But don’t you think Keith loves shiro a tad more than Shiro loves him? I mean Keith’s devotion to him is as clear as day but... I kind of get the sense that Shiro doesn’t love Keith as much as Keith loves him. Please prove me wrong, I want to be wrong. I love Sheith.
This is a common misconception I think so let’s get into why Keith is just as important and beloved to Shiro, because he really is. First things first, I’m going back to the beginning here, becuase we already know there’s this hidden past that’s intrinsic to their bond in the present. Shiro brought Keith to the Kerberos launch. Not his parents, not any other semblence of family or friends, just Keith. To emphasize the importance of that fact, my understanding is, astronouts typically only bring their immediate family right to the site of the launch (as in, they’re the ones that get talked through what’s happening by NASA and have a private sendoff and such).
Which also explains why we only see Matt and Sam with Colleen and Pidge–again, it’s limited to just their immediate family. The fact that Shiro was even allowed to bring Keith is huge, and it absolutely speaks volumes as to the depth of their intimacy–even before everything with Voltron. I’ve also said many times before I think it’s heavily implied that Shiro was either estranged from his family or never really had one. So in leiu of that, it’s Keith he takes to the mission launch. No matter how you interpret their relationship, the fact remains that Keith is the person Shiro wanted to spend his last day on Earth with. No one else but Keith. And in fact, that little glimpse into their time at the garrison is something the show runners got very excited about:
Lauren: “I think that’s a storyline that we’ve always wanted to explore, and that we have every intention of learning a little bit more of what that relationship is between Keith and Shiro. How much does Shiro mean to Keith and vice versa. And so, to see that they were friends before this is something we want to just lay in there in little ways, until we eventually get to tell that story.”
Joaquim: “I mean, we knew right? We knew that Shiro meant a lot to Keith, or else Keith wouldn’t have attempted to break him out when he landed and all that. We were stoked when people saw that. We thought it’d be an Easter egg that would be around for a while. Day one, somebody was doing screen grabs all blown up and enhanced. It was supper cool.” (source)
Going by what Keith said–“Shiro is the one person who never gave up on me, I’m not giving up on him”–we also know that he did a lot for Keith. I think it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that he quite literally turned Keith’s life around, since we hear it directly from Keith himself, “My life would be a whole lot different without you.” I think it’s likely Keith was in a very bad place, and Shiro was his support through a lot of it. Shiro gave him coping mechanisms like, “Patience yields focus,” and did his best to be a grounding influence. Whenever Keith was struggling, it’s implied that Shiro was there to help him through it, that he never left Keith’s side.
We knew he was the one person really able to anchor Keith when he was overwhelmed by his emotions–he’s the only person that can be tactile with Keith right from the beginning without Keith freezing up. And Keith very readily nestles closer when they initiate that contact. He trusts Shiro wholeheartedly, implicitly. Shiro was the only person that never abandoned him. Clearly, Keith matters quite a lot for Shiro to invest in his wellbeing to such an extent:
Joaquim: “He latches onto Shiro at times because Shiro’s sort of the only thing that can really calm him down and keep him in check.” (source).
Joaquim: “[Keith’s] got this emotional side to him.”
Lauren: “It’s kind of exasperated by the fact that Shiro’s gone. Like he’s having a hard time dealing with it, he doesn’t really know how to feel. And I think he just goes back to that inner part of himself where it’s just—he can’t control his emotions. And that comes from the galra side.” (source).
Lauren: “Shiro was still his guiding light. It was good.” (source).
There are notes of their intimacy scattered throughout the series. When they’re standing outside the shack, Shiro’s question is, “How did you know to come save me?” How not why, because of course Shiro knows Keith would come running in an instant as soon as he could. In Shiro’s Story he makes a clear distinction between Keith and the other cadets, “Then an old friend of mine named Keith came to my rescue,” he very clearly credits Keith for his safety here, and confirms that Keith is someone he’s known for a fairly longtime.
In Across the Universe, Shiro is constantly trying to reassure Keith that he’s alright–tries to get to higher ground even as he’s struggling to stand because contacting Keith is his first priority, is incredibly relieved just to hear his voice, “Keith, Keith. I’m here.” And when Keith promises to save him? Shiro goes from gritting his teeth in pain to visibly emotional over those words. Just like the look on his face when he realizes Keith remembered his words of comfort–that’s incredibly touching to him, and it shows. “That really stayed with you, didn’t it?” Even delerious with pain he can’t help but be delighted by that. The fact that he really was able to make a difference to Keith, that Keith cared enough to remember? It struck a cord with him. Shiro’s clearly invested in this relationship as well. And these are only just a few instances of it.
Moving on to The Blade of Marmora, I’m going to really stress the fact the trial was just as much a test for Shiro as it was for Keith. Here, we also see Shiro’s loyalties tested–to the team, to his cause. And to Keith. Because ultimately, it’s Keith he cares about above all else. He readily throws away the only possible ally they have–an alliance they can’t afford to lose–and he does it in an instant for Keith’s sake. For a connection to a past that he didn’t even know Keith had. But instead of asking questions or trying to talk him down into giving up the knife, he’s immediately at Keith’s side and goes on the offensive. He knows Keith can’t fight this battle because he’s been hurt so much already, so Shiro does it for him. This is not his fight, but he growls and goes after the BOM, galra tech blazing, because he knows how much this means to Keith and he won’t let him sacrifice it. When Keith’s restrained by Antok earlier in the episode, he says, “Shiro, you know me.” And that’s cemented by the fact that Shiro would give up Voltron’s best chance for him.
Even before that, we see how heavily all this weighs on Shiro. He tries to talk Keith out of accepting the trial at first, but reluctantly allows him to proceed when he realizes how deeply personal this is to him. Even still, he’s tense the entire time. We see him fixated on the monitor and saying, “Come on, Keith”–he says the same thing when he’s nervous about Keith taking too long to shut down Central Command with Thace. In both instances, Shiro is singled out as the character most attached to Keith and concerned for his wellbeing, and I think that’s a very deliberate choice. It’s something I’ve mentioned before, but Keith carries out a lot of tropes associated with the romantic knight archetype, including an instance where he must choose between either his partner or his duty, being faced with his loved one as the greatest temptation to lead him astray (which is the point of holo Shiro–“Your friend desperately wants to see you.”) The fact that Shiro was chosen to fulfill this role typically reserved for a love interest says a lot. And going by how fiercly Shiro protects Keith afterwards, I’d say the feeling is mutual–though Keith clearly fears otherwise.
This is abundlty clear when we compare holo Shiro to the real deal. The first thing holo Shiro does is congratulate Keith on his victory in battle–helps him stand up but then immediately moves aside. The real Shiro’s first words are, “Keith, are you okay?” he rushes over to Keith’s fallen form and stands there petriefied a moment before immediately seizing him and cradling him close. He clings to Keith because he absolutely can’t bare the thought of losing him, and he makes Keith’s safety his utmost concern. Whereas the hologram’s love for Keith is on his own terms–provided Keith does what he says–Shiro’s love for him is unconditional. As soon as he sees that the BOM have used his image to hurt Keith, he steps in immediately. Again, the thought of losing Keith is unbarable, and it’s when he’s faced by this very harsh reality that he can’t stand aside any longer, trial and alliance be damned, “You’re messing with his mind, you’re going to kill him!”
Time and again, we see just how fiercely protective Shiro is of Keith. When they’re fighting a robeast that critically damages the Lion Hunk and Keith are in, we see Shiro look visibly upset before glaring and attacking headon. When Keith volunteers for what is classified as a suicide mission, Shiro is clearly torn. He says Keith’s name while clenching his teeth, then needs to close his eyes and take a moment to compose himself before he agrees. But you can tell how much that ached, how badly he wanted to tell Keith to just stay. Ultimately, he only agrees because he trusts Keith to return–a fact that’s verified when he tells Pidge there is no plan B and if Keith fails then they’re done. He’s only willing to let Keith go because he has faith he’ll return home safe. And I mean, we’ve seen before that Shiro struggled with letting go of Keith–when he finds out Keith and Allura are missing, he orders for someone to contact the pod immediately and demands they both come home. When Shiro saw Keith was fighting a losing battle with the BOM, he charged in and fought for him. Shiro just can’t risk losing him.
Let’s also not forget that when Shiro finds out Keith is galra, his initial reaction isn’t rejection or disgust. He has no disdain for Keith, harbors no ill will towards him despite his galran blood. These are the aliens that have imprisoned and tortured him for over a year, and Shiro’s clearly suffering from PTSD. It would be understandable if he felt uncomfortable around Keith. But when that blade activates? He stares on in awe. Keith’s galra reveal isn’t horrible or monstrous in Shiro’s eyes, it’s ethereal and beautiful. It’s nothing like how Shiro reacts to Sendak insisting he’s part of the empire. He doesn’t subject Keith to the same hatred he inflicts on himself–Keith is still good and pure in Shiro’s eyes, still something precious to behold. And again, the fact that Shiro of all people is the one to bare witness to such a paramount moment for Keith’s character? That’s all very deliberate.
While everyone else is keeping their distance from Keith, Shiro walks right over and embraces him. Just the fact that Shiro and Keith are so tactile with one another is incredibly intimate, but it’s especially telling after everything that went down in BOM. It’s a short, but very charged way of affirming just how much Keith means to Shiro onscreen. And on that matter, Joaquim has literally stated that Shiro loves Keith, and I’m not about to let that go unnoticed here, because it puts so much into perspective:
So we know how Allura and Shiro reacted to Keith’s galra reveal. What about the other paladins?
Lauren: “I think the rest knew Keith well enough to know it’s not a big issue. And they don’t know much about galra–do you grow purple fur at some point? But Allura has that history, so…”Joaquim: “And with Shiro, we have that history. But he loves Keith, so he sees the good in him.” (source).
Shiro’s entire character arc with relearning how much he matters is also intrinsically linked to Keith, as is his growth as the Black Paladin. Much of why Shiro kept insisting Keith become his successor was because he lived in fear that he wouldn’t survive, and he wanted to know Voltron would be able to go on without him–that Keith would be able to. And he was preparing him for that “inevitability.” Keith’s refusal to lead is also a rejection of the possiblity that he must give up on Shiro.
But we know Shiro doesn’t really want all that, becuase he’s so clearly touched when Keith tells him he’ll make it. He wants so badly to believe it. Time and again, Keith is the force that propels Shiro forward, the one that convinces him to keep fighting, the person who reaffirms his place as the Black Paladin at every turn. “You mean your bayard.” Keith won’t let Shiro give up, won’t let him succumb to his demons. And the fact that Shiro finds the strength to keep fighting because of that shows an immeasurable depth to their bond.
To quote one of my other meta real quick:
Blazing Sword is the culmination of Shiro and Keith’s intimate bond, and it’s something both the episode and their respective character arcs build up toward. It’s Keith compelling Shiro to keep fighting, that he can do this, “You’re gonna make it.” “It was always meant to be yours.” It’s the sheer power and might you only get when both of them are piloting a Lion side by side.
Now, let’s try and conclude this with some mention of “Shiro” post season 2, because regardless of Kuron’s existance or not, that’s all very important as well. Real quick, from another meta, I’m just going over why Black chose Keith–because it was absolutely a result of how much he meant to Shiro:
I’ll go back to why Black chose Keith in Shiro’s absence–namely, the very intimate bond between them:
Joaquim: “[Shiro] and Keith have the closest relationship.”
Lauren: “The Black Lion probably got from Shiro what Shiro saw in Keith.” (source)
At the end, that’s what it comes down to. The Black Lion was able to trust Keith because of Shiro’s own thoughts and feelings. Shiro and Allura just weren’t as close. Whenever people make suggestions like Allura and Lance piloting instead, I’m always confused–because for Shiro, it was never even a question. “Keith, If I don’t make it out of here, I want you to lead Voltron.”
That was literally Shiro’s one request, and the Lion cared about him enough to respect that. Ultimately, it’s Keith’s love for Shiro, his devotion and loyalty to him, that lets him sync so easily with the Lion. The fist time he tries, it’s to save Shiro’s life. And the second, it’s because he wants to lead the team for Shiro’s sake. “I know this is what you wanted for me, Shiro. I’m not you. I can’t lead them like you.” “This one’s for you, Shiro.” That’s what called to the Lion.
Now, let’s talk about Kuron going through his memories while dying. Because the very first one he cycles through is Shiro’s reunion with Keith. That memory was at the forefront of Keith’s mind, it showed the person that mattered the most, the very first place his mind went to. And this also can read as a clear callback to when Shiro is doing the mindmeld with all the paladins, and we see he’s thinking of the Kerberos launch–you know, that same launch where he brought Keith? It’s just interesting how we would get two powerful memories, one where Shiro is leaving Keith, and the other where they reunite.
Returning to Kuron, I also want to mention that he really does seem to try and reciprocate how much Shiro cares about Keith. They both try and reach out when they see Keith appears anxious and lost, albeit with varrying results. And when Kuron sees it’s Keith that’s come to rescue him, he couldn’t look more relieved. The way they both look so tender as they drift into each other’s orbit honestly resonates with some of the most romantic tension in this show.
Then there’s the whole bedroom scene, which I’ve analyzed in full, but just to try and keep it breif–we see that Kuron is laid bare and vulnerable before Keith. He cuts his hair and shaves before meeting the other paladins, tries to play it off like everything’s fine in front of the others. He wears his strong leader mask and smiles. Not so in front of Keith–he’s incredibly vulnerable and stripped bare (both physically in terms of being dressed down to his underclothes, but obviously also metaphorically–again, visual cues are huge here though). “Shiro” is able to be painfully honest with Keith, admitting that he might not feel up to moving around just yet, and clearly worrying that his Lion has abandoned him to the galra. Once again, he’s been imprisoned and tortured.
But he won’t let anyone else see him like this. Keith is the only one he trusts to bare witness to his moment of weakness, Keith is the one tending to Shiro’s bedside. And again, it’s a role typically reserved for a character’s love interest. This is even more emphasized when Kuron calls back to Keith and jokingly asks, “How many times are you gonna have to save me before this is over?” Becuase, whether this is the real Shiro or not–he’s seen Shiro’s memories, and he knows. He knows that it’s always Keith who comes running to the rescue, knows that Keith has been his knight in shining armor. And the fact that he’s able to express his gratitude for that, the fact that he and Keith are both so unabashed and sweet about it? It really does show how much they mean to each other. Shiro’s fully aware how much he means to Keith, and the feeling’s very mutual.
