Entertainment Web-Press Reactions to 15x18 Despair
https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/supernatural-season-15-episode-18-review-despair/
“I’m still numb about this whole scene. A subset of Supernatural shippiers, the Destiel fans, were likely cheering at this point, watching as Cass professed his love for Dean and all that he represents. This love may not necessarily be described as romantic love, but it is no less significant.”
https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/supernatural-fans-are-freaking-out-over-despair-and-tonights-big/
“In an emotional farewell speech, Castiel reminded Dean (and the audience) of the deal he made with The Empty -- that if he were to ever find a moment of true happiness, The Empty would come and consume him. Cas found that happiness when he told Dean how he really felt about him -- that Dean was the kindest and most loving man he had ever known, that he loved him, and that through Dean, he had come to love the rest of the world as well.
Cas pushed Dean out of the way, leaving a handprint on his friend's shoulder the same way he had when he rescued Dean from Hell...”
https://www.tvfanatic.com/2020/11/supernatural-season-15-episode-18-review-despair/
“What made that the supposed conclusion to Castiel's arc so sad is that he told Dean he loved him, and Dean didn't say it back.“
https://ew.com/tv/supernatural-despair-castiel/
“It's not the first time Castiel has died, but it's safe to say it will be the last, and as traumatizing as it was, he went out with a smile on his face, saving someone he loved.”
https://www.whattowatch.com/reviews/supernatural-1518-review-despair
“Dean is left behind with dueling realizations that his best friend was in love with him and that he is gone.... Let’s ignore the fact that many fans have waited for this moment for a decade for a second and talk about how much courage it takes to look someone in the eye and tell them how much you love them for everything that they are with the knowledge that they can never love you the same way.”
https://www.themarysue.com/destiel-reset-2020-timeline/
“Destiel went canon... But romantic love, even just on one side of this ship, wasn’t new. It was the writers confirming something fandom had seen for, and I cannot stress this enough, OVER A DECADE.It’s almost impossibly rare that a queer ship that was never intended to be seen this way goes from subtext to text.”
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a34600894/supernatural-destiel-season-15-episode-8-castiel/
“Two episodes before the end, 'Despair' finally made Supernatural's biggest ship canon... only to then rip it apart just moments later... the timing of this particular farewell doesn't sit right given how often queer characters are killed after finally confessing their love... it's hard not to see Destiel's final moment as just an extension of the show's "no homo" approach to all-things queer.”
https://www.looper.com/274715/the-outrage-over-supernatural-season-15s-latest-episode/
However, in the latest episode, "Despair," the show not only killed its queer characters all over again, it did so by finally affirming what many fans had long suspected — Castiel is queer and in love with Dean... many long-time fans are disappointed and angry that series writers decided to finally acknowledge the fan belief that Cas and Dean were in love only to immediately kill the one queer character of the two.”
To Summarize the Diversity of Views:
1) Not necessarily romantic
2) They’re best friends
3) It’s romantic on Castiel’s side
4) Dean didn’t say (feel) it back
5) Dean doesn’t love Cas the same way
6) Destiel is now (one-sided) “canon”
7) Castiel is queer (but not Dean)
8) It’s “Bury Your Gays”