Lately everyone's been swooning over ST Picard's Seven and Raffi as a couple. Yes, myself included. I love that they are together even if Seven is not fully ready to commit. I love their shiny smiles when they share a scene. I love both their funny quips and the blood-curdling fear that they might end up with someone else in a dystopian alternate reality. But I really don't love that they are always so physically far apart from each other in every single shot of every single scene they're in. What is this? And why? Why do they never even touch? At first I thought, it's Star Trek - they are keeping it professional military style. But looking at how much physical contact there is between Raffi and Elnor (who also hugs many of the other characters), that's not it. The only possible explanation I have is that they don't want to "offend" homophobic audiences. Let Seven and Raffi call each other girlfriend (that's a friend who's a girl, right?) and pretend to be involved for a security guard in order to gain access to a restricted area (that's a spy movie staple, so it's ok, right?). Here's the evidence. Someone please change my mind. [spoilers from episode 3!] 1. Elnor has just died in Raffi's arms. She is further shaken up by being shot at and having made a rough time travel trip. So she goes to Seven, so they can... shake hands offscreen?
2. Raffi is pissed and makes a plan to, if need be, single-handedly change the future. Seven supports her by... standing at least a foot away from her at all times?
3. Seven and Raffi are about to go on a dangerous mission, so they reassure each other by... not touching.
Did you see that comm badge change hands in the second gif? Who can pass a tiny object to someone else without touching their hand? Raffi can.
4. Then comes the exchange with the security guard. Seven holds Raffi with the back of her hand, after which each appears by herself in the subsequent shots. I would not be buying that relationship for a second if I was that security guard!
5. Observe "the hug." They barely touch shoulders and their lower bodies look like there's a force field in between. Look on the right how Seven doesn't even close her hand on Raffi's waist.
6. And finally, the last straw: the passing of the tricorder. Seven arches her hand, so as not to touch Raffi. WTAF!
