Queerbaiting is defined by Urban Dictionary as “a marketing technique used to attract queer viewers that involves creating romantic or sexual tension between two same-sex characters but never making it canon or evolving on it.” This method cruelly appears to cater to a queer audience by providing the representation in media that is sorely lacking for those who are not straight, however, no such relationships are ever fully established or acknowledged in an effort to not “upset” their other viewers. Some of the most famous and frustrating examples of queerbaiting are found in shows that take a queer-coded relationship and use it constantly to further the show’s plot and increase viewer interest.

With a whopping 15 seasons and 327 episodes, Supernatural is one of the longest running television shows in history and has amassed a huge cult-following over nearly two decades. In the fourth season of the show, a new character named Castiel was introduced and, over time, developed an incredibly close relationship with one of the other main characters, Dean. As their relationship was deeply rooted in trust, hope and free will, many fans saw their bond as something much more than friendship, coining the term “Destiel” to refer to what they thought was an obvious romantic pairing. Many people have argued that supporters of the couple were simply engaging in

wishful thinking, beyond any real proof that the two shared feelings for each other. However, numerous quotes from the show beg to differ, implying that writers knew what they were doing when they portrayed these characters, despite never giving them the ending people desired:

“Castiel? Oh he’s, he’s not here. You see he has this weakness, he likes you.”

“I’m hunted, I rebelled, and I did all of it for you.”

“Sorry, you have me confused with the other angel. You know, the one in the dirty trench coat who’s in love with you.”

It’s hard to argue that fans are simply imagining an intimate relationship when writers all but explicitly confirm the details.

Another prominent example of queerbaiting in popular television is seen in Sherlock. Many dedicated fans believe that they have been queerbaited by writers who cultivated a suggestive relationship between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, also known as “Johnlock.” Once again, the explicit details are all there, despite producers and writers gaslighting their audience and insisting that the relationship is “all in their head.” One running joke in the series features numerous side characters mistaking Sherlock and John for a couple. In fact, John’s partnership with Sherlock frequently acts as a barrier in his attempts at any straight relationships throughout the show. The sacrifices they make for each other and the vulnerability that they both express in the other’s presence are nearly undeniable signs of a deep emotional attachment, yet any follow-through confirming a relationship is, unfortunately, largely left to the fans.

One of the most frustrating aspects of queerbaiting is that fact that, had these been straight couples, the relationships would have gone canon almost immediately. In so many shows and movies, straight characters can have little to no emotional bonding and still end up together because they are attractive and aren’t “controversial.” When you look at pairings such as Destiel and Johnlock, whose relationships have been built up over long periods of time and have the emotional depth that would reasonably sustain a romantic partnership, it is puzzling to face the reality that these couples are routinely ignored by the people and platforms that have the power to change this harmful dynamic and give queer characters and audiences validation by allowing these relationships to come to fruition.