11- Tell me a ship you love and a ship you hate
@mrmustachious Thanks for the ask. Ooooh, dangerous waters, as, I'm sure, I have quite unpopular or unconventional opinions on ships in Thunderfandom (TAG-verse). But here goes nothing. If it earns me unfollows - so be it.
A caveat, though: the Thunderbirds are foremost about brothers' and father-sons' relationships for me, so I'm a lot more open to ideas of 'ships' on the periphery of those primary relationships, than I would normally be in a different fandom.
Caveat #2: I know what headcanons and elements of fanon I subscribe to and don't. Those are my personal opinions exclusively. The fanon/fic-canon I don't agree with may or may not be a deal breaker for me to read (or keep reading) a story, mostly it depends if the characters in question are explored in depth.
Ships I like. I appears, Scott Tracy is the only character in the long range of my Tall, Dark and Emotionally Compromised favorites, whom I quite liberally multiship. I would usually stick to an OTP. Since my go-to OTP for Scott is peace of mind, laying down his burdens, knowing he's enough and knowing he's loved (by Dad, mostly) without having to martyr himself to earn it, I go a little more loose in the ship department.
Scott and Kayo make sense to me on many levels. I still remember the time there were 1,5 Scayo fics in the days of TAG run and I was parched, waiting for an update. I actually think they're the kind of ship that would end up together years down the line, even having pursued other relationships and/or marriages. He's the Sun, she's the Shadow.
That said, I can see merit in what the canon wheeled out or hinted at for Scott - Jane Carter the pilot, Marion (this one actually has ample dramatic and comedic potential, where I'm concerned - I'm glad they brought Marion back to showcase Scott). I think one of TAG's creators identified her as a potential LI for Scott in S3, so I'm rolling with that - 10 Things I Hate About You, and all.
Pure fic territory, but journalist Kat, Lemaire's wife, Professor Qawrk and Havoc are fun to explore as well. For various reasons. Heck, so are Tyco Reeves and Cameron the Shakleton Guard. People meet Scott - people get inspired by Scott - people get a thing for Scott and kinda carry a torch. That leaves a vast untapped potential for Scott and the Mechanic. I don't personally ship them, but the ground to be covered from resentment to respect to a working relationship/friendship is quite fertile.
I am not sure I'm opposed to the idea of Scott and Penelope having been an on again-off again sort of thing when they were younger. Now it's just a really fond friendship.
I'm also mostly fine with the ideas the show kinda put on the table for John and Virgil - Ridley and Cass. Cass in particular, as I think she ticks many boxes Virgil would need to seek in a relationship (any relationship, not only romantic). I know the fandom generally dislikes Ridley and John/Ridley (or John/anyone) - I don't. The show went for it in no uncertain terms, all Tracy boys definitely have a thing for strong, capable, assertive (and slightly [a lot] reckless) women. I always wondered if Virgil and Kip Harris could be explored - in a May-December "impossible" sort of way (maybe one-sided).
Going underwater in TB2 really, really made me give Virgil and Penny a long, hard look. I really enjoyed their rapport and banter. The sweet Lumberjack may be awkward eating cookies in a castle, but he's a man of fine arts and music. That's more of Penelope's scene. But I wouldn't want unrequited love or anguish over "brotherly code" for Virgil - he deserves being the first choice. Then again, maybe Penelope too deserves to not feel shackled by obligation to Gordon's undying and unwavering devotion. Either way - Legends of the Fall territory, very unlikely to end mess-free.
I'm rather amused by several ship options for Brains - Moffie, Tycho Reeves, the Mechanic.
The mother of his five sons is, of course, Jeff's one true love, but I am not exactly against the idea of him growing closer to Col. Casey (especially after his return, as the now adult boys pursue their own personal lives more). I've read a fic to that effect and... life is a complicated thing. Especially life after so many losses. If anyone is gonna understand and respect the love he has for his children and for his late wife, and be fiercely protective of his family, that gotta be Casey. I'd read more about their friendship (or something deeper).
Ships I don't like. Well, foremost, I gotta say there's A LOT (sometimes contradictory or mutually exclusive things) I would read in fic, if the characters are done justice or some facets of character/conflict are explored in a fascinating way. Some of these things I would file as "that totally happened, headcanon accepted" , some would go "oh, I can see that!", some go "huh? Never would have thought that, but hey...". Some things make sense only in the coordinates and for versions of characters established in a particular story.
Some things keep not making sense to me even after I gave them a lot of thought and have read a lot of excellent exploration of them in fic. Like Gordon and Penelope. I don't ship them. I exist. They ARE the canon pairing and part of the plot, of course. I don't ship them with anyone else, not really. They will live happily ever after. Supposedly. Well, realistically, I can't help but see them as a trainwreck waiting to happen, as the long-distance honeymoon (highschool) stage of romance is over, but it was not a very realistic story to begin with. There's that, as far as my willing engagement with this ship is concerned. I got fascinated by them in Tunnels of Time and am rather vexed how the show went about actually bringing them together, eventually. I understand it's an "opposites attract" trope, I understand they went for "Princess and the Scoundrel", or "Penelope 'and Ken'", or "couples' costumes are kinda cute" (since Penelope is all of a sudden in the aquatic rescue business now to give them a vestige of common ground), but... I just don't see it doing justice to Gordon and his journey to maturity (and I'm kinda annoyed with the loyal page/lapdog vibe, sorry - the "Barbie" movie is a surprisingly effective shorthand for why exactly this wouldn't work). In my experience it never ends well when ALL parties in a relationship think in earnest one is out of the other's league and agree which one. I've read remarkable explorations of Penny's emotional journey, or their mutual journey in fic to make it more captivating but... that's just too much heavy cognitive lifting for me for the two characters I relate least of all in the story overall. I don't actively seek to read fic with their pairing, and if it's a default in other stories, I appreciate it and read through/around it to the parts more focused on other family relationships and dynamics.
It used to be a rather popular fanon ship in early TAG fandom, but I don't really dig Virgil and Brains. It has nothing to do with headcanons on any characters' sexualities, but mostly to do with character dynamics the way I read it. Virgil's "fatal flaw" is lack of confidence and pursuit of approval, and so is Brain's. So to me, there're not enough complimentary or contrasting aspects these characters can bring to the table in a relationship to build each other up (unless Virgil is depicted confident, assertive and suave, which is... an OOC Virgil). Their working dynamics could be quite fascinating. I know some of my followers ship them... Well, these are my personal opinions. I mostly do with Virgil/Brains in fic what I do with Pen and Ink - appreciate them as an established fact of this story version and quietly read around them to other relationships and dynamics (if I like the overall story and want to engage with it, regardless of the ship).
Another popular fanon ship that I don't quite get is Virgil and Kayo. Well, I can SEE it - they're remarkably hot individuals. I can see Virgil falling in love (bless him). I've seen it explored along interesting avenues in fic, but I have to make a conscious effort to suspend disbelief. There's just not enough in their interactions and characterization in the show for me to get the vibe. I dunno... Maybe I can see Kayo going along with Virgil's crush (the boi is precious and breathtakingly handsome), but then withdraw because he's "too good and pure for her"? I dunno... Lots of heartbreak for Virgil. Don't wanna a heartbroken Virgil.
Which brings us to my, probably, only no-fly ship zone - OC ships. If there's a Tracy Brother/OC ship on the tin... I may test the waters, but am very unlikely to engage or read further. Sadly, I am yet to see OC ships with the boys that are not tumbling their way headfirst into Mary Sue/Gary Stu Bella Swan wish fulfillment territory. Except for, maybe, a couple of dramatic, painful "past relationship" stories for the boys. I read A LOT of fic (for fun and for research). I give many stories many chances, but I am yet to be proven wrong in my initial assumption. Do I have secret bosom OC ships in the bottom drawer of my Thunderheadcanons? Of course. Would I wanna read it, fully aware of the demerits and limitations of OC ship as a genre? No, thank you. To each their own, of course.
