That Really Long, Gushy, OTP Post

Ordinarily … I’m a pretty nice person.

Under stress, I am not a nice person.

Under stress, like (say) a massive global pandemic coupled with weeks of isolation & boredom, Fun, Easygoing Katie disappears, to be replaced by Drill Sergeant Katie: liable to smack people down at any moment for even the smallest offenses.  Some days, I feel like I’m stuck in “instant kill mode” and can’t shut it off.  Stuff that would normally merit a shrug and an eyeroll is instead met with, “yOu WaNnA sAy ThAt AgAiN tO mY fAcE, yOu LiTlLe–”

*facepalms @self*

It’s disproportionate.  It’s irrational.  It’s a Problem, y’all; and it just. keeps. happening.  I swear, I’m doing my best to get it under control.  But it’s hard, when the stress factors refuse to dissipate … and when the outlets I habitually use to cope with stress and depression and anxiety, are now closed to me.  Everybody in my household is stressed, TOO, and we’re all crammed in with each other like sardines in a case.  #not cool bruh  Therefore: I am turning to one of the few social outlets still available to me, to wit, blogging; and I’m gonna write happy, cheering posts if it kills me.

And what better place to start than one of the happiest subjects I know, FAVORITE FICTIONAL COUPLES, CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH???

yes technically they don’t always get ‘happy’ endings but hush

I am here to gush unapologetically about my precious babies and their precious feelings, in true fangirl fashion.  And sure, I know: excessive fangirling over one’s OTPs sometimes raises the ol’ eyebrow.  Maybe we get a leetle obsessed sometimes, I admit. 😛

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But for all its excesses, I firmly believe OTP discourse (if I may coin a term) serves a vital purpose: allowing young people, particularly girls, a safe space to thrash out what we believe romance is supposed to look like, using concrete examples.  Which ain’t nothing to sneeze at; considering, statistically speaking, most of us will end up in a relationship.  Yes, the single life is valid!  The single life can be amazing, in fact!!  And I will forever rail against those who present romance as the only option, particularly for women!!!  Nevertheless, when all’s said and done … statistically speaking (again), many of us will wind up choosing a life partner.  Whether heterosexual or not.  So the way I look at it, you’d better have a set of standards ready, in case it happens to you.  You can either settle for something subpar, or hold out for something fantastic.  That’s what OTPs are all about, really: something fantastic.  Something epic, swoonworthy–indeed, storybook-worthy.

So.  With that in mind, and without further ado, I present my Top Ten OTPs, ranked in Ascending Order of Awesomeness according to my subjective opinions.  Let the games begin!

Number 10: Pete and Beatriz, All the Crooked Saints

I am wretched, desolated, and Cut to the Quick™ to find these cinnamon rolls have zero (0) fanart available on Pinterest as of right now.  That’s not okay!!!!  They are sweet and good and supportive of each other.  Pete Wyatt is an All-American Square, while Beatriz Soria is an Goth Geek Chick, and in my humble opinion, a more perfect recipe for romance would be hard to find.  I love the sense of mystery it creates.  Beatriz will always be something of a cipher to Pete, but that’s why he loves her.  “Dustland Fairytale” by The Killers will forever make me think of these two, in their harsh, lovely, Colorado desert.

Finest moment:

When they danced under the stars and he sang Patsy Cline songs to make her smile. ❤

Number 9: Ronan and Adam, The Raven Cycle / The Dreamer Trilogy

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*sobs*  my emotionsssssssssssss, mY EMOTIONS … Look, these boys are Presh, m’kay?  They’re damaged and wary; hard with everyone else, but soft together.  They get each other’s magic in a way the rest of the world never could.  The dreamer and the magician.  The orphan, and the abuse victim.  And let us never forget that i c o n i c scene when Ronan punches Adam’s dad in the face for him.  Much wow.  Very cool.  10/10 would recommend.

The 80s classic “I Think We’re Alone Now” is most definitely their song.

Finest moment:

“And behind him in the doorway stood Ronan Lynch, his damn tie knotted straight for once, his shirt tucked in …”

Number 8: Jyn and Cassian, Rogue One

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These idiot warrior almost-lovers Obliterated Me, and I am still not okay.  It’s been four years, and I’m still not over it.  I don’t think you understaaaaaand.  They died before they could even kiss once????  Like LITERALLY WHAT KIND OF STAR-CROSSED SHAKESPEAREAN CRAP.  Also, I’m typing this to the tune of Maroon 5’s “Won’t Go Home Without You,” and yes I know Adam Levine probably wrote it whilst crying in the club over his latest girl crush, but now I’m picturing Cassian saying it to Jyn right before the mission went to hell, and.  well.  you know.  #feels.

Finest moment:

“I’m not used to people sticking around when things go wrong.”

“Welcome home.”

Number 7: Rey and Ben Solo, The Rise of Skywalker

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OH YOU THOUGHT THIS WOULDN’T MAKE THE LIST

BUT IT DID

IT MADE THE BLEEDIN’ LIST

Okay I am sorry but did you see this???  Were you in the theater that fateful December night, when he came back to save her and then she handed him the lightsaber through the Force aND THEN HIS LITTLE NOD like “I’ve got you, baby,” and the way her whole face relaxed, glowing in the soft blue light, with this look of peace, and trust, and freedom from fear, AND THEN THEY DESTROYED PALPATINE TOGETHER AND GENERALLY KICKED ASS?!?!

Finest moment:

That.  Literally that.  Go watch it again.  You’re welcome.

Number 6: Josh and Donna, The West Wing

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This is the ultimate in friends-to-lovers, if you ask me.  The absolute PEAK.  They worked together, played together, drank together, hurt together, and burnt-the-midnight-oil together for seven years before they even kissed one time.  The layers of respect and mutual trust they built up in that time are just … astronomical, and I am in Awe, Sir.  Also, can we give a HUGE shout-out to their self control in never straying even a toe over the line all the years Josh was her boss??  despite their agonizingly rich chemistry???  Honestly, few couples irl would be so responsible: certainly few TV couples would be so responsible.  But Josh and Donna are my good childrens and I wuvs them.  “End of the World” is a song that always brings them to mind, thanks to this most excellent fan video.

Finest moment:

“I work for the President of the United States.  I have the diplomatic rank of a three-star general.  Tell me where Donna Moss is.”

Number 5: Clint and Nat, the MCU

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Mmmmmhhhhhmmmmm.  Still shipping these crazy spy kids.  Don’t @me.  They were one of my VERY FIRST #otps of ever, and I still maintain they would’ve made a FANTASTIC couple, if not for that soap-opera-secret-marriage monkey wrench thrown in Age of Ultron (seriously, Joss?? *heavy side-eye*)  FORTUNATELY FOR US Clintasha diehards, the Russo brothers clearly never stopped shipping ’em either, so we got some really solid resolution in Endgame, for which I was pleased.  Nat clearly respects his marriage, but there’s undeniable chemistry between them, which wasn’t minimized or belittled … all in all, it was well handled.

That’s the thing about Clint and Natasha.  They don’t pretend, not with each other.  They’re honest to each other.  I love their quiet camaraderie, their easy, unspoken language.  They bear a burden none of the other original Avengers can fully appreciate: their shared past as assassins.  Being made to do some pretty sketchy™ things in the name of “justice” or “security.”  Nat is sharp-edged like broken glass, Clint is jaded and weary and harboring ruthless unchecked Murder Spree energy as shown in Endgame, but around each other … they can relax a little.  And I think that’s beautiful.  One song to give me allllll the Clintasha feels would be “Leather and Lace,” by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.

Finest moment:

“I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.”

“Maybe you should.”

“You didn’t.”

Number 4: Liesel and Rudy, The Book Thief

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There’s just something about them, all right???  Something about their golden sunburst of vitality and joy amidst one of the lowest, dirtiest points of human history that Gets Me, Every Time.™  Maybe you think it’s inappropriate to ship two under-fourteen-year-olds; and maybe you wanted Liesel to end up with Max anyways, and those opinions are completely valid … but for myself, I’m gonna be partying with these two soccer-playing street rats til the stars fall from the sky.  And I SHALL NOT be accepting criticism for this decision.  No, siree.  I shan’t.

The Beatles’ first mega-hit, “I Saw Her Standing There,” is Rudy meeting Liesel for the first time, methinks.

Finest moment:

“How about a kiss, Saumensch?”

Number 3: Marianne and Brandon, Sense and Sensibility (2008)

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I’m specifying Marianne & Brandon in the ’08 miniseries, not the original novel, cuz there’s some stuff about the romance in the novel that I don’t 100% love–but this movie version??  SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY ME.  IT SO GOOD.  WE LOVES IT, PRECIOUS.

David Morrissey as Colonel Brandon is one of the Highest Romantic Heroes of Ever–fiercely protective, fiercely loyal, yet never bossy or controlling or overbearing in the slightest.  And he never acts all washed-out and sorry for himself, like Brandon occasionally leans toward in the book (sowwy, book fans …)  Charity Wakefield’s Marianne is sweet, fresh-faced, and unfailingly authentic, even in her Teen Melodrama.  And don’t get me started on their scenes together.  We will be here all night.  As a side note, I gotta say–they’re one of the only couples for whom “A Thousand Years” (of Twilight fame) actually FITS.

Finest moment:

the glare thing.  that’s it.  the glare thing.

Number 2: Cath and Levi, Fangirl

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Ooooooooooh, gurl.  Cath and Levi.  CATH. AND. LEVI.  Do I even have words to talk about what these babies mean to me????  P’raps not, p’raps not.  All I’m gonna say is … reading Cath and Levi’s love story was the very first time I saw myself as worthy of being romanced, of being chosen … anxiety, awkwardness, trauma, warts and all.

Like.  It’s all very well to see your heroes getting the happy ending they deserve–it’s another level entirely to picture YOURSELF getting what you deserve.  As for their song, Fangirl is such a quintessentially Millennial story, I’m gonna go with a Millennial classic, Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again.”

Finest moment:

“I’m such an idiot,” he said.  “I can’t go nine hours without seeing you.”

Number 1: Rose and Ten, Doctor Who

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Yup.  Here they are.  The OG of my OTPs, the very tip-top of my list.  (Y’all knew this was coming, if you’ve followed my blog for any length of time. 😉 )  Again–what can I say, except to say they belong together, truly, absolutely, and unquestionably?  I’ve never seen two people more completely comfortable, in their own skin, with each other.  Every time she takes a running leap into his arms … every time he presses his cheek against her hair … it’s just this overwhelming sense of “God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world.”  I mean, I could talk about other stuff, too; how their love LITERALLY transcends time, crosses universes, and stitches the freakin’ COSMOS back together.  But for me, it all comes back to this: the way the Doctor’s face m e l t s in relief every single time he slides his arms around her.  That’s Love, fellas.  And if I’m in a relationship myself, one day, that’s what I plan to have it look like.  *mic drop*

Obviously, there’s a lot of *ahem* sad songs that could apply to Rose and Ten, but given this is supposed to be a happy post–here’s “Shut Up and Dance.”  Thank me later. 😛

Finest moment:

“If I believe in one thing–just one thing–I believe in her.”

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So there you have it, folks!

My top 10 OTPs–spot any of your own favorites?

Let’s chat!