Daily Debate: Should Link Ever Have a Canon Romance?
Posted on February 17 2019 by John Piland
The Zelda fandom is no stranger to the concept of shipping, or romantically pairing characters with each other. The writers of each Zelda installment take no hesitation in providing possible “partners” for Link. In some instances, such as with Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild, each Link has multiple potential mates. When a surplus like this occurs, fans who take part in shipping often divide into subgroups based upon whom they ship Link with.
There begs a question, however, whether or not Link should ever actually have a romantic partner in canon. I find that in most scenarios, any given Link’s relationship status should be left up to interpretation, with implications sprinkled about on occasion, such as Malon and Link from Ocarina of Time. Furthermore, it feels as though most incarnations of Link lack any signs of romantic interest, save for a very small amount. Even then, I feel as though they could be interpreted as very close friendships. These are, namely, Ilia from Twilight Princess, Zelda from Skyward Sword, and Mipha from Breath of the Wild. However, if Link having a relationship drives the plot of a game or its potential sequels, I’m not necessarily opposed to it.
All of that said, what do you think? Do you want to see Link find love, or would you rather him live out his days as a lone wolf? Should Link’s relationship status remain anonymous, allowing fans the freedom to decide? Let us know!
Featured image is by elctrcktty on DeviantArt.
John has been a Zelda fan for over 10 years now and is proud to say the series has had a major impact on his life (and wallet). After years of going to Zelda Dungeon for guides or the latest news on the series, John achieved their dream when they joined the writing team in 2019; John can hardly believe how long it’s been. A librarian, he loves meticulously arranging his library of Zelda games and collectibles. After what felt like an eternity of waiting for Tears of the Kingdom, John looks forward to the future of the Zelda franchise with enthusiasm, whether that’s the upcoming movie, a new spin-off/remake, or the next big game.
