‘Supernatural’ Kills Off A Main Character In Second To Last Episode

With only two episodes left, Supernatural killed off a main character, and at the same time let a fan-favorite ship (kind of) set sail.

Warning: major spoilers ahead for Season 15 Episode 18.

Thursday’s episode included a lot of dramatic moments, Jack (Alexander Calvert) almost exploding and killing God (Rob Benedict), everyone in the world disappearing and Billie (Lisa Berry) coming to kill Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles). But, possibly the most heartbreaking moment of the entire series came at the end of the episode, when Castiel (Misha Collins) sacrifices himself to save Dean’s life.

Castiel explains to Dean that he made a deal with the Empty to save Jack’s life: when he feels true happiness he would summon the empty and take him. Dean is understandably confused. Why would he sacrifice his life now? And anyway, how could Castiel feel true happiness as Billie hunts them down?

Castiel explains: “I always wondered ever since I took that burden, that curse, I wondered what it could be. What my true happiness could even look like, and I never found an answer because the one thing I want it’s something I know I can’t have, but I think I know, I think I know now happiness isn’t in the having it’s in just being it’s in just saying it.” He tells Dean that even though he thinks hate is what is really driving him, it’s actually love.

“You’re the most caring man on Earth, you are the most selfless loving human being I will ever know. You know, ever since I pulled you out of hell, knowing you has changed me. Because you cared, I cared. I cared about you, I cared about Sam, I cared about Jack. But I cared about the whole world because of you. You changed me, Dean,” Castiel tells Dean.

Dean asks Castiel, “Why does this sound like a goodbye?”

“Because it is. I love you.” he responds before throwing Dean to the side and letting the empty take him and Billie. As Dean watches on in horror, we see that he has been marked by Castiel.

Of course this is not the first time Castiel has died, and many characters have come back from the dead. But, with only two episodes left, many fans felt that Castiel is gone for good.

Speaking of fans’ feelings, some were happy that a relationship that they’ve wanted to see on screen finally came about, even at the cost of Castiel’s death.

Others just chalked it up to the show’s “queer baiting,” a term used to describe when writers hint at LGBTQ relationships, but don’t actually show them so they don’t make any viewers angry.

Many fans were upset that Dean didn’t really respond to Castiel as he told him how much he loved him.

And some pointed out that the show is just following the trope of killing LGBTQ characters, which some call the “bury your gays” trope.