Daily Debate: What Link and Zelda Would Need the Most Therapy?

Therapy is fantastic. In fact, as someone who has done a lot of inner work with a therapist, I am a huge advocate for therapy! I have also been playing through Breath of the Wild again recently and it’s had me thinking: Link and Zelda have been through so much trauma in so many lifetimes. Honestly, they are such resilient characters. Every incarnation has to face unimaginable difficult challenges and circumstances.

In Ocarina of Time, Link loses seven years of his life and has to grow up way too fast, while Zelda has to live out those years in hiding after losing her kingdom. In The Wind Waker, Link and Zelda are forced to carry a centuries old burden that they didn’t ask for. In Skyward Sword, Link is also forced into being a chosen hero and endures so much hardship to live up to that title, while Zelda sleeps for thousands of years to keep a demon at bay. And in our latest entries, Link and Zelda lose almost everything to Calamity Ganon, and a few years later, almost lose everything once again to Ganondorf himself.

These two can’t catch a break, but that’s what makes them fantastic and inspiring characters to me. They endure, and they triumph, and I like to think that they heal in the aftermath. But I wonder, which incarnations do you think would need the most healing after the trauma they have endured? For me, it’s a toss up between Breath of the Wild‘s Link and Zelda (which also counts Tears of the Kingdom in my book) and Ocarina of Time‘s hero and princess. However, I would love to know your thoughts! What Link and Zelda do you think need the most therapy? Let me know in the comments!

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.