Re: Many Such Cases
Jul. 28th, 2026 10:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rynlingMy other toxic nonbinary trait when it comes to fandom is that I don't care whether anyone headcanons a character as cisgender, transgender, or genderqueer. For example, in Ocarina of Time:
Is Sheik a girl? Okay!
Is Sheik a boy? Okay!
Does it depend? Okay!
Like I don't care about "representation"; I just care about The Character.
I should probably note that I tend not to care about the canonical Word Of God in these situations either. I'm all for respecting the intentions of the creator, but listen: sometimes the creator is wrong (especially when it comes to Mx. Sheik Ocarina).
ETA: I should probably explain Nintendo's canonical position on Sheik for this to make sense. This position is that Zelda is a weak delicate flower, and that she's only able to become Sheik because her body is possessed by the spirit of a dead Sheikah warrior. Which is gay in its own way, but this contradicts the equally canonical position established in Hyrule Historia that, in the Downfall Timeline, Zelda... Actually you know what nevermind. I'm not getting into that. What I'm trying to say is that she/he/they is perfectly capable of self-defense regardless of gender, no spirit possession necessary.
Is Sheik a girl? Okay!
Is Sheik a boy? Okay!
Does it depend? Okay!
Like I don't care about "representation"; I just care about The Character.
I should probably note that I tend not to care about the canonical Word Of God in these situations either. I'm all for respecting the intentions of the creator, but listen: sometimes the creator is wrong (especially when it comes to Mx. Sheik Ocarina).
ETA: I should probably explain Nintendo's canonical position on Sheik for this to make sense. This position is that Zelda is a weak delicate flower, and that she's only able to become Sheik because her body is possessed by the spirit of a dead Sheikah warrior. Which is gay in its own way, but this contradicts the equally canonical position established in Hyrule Historia that, in the Downfall Timeline, Zelda... Actually you know what nevermind. I'm not getting into that. What I'm trying to say is that she/he/they is perfectly capable of self-defense regardless of gender, no spirit possession necessary.
no subject
Date: 2026-07-29 01:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-07-31 01:44 pm (UTC)My absolute favorite canonical take on “Zelda is a gentle soul and doesn’t need to fight to be a strong character” is when she goes back in time in Age of Imprisonment, is given a golden lightsaber, and immediately starts decimating entire armies after one (1) day of combat training.
Obviously no person of any gender needs a sword to be “strong.” Obviously. Still, I think we agree 🤝 that Zelda being armed and dangerous is very much a key aspect of her character.