How I like to imagine the ZaDr dynamic. How they sift from enemies to something more. And what I fucking love about ZaDr.
Some thoughts.
Zim and Dib, two emotionally neglected kids. Having little to no friends or any emotional support system… They became the primary attachment figures for each other: Based on them being enemies this relationship/development… it’s bound to be very complicated and messy.
There are various emotions mixed up in their dynamic. The initial hatred, frustration, and antagonism because they literally are enemies… but also the feelings of bonding, caring, appreciation, respect, and understanding. Then when getting older, also attraction, passion, and all those fuzzy feelings get mixed in.
But essentially, all the positive emotions that one develops and gets to experience with a close person like love, adoration, connection, tenderness, compassion, or simply joy… all those also get mixed up with the ‘negative’ ones.
The brain quite literally connects feelings of affection and connection with violence, aggression, cruelty, abuse, and brutality. This is trauma bonding, reward-based learning, and positive conditioning.
Them being obsessive and excessive as a fundamental part of their core personality only adds as a multiplier.
When this happens in a critical life phase (being young and in adolescence), having nearly no other positive influences in life and being neglected (emotionally especially), this connection the brain made will get so deeply internalized and won’t ever truly go away.
It could also connect to your sexuality and all that.
(There are real-life equivalencies)
What I’m getting at is, all this makes just so much sense!
This dynamic and their relationship is super complex and nuanced because of this.
Their relationship is incredibly intense and yes totally toxic but also compassionate.
Them fluctuating between high psychological distress/tension (hating, fighting, obsessing, loving, being in denial about your existence, generally trauma responses e.g., through neglect, loneliness, abandonment) and then them experiencing the sweet release through the aspects of their dynamic (connection, closeness, intimacy) as mentioned.
This stuff becomes quite simply addictive to someone.
This is why they can get crazy shit feral/hardcore with each other and also feel pleasure while doing so.
Like cutting each other up (or open), taunting, fighting, beating each other...
But because I’m a sucker for ambivalence and stark contrast, I like to imagine them being very, very cute with each other as well (occasionally even without showing the bad stuff while being cute), still toxic, still abusing and batshit crazy but absolutely meaning everything to each other and deeply caring.
Fluffy but in an obsessive and excessive way.
They will always somewhat be mean to each other and never shy to argue, even if just in a teasing and more lighthearted manner.
This is their love language after all.
This is how they show they care, and it’s what they know.
Also, this is just how they are personality-wise: thick-headed, intense people with strong opinions and even stronger egos.
And let’s not forget about stupidness, dorkyness, and comedy sprinkled in.
ZaDr is a fantastic way to deep dive into complex inner psychological human workings and I love exploring this.
(I love love love intense emotions.)
It’s even comforting in a way, if you ask me.
Hate and love are so close for a reason.
It’s the most intense we can feel.
And I mean, I guess we all (or many of us) can somehow relate to not liking or even hating a close one (even if only sometimes). But when a real deep bond is established with someone and when affection is also part of your connection (even if only sometimes), this stuff just doesn’t go away. Toxic relationships are messy and certainly not easy nor black and white. You just understand this emotion… of how complicated you can feel about someone, and what complexity this can bring with it.
Note that, this is how I like to imagine it. One can have a totally different perspective on it and this is valid as well!
Also this is romanticized, fiction and reality operate differently. Cognitive dissonance baby.