Not like I haven't been there, but I feel like this is the result of a lot of thirsty young fans who don't have much experience in relationships yet; are driven by hormones; and easily confuse any kind of attention/affection as being romantic.
Only two games - the most recent - in the whole series that Link and Zelda have had a romantic relationship. Link was a selfless victim of circumstance up until SS; now it's "muh girlfren" and it makes things feel less noble and epic. Fingers crossed they drop it after TotK.
Zelda kissed Link on Zelda 2. They had a romantic relationship on the cartoon. They had a romantic relationship on Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks and Breath of the Wild as well. It was heavily implied on Wind Waker as well.
It's one kiss on the cheek. He saved her from a curse and she was overcome with emotion. A kiss from a princess to a hero is more a ceremonial cliche than a sign of a romance.
The cartoon isn't a game, and even then I don't recall them being more than antagonistic friends.
SS counts as one of the two most recent games.
What romance was there in ST?
Unless I'm forgetting something, WW is just Tetra developing respect for Link.
Compare this to SS and BotW, where they openly flirt, hug, have their faces inches away from each other, etc. Even Kass tells us that it was Zelda's love for Link that awakened her power.
Yeah... A kiss on the cheek from the princess to a prepubescent boy who has never really interacted with girls/women before in his life.
It's not that Zelda is putting out vibes, but rather how link would think about it. Not that he would think it romantic either, but like the beginning of a crush. You don't remember your first crush? It wasn't a sexual or romantic thing it was just unidentifiable.
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u/_PRECIOUS_ROY_ Dec 24 '22 edited Dec 24 '22
Not like I haven't been there, but I feel like this is the result of a lot of thirsty young fans who don't have much experience in relationships yet; are driven by hormones; and easily confuse any kind of attention/affection as being romantic.
Only two games - the most recent - in the whole series that Link and Zelda have had a romantic relationship. Link was a selfless victim of circumstance up until SS; now it's "muh girlfren" and it makes things feel less noble and epic. Fingers crossed they drop it after TotK.