I want to explain why the link name of my blog, "Dangerous Soulmates", which explains how I view Speirs and Lipton as a ship and leaders.
Both men are the type that, at first, gives the impression that they're completely different from each other.
First, we have Carwood Lipton, who has a strong sense of duty. Still, also has compassion and empathy, like when he asked a young and distressed private why he was not on his P.T. Instead of reprimanding him, he understood his emotional turmoil and doubts and let him be. Ronald Speirs, on the other hand, as we saw him in the following episode, was someone quiet, with intense eyes and few words, who minutes later was giving cigarettes to German POWs and killing them in cold blood.
At first glance, they're vastly different. And very unlike that, as the war progresses, they could connect so perfectly as they were. But as someone would say, looks can be deceiving.
In Episode II, we realized that both are equally reckless. Against all logic and with no regard for his own safety, Lipton climbed a tree, completely exposed and with nowhere to hide, to kill German soldiers from that dangerous position, and by some miracle, he didn't get hit despite several soldiers firing at him. Then, at the same battle, Speirs and Dog Company charged against the last gun they needed to destroy, and instead of using the trenches for cover, they charged like mad dogs, engaging in hand-to-hand combat and, also by some miracle, Speirs managed to take over the last cannon. It was so ridiculously insane that Easy Company talks about it later.
But it gives a clear sign that Speirs and Lipton, when it needs to be done, have zero regard for their own safety.
And by saying they don't have any regard for their own safety or even care about it, let's see how Lipton reacted to the Navy approaching on D-Day vs Speirs when artillery landed close to him in Haguenau. Everyone else fell to the ground or crouched for cover. These two saw the danger coming and did nothing to protect themselves, but did their own business like it was nothing.
Also, when they need to talk about things, the men need the most, regardless of whether they believe it themselves or not...
When it's about Speirs advising Blithe in an eerie but meaningful manner about accepting being dead to properly function as a soldier, or when Lipton expressed his discomfort about Dike's rights to be a leader and how Easy on their own were good and don't have to care about Dike at all. Also, their helmets, in a way, darkened their faces to highlight their seriousness about the subject they're talking about, knowing that the other needs these words to improve individually or as a company. The approach is different, but the intention is genuine.
One is pragmatic, and the other is empathic, but both knew what the others need and the correct words to say. That's why Blithe was able to work as a soldier, and that's why Easy knew they didn't need Dike to function as a good team.
Let's talk about anger and protectiveness.
When any man of Easy or any company man is in danger, protective rage takes over. Like when Lipton, not caring about possible repercussions, screamed at Dike to keep moving because they were being slaughtered in the open, visibly angry about such lethal incompetence. And when Speirs went inside the room where the men were holding the man responsible for shooting Grant hours ago, Speirs was enraged about it since he felt responsible for all the men of Easy, and he was also attached to them.
They felt genuine rage because their men were actively dying, and no one could have blamed them if they had killed the ones responsible for that disaster, either if Lipton had snapped and killed Dike with a bullet on the head to save Easy, or if Speirs had killed the Idle replacement for the audacity to almost kill one of their own (like when he killed one of his own men for risking Dog's safety in D Day).
They're extremely protective of the men under their care, like when Lipton pat Gordon's face in Bastogne and Speirs holding Grant's hand in Austria. To send them a silent message that they're there for them and they need to endure their injuries, to live and not fading away.
That's why the fandom saw Speirs and Lipton as the Papa Wolf and Mama Bear of Easy Company. The ones who would do anything for their men, their family.
Of course, we have to mention their unhitched personalities.
Like Speirs' cold and dead stare and the rumors about him killing POWs without any remorse, and Lipton's strange joyful reaction to the artillery barrage. They both behave in ways others didn't expect from a typical soldier, mostly on their own, showing that despite their differences, the are some amount of insanity in both men. Just that they treat it in different ways or try to hide it, like in Lipton's case.
One is open about it, and the other hides it perfectly, but it's still there. In a way, it makes it, alongside the other subjects I mentioned, not so different.
And almost like if they're actually kindred spirits.
They just need to meet and connect.
And they meet on the Assault on Foy. Regardless of whether they actually interacted in the past or not, they automatically connected, knowing what needs to be done efficiently. Lipton admires and appreciates competence, while Speirs can see that Lipton is the man he needs to have all the critical information. They knew perfectly that they were both what they needed to have a successful assault, and while Speirs charges upfront and leads the company, Lipton follows him closely and encourages all the men to keep up and run. Their leadership shines that day.
Speirs' explosive and relentless leadership took Lipton's breath away. We know that Lipton loves explosions and danger, and seeing Speirs on full display with all these attributes isn't surprising that he gets so attached to him in the end. They connected with their actions and reactions to these. They connected as soulmates, as dangerous soulmates who don't care about themselves, and became together in their own way, as an unstoppable force of nature.
And inside that convent in Rachamps is where that connection is open and honest. Their hearts connect with adoring glances and recognition. The cold and deadly Speirs smiled warmly and with adoration at the leader he could recognize and admire. And Lipton found the soulmate who could perfectly understand and acknowledge his quiet efforts, who represents everything he loves the most. They became one in that moment.
They were the leaders Easy needed the most in the most dreadful and hopeless moments. Their connection- one could think it was destined and built by the war- was inevitable and profound. Two men with their own vices and virtues, seeing the situation in a similar way but with different ways to express it. Two men who had an intense sense of duty and protectiveness for the men under their care, willing to go to hell and back, regardless of whether they lived it or not. Who found in each other their home. Dangerous, caring, ruthless when they had to, but perfectly human and noble in their hearts.
Two souls, if they could have shared a body. Connected by a powerful red thread of fate made of danger, explosions, artillery fire, blood, fierce protectiveness, loyalty, rumors, intense glances, encouraging words, selflessness, and gently exchanged smiles, illuminated by the candles of a convent.
