I just watched Strange Magic and I love how Marianne went from a princess so in ‘love’ she was blinded by Roland, to a strong warrior who refused to fall in love but fell in love with someone who was also refusing to fall in love. The irony in that is kinda funny
The irony of this movie is DELICIOUS in this regard and it is also so important to both Bog and Marianne’s characters and eventual relationship. Because when you look at it, they’re equals in so many ways: competent warriors, royals who actually do something, legitimate threats to those who threaten what they hold dear (Bog’s control of the Love Potion, Marianne’s family and sense of self). I mean, for goodness, sake, their very first fight has them end in a draw because both of them are so perfectly matched that neither of them has the upper hand over the other.
But even more importantly, as you said, they’re equals because both of them have been terribly hurt by Love before meeting each other, so much so that both of them refuse to fall under its sway again. As Marianne outright tells Bog, “I know all about getting your heart broken…”, which immediately establishes to him that this Fairy Princess has suffered just like he has, that this is someone who KNOWS his pain. THAT’S HUGE.
And because of this, because of them of being so matched in so many aspects and so equal in all of these regards but ESPECIALLY in having been so badly burned by love, that’s what makes their walls come down - their shared determination to remain closed off is what opens them up to each other.
This moment right here encapsulates that: they both say they never trust anybody, and yet here they are, trusting and connecting and opening up to each other. These two beautiful idiots are so guarded with their hearts, but with each other, the walls come down because they’ve finally met someone who understands.
In short, Marianne and Bog are EQUALS and their whole romance and relationship is based on EQUALITY and I love them and this movie endlessly for it.
