that route, it was the “rules” set up in-universe, based on medieval history (unfortunately in that regard) and the show made you feel as if you were going to get one (Jonerys - aunt/nephew) or the other (Jonsa - cousins) at one point. They very purposely set up the love triangle in season 8. So I apologize in advance if this makes anyone uncomfortable, from the SPN universe or GoT universe. I am not going the Wincest or Cersei/Jaime route or trying to equate the Destiel dynamics to a fictional incestous one or vice versa. It was just about the coding and how the stories were presented for these two relationships in the narrative.

Just a heads up, this is long and very wordy. My format will likely get messed up (thanks Tumblr, you just can’t let me have my sub bullet points, can you?) once it posts and I’m sure I forgot a lot of things and it might feel somewhat incomplete but I failed to make any progress on it in the last month so I just figured I’d throw it out into the void as is and get it out of my drafts.

Spoilers for SPN & GoT below the cut:

When I work on video projects, I tend to take notes while going through scenes so I know which ones to go back to later on, on what to align together, especially when trying to work on symmetry for reasons, and we all know by now how much of a ho I am for symmetry so alas, this was born:

So I’m back on my Jonsa and my Destiel bullshit, yes you read that right, Jonsa and Destiel. I’m currently working on something that involves these two and I literally went through so much footage these past few weeks, my brain is riddled with useless GoT and SPN facts now lol.

You may not care for Jonsa because you never saw the potential or it’s incest (it’s GoT, enough said) or you may not care for Destiel because you never saw the potential or it’s considered to be two dudebros that one of them started out being canonically written straight, or you just don’t care for either pairing. That’s fine, this post isn’t to prove that these two should have ended up being the endgame for each show. It isn’t to prove that you should have been shipping these two pairings all along and at least a kiss should have happened for each or any other way you want to slice it. And it certainly isn’t to compare incest to romantic love between two men (holy fuck, the implications of that alone…). Suffice it to say, this is NOT that. No, this post is merely to point out the similarities between the two pairings in both shows to prove that they were both coded romantically (for different reasons for each show), that’s it. Viewers who saw it were not crazy, not reading too much into things between both pairings. It was there the whole time. Do with this information what you will.

Pairings that began in fanon:

JONSA

Pairing: Jon x Sansa

Show: Game of Thrones

Actors: Kit Harington & Sophie Turner

Seasons to Watch: 6-8

Imperative Episodes: 6x04, 6x05, 6x09 (Battle Of the Bastards), 6x10 (The Winds Of Winter), 7x01, 7x02, 7x03, 7x04, 7x05, 7x06, 7x07, 8x01, 8x02, 8x04 (The Last Of the Starks), 8x05 (The Bells), 8x06 (The Iron Throne)

Their Story: Jon & Sansa were half-siblings who were raised in House Stark; Jon is Ned’s son, bastard born (until it’s revealed later that he is actually the son of Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister, and Rhaegar Targaryen), & is liked by all of the Starks except Catelyn & Sansa while growing up; Sansa is the eldest trueborn daughter of Ned & Catelyn, she takes her mother’s view of Jon while growing up; the two are separated as Sansa goes south, Jon goes North; they are reunited again in 6x04 when Sansa runs to Castle Black to escape Ramsay & ask Jon, who is Lord Commander (as far as she knows) for protection; the two then embark on taking back Winterfell, do, Jon is made King in the North while Sansa takes up the mantle of Lady of Winterfell; in the end, Sansa is made Queen In the North while Jon kills Dany to keep his family safe, Jon is exiled to the Night’s Watch for the murder

Symmetries:

Bird Symbolism: Sansa is referred to as Little Bird; Jon is referred to as Lord Crow

Bastard vs Trueborn: Jon starts off as a bastard in the story, but is revealed to be a trueborn son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen & to have a legitimate claim to the Iron Throne, he rejects this & his choice to kill Dany leads him back to the Night’s Watch; Sansa starts off as a trueborn daughter & “key to the North”, she ends up having to pretend to be Petyr’s bastard daughter Alayne Stone in order to stay safe, then she becomes Lady of Winterfell & eventually Queen In the North

Surnames: Snow is the bastard surname of the North; Stone is the bastard surname of the Vale

Of the North: At first neither of them wanted to stay in Winterfell, convinced they both don’t fit in there for different reasons; then neither one of them wanted to stay in King’s Landing; both of them come to regret the desire to leave Winterfell after time; both of them eventually want to stay North/home

Ruling Capacities: both are just and fair rulers who consider the counsel they’re given, do not always rule with an iron fist, and do everything in their power to care for their people. With Jon, this is showcased in his role as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and then again as King In the North. With Sansa, this is showcased in her role as Lady of Winterfell, and as Jon’s regent when he goes to Dragonstone. Both also see the potential in each other’s ruling capabilities, and recognize them as good ones. “You’re good at this, you know. Ruling.” (7x01) - Sansa; “Ned Stark’s daughter will speak for them. She’s the best they could ask for.” (8x06) - Jon; they both pass the sentence and swing the sword as Ned taught his sons in the beginning of the series: Jon when executing Janos Slynt & then his murderers; Sansa when passing the sentence on Littlefinger and Arya executes him (being her sword, the framing shows Arya in front of where Sansa sits to reinforce this)

Tropes/Themes Within the Ship:

Bickering

6x07 - argument about how much men they can get for their army

6x09 - argument in tent

7x01 - their dispute over Sansa questioning Jon’s decisions

8x01 - dispute in solar over Jon giving his crown away

Protection/Safety

6x05 - Sansa tells Brienne that Jon will keep her safe - she trusts him to

6x09 - Jon tells Sansa “I will never let him touch you again. I’ll protect you, I promise” - at this point, Sansa says “No one can protect anyone” and leaves, thinking they may definitely lose the next day (even though she knows Littlefinger’s reinforcements are on their way) and how she’s been promised to be protected before and it’s never panned out, frustrated that Jon is not listening to her when she knows Ramsay as well as she does - Jon ends up fulfilling this promise twice before the series ends: 1) allowing her to choose how she wanted to deal with Ramsay & 2) by killing Dany who definitely would have been a threat to her

7x02 - Jon threatens Littlefinger while choking him that if he lays a finger on Sansa he will kill him himself

7x02 - cut scene where Jon leaves Ghost behind to watch over Sansa

8x04 - Sansa tells Tyrion Jon’s secret, breaking her promise to him - this is very controversial since at face value, it looks as if Sansa will do whatever is necessary a la Littlefinger style to prevent Dany from being queen but those who understand Sansa’s character know she did it to protect Jon (it’s a lot harder to kill someone who publicly has the birthright of being king when you’re wanting the kingdom’s support and don’t want to be viewed as a tyrant who murdered their rival claimant in cold blood, pretty hard to get “love” that way and it’s just “more of the same”) which is confirmed in dialogue by Arya in 8x01 to Jon himself “She’s defending our family.” “I’m her family, too.” “Don’t you forget that”

8x06 - Jon ultimately protects Sansa (and the Starks/the North by extension) by choosing to end Dany’s tyranny

8x06 - Sansa shows up to the dragonpit meeting, war braids and all, ready to fight for Jon’s freedom/safety if need be, which she confirms to Grey Worm in dialogue, should he or the Unsullied hurt Jon in any way

Breathlessness

6x09 - both Jon and Sansa are breathless after their argument in the tent - something that is chosen to be shown

7x01 - Jon is breathless after Sansa asks if it would be so terrible if Jon were to listen to her - this is chosen to be shown

8x01 - Jon is more breathless than Sansa after their argument in her solar but again it’s chosen to be shown

Working Together

season 6 - both Jon and Sansa visit the Northern lords to ask for men for an army to take back Winterfell

6x10 - Jon and Sansa sit at the high table when addressing the Northern lords - Sansa sits to the left of Jon and she is the Lady of Winterfell - Jon is named King In the North shortly thereafter

7x01-7x02 - Jon and Sansa ready Winterfell and the North for the battle with the Night King’s army

7x03 - 8x01 - Sansa continues to ready Winterfell and the North in Jon’s absence & as his regent while Jon goes to Dragonstone to broker an alliance with Daenerys and get her armies & dragons north to fight the Night King’s army

8x01-8x02 - Jon and Sansa both continue final preparations since the Wall is now broken & the Night King is on his way; Sansa sits to the right of Jon as Lady of Winterfell at the high table when addressing the Northern lords and Dany’s people

8x04 - Sansa sits to Jon’s right at the high table during the feast as the Lady of Winterfell - her conversation with Tyrion when Dany & Co are leaving confirms Sansa will be left as regent once again (this time for the Warden Of the North) while Jon goes South with their Northern army to assist in capturing King’s Landing

8x06 - Sansa comes to King’s Landing to see Jon freed and to participate in talks of how things will continue politically in Westeros - she secures the freedom of the North and continues to hold Jon’s place for him as their king until it’s decided that his freedom cannot be secured and he will be banished to the Wall as punishment for killing Dany (to protect her & their family as well as the North/the world)

Battle Couple

6x05 - Jon and Sansa plan who to ask for support & men to fight Ramsay and retake Winterfell along with Brienne, Edd and Davos

6x09 - Jon leads their army to fight against Ramsay’s, Sansa brings reinforcements from the Vale through her request to Littlefinger

8x02 - Jon and Sansa are framed together (with Arya as well in some shots) while planning the battle (notice the contrast in 8x04, they are now on different sides and there is tension, Jon is standing next to Dany’s people while Arya stands with Sansa which leads to the tension-filled part of the scene where Arya plants herself in Jon’s way and tells him that they need a word)

Ruling/Power Couple

as they tour the North to ask for men & support, Jon and Sansa are both present when the Wildlings & the Northern lords are being asked signalling to all that they are united in this fight

6x09 - Sansa appears when Jon is beating Ramsay & then asks Jon where Ramsay is being held which we see her visit Ramsay later and it becomes obvious that the dogs have been purposely left near him with the door open so they can get through

6x10 - Sansa sits to Jon’s left after the battle at the high table while addressing the Northern lords; he also looks to Sansa to see her reaction when he is proclaimed King In the North

7x01 - Sansa once again sits to Jon’s left and speaks her mind as Lady of Winterfell, including questioning Jon’s decision to keep the Karstarks and the Umbers in power, in their homes

7x01 - Jon and Sansa argue about her questioning him, the Maester approaches them both to give Jon a scroll that has arrived from Cersei - Jon reads the scroll and both discuss the Night King vs Cersei

7x02 - Jon asks Sansa’s opinion when he receives a scroll from Tyrion inviting him to Dragonstone

7x05 - Jon receives a scroll from Sansa letting him know that Arya and Bran have returned

7x05 - Sansa doesn’t denounce Jon like the Northern lords are openly doing - it angers Arya when Sansa doesn’t threaten the lords for being disloyal to Jon even though Sansa makes a valid point that they need them for the upcoming battle and they need to work together

7x07 - Jon sends Sansa a scroll to let her know that he’s bent the knee to Dany and they both will be arriving at Winterfell soon to fight the Night King’s army

8x01 - Sansa sits to Jon’s right at the high table while addressing the Northern lords, both make decisions for the North before the conversation turns to Jon’s demoted title

8x02 - Sansa & Jon both continue to prepare for the Night King; Sansa chooses for Jaime to stay which Jon echoes, outruling Dany who is forced to go along with this decision since the North is not a fan of hers at this point; Dany sees Sansa ordering for the gates to stay open as long as possible

8x03 - Jon fights the battle and Sansa is sent to the Crypt by Arya to stay safe though she ends up battling the resurrected dead along with Tyrion (why this scene was cut but Dany’s sword scene was kept in I will never understand, why could we not see both women doing what they needed to do? Men, I tell you, men writers writing for women, sigh)

8x04 - Sansa is the Lady of Winterfell the entire episode - at the pyre scene, at the feast, at the battle planning scene, and later when Jon and Dany leave Winterfell; Jon is Warden Of the North the entire episode - at the pyre scene, at the feast, at the battle planning scene, and when he says goodbye to Sam, Gilly, Tormund, and Ghost before leaving to go south

8x05 - Sansa rules as Lady of Winterfell (though she is not shown in this episode) while Jon does his duty as commander of the Northern army and assists Dany’s army in taking King’s Landing before the infamous massacre starts

8x06 - Sansa becomes commander of the Northern army in Jon’s absence (implied in the dragon pit scene) and she defends Jon’s decision to kill Dany, attempts to secure his freedom, and when she can’t, eventually secures the North’s independence; the goodbye scene between the Starks before Jon leaves for the Wall, it’s confirmed in dialogue that Sansa tried to get him his crown back but wasn’t able to, Jon supports her taking that crown instead with “Ned Stark’s daughter will speak for them. She’s the best they could ask for”

from season 7 to season 8 - on Jon’s clothing and on Sansa’s (including her crown from 8x06) - there are always two wolves present - it symbolizes the pack but also two wolves ruling the head of that pack (Robb also had this when he had Catelyn [another Stark] by his side as well as Talisa - outside of Dany’s presence, there is never a third party present in Jon and Sansa’s dynamic except Davos)

Family

6x04 - they are the first Starks to reunite on screen since the big separation since season 1 and the Red Wedding

8x06 - Jon chooses the Starks (specifically Sansa since Bran and Arya weren’t the ones that clashed with Dany) over Dany

Impact/Effect

Jon becomes King In the North by his own merits, but ultimately Sansa’s actions and support helped him get there

Sansa is able to go back home to Winterfell and never fear Ramsay again because of hers and Jon’s actions that led to their victory

Jon is heavily supported by Sansa, despite any questioning of his decisions that she does in 7x01, in dialogue, to his face and in his absence - this support continues into season 8 and up to the finale (even though she disagrees with his choice of queen and him giving up his crown)

Sansa is able to remain safe in Winterfell and secure the North’s independence thanks to hers and Jon’s actions - she is also then crowned Queen In the North

Can’t Be Without the Other/Feeling the Absence

6x04 - when Sansa asks where Jon will go, he says “Where will we go? If I don’t watch over you, Father’s ghost will come back and murder me” to which Sansa replies “Where will we go?” solidifying that they are now a unit

6x09 - Jon tells Melisandre not to bring him back should he fall during the Battle of the Bastards (a lot of people speculate this is Jon wanting to die if Sansa is not alive, after she inferred she would never go back to Ramsay alive in the tent scene - I agree & disagree here, I think it is in relation to Sansa but in the fact that if he dies and then comes back, should Sansa have killed herself like she implied, he wouldn’t have anyone left from his family, and he failed her, the purpose she gave him would be gone since Rickon would most likely be dead too, and their army failed so Winterfell is still in Ramsay’s hands so yes it is due to what Sansa said and Sansa herself but I don’t think it’s meant to be read romantically there in that moment, not really)

7x02 - Jon departs for Dragonstone (there is a cut scene where Jon actually left Ghost behind to look after Sansa & tells him so) & they have a similar goodbye to Jaime and Brienne in season 6 (who later become canon in 8x04) - we see Littlefinger realize something after Jon chokes him and threatens him not to touch Sansa, while watching Jon leave & then watching Sansa staring after Jon (in the background a wolf’s howl is heard)

7x03 - Jon realizes Sansa was right about him not going to Dragonstone alone after his initial meeting with Dany & quotes Sansa’s words to Tyrion - he realizes he should have listened to her

7x03 - Sansa tells Bran that she hopes Jon will come back soon

7x04 - Sansa tells Arya that Jon will be happy to see her and hopes he comes back soon

8x01 - Jon is clearly happy to see Sansa and vice versa until Dany is introduced & it’s revealed by Bran that the Night King has Viserion and the Wall has fallen

Gives Purpose

6x04 - Jon is about to leave the Wall, intent on getting away from the North - he has given up on his fight with the Night King after what happened to him and having to execute his own murderers, he is arguing with Edd about it who is trying to make Jon realize he can’t leave, that they still have a fight ahead of them - at this moment, Sansa arrives and they are reunited - Sansa wants to take back Winterfell but Jon is resistant at first, he’s “tired of fighting” to which Sansa says she’ll do it herself if she has to - when Ramsay’s scroll arrives announcing he has Rickon, Sansa gives him the push he needs to decide to try and amass an army to take Rickon and Winterfell back

6x10 - Jon is proclaimed King In the North and he looks to Sansa who smiles up at him before looking back to the Northern lords

7x01 - Jon is annoyed when Sansa questions his decision in front of the Northern lords - during their argument, Sansa compliments him and tells him that he’s good at ruling - he is caught off guard and shyly disagrees before looking back to her to see if she means it

7x02 - Jon leaves Sansa in charge as his regent when he departs for Dragonstone - Sansa is hesitant and appears worried, looking over at Littlefinger, but at Jon’s reassuring nod, she accepts

7x03 - 8x01 - Sansa does everything to keep Jon’s men, including dealing with Littlefinger and playing the game until she chooses to keep her family safe from his machinations, and preparing for the Night King’s army & caring for the North

8x06 - Jon makes the decision to kill Dany when she confirms that others won’t have a choice when it comes to her new world - it is heavily implied that this is Sansa by Tyrion and Arya in dialogue, saying that Sansa will never accept Dany as queen & the 8x06 script states “Jon knows what that means for those he loves most” - Jon keeps his promise to Sansa from 6x09 while also doing what needs to be done to protect her, Arya, their family, and the world but ultimately it’s Sansa in his mind that is the final push to do this action

Last Look

7x02 - Jon looks back over his shoulder at Sansa and gives a wave, when she returns it he gives a little smile and leaves

7x02 - Sansa watches Jon until he is out of sight

8x06 - Jon gives a last look to each of his siblings before leaving for the Wall but his second last look is for Sansa alone

8x06 - Sansa watches as Jon departs alongside Arya and Bran

DESTIEL

Pairing: Dean x Castiel

Show: Supernatural

Actors: Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins

Seasons to watch: 8-15 (though some do believe this started earlier when Cas appeared & is prevalent in seasons 4-7 just as much & I would agree with season 6 for Cas’ POV)

Imperative Episodes (I’ll include seasons 4-7 in here, too, in case): 4x01, 4x10, 4x16, 5x03, 5x04, 5x22, 6x20, 6x21, 6x22, 7x01, 7x02, 7x17, 7x23, 8x01, 8x02, 8x07, 8x17, 8x22, 8x23, 9x01, 9x03, 9x06, 9x09, 9x10, 9x18, 9x21, 9x22, 9x23, 10x01, 10x03, 10x05, 10x09, 10x14, 10x16, 10x22, 11x03, 11x11, 11x18, 11x23, 12x01, 12x02, 12x03, 12x23, 13x01, 13x02, 13x03, 13x04, 13x05, 13x06, 13x21, 13x22, 13x23, 14x01, 14x03, 14x08, 14x10, 14x13, 14x18, 14x22, 15x01, 15x02, 15x03, 15x06, 15x07, 15x08, 15x09, 15x10, 15x11, 15x13, 15x15, 15x17, 15x18, 15x19 (I’m sure I’ve missed quite a few episodes here, I tried to list the ones I felt showcased their relationship coding [i.e. Dean’s confession in 10x16, Cas isn’t there but this affects their relationship later on in a way] and how it evolved over time & also laid the foundation that kept growing)

Their Story: Dean is a hunter & older brother to Sam Winchester, after making a demon deal to save Sam, Dean is dragged to Hell when his year is up and is tortured/torturing others for a 40 year period until Castiel, an angel of the Lord, saves him and brings him back to life on Earth; they get to know one another as Heaven tries to work with Dean through Cas & other angels; they are able to avert the Apocalypse & Dean goes to live his life while Sam is stuck in Hell with Lucifer; Cas starts working with Crowley to defeat Raphael, lying to the Winchesters and angering/upsetting Dean who reveals that he thinks of Cas as family; ultimately, Cas chooses to continue with Crowley, breaks the wall in Sam’s mind that kept all of Lucifer’s torture of his soul in Hell at bay, and he eventually sucks up all of the souls in Purgatory and becomes God; the Leviathan take over, kill Cas, and Sam & Dean have to figure out how to stop them; Dean accidentally finds Cas again, who has no memory of who he is, and they go to save Sam; Cas takes on Sam’s torture & stays at the hospital ward with Meg to watch over him while Dean & Sam continue to try to defeat the Leviathan; Cas joins the fight and they win, but Dean & Cas are blasted into Purgatory; Dean is able to get out while Cas stays; after a while, Dean sees Cas in certain places & then Cas is there, not knowing how he got out of Purgatory; he begins hunting on and off with the Winchesters, is mind controlled by Naomi which he eventually breaks, and continues to be a part of Team Free Will, on and off (he even has a stint as a human during season 9), until he dies at the hands of Lucifer in season 12; The Empty sends Cas back and he, Dean, and Sam continue to fight & simultaneously try to raise Jack, a nephilim, who was entrusted to Cas by Jack’s mother, Kelly, before her death; eventually, Cas makes a deal with The Empty to save Jack which comes to fruition in order to save Dean but not before Cas confesses he loves Dean, to which Dean has no time to respond or to reciprocate/or not reciprocate; it’s intimated at the end that Cas has escaped the Empty with Jack’s help to assist in rebuilding Heaven which Dean is now in, having died by a rusty nail to the back by some random vampmime

Symmetries:

Fathers: both have absent fathers (John is around per se but he is not Father Of the Year, similar to Chuck when Chuck finally does show)

Soldiers: both have been fashioned to be soldiers by their fathers

Self-Worth: both have self-worth issues thanks to said fathers

Failure: sub-theme under this topic - they both keep trying despite their many failures; they both take their failures very hard

Means To An End: both do whatever is necessary to get the job done - the means justify the ends (except when they don’t)

Faith: Cas is heavily related to the theme of faith for Dean - this has not only been confirmed in dialogue between Cas and Dean but also is implied in how Dean seems to lose faith when Cas is gone, but it’s restored when Cas is back; Dean is heavily related to Cas’ faith in humanity which has been confirmed in dialogue between Cas and Dean, also implied in Cas choosing to rebel/fall & his desire to help people/save the world afterwards, by contrast, Cas doesn’t lose his faith when Dean is not around but Dean is the reason he changed, which is confirmed in 15x18 in dialogue

Weaponry/Solider Symbolism: Dean is the sword of Michael & Cas is the shield of God

Free Will: this theme is applied to other characters as well & in the main story for the Winchesters but Dean & Castiel strongly want free will; Cas has broken from the narrative consistently “But not you, not the angel off the line with a crack in his chassis” (15x17), has rebelled against Heaven, made his own choices, and by the end of the series, he is no longer blindly obeying orders given by Heaven; Dean consistently wants free will and wants freedom from the choices that have been made already for him & everyone else (Season 5, trying to break from the Lucifer vs Michael narrative; Season 15 wanting freedom from Chuck) “I can’t live like that, man” (15x17)

Tropes/Themes Within the Ship:

Bickering

12x10 - perfect depiction of married couple bickering - Dean is upset with Cas for killing Billie in the previous episode and breaking the deal he and Sam had with her, Cas is upset with Dean for being upset when he saved them - later Dean reveals he’s just worried about the “cosmic consequences”

13x14 - Cas is awaiting Gog and Magog to appear which is taking a bit, which Dean questions - once they do appear, Cas keeps trying to get Dean focused (who thinks it’s hilarious that they’re wearing loincloths) and ready for battle

13x16 - Dean acts as Scooby near the end of the episode and Cas reminds him “you’re not a talking dog”

15x13 - Dean is annoyed that Cas had Jack kill him temporarily to go to The Empty to talk to Ruby - “you’re an idiot, by the way” & then the ensuing glare - “Am I still an idiot?” & the glare “Well, yeah” then the head tilt

15x15 - Dean suggests Cas should take Jack on a murder investigation in order to keep both of them busy, Cas looks to Sam hoping for a voice of reason but Sam agrees and Dean gives Cas a smug smile

Protection/Safety

4x01 - Cas confirms to Dean that he is the angel who “gripped you tight and raised you from perdition”, that he led an incursion of angels and rescued Dean from Hell at God’s command

4x16 - Dean saves Cas from Alistair

6x01 - Cas confirms in dialogue to Sam that he and Dean “do share a more profound bond”

6x20 - Cas confirms in dialogue that he still considers himself a guardian for the Winchesters

9x06 - Dean rushes in to save Cas from Ephraim

9x22 - Cas refuses to kill Dean and gives up his angel army

9x23 - “You draped yourself in the flag of Heaven but it was ultimately to save one human, right?”

12x10 - Dean is defensive on Cas’ behalf when he sees Ishim’s treatment of Cas, despite their own dispute

12x12 - Dean, Sam, and Mary fight to protect a dying Cas from Ramiel

12x23 - Cas moves past Sam and Dean to confront Lucifer, Dean attempts to move towards him, yelling out his name, but is pushed by Sam back through the rift

Dean and Cas consistently protect each other while in battle (i.e. Cas saving Dean from a demon in 6x20, Cas pushing Dean back in 7x23 when facing off with Dick Roman, Dean pushing Cas back in 15x18 when facing off with Billie)

“I’ll go with you”

“I’ll watch over you”

Cas consistently heals Dean throughout the series, even when Cas is upset with Dean as long as Dean allows it (15x08)

Breathlessness

14x03 - Cas is breathless seeing Dean again when they are reunited, Dean appears to be a tiny bit breathless once Cas is front and center but after he nods, he recovers quickly

15x07 - Dean and Cas are both breathless when seeing each other again - this is chosen to be shown

15x09 - Dean is slightly breathless when seeing Cas is safe near the rift

Working Together

4x22 - Cas helps Dean escape so he can go stop Sam from letting Lucifer free

5x22 - Cas gets Dean his five minutes to attempt to reach Sam by setting Michael on fire with holy fire

7x23 - Cas and Dean locate Dick Roman, take him on, and kill him which causes them to be blasted into Purgatory

8x07 - Cas and Dean go in to rescue Kevin together until Cas goes ahead at Dean’s annoyance

8x22 - Cas and Dean work together to get Cupid’s bow

9x06 - Cas and Dean hunt together but once they find out what they’re hunting, Dean sends Cas off to go on his date

9x10 - Dean and Cas take Crowley on a road trip to try to find Gadreel/Sam

Battle Couple

5x04 - most likely knowing he was going to die, Cas goes with Dean and their group to follow Dean’s plan

7x23 - Dean and Cas both fight Dick Roman

8x02 - Dean and Cas taken on Leviathan together when they are attacked near the portal

11x10 - Dean and Cas are magicked into the cage Lucifer and Sam are in by the former - they attempt to battle Lucifer to stall him in order for Rowena to complete her spell to put Lucifer back in the real cage

13x14 - Cas and Dean fight Gog and Magog together

15x18 - Dean and Cas fight Billie

Family

6x20 - Dean tells Cas he thinks of him as family which surprises Cas

6x21 - Cas confirms he also thinks of Dean as family

11x18 - Dean tells Sam that Cas is family

11x23 - Dean tells Cas that he is his and Sam’s brother and he is their best friend

from season 13 to 15, Cas and Dean co-parent Jack (along with Sam)

14x13 - in this episode where Dean tells John “I have a family”, Dean and Sam tell John about Cas and Jack

14x18 - Cas admits he made a mistake in not telling Dean and Sam about Jack’s soullessness “But we were a family, and I didn't want to lose that, so I thought I could... fix it on my own”

15x17 - Dean tells Sam that Cas is family and Jack is not Cas

15x18 - Dean apologizes to Cas for getting them in the pickle where they both might die by Billie’s hand “Sam and Jack. We should be with them now”

Impact/Effect

Dean changes Cas, shows him what’s worth fighting for, he is the catalyst for Cas’ rebelling and falling (we see how Cas would have been without Dean’s influence in 14x13 in the altered timeline scene)

Cas helps Dean to see that he is a good person and does things for the right reasons by the end of the series, he is the catalyst for Dean’s self-acceptance and for Dean’s decision not to kill Chuck & Dean choosing to live his life in 15x20

Dean seems to lose faith/give up when Cas is gone (as shown in 13x01-13x05 & 15x09)

Cas is Colette in Dean’s MOC arc (Cain states this in dialogue to Dean himself in 10x14) and asks Dean to “stop” in 10x22 - Dean ends up beating Cas up but stops short at killing him, warning him to keep himself & Sam away from him - later on in 11x03 Dean refuses to let Cas heal him saying he “had it coming” and is clearly doing penance for him beating Cas up in 10x22

Can’t Be Without the Other/Feeling the Absence

in season 7, after Cas’ death in 7x02, his loss obviously is affecting Dean and then is compounded by Bobby’s death

in season 8, Dean is affected by Cas’ absence and his feeling of failure at getting Cas out of Purgatory, which we find out in 8x07 is how Dean needed to remember it, that Cas always planned to stay

in season 9, Dean struggles with what’s happening to Sam and what is happening with Ezekiel/Gadreel - he has to tell a vulnerable and human Cas to leave in 9x03 - he is desperate to reconnect with Cas in 9x06 but then leaves him to live his life in peace which only lasts until 9x09

9x23 - Cas’ reaction to the news of Dean’s death

10x01 - Cas’ “I miss him” when talking to Sam about Dean who is on a summer bromance roadtrip with Crowley as a demon

in season 11, it’s shown that Dean is affected by Cas’ absence since Lucifer has possessed Cas

12x12 - Dean’s lower lip wobble when Cas tells Dean that he’s dying - Dean’s helplessness as Cas gets worse after they destroy Ramiel

13x01-13x05 - Dean is heavily affected by Cas’ death and it impacts his interactions with Jack and Sam; his mood only turns around once Cas returns at the end of 13x05, which Sam notes in dialogue in 13x06

13x19 - Dean tells Cas “don’t get dead again” when Cas decides to go to Heaven to ask around and Dean says it in a tone that means business

13x23 - Cas is affected by Dean choosing to say yes to Alternate!Michael in order to save Sam and Jack, and then Altternate!Michael going back on their deal and possessing Dean fully, flying off

14x01-14x03 - Cas is attempting to help locate Dean and wants to go when they do locate him but can’t since Alternate!Michael would sense him, he tells Dean this in 14x03 when they reunite; Cas is affected by the conversation he has with Jack about Dean (before Dean comes back) about if Dean’s death was necessary to ensure the destruction of Alternate!Michael, then it was necessary and Dean would want it himself

14x12 - Cas is affected by Dean’s Ma’lak box plan & attempts to talk him out of it and see reason

14x18-15x03 - Mary’s accidental death at Jack’s hands (and Belphagor’s appearance from 15x01 to 15x03) causes a growing chasm/separation between the two - both feel the effects (i.e. Sam prevents Cas from going over to Dean during Mary’s hunter funeral, Dean tells Cas that if something happened to Mary then he was dead to him, the argument they have at the end of 15x03)

15x04-15x06 - Cas’ absence is affecting Dean and we also see how the separation is affecting Cas in 15x06

15x07-15x08 - Cas returns and while they are still not getting along, Dean’s temperament improves enough that he discusses Eileen with Sam and gives his approval/blessing; he and Cas while only speaking when needed, do work together to figure out a way to defeat Chuck

15x09 - in the future after they defeat Chuck, shown in a vision, Dean has given up after having to bury Cas in a Ma’lak box due to him taking the MOC to beat Chuck, which he confirms in dialogue to Sam

15x09 - this separation/fracture in Cas and Dean’s relationship is reconciled/healing with Dean and Cas’ trip to Purgatory and Dean’s prayer/confession

15x13 - Dean is lashing out and fearful when he finds out Cas is temporarily dead and demands Jack bring him back, when he returns Dean gives him crap and a glare which Cas ends up returning a bit after he reveals he got the location for the occultem from Ruby

15x17 - Dean has a fearful expression when Sam mentions that Eileen would die again if Billie becomes God and looks back at Cas who looks up at him

15x18 - Dean loses Cas and it’s shown that this devastates him in the ending scene, with him sobbing on the floor while ignoring Sam’s call

15x19 - Cas’ death affects Dean and we see him heavily drinking once again, going through the motions when he meets up with Sam and Jack in the beginning of the episode - he demands Chuck to bring Cas back - he rushes up the bunker steps when he thinks Cas is on the other side of the door

Last Look

6x20 - Dean looks back at Cas one last time before running out of the cabin to follow Sam and Bobby

7x01 - Cas looks back at Dean one last time before the souls are sucked back into Purgatory from his body

9x06 - Cas lowers his head to look at Dean in the car and holds a hand up in a wave which Dean returns before turning to go inside the Gas-n-Sip

12x09 - when Sam says “it’s time” to Dean once the car dies, Dean looks over to Cas who is not looking in his direction, Dean’s eyes stay trained on him until Cas does look at Dean, confused at what’s happening, and then Dean looks away, looking guilty for what’s about to happen

12x23 - after Lucifer kills Cas and Mary is knocked into Apocalypse World with Lucifer, Dean’s eyes stay on Cas’ body and he falls to his knees

13x01 - Dean lifts the sheet to look at Cas’ face one last time before prepping Cas’ body for the pyre

15x03 - Dean looks up one more time, his expression softening slightly, as Cas leaves the bunker after their argument

15x18 - Cas looks at Dean one last time and smiles before looking towards The Empty

15x18 - Dean watches as The Empty takes Cas

They then became canon but only one-sided:

JONSA

Script Confirmation: It is confirmed in the 8x06 script that Sansa loves Jon & Jon knows it

Implications in the story/visually: It is implicit in the 8x01 solar scene between Jon & Sansa, the 8x02 scene between Dany & Sansa, the 8x04 feast scene when Sansa sees Dany & Jon smiling at one another, & then Sansa’s conversation with Tyrion in 8x04 after seeing Dany flying off -- Sansa is in love with Jon

“Did you bend the knee to save the North or because you love her?” - 8x01 (Sansa to Jon)

“Yet, I can’t help but feel that we’re at odds with one another. Why is that? Your brother.” “He loves you, you know that.” “That bothers you.” - 8x02 (Dany to Sansa)

“Why her?” “You know she loves your brother.” “That doesn’t mean she’ll be a good queen.” “You seem determined to dislike her.” - 8x04 (Sansa to Tyrion)

“I don’t want Jon to go down there. The men of my family don’t do well in the Capital.” “No, but as your brother once told me, he’s not a Stark.” (see Sansa’s expression & then Tyrion’s expressions here) “Are you alright?” - 8x04 (Sansa to Tyrion)

Reason it became canon (through Sansa): Sansa’s feelings for Jon were used as a plot device, to justify her instant dislike of Dany (besides her viewing who Dany truly is) & to play into Dany’s paranoia when she finally “snapped” due to Sansa telling Tyrion the truth about Jon’s parentage which then resulted in Varys’ execution (it wasn’t the only factor in Dany’s decision to burn down King’s Landing, but it was one of the main ones & it also then resulted in Jon’s decision to kill Dany, again not the only factor there either but one of the main ones)

DESTIEL

Script Confirmation: It is confirmed by the actor (Misha Collins) & the 15x18 script that Cas loves Dean & the confession is written with romantic intent

Dialogue Confirmation: It is confirmed in the 15x18 confession scene dialogue that Cas loves Dean & Dean is now aware after Cas is taken by The Empty (though the confession is never referred to again for the rest of the series, by Dean himself or by any other characters)

Implications in the story/visually: It is implicit in various scenes from season 8 through season 15 that Cas is in love with Dean, before being confirmed in 15x18

“You have me confused with the other angel. You know, the one in the dirty trench coat who’s in love with you.” - 6x17 (Balthazar to Dean)

“She knew who I was. What I was. She loved me unconditionally. She forgave me. She only asked for one thing.” 9x11 (Cain to Dean and Crowley)

“To stop.” 9x11 (Crowley to Dean and Cain)

“He’s in love...with humanity.” - 9x22 (Metatron to Gadreel)

“Cas, you just gave up an entire army for one guy.” - 9x22 (Dean to Cas)

“Has it ever occurred to you? Have you never mused upon the fact that you are living my life in reverse.” “First, first you'd kill Crowley -- there'd be some strange mixed feelings on that one, but you'd have your reason, get it done, no remorse. And then you'd kill the angel Castiel, now that one, that I suspect would hurt something awful.“ - 10x14 (Cain to Dean)

“Dean, stop.” 10x22 (Cas to Dean)

“I’m going to cure you of your human weakness. The same way I cured my own.” - 12x12 (Ishim to Cas)

Reason it became canon (through Cas): story wise, Cas had to give himself permission to be happy in order to summon The Empty and he needed to do that in 15x18 to save Dean from Billie (Death); behind the scenes wise, Misha Collins and Robert Berens fought for this to happen (this has not been confirmed by either party but it has been heavily implied that this is part of the reason they decided to include the romantic “I love you” in this scene) which then confirmed the story they have been telling for Cas for years though Misha did say he was unsure as to which actual point he was supposed to be playing Cas as in love with Dean (there are many different speculations on different time frames, but the strongest ones point to season 8 and/or season 9)

Symmetries between both pairings (showing they were both coded romantically/similarly though being two different shows/genres/stories):

Characters Themselves:

JON

Self-worth: Jon has self-worth issues stemming from childhood/Catelyn/being a bastard

Example: 8x04 - “I hope it’s a girl” when Gilly & Sam say they want to name their baby after Jon

Desires: to be a Stark in name, a family, a lady wife, to be home in the North

Unrealized wants though they are explicitly stated/shown/question is posed (that maybe they don’t think they deserve):

Family

this is confirmed in the scene in 7x06 where Jon attempts to give Longclaw to Jorah, but Jorah tells him to keep it for his children, Jon thinks it over & the Stark theme plays in the background

Jon’s reaction to Gilly’s pregnancy news in 8x04

Stark Name

Jon refuses to be legitimized as Jon Stark and take Winterfell when Stannis offers it in season 5

Jon tells Sansa that he’s not a Stark in 6x10 to which she replies “You are to me”

Tyrion confirms in 8x04 that Jon has told him that he’s not a Stark which makes Sansa upset

Whatever it takes: Jon will do what it takes to protect his family

Example: 8x06 - he kills Dany to protect the Starks (namely Sansa and Arya since Tyrion reminds him that Sansa won’t bow down to Dany & Dany confirms that people who disagree with her world won’t have a choice)

Warrior vs Killer: Jon is a warrior who yearns for peace, he is not a killer

Example: 7x03 - Dany tells Jon: “We all enjoy what we’re good at.” Jon says: “I don’t.”

Exhaustion: Jon is tired as his story line progresses “I’m tired of fighting” (6x04)

Leadership: Jon does experience time in a ruling/leadership capacity, but he is more comfortable outside of it - however, he has also proven to have military strategic thinking in battle (as shown in 6x09 and 8x02)

Ending: open-ended, goes Beyond the Wall with the Wildlings after being banished back to the Wall for killing Dany - Kit was happy with Jon’s ending in 8x06

SANSA

Self-Worth: self-worth was not an issue for Sansa while growing up, she was loved and treated very well - however, as she is consistently abused and mistreated as the show continues past Ned’s execution, while she never forgets who she is, she thinks she will never experience love (or experience it in marriage) and that she is only the Key to the North (politically, she is) and that is all she is good for

Desires: to be home in the North (at Winterfell specifically), to have her family back & then staying around her when some of them do return, to be safe

Unrealized wants though they are explicitly stated/shown/question is posed (that maybe they don’t think they deserve):

We don’t know, it could be to have her family safely back in Winterfell, for Jon to remain King In the North, Jon himself, to remain safe in Winterfell herself, we just don’t know since this remains unanswered in the narrative - Littlefinger says to Sansa in 7x01: “Why aren’t you happy? What is it that you want that you do not have?” - we never get an explicit answer to this question though it is posed

Whatever it takes: Sansa will do what it takes to protect her family

Example: 7x07 - after a ruse she concocted to uncover Littlefinger’s plan and his attempt to meddle between Sansa and her siblings, she has him executed with witnesses present to hear the evidence she presents

Example: 8x04 - she tells Tyrion about Jon’s parentage in order to protect him from Dany once she discovers that Tyrion is afraid of Dany

Example: 8x06 - Sansa reminds Grey Worm that the Northern army is outside the city gates, ready to roll should he or the Unsullied hurt Jon in any way

Warrior vs Killer: While Sansa is not a warrior in the traditional sense, we only her wield a weapon once and in a survival situation, she does fight battles of her own. For survival, for protecting her family, and politically. She uses strategy and her words to fight them rather than weapons but that doesn’t make her any less of a warrior or negate her strength; while we all saw that little smile of hers while Ramsay is being eaten by his dogs in 6x09 (come on, admit it, you had that little smile, too, if anyone deserved that ending...), she does not enjoy killing, executions, or death in general, she is not a killer

Leadership/Strategy: Sansa shows great capability in strategic thinking in politics and then in a ruling/leadership capacity

Example: 7x03 - Sansa notices that smiths are not lining breastplates with leather like they are supposed to while discussing the amount of food needed with Royce while Littlefinger and the Maester follow

Example: 7x07 - Sansa is able to outmaneuver Littlefinger

Example: 8x01 - in the Great Hall, Sansa mentions her plans that she put into effect once she heard that the Wall had fallen - this is also before the infamous “What do dragons eat, anyway?” line (a lot of people like to focus on this line because this is where the drama starts but the line before it where she mentions she only accounted for the North people to last through winter is often forgotten or seen through the lens of her criticizing Dany or being petty when it actually is a valid point raised - how will they feed everyone? something that would have come up more than once if the timeline of the story was a more realistic one considering how vast the North actually is)

Example: 8x02 - while speaking with Royce in the library, Dany comes in and overhears Sansa telling him to keep the gates open as long as they can in case more people are fleeing to Winterfell

Ending: open-ended, she is crowned Queen In the North and resides at Winterfell - Sophie was happy with Sansa’s ending in 8x06

DEAN

Self-Worth: Dean has self-worth issues stemming from childhood & his conditioning by one selfish John Winchester, not to mention the spousification/parentification that took place

Example: 8x14 - “But I tell you what I do know -- it's that I'm gonna die with a gun in my hand. 'Cause that's what I have waiting for me -- that's all I have waiting for me.”

Example: 10x07 - “Now, the truth is... I'm past saving. I know how my story ends. It's at the edge of a blade, or the barrel of a gun.”

Desires: to retire from hunting, to be with his family (meaning TFW 2.0), to experience some peace and/or normalcy

Unrealized wants though they are explicitly stated/shown/question is posed (that maybe they don’t think they deserve):

We don’t know, it could be his ending, it could be a relationship, it could be his own bar, this still remains unanswered - Pam asks Dean in 14x10 “Why do you always want what you can’t have?” we never get an explicit answer to this question though it is posed or even what it is that he wants that he can’t have (textually it’s about Pam always having a boyfriend, but it becomes apparent later in the episode that Pam is not what he really wants and she was only a stand-in for him and his memories inside his head during Alternate!Michael’s possession of him)

Whatever it takes: Dean will do it what it takes to protect his family

Example: 13x23 - Dean consents to Alternate!Michael possessing him in order to save Sam and Jack from Lucifer

Warrior vs Killer: Dean is a warrior who yearns for peace/people to be safe, he is not a killer

Example: 8x04 - he and Sam both decide to give Kate a chance after they view her video even though this means there is a werewolf on the loose out there

Example: 9x12 - Dean eventually sees that Bess and her father are good people and gives Garth his begrudging approval, tells him to be happy

Exhaustion: Dean is tired as his story line progresses “I’m tired, Sam.”

Leadership: Dean does experience time as the lead hunter in the duo with him and Sam in the beginning of the series but is more comfortable not being in a leadership capacity, and is more than happy to let Sam take the reins when it comes to any type of leadership outside of their dynamic - however, he has proven to have strategic thinking when it comes to hunts and in-the-moment battles (as shown in 6x19)

Ending: open-ended (in Heaven), died on a milk run hunt, on a rebar after being pushed into it by a vampmime - no one knows how Jensen feels about Dean’s ending in 15x20 but it is generally surmised that he wasn’t happy with it based on how he said previously that the ending didn’t sit right with him until he spoke to the creator about it, then he said he was excited for fans to see it

CASTIEL

Self-Worth: after rebelling and becoming a semi-permanent fixture in the Winchesters’ lives, Cas questions his self-worth consistently, especially any time he makes mistakes such as his turn as Godstiel in the end of season 6 and beginning of season 7, which then led to the Leviathan getting free; he feels the only value he has is what he can contribute to the fight whether through his powers or through his self-sacrifice (like in season 11 when he lets Lucifer possess him to fight The Darkness)

Desires: to be with his family (meaning TFW 2.0), for a better world, to be with Dean in whatever capacity Dean will have him

Unrealized wants though they are explicitly stated/shown/question is posed (that maybe they don’t think they deserve):

Dean - Cas says to Dean in 15x18: “Because the one thing I want I know I can’t have” - textually, this is implied about Dean and Cas being in love with him since the love confession takes place right after this line but it is never truly explicitly answered

Whatever it takes: Castiel will do what it takes to protect those he loves/his family

Example: 12x09 - Cas kills Billie to protect the Winchesters from the deal Dean and Sam made

Example: 13x14 - stripping Donatello’s mind for the spell needed, Dean does not agree with this & it comes up again in 13x19 and 14x12 (where Dean still insists it wasn’t right & Cas agrees but says it was necessary)

Example: 14x08 - Cas makes a deal with The Empty to save Jack

Warrior vs Killer: Cas is a warrior who yearns to do the right thing, who ends up being compassionate and caring for people in the world, he is not a killer - “I vastly prefer them to angels.”

Leadership/Strategy: Cas is a skilled tactician that has commanded an angelic garrison in battles for Heaven, he has shown great capacity for strategic thinking and fighting battles with his and/or the Winchesters’ enemies

Ending: open-ended (in Heaven), after dying by being dragged to The Empty in 15x18, Bobby confirms in dialogue in 15x20 that Jack has retrieved Cas from The Empty in order to rebuild Heaven - Misha was happy with Cas’ ending in 15x18

Unconfirmed reciprocations:

JONSA

Jon: 8x06 script confirms that Jon knows Sansa loves him but he can’t forgive her for telling his secret which led to what happened with Dany

DESTIEL

Dean: 15x18 script states that Dean “can’t reciprocate” but doesn’t elaborate if this is due to Dean not being able to share those feelings or if he literally cannot respond due to the events happening at the same time as Cas’ confession

Allusions to maybe the other parties did return some semblance of those feelings:

JONSA

Jon:

6x10 - the forehead kiss - Jon’s and then Sansa’s expressions

7x01 - the breathlessness Jon has when Sansa says “Would that be so terrible?” in response “By what? By listening to you?”

7x02 - Jon’s wave goodbye to Sansa before leaving Winterfell

8x01 - Jon’s expression when moving from Bran to hug Sansa

8x01 - Jon’s little smile when Sansa says “No, she’s much prettier” in response to him stating “She’s not her father”

8x01 - Jon’s unnecessary step forward after Sansa says “You know I do” in response to him asking “Do you have any faith in me at all?”

DESTIEL

Dean:

8x07 - Dean’s reaction to Cas getting cleaned up in the hotel room

8x07 - Cas reveals that Dean remembered leaving Cas behind in Purgatory differently than what actually happened - “You needed to remember it differently”

8x08 - Dean’s reaction to Cas’ confession on how he feels he might kill himself if he sees the devastation he caused in Heaven as Godstiel

8x17 - Dean was originally scripted to tell Cas “I love you” as Cas nearly beats him to death but it was changed to “We’re family. We need you. I need you”

8x22 - Dean asks Cas “For what?” when Cas apologizes, then tells Cas to take his apology and shove it, there is heavy tension in this scene until Sam clears his throat uncomfortably and interrupts with a subject change; Cas then goes shopping and gets things he thinks Dean would like including a skin mag and trying to get pie

9x03 - Dean’s reaction to Cas’ death and the touching

9x09 - Dean’s reaction and smile when Cas talks about April (a safe subject for Dean to react to after Cas’ being flirty before that)

9x11 - Cain talks about Colette, confirming that she only asked him one thing which Crowley says “to stop”, in this episode Dean takes the MOC

9x18 - Dean clearly tries to keep the MOC from Cas and keep it under wraps but Cas knows right away something isn’t right with Dean & finds out

10x14 - Cain tells Dean that he’s living Cain’s life in reverse and makes the connection that Cas is representative of Colette in Dean’s own life (this happens after Cain has met Cas as well)

10x16 - Dean confesses to a priest that he’s starting to think that maybe he might be closer to dying than he initially thought and there were “things, people, feelings” that he wants to experience differently than he has before, “maybe even for the first time”

10x22 - Cas asks Dean to “stop” while Dean is in the thrall of the MOC, cementing that Cas is indeed Colette in Dean’s MOC arc

11x03 - Dean’s face touching and holding of Cas once he’s released from Rowena’s spell

11x11 - Mildred mentions Dean’s “pining for somebody else” and reminds him to “follow your heart” - this is also the first episode after Lucifer has taken possession of Cas that we see Dean start to notice something isn’t right with Cas

11x18 - Dean attempts to contact Cas and get him to exercise Lucifer - Lucifer mocks him - Dean fails - Amara shows up and kidnaps Casifer but not before Dean yells for Cas, surprising both Amara and Lucifer

11x23 - Dean is relieved to have Cas back

12x01 - Dean introducing Cas to Mary as Castiel

12x09 - Dean glances over at Cas when Sam says “It’s time” and then looks away when Cas is looking at him confused

12x10 - Dean engaging in the bickering with Cas but then coming to his defense when he sees Ishim mistreating Cas

12x12 - Dean’s lower lip wobble when Cas tells him he’s dying; Dean holding onto Cas’ hand a little longer than necessary once Cas is healed & they help him to his feet

12x23 - Dean needing to be dragged away by Sam as Cas goes to confront Lucifer

12x23 - Dean’s reaction when Cas is killed by Lucifer

13x01 - Dean’s grief over losing Cas, his prepping Cas for burial alone, his reaction to Jack, his prayer to Chuck

13x02 - 13x04 - Dean’s entire reaction to Jack who he is convinced got Cas killed by lying to him and manipulating him, which he confirms to Sam in dialogue

13x05 - Dean is still grieving Cas, and then his reaction to getting the call from Cas that he’s alive, his reaction to seeing Cas

13x06 - Dean’s reaction to Cas being back, his mood turnaround from the previous 5 episodes which Sam remarks to him in dialogue and Dean chalks it up to Cas being back as a win

13x19 - Dean tells Cas if he wants to check in with Heaven then fine but “don’t get dead again” and says it in a tone that means business

14x03 - Dean’s reunion with Sam, Cas, and Jack - once Cas enters frame, Dean’s eyes barely leave him until Dean leaves to get cleaned up

14x12 - Dean’s reaction to Cas’ “So this is goodbye?”

15x03 - Dean’s reaction to Cas leaving

15x07 - Dean being relieved to see Cas while worried about Sam, and his response to Cas’ lack of one

15x08 - their entire dynamic in this episode and their reactions to one another - there is tension when it comes to the two of them but they’re still trying to get the job done regardless, even Rowena picks up on the tension and tells them to make it right

15x08 - Adam looking over at Cas after saying “Since when do we get what we deserve?” and then looking back to Dean

15x09 - Dean’s emotional prayer when he can’t find Cas - then Dean’s relief at seeing Cas near the rift, then his disappointed reaction when Cas tells him he doesn’t have to say what Dean said he wanted to say

15x13 - Dean’s reaction to Cas dying temporarily and his anger after it though it’s fleeting

15x15 - Dean teasing Cas with the mention of Amara and their having a thing and Sam’s expression

15x17 - When Sam mentions that Eileen will die again if Billie takes over as God, Dean looks back at Cas who looks up at him

15x18 - Dean mentions that Billie will kill Cas and then kill him, implying that he will have to watch Cas die again

15x18 - Dean loses Cas to The Empty & he is last seen sobbing on the floor, ignoring Sam’s call

15x19 - Dean demanding that Chuck bring Cas back if he and Sam give Chuck his ending

15x19 - Dean’s rush up the stairs once he receives a call from Cas

15x20 - Dean’s little smile when Bobby tells him “Cas helped” (similar to the smile in 13x06, just saying)

Other Characters Knowing (Even Before the Main Characters Do):

JONSA

Littlefinger

7x02 - his watching Sansa as she watches Jon leaves

7x07 - his mentioning that Dany is beautiful and that both Jon and Dany are unmarried and together they’d be “difficult to defeat”

Dany

8x02 - Dany straight up asks “And that bothers you?” when Sansa mentions that Jon loves Dany

Tyrion

Jon’s reaction to Tyrion mentioning his marriage to Sansa in 7x03 which then prompts Tyrion to say “it was unconsummated”

8x04 - Tyrion noticing Sansa is upset over something, asking “Are you alright?”

8x06 - Tyrion knowing that Jon’s “sisters” are his weak point and when mentioning them didn’t work, he then mentions Sansa specifically and bingo, he got through, Jon’s expression confirms it and sure enough, the throne room scene happens right after this one

Davos

there’s no way this guy didn’t pick up on anything the entire time he traveled with Jon and Sansa in season 6 and was Jon’s advisor in seasons 7 and 8 - his look back and forth between Jon and Sansa in 7x02 speaks loudly to me

Arya (while this isn’t made explicit, I’m willing to bet my girl saw it when she stepped into Jon’s narrative in season 7, after she confronts Sansa and works with her to bring down Littlefinger, my girl is wicked smart after all)

all through season 7, even though it initially becomes a contention point between the two, Arya does see Sansa mention that she hopes Jon will be back soon and that Sansa does defend Jon to the Northern lords, though not in the way Arya would have preferred her to handle it

8x01 - there’s a little smile Arya has when Jon puts his hand on her shoulder and asks where she was before and that he could have used her help with Sansa

Brienne

that knowing smile in 7x02 - this was also for Sansa being in left in charge but they intercut it with Sansa’s worried expression, Jon’s reassuring nod, and Davos’ look between the two

her little smile once Jon and Sansa are reunited and hugging in 8x01

Podrick

his little smile once Jon and Sansa are reunited and hugging in 8x01

DESTIEL

Sam

Sam knows

8x22 - Sam clearing his throat uncomfortably in the middle of Dean and Cas’ argument, changing the subject, then pleads with Dean on Cas’ behalf once he and Dean are alone

12x10 - Sam’s reaction to Cas’ “If I plan to do anything else stupid, I’ll let you know” and walk into the diner, turning to Dean who seems clueless as to him being the reason behind Cas’ snarkiness - then Sam knowing Dean would bust in

13x06 - Sam’s little smile, clearly not buying Dean’s explanation of Cas’ return being a win for his sudden turnaround in mood, and his “Fair enough” as he turns to close the closet

14x03 - Sam’s little smile after the exchange between Dean and Cas upon reuniting until Jack interrupts

15x15 - Sam’s little expression of “really?” when Dean mentions to Cas that he and Amara used to have a thing

Mary

12x01 - Mary’s head tilt as she sees Cas hug Dean enthusiastically when seeing him again

in season 12, Dean tells Mary exactly how long Dean and Sam have been gone

12x12 - Mary is present when Cas says his first “I love you” and then his eyes work their way towards Dean after Sam

Crowley

6x20 - Crowley teases Cas about sneaking off to see Dean with “the stench of that Impala is all over your coat”

10x14 - cut scene where Crowley teases Cas, calling him Dean’s “boyfriend”

Rowena

15x08 - Rowena plays therapist for a minute after sending Sam out of the room and tells Cas and Dean to work it out

Amara

11x18 - Amara is surprised when she hears Dean call Cas’ name

11x21 - Amara lifts her hand over Cas’ heart and is able to connect to Dean regardless of where he is

Lucifer

11x18 - Lucifer taunts Dean, mocking his “Cas!” and telling Dean that Cas prefers staying as he is

11x18 - Lucifer is just as surprised as Amara is when Dean calls Cas’ name

11x22 - Lucifer teases Dean by saying Cas’ wellbeing is his highest concern in the impending battle with Amara, seeing Dean not reacting, Lucifer gives up and tells them not to worry and that Cas is “on board”

15x19 - Lucifer prank calls Dean to get him to open the bunker door so he can be let in (something he has infamously done before to be invited in, appearing as a lost loved one)

Charlie

8x20 - Charlie teases Dean while she tries on clothes “What about Cas? He sounds dreamy”

10x18 - Charlie is very excited to meet Cas

Naomi

8x17 - when Naomi brainwashed Cas, she made him kill hundreds of Deans in Heaven to prepare him to truly kill Dean when the time came

8x17 - Naomi tells Cas “It’s us or them” - Cas chooses them (aka Dean who is in front of him in that moment that he is beating up on)

8x19 - Naomi visits with Dean when looking for Cas and the Angel tablet, she notes the angel-proofing is not sound and that she knows Dean is hoping Cas will return to him and says “I only wish he felt the same” which affects Dean

Balthazar

6x17 - Balthazar says to Dean “You must have me confused with the other angel. You know, the one in the dirty trench coat who’s in love with you”

Metatron

9x22 - he tells Gadreel about Cas “his true weakness is revelead. He’s in love...with humanity”

9x23 - Metatron sees Cas’ reaction to being told Dean is dead, after he tells Cas “you draped yourself in the flag of Heaven but it was all really for one human, right?” and then goes on to name Dean Winchester

Ishim

12x10 - Ishim tells Cas that he will cure him of his “human weakness, the same way I cured my own” referencing his love aka obsession with Lily & goes to kill Dean

Benny

8x02 - Benny sees Cas’ jealousy after he says “and this is the crazy aunt I want to take on the road?” he then proceeds to tease Cas until Dean says “You two are killing me” - he also saves Cas from the Leviathan when they attack & it’s confirmed later that this is why Dean keeps his word and helps Benny get out of Purgatory

Eileen

if Sam knows, Eileen definitely knows

15x07 - though there is no explicit confirmation in dialogue or a scene, Eileen knows something is up with Dean after he turns down breakfast & asks Sam if he is okay, which prompts Sam to run after Dean to talk to him

Claire

10x20 - Claire tells Dean to watch out for Cas before she leaves (she doesn’t tell Sam this, only Dean)

The Empty

13x04 - after wracking Cas’ mind for answers as to why he’s awake in The Empty, the entity tells Cas “I know what you hate. I know who you love”

practically everyone from Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, some Alternate worlds, and everything in between (several examples)

Sibling/Other Family Relationships Shown As Contrast:

JONSA

Jon & Arya - this relationship was never romantically coded in the show and the difference is explicit - while Jon & Arya were close growing up, they were merely siblings. Jon & Sansa were not close growing up, the chasm between them being Catelyn’s refusal to accept Jon. Their bond only begins to truly blossom once they are reunited in 6x04 and continue to work together to reclaim Winterfell and then care for the North while preparing for the Night King’s army

Dynamic: Sibling/Family

DESTIEL

Sam & Dean - while the brothers and their relationship is the main heart of the show (as are the characters individually), this is purely a close sibling/family relationship - the brothers do have romantic interests/relationships & friendships outside of their own once they start to grow and evolve out of their toxic co-dependency - the main theme for them is family and this is shown time and time again all throughout the series

Dynamic: Sibling/Family

Sam & Cas - this is a friendship that evolves into a brotherhood and family bond - the show makes sure to display the difference in Sam’s reactions to Cas, Cas’ actions, and Cas’ death to Dean’s repeatedly - Sam is meant to be the observer (along with the audience) as the relationship between Dean and Cas evolve (especially in later seasons), why else would they continue to show us Sam’s reactions or have Sam attempt to play the peacemaker role between Dean and Cas or have him be the third wheel? Sam’s friendship with Cas is the main one he has near the end of the series outside of his relationship with their found family and he co-parents Jack with Cas and Dean

Dynamic: Sibling/Family, Friendship

Other romantic/romantic-coded relationships/friendships shown as contrast:

JONSA

Jonerys - not only is the contrast between Sansa and Daenerys as rulers/queens shown in the last season but also how they fit into Jon’s life and as relationship material, essentially showcasing both sides of Jon himself in a way (Stark vs Targaryen - which as a plot device I absolutely hate, as if these two strong women didn’t have their own merits but that’s what happens when only men write for women and think it’s a fun time for all if misogyny and sterotypical jealousy and love triangulation are cool tools to use in the story, my God don’t even get me started), and this is also shown romantically - Jonerys became the main canon pairing of season 8 (after going canon in 7x07 with boatsex) - we all know how it ends (with Jon being forced to kill Dany to keep those he loves most [8x06 script] safe) but ultimately Jonerys also showed contrast to Jonsa who had been making very specific callbacks to the pairing of Ned and Catelyn visually as well as within the narrative

DESTIEL

Amara/Dean - this is a bond forced onto Dean once he is rid of the MOC and Amara is released - it’s one he feels but doesn’t want, as he confirms in dialogue later in season 11 - this bond was introduced this season to contrast the bond he has with Cas which Dean ends up choosing Cas in the end so to speak, his worry for Cas is able to break through his attraction/bond to Amara as showcased in 11x18

Crowley/Dean - the summer fling when Dean becomes Deanmon - it’s heavily implied that this is a brief summer bromance that burns out just as fast as it began once Dean is on the dark side - this relationship is also paralleled to the relationship between Cain and Abbadon in season 9 and 10 (where Cain makes that connection himself in dialogue to Dean in 10x14, the same episode where there was a cut scene of Cas intimating that Crowley has feelings for Dean)

Benny/Dean - the bromance of season 8 for Dean that formed in Purgatory while looking for Cas and the portal - once Dean finds Cas, his relationship with Benny doesn’t immediately dissolve, but Cas becomes the clear focus, until Dean and Benny leave Purgatory - their relationship continues until Dean is forced to ask Benny to go to Purgatory to rescue Sam and has to kill him himself once Benny accepts, where Benny decides to stay and tells Sam to tell Dean goodbye for him - this bromance was meant to parallel Dean’s bromance with Cas as well as Sam’s romantic relationship with Amelia

Other Similarities:

Both pairings have the dynamic of one half willing to speak bluntly/truthfully and/or confront/stand up to the other half & vice versa

JONSA

Sansa questions Jon’s decision in 7x01 & tells him later that he needs to be smarter than “Father, you have to be smarter than Robb”

In 8x01 Jon straight up tells Sansa that they need Dany as an ally for the upcoming battle with the Night King when she confronts him over bending the knee to Dany

DESTIEL

Cas doesn’t back down when Dean is angry with him in 8x07 and straight up tells him that had Cas died it would have been his problem and that not everything is Dean’s responsibility; Cas confronts Dean in 10x22 about the MOC starting to take control of Dean which ends with Dean nearly killing him but even then he doesn’t stop trying to get through to him before Dean stabs the book by his head

Dean tells Cas he needs to do the right thing in 4x22; Dean asks Cas to stop working with Crowley in 6x20 and tells Cas if he doesn’t, he’ll do what he has to in order to stop him

Both pairings, regardless of how upset they may be with one another, always have each other’s backs

JONSA

Jon tells Dany “she doesn’t know you” then tries to placate Dany with “if it makes you feel any better, she didn’t like me much either when we were growing up” when she tells him that Sansa doesn’t like her in 8x01

Sansa defends Jon to the Northern lords when they complain about Jon in 7x05; she continues to prepare for the Night King’s army (7x03-8x01) and does whatever she has to in order to keep the men for Jon’s army (including the KotV, even after choosing to execute Littlefinger in 7x07)

DESTIEL

Dean stands up for Cas in 12x10 when he sees Ishim mistreating Cas and asks why Cas allows Ishim to treat him like that (this is after Dean and Cas have been bickering and not getting along); Dean tells Ishim “Cas and I might not agree all the time but he knows who his real friends are”; Dean warns Cas about Chuck being back in 15x06 though they’re not really talking at that point & tells him to “check your damn messages” after he mentions Sam has been trying to call Cas

Cas protects Dean in 15x09 in Purgatory by allowing the Leviathan to take him back to Eve after they knock Dean out (this is after their discussion where Cas makes it clear that he already apologized to Dean but he refused to hear it and Dean didn’t stop him when he left); Cas heals Dean’s hand in 15x08 though they still aren’t getting along & Cas’ grace is failing

Parallels:

In Show/Overt:

JONSA

Ned/Catelyn

Ned choking Littlefinger in season 1 -> Jon choking Littlefinger in 7x02

Framing/second coming of Ned & Catelyn

Jon/Daenerys

hands shot in 6x05 -> hands shot in 7x06

Framing of both pairings

Jaime/Brienne

Jaime and Brienne’s wave goodbye in season 6 -> Jon and Sansa’s wave goodbye in 7x02

DESTIEL

Sam/Eileen

biggest parallel yet for this pairing - both were heavily paralleled in season 15

Sam loses Eileen in 15x18 -> Dean loses Cas in 15x18

Sam assures Eileen that they are real in 15x09 -> Cas assures Dean that they are real in 15x02

Framing of both pairings

15x07 becomes a somewhat Cas & Eileen centric-episode while Dean deals with Lee and Sam is out cold

15x17 when Sam mentions losing Eileen Dean looks back at Cas

Dean/Amara

Dean has a bond with both Cas and Amara - these two bonds are heavily paralleled all throughout season 11 - Dean makes it clear in the end that the bond with Amara is not one he wants and it’s evident that he is more concerned about Cas than what happens to Amara

Amara has the MOC on her chest over her heart which has been transferred from Dean’s right arm -> though Cas’ handprint is no longer visible on Dean’s left shoulder, it’s still there and when Casifer grabs the wrong shoulder in 11x11

Dean/Crowley

Dean on the dark side (as a demon) has a summer fling with Crowley from 10x01-10x02 -> cut scene from 10x14, Cas and Crowley tease each other about being Dean’s “boyfriend”

Crowley reminisces while looking at a picture of him and Dean in cowboy hats in 10x02 -> Dean and Cas are in cowboy hats in 13x06 & in 15x15 Cas uses a picture of him in the same cowboy hat to summon a crossroads demon that he clearly didn’t take himself

Cain/Colette

Cain tells Dean and Crowley that Colette only asked one thing of him, “to stop” in 9x11 -> Cas asks Dean to “stop” in 10x22

Cas tells Dean he’ll watch over him as he sleeps in 8x08 -> Cain tells Colette that he knows she watches over him still in 9x11

Crowley makes a deal with Cas in 6x20 that then leads to a chasm in Dean and Cas’ relationship & Cas’ eventual death -> Abbadon possesses Colette in 9x11 which ends up making Cain kill Colette

Sam/Jessica

Sam is pushed out of the room by Dean when Jessica dies, screaming her name in 1x01 -> Dean is pushed out of Apocalypse World by Sam, yelling for Cas, right before Cas dies in front of him in 12x23

Lucifer appears as Jessica to Sam in a dream in 5x03 to get Sam to say yes -> Lucifer calls Dean as Cas in 15x19 to get Dean to open the door to the bunker so he can get in

John/Mary

John watches as Mary dies, screaming her name in 1x01 -> Dean is pushed out of Apocalypse World by Sam, yelling for Cas, right before Cas dies in front of him in 12x23

Dean reiterates the story of how John and Mary met to Mary in 12x01 to prove to her that he is their son, how Mary thought John was cute and loved that he knew the words to every Led Zeppelin song -> in 8x20, Charlie teases Dean and says “What about Cas? He sounds dreamy” & in 12x12, while complimenting Cas for Mandy’s sake he calls Cas his “devastatingly handsome friend” & in 12x19, after Dean’s annoyance at Cas being AWOL again, Cas attempts to return a cassette tape to Dean, labeled “Dean’s top 13 Zepp traxx”, which Dean gives back to him and tells him “it’s a gift, you keep those”

In Show/Not as Overt:

JONSA

Grey Worm/Missandei

This post about the paralleled dialogue (x)

This pairing also contrasts with the Jonerys romance as well

Jaime/Cersei

This is a bit more of a contrast situation but there are parallels in that Sansa supposedly might have become Cersei 2.0 that the show liked to tease, even in 8x04 when telling Jaime that Dany was most likely going to destroy Cersei and she wouldn’t be able to see her executed - Cersei is the first queen for Sansa to learn from (most of her main lessons from outside of Littlefinger) - Sansa is also in love with her “brother”, her “knight/protector” though Brienne becomes her knight & Arya takes up the role of her protector in Jon’s and Brienne’s absences - Jon becomes the Queenslayer compared to Jaime’s Kingslayer, Jaime has often been branded as a twisted mirror for Jon, two sides of the same coin

This amazingly written post goes into more detail on this (x)

Yara/Theon

both brother and sister that were separated for a time

both were protective of the other; Yara attempted to rescue Theon from Ramsay; Theon rescued Yara from Euron; Yara is protective of Theon when Ellaria is condescending towards him

Theon supported Yara as queen for their home; Jon was supportive of the idea of Sansa as Queen in the North

DESTIEL

Alternate!Charlie/Stevie

Alternate!Charlie is cleaning her guns at the table a la Dean style in 15x18 - she loses Stevie, before Sam loses Eileen and Dean loses Cas

Claire/Kaia

Claire who is often a mirror for Dean promises to protect Kaia who then says “I’ll go with you”

When Kaia is rescued in 15x12, she asks if Claire will be at Jody’s, after Jody confirms that what Kaia and Claire had was “first love” that struck quick

Jesse/Cesar

two hunter husbands who plan to retire to a horse ranch in New Mexico after Jesse gets his revenge & Cesar plans to help him get

this episode is where Dean asks “what’s it like settling down with a hunter?” and it’s proven later that Dean has been thinking about retiring & gives his approval/blessing to Sam to settle down with Eileen in 15x08 since she gets Sam, them & “the life”

Not in show:

JONSA

Aemon the Dragon Knight - this has more to do with the books but this post explains that supposed parallel way better than I ever could

What the Shows Would Like You To Publicly Believe While Realizing/Not Realizing The Coding They Gave To These Pairings/Relationships:

JONSA

The pairing was subtextual, only confirmed in the script (8x06) as one-sided and by the acting

That Jon was in love with Daenerys the entire time

That Sansa was at face value jealous of Daenerys’ relationship with Jon & that Jon had chosen her (and this is supposedly why she breaks her promise to Jon and tells his secret to Tyrion)

DESTIEL

The pairing was one-sided, confirmed by Cas’ love confession in 15x18 before his impending death, Dean never responds or even addresses it in the narrative textually, leaving any reaction as purely subtextual (i.e. 15x19 - Lucifer’s call to Dean & Dean’s subsequent rush upstairs to let Cas in, Dean’s demand to Chuck for Cas to be brought back, Dean’s falling asleep with a lot of empty bottles around him)

Dean can’t reciprocate Cas’ feelings, confirmed in the script (15x18)

Dean never talks to Sam about what happened in the dungeon or what Cas told him in 15x18

Dean (and Sam) won’t ask Jack to free Cas and/or bring him back

Dean doesn’t care if Cas is freed from The Empty (in the beginning of 15x20) and instead decides to live his life in honor of Cas’ sacrifice & tells Sam to do the same when Sam mentions Cas and Jack not being there

Actors’ Viewpoints:

KIT

says “that’s weird” when the pairing is mentioned to him by fans

SOPHIE

Tells D&D that they better not make Jonsa a couple in the show when a fan mentions the fanon pairing at Comic Con after season 6

JENSEN

“Destiel doesn’t exist” “We certainly don’t play it that way. I think they’re more...kindred spirits” - eventually this changes and seems to be more embraced in discussion as the final season approaches: “What are you looking forward to tackling this season?” “Cas” & open to discussion of the handprint and confession scene in 15x18 in general

MISHA

When he was allowed to discuss it, he appeared to be supportive and open to the interpretations of said pairing

Acting Choices:

KIT

Master of Microexpressions himself - look at this man’s expressions in each scene with Sansa (i.e. the staring at Sansa’s lips in 6x10, the breathlessness in 7x01 when she asks if it would be so terrible if he listened to her, etc) vs each scene with Dany (Jon scrunching up his face in disbelief when Dany tells Tyrion in 8x02 that he needs to stay out of the battle, his annoyed expression in his bedroom in 8x04 that Dany can’t see before trying to placate her, etc) and tell me which woman this guy was truly in love with - go on, I’ll wait...

SOPHIE

Heart eyes in 8x04 while watching Jon, her heartbroken expression in 8x01 when Jon tells her they need Dany and he doesn’t deny anything when she says “No, she’s much prettier” being a callback to Littlefinger’s comments on Dany’s beauty to Sansa in 7x07, her being upset at Jon having told Tyrion that he is not a Stark in 8x04

JENSEN

Jacting Joices - look at this man’s expressions in each scene with Cas in season 8, in 9x03, 9x06, 9x09, 10x03, 11x03, 12x01 and the rest of the seasons as well as his grieving arc from 13x01-13x05, as well as the “domestic dispute” from 15x03 as well as Dean’s prayer aka confession in 15x09 and tell me that man wasn’t in love with Cas - go on, I’ll wait...

MISHA

Sad face when Dean tells Cas he needs him in 8x02, Cas’ expression when he can’t kill Dean & loses his army, his pained expression when Metatron tells him that Dean is dead in 9x23, Cas’ little smile when Dean speaks on the phone about the honor bar, his expressions every time Dean insults him or bickers with him in 12x10, Cas looking up at Dean almost timidly after saying “I love you. I love all of you” in 12x12, Cas’ face when The Empty says in 13x04 “I know who you love. There is nothing for you back there”, his face when Dean tells him in 14x18 “if something happened to her, you’re dead to me”, his expression when Dean cuts him off and walks away as he tries to tell Dean what’s going on after Dean asks him if he’s okay in 15x01, his last (almost hopeful) look back at Dean as he says “I think it’s time for me to move on” in 15x03, his annoyed expression when Dean asks to speak to him in 15x06, his breathlessness at seeing Dean again in 15x07, him and Dean connecting eyes for a minute in Hell and then him looking purposely away which Rowena catches -- I mean to be fair, Cas’ side was confirmed for this pairing so it all makes sense and leads up to it but again acting choices

Chemistry PR:

JONSA

Sophie and Kit hug at the 2019 Emmy’s (if you watch the video, you literally see them wait until the cameras are snapping the photo even though the show was over by this point)

Once Jon and Sansa reunite in season 6, the conversation quickly steers towards the two characters and their return to Winterfell and the supposed “power struggle” between them

Kit, Sophie, and Emilia are placed close together on stage at the screening of the season 8 premiere (for the love triangle)

DESTIEL

At cons and in interviews/for publicatons, and on red carpets (i.e. the premiere of the #300 episode for the show), PR is heavily done with Jensen and Misha

The C*W does a “dare to defy” promo for the network starring many of their actors - Misha is chosen to say “When we defy judgement” and then Jensen is chosen to say “love happens” (I’m sure the actors said most of the lines in the promo when shooting it and certain ones were chosen such as Jensen’s and Misha’s, certain one for Jared, etc. all part of the PR game)

Bottom line is these two pairings were romantically coded, regardless of how they played out. There were too many tropes/themes applied to both, too many acting choices, music swells, too much framing, too many parallels to other romantic-coded couples in both shows, etc. So no matter what each show tries to tell you, or what certain sections of fans try to tell you, it was always there for each pairing.

Edit 2/20/21: Added Yara/Theon to paralleled pairings in “In Show/Not as Overt” & Brienne and Podrick to “Other Characters Knowing”

#destiel #destiel meta #in conjunction with #jonsa #jonsa meta #holy crap this got long #deancas #dean x cas #jon x sansa #romantic coding #spnposts #gotposts

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