MBTI’ing the OTP: Valentine’s Day Special
These are just my personal ships, FYI - you don’t like em, no problem. Just thought I’d analyze the MBTI types of all my faves. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Friends: Chandler and Monica - ISFJ & ESFJ
If I had to pick my idea of a great IRL romance, this would be it. Best friends who fall in love. Chandler is the ISFJ, hesitant, eager to be liked, sticking to his guns and more practical in some ways than Monica. Monica has been typed as both ESTJ & ESFJ, and I can see a case for both - she’s ESFJ on this site and ESTJ on others. Either way, she’s more controlling and uptight than Chandler, but in some ways less practical and more emotion-driven. They make an interesting couple that works surprisingly well, who manage to balance out each others’ strengths and weaknesses nicely.
Steven Universe: Ruby and Sapphire - ESTP & INFJ
The OTP to end them all, Ruby and Sapphire are an interesting case of opposites attracting. They have the exact inverted functions of each other, Se-Ti-Fe-Ni, and combine to form the ISTP Garnet. Ruby is impulsive and Sapphire sees the future. Ruby is aggressive and Sapphire patient. They’re a great match, though potentially volatile since they’re so opposite and yet so similar. It makes crazy sense for characters with inverted functions to form a permafusion.
Everyone has a HP OTP, it seems, and mine is HG. These two have a pretty classic MBTI romance combination - both SP artisans, who like living in the moment and are often impulsive. Harry is more emotional and broody and Ginny is more logical and practical. One interesting point that I think makes these two compatible is that Harry’s Fi makes him hard to talk to and comfort easily; it takes someone with extraordinary tact and patience to get him to communicate, and Ginny has that as a Ti/Fe user - a strong perception of others’ needs. Makes them pretty perfect for each other.
Swarkles Robin/Barney (ISTP/ENTP)
These two have a rather unusual combination of MBTI - Both high Ti users but different perceiving functions. Robin, the ISTP, is a clear pragmatist who has difficulty with emotions. Barney is a big idea guy who bounces from one thing to the next endlessly, with the philosophy that new is always better. Both are a bit on the impulse, fun-loving side in this case, making for a very whacky couple with lots of sitcom adventures. Favorite line between them: “I’m such a mess, why do you even like me?” “I guess cause you’re almost as messed up as I am.”
Time to put my Buffy-verse OTPs out there! Once upon a time, I did ship Spuffy, but I’ve turned to the Fuffy side of things as time went by. Anyway, Buffy and Faith are both Se noms who love action and living in the moment. This goes badly for them in “Bad Girls” but there is a certain degree of mutual understanding between two Se doms. The difference is their T/F functions - Faith is utilitarian and Buffy inwardly moral. However, as the series goes on they come to a better understanding of each other. I always enjoy their chemistry, even if they don’t get to be canon.
Angel/Cordelia (ISFJ/ESTJ)
My biggest Buffy-verse OTP, one most people don’t get into without seeing the spinoff show Angel. But Cangel has my heart. I love slow-burn friendship ships. Anyway, the MBTI. Both strong Si users, but with a nice balance between them; Angel has the ideals and empathy that influence Cordelia to be a kinder person with his Si/Fe; Cordy has the grounded practicality to keep Angel from disappearing into broodiness, and they balance each other out perfectly for the first 3 seasons of the show. Definitely love this one and always angry at Whedon for not letting it happen.
Don’t know if y’all have seen Daria, but check it out of you have the time. It’s great. Anyway, another one with two of the same dominant functions: Both Fi’s. This means they’re both highly moral introverts who love artistic expression but struggle with expressing feelings aloud. That’s Daria and Jane, all right. The contrasting perceiving functions show in how Jane is more willing to engage in the world and give stuff (cheerleading at one point) a try, while Daria is more hesitant and less engaged. I do ship them - they’re best friends and the show wasn’t shy about teasing them. Noncanon ship here.
Clois - Clark Kent/Lois Lane (ISFP/ESTP)
I love these two in any incarnation - I’m a sucker for bickering friends to lovers - but my favorite is Smallville. The same MBTI makeup as Harry/Ginny earlier - I guess I like this combination. Again, part of what makes it work is the similar perceiving functions, but nicely balanced TF opposites. FI can get a little brooding and introverted on itself, while Ti/Fe can sometimes become too pragmatic and insensitive, so they help each other out in a lot of ways. Something about Clark/Lois just works for me - another pairing of a sweetheart dreamer and a snarky pragmatist who bicker because they care.
Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy (ESFP/ENFJ)
My favorite incarnation of these two is the animated series version - they have such great chemistry there and Timm says they are canon here. Anyway, this combo is rather frequent in fiction, ENFJ often paired off with high Se users for some reason. Ivy as the ENFJ has a lot of tact, perception and motherly behavior that helps her sweet-talk and care for the impulsive and damaged Harley. Harley, the ESFP, has a certain knack for connecting to others, and helps Ivy avoid becoming too misanthropic, since Ivy kinda hates humans in general. Great pair of wicked gal pals.
Frasier’s Niles/Daphne (INFJ/ENFP)
One of my rare pairings with complete opposite functions. But in some ways my very first OTP. They’re both Intuitive dominants, dreamers with their minds in the clouds, who are attracted to each other but take forever to act on it in any way. Both are emotionally driven - Niles outwardly, Daphne inwardly - with strong personal ethics; tertiary Thinking functions, and inferior Sensing functions. They’re definitely opposites attract, but with a caveat of perfectly aligning functions. I love this ship so damn much; it’s such a great mix of hot chemistry and tender love.
Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson (INTP/ENFP)
Peter and MJ have many different incarnations, with varying functions. The consistent seems to be that Peter uses some kind of Ti (ISFJ, ISTP, ESTP, INTP) and is usually an introvert, while MJ is an extrovert with a strong intuitive function (ENFP/ENFJ) or occasionally adapted into an ISFP. Either way, my favorite version is the comics, which lean towards the first interpretation. As an iNTP I get along well with the ENFPs in my life, but more importantly I love this pairing too. High Ne combo that sees the possibilities in the world, and the classic Ti/Te balance.
MCU Stucky - Steve/Bucky (ISFJ/ESTP)
I have some other MM slash pairs, but they’re mostly from anime so they’re not on this list. Anyway, Stucky. Both Fe/Ti users, with dominant sensing functions of different perceptions. Steve is more of a stick-to-it kinda guy, Bucky is more willing to try other options (this pops up a lot in their interactions, with Bucky suggestion different Paths and Steve not backing down. Who says Se’s are more stubborn than Si’s?). There is a great devotion between the two, though. I know it won’t be canon but that never stopped anyone from shipping before.
Gravity falls Dipper/Pacifica (INTJ/ESTJ)
Another noncanon one. This is a very unusual combo, I can’t think of many stories that even have these two types. Both are high Te users, which in this case practically guarantees a Bickering Sexual Tension kind of relationship. Both are pragmatic and long-term planners, with Dipper being an Ni-dom who overplans and over-thinks everything, Pacifica a strong pragmatist. Both are Type A’s with a lot in common, who learn from each other. His stronger Fi function helps her come to terms with her lower Fi, and act morally. It’s very sweet.
Parks and Recreation Andy/April (ENFP/INTP?)
I’m a little uncertain of April’s type, since I’ve seen lots of different typings for her across the board. My best guess for now is INTP. Another pairing I just adore, this time canon and married. They’ve got just a great balance, both being impulsive dreamers but one more openly affectionate and the other more reticent and practical. These two just work well together - balanced and loving and supportive. The strong Ne they both share (I think they do) makes for some great vague and impractical connections. I fell in love with this ship right away, as soon as my cousin showed me the episode where they move in with Ben.
CSI Grissom/Catherine (INTP/ESTP)
Grillows is another ship that I regret not being Canon, since they have some serious chemistry. Both are strong Ti users, practical and analytical, but with contrasting perceiving functions. He likes theories, she likes to go out and do. This creates that kind of contrasting Holmes and Watson style duo between them, though Grissom is not always right, and Catherine tends to balance out his more theoretical and distant attitude nicely. She can make mistakes too, like being too impulsive or emotional, but it always feels like there’s good points on each side.
Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth/Darcy (ENFP/INTJ)
One ship that me and Charity (and let’s face it, most people) share. They just work so perfectly together. Two intuitive dominants with big ideas, similarly blunt Te manners of analyzing and addressing logic, and reticent Fi that makes it hard for them to just talk about their feelings. The journey from bad first impression to happy ending is so enthralling every time. Austen definitely created a timeless winner with this one.
