Oot Zelink analysis update
So It’s been a while since I've written an analysis for these two 4 years shh and I figured why not do an updated version! Or add more thoughts.
If you haven’t read my first one here’s a link to it!
As I stated in my last one, Link and Zelda from Ocarina of Time are heroes who suffered from fate and adults who failed them. They are soulmates, friends, two individuals who build each other up in a world and life that keep bringing them down.
I mean it is a valid question. Anyone in the fandom is well aware of the tragedy of their romance and how popular another pairing is for Link in particular (no hate to the ship, they are quite adorable) But as someone who’s been in the fandom for a long time I have noticed that shipping this incarnation of zelink seems to be a hot topic or one that always brings the question of why?
And in short, it's a pretty simple answer-
You have two characters who have been tested by the narrative, who have endured many trials and whose lives almost seem like a happy ending is impossible- so why not have them achieve that happy ending together? For many it seems to stem from a view of canonicity but since when has that stopped anyone? Others it's simply not their taste and choice which is valid and perfectly fine.
But why not have them be happy?
For me, well I have always shipped them and never given it a second thought but now that I am older and love to explore different dynamics I’ve realized that personally, I enjoy these two as a pairing because them being together is the reward.
You have Zelda; a princess, heir to the throne who’s life has been entirely planned out and has never been given an ear to be listened to or a friend to lean onto and it all changes when a boy from the forest appears. He becomes her closest friend. A person she can laugh with, be a kid with, someone who truly sees her for her and not as a crown princess and it's beautiful. And that can grow into a deep affection that becomes a stable rock that inspires and supports her throughout her life even as the duties overwhelm her, or the fears and visions blind her- Link is right there as her shining, piercing light through those dark clouds.
And then for Link; an orphan boy from the forest who sought for adventure and someone like him because he has always been different and outcasted, find a girl in the castle who as alone as he is and grows a new friend. And for Link, its always been easy to make friends, but keeping them? That has always been the trouble, but she stays and seeks him out. Even after his mind doesn't match the body he possesses she is always there, helping him figure it out. She’s important to him, not because she’s the princess and they're intertwined by destiny no, its because she cared for him and believed in him when no one else did. No matter how many times he leaves to find himself, he will always come back to her because that is where his heart is; that’s where home is.
Thus, them being each other’s solace is just satisfying and happy enough for me- even if it takes as long as the afterlife lmao.
Hero Shade has always been a hot debate and topic for Link alone, but it has also applied to this pairing as well considering that there is a popular belief that his regrets stem from being sent back or not being able to be with Zelda, or generally something along those lines.
I actually dont think that’s the case however.
When we meet Shade in Twilight Princess he states that his regrets stemmed from not being able to pass down his skills, not that he wasn’t remembered as a hero. “Although I accepted life as the hero, I could not convey the lessons of that life to those who came after. At last, I have eased those regrets.” So his life isn't as tragic as it seemed to belive- he could have very much lived a good life and those lingering regrets kept him from passing on until he could teach the next hero.
There’s also the potential argument that Hero Shade and Oot Link arent even the same person but that’s for another time.
So what is there left to say? Honestly I think I’ve made most of my analysis on them in my last post and updating wise I think it just comes down to the fact that these two broken souls have found each other in every instance in their own lives in each timeline that its poetic. In a world where destiny puppeteers them and choices almost seem like a lie, they have chosen each other every time; to fight alongside, to trust, to believe in, to be friends in, and honestly I think that speaks for itself a lot. Yes she did send him back, and yes he did leave, but when you look into the reasoning and think about the type of people they are, it doesnt look as doomed as it is.
Zelda has always burdened herself with the idea of taking care of everything and everyone and Link has always been the savior to every person he comes across- being selfish isisnt something that is natural for them to do, or to choose. So the fact that Zelda trusts Link to help her in their whole journey and Link knows that he doesnt have to be super concerned for her wellbeing because she can handle herself and then just the both of them learning to rely on each other more than just hte battlefield and that they can face theri problems together rather than alone?
Anyways those were my thoughts, thanks for listening to me yap lmao
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