No matter how many times the CW’s Supernatural cast and crew insisted that the Destiel ship isn’t canonical, fans never backed down with claiming that Dean and Castiel have romantic feelings for one another. Jensen Ackles himself personally said that “Destiel doesn't exist," only for fans to take the headcanon even more seriously.
It's now been confirmed that Destiel isn't something that existed only in fans’ minds, although there were definite times on Supernatural previously where Dean and Castiel’s relationship could be perceived as being romantic. So, if you’re one of the Destiel shippers (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), then these moments will be canonical for you.
Updated on 28th December 2020 by Saim Cheeda: Supernatural’s conclusion has placed all the interactions between Dean and Castiel with a confirmed context. This is especially put in a renewed perspective due to the way the two bid farewell during Castiel’s exit from the series, which has now led to Destiel fans feeling that their hopes to see these two as a romantic pair have been validated. Since Season 15 brought more examples for this dynamic, this list has been updated to reflect the Destiel relationship further.
Castiel's Declaration Of Love
This point legitimately is canonical, and the moment sent Twitter reactions into a frenzy. In his last scene on Supernatural, Castiel sacrificed himself to the Empty, and to save Dean from Billie as well, by experiencing his moment of true happiness.
This turned out to be Castiel accepting that he was in love with Dean after all, and he declared his feelings for Dean as his final act. While Dean didn’t reciprocate, he didn’t deny anything either. In any case, Castiel’s confession was enough to make Destiel a part of Supernatural canon.
Their "Break-Up Phase"
At the beginning of Season 15, Dean treated Castiel in a way you don’t to a friend and essentially broke their friendship. However, the scene was such that it came across as a break-up rather than a dissolution of a friendship, as the two characters looked hurt and near tears.
Castiel, in particular, took Dean’s attitude hard and walked away by even ignoring Sam. Dean and Castiel then went through something of a break-up phase, as they constantly wondered where the other was and were unhappy on their own, but were too proud to tell each other about this fact.
Every Time They Argued Like A Couple
There might be a bunch of hidden facts concerning their relationship, but it was clear as day that they argued like a married couple would. In this dynamic, Dean would take the more masculine role and overlook Castiel’s feelings, who acted like a sour love interest hoping the boyfriend would pay attention.
Sam generally got stuck in the middle here, with Dean and Castiel squinting eyes at one another as if expecting the other to initiate the first move to make up. Considering how both of them would become instantly happy when they did end the argument, one can argue it was like watching a couple’s reconciliation.
The Moment They Reconciled In Purgatory
The way he shunned Castiel at the beginning of Season 15 was among the worst ways Dean treated Castiel, although he made up for it in Purgatory. When he thought that he’d lost Castiel, Dean made a tearful prayer and confessed that he forgave him for everything.
The two eventually came across one another, where the sentiments between them were understood as the pair shared a look that communicated how they definitely needed each other, no matter how angry they might get with one another.
When Castiel Protected Dean From Dick Roman
They might have had a lot of romantic partners on the show, but Dean and Castiel never got as protective of those love interests as they did for each other. Castiel certainly became very defensive of him when they faced off against Dick Roman.
After Dick made his intention clear to hurt Dean, Castiel instantly jumped in between, shoved Dean aside to protect him, and charged head-on toward Roman to fight him. It’s hard to imagine anyone being this protective over someone who’s just a friend, and Destiel fans are certainly convinced this was Castiel saving his love interest.
When Dean Hugged Castiel In Purgatory
Before Season 8, Dean was always shown to be reluctant to embrace Castiel, with every instance they did hug being a source of embarrassment for Dean; however, fans saw for the first time how Dean truly felt about Castiel when it was the former who initiated a hug.
Here, Dean would run up to Castiel after locating him in Purgatory and would bring himself around the angel for a happy hug. At this time, Dean had no qualms about how mushy embracing Castiel, due to the fact that Dean had been looking for Castiel tirelessly for days. It showed how Dean usually put up the act of not wanting to hug Castiel, but really did want to do it.
When Dean Mourned Castiel's Death
Castiel had died quite a few times before his death at the hands of Lucifer in Season 12, but this time Dean seemed to have taken it the hardest. Despite also having lost his mother to the Apocalypse World, Dean’s main grief stemmed from Castiel’s death, and the first few episodes (until Castiel’s resurrection) focused on him mourning Castiel.
It was as if Dean had lost a spouse or something, as he would be seen hiding away in corners in despondency, praying to God to bring Castiel back, and antagonizing Jack because Castiel had died in order to protect the former. When Castiel came back, it was Dean who was the happiest out of everyone else.
When Castiel Wanted To Die With Dean
The ending of Season 11 had us believe that Dean would go out dying by exploding a soul bomb that was kept within him to take out the Darkness. Better sense would prevail and Amara would heal Chuck, rendering the need to kill her pointless and allowing Dean to walk free.
Before that, though, Dean would say goodbye to his friends when he was about to confront Amara, and in this scene, fans had Castiel offer Dean the ultimate companionship. Despite knowing that he would die too if he went with Dean to face the Darkness, Castiel would offer to be by his side. Dean’s farewell embrace was enough to tell us how much he appreciated Castiel’s sentiment.
When Castiel Read Dean's Feelings
No, there’s nothing directly romantic here; this refers to the time where Castiel read what Dean was feeling about his return from Hell. Even though at this time Castiel had zero clues over how human feelings worked, he could tell from just a glance at Dean that the elder Winchester brother was suffering from feelings of guilt.
Castiel would say out loud how Dean felt he didn’t feel like he was worth saving after he’d tortured so many people in Hell, and would comfort Dean in his own way. It was here fans knew that there was something special between these two, considering Castiel could never read any other person.
When Castiel Turned On Heaven For Dean
Throughout Season 4, Castiel would warm up to Dean, who would appeal to the former to embrace the comion that was forming in him. In the season finale, fans finally saw Castiel follow through with this when he betrayed Heaven’s orders to incarcerate Dean and freed him.
Although at the time the scene made it appear as if Castiel had realized the angels were wrong, he would reveal in Season 5 that he had trusted Dean blindly and taken the leap to turn to his side. As it happened, Castiel defied god’s orders because he had more faith in Dean.
