Is Queerbaiting Real?

In the past several years, “queerbaiting” has become a controversial term used by fans to accuse popular TV shows of falsely misleading LGBT audiences. What is queerbaiting, you ask?

Queerbaiting, in my opinion, is a concept that’s hard to grasp without giving a real-world example of it. So, before we even ask ourselves whether or not it’s real, let’s first take look at a TV show that has been widely criticized for it: Supernatural.

If you’re unfamiliar with the series, Supernatural has been around for a loooong time and features two brothers, Sam and Dean (played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles), who like to hunt monsters. In season four, the angel, Castiel (played by Misha Collins) is introduced. Originally, Collins was only supposed to guest star, but his popularity with fans and sizzling chemistry with the cast eventually made him a regular for many seasons to come.

Almost immediately, fans of the show couldn’t help but notice the interesting dynamic between Dean and Castiel. Not only does Castiel rescue Dean from the depths of hell, but time and time again, he sacrifices himself to help Dean. Slowly, Castiel transitions from an emotionless soldier of heaven to a real person capable of friendship and empathy — all thanks to Dean. It’s easy to understand why this relationship has been interpreted as romantic, and even the creators of Supernatural are aware of the popularity of “Destiel”. Dean and Castiel seem to continually fall into situations that force them to react the way a romantic partner might, but they never actually take the next step.

Why?

Having one of the main characters (Dean), who is typically portrayed as a masculine alpha male, enter into a same-sex relationship might cause controversy. It might get backlash. It might cause them to lose a few ratings.

It also presents the perfect opportunity for a “will they/won’t they” dynamic. By implying that there is a possibility Dean and Castiel could be more than friends, the creators can ensure that fans keep…

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