It’s 2016, can we stop acting like a romantic relationship is the height of closeness?
Seriously, when did we as human beings stop valuing the intimacy of friendship and platonic relationships?
Platonic love, in its modern popular sense, is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, especially in cases where one might easily assume otherwise. A simple example of a platonic relationship is a deep, non-sexual friendship between two heterosexual people of the opposite sexes. Arguably, this occurs across any and all genders or sexual orientations, but pop culture and mass media struggle to even understand heterosexual, cisgender platonic love and relationships (so unpacking LGBTQ+ platonic love and relationships in a single article would be impossible). Plus, as a cisgender, straight girl, I don't feel I have the knowledge base or experience to accurately unpack those relationships anyway.
So, I found myself wondering the following questions:
Why is it that in mainstream media, whether that be books, movies or television shows, that the pinnacle of love, intimacy, and closeness, can only be achieved or represented through romantic love?
Why can my favorite character(s) not find solace in a friend or through non-romantic love achieve greatness?
Platonic relationships are just as great as romantic ones. I just wish that the media would accurately portray how valuable friendships are; I want pop culture to pitch platonic love to the masses and show people how powerful non-romantic love and relationships can be. For example, the novelist, Hanya Yanagihara, once said, “Friendship is the most underrated relationship in our lives … It remains the one relation not bound by law, blood, or money—but an unspoken agreement of love.”
Yanagihara's quotation illustrates how profound platonic love can be, yet despite its inherent power and value, platonic love often finds itself neglected and under-appreciated. In the spirit of showing how powerful platonic love can be, I have come up with a list of my top platonic fictional pairs. Plus, platonic relationships don't receive enough recognition, so I'm dedicating my article to showing just how beneficial these relationships can be to those in them.
1. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger
Since year one at Hogwarts, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger were steady, fixed points of support for each other. The love that Harry and Hermione share stands on a foundation of loyalty and mutual respect. Whether Hermione was helping Harry perfect his Accio charm for the Triwizard Tournament or Harry was reassuring Hermione of her brilliance, these two were inseparable in the series—both in the books and the movies. Even when Ron Weasely abandoned Harry during his quest to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes, Hermione remained by Harry's side despite her love for Ron. Characters don't need sexual intimacy or romantic love in order maintain a strong relationship.
2. Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori
Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori from "Pacific Rim" prove that two people can share a deep and emotional bond without the need for romance or sex. Raleigh and Mako face life-threatening experiences that they ultimately overcome, together. They subsequently ride a helicopter into the sunset without the vaguest promise of a future romance between them. Their relationship is one of the few representations of a close, emotionally-intimate male-female friendship that never turns physical. A non-romantic relationship sub-plot in an action move? Seriously, I recommend this juggernaut of a movie simply for Mako's incredible character arc and that fact that Raleigh's character endlessly supports and pushes Mako, as her friend, to challenge herself and rise to her potential.
3. Penelope Garcia and Derek Morgan
Penelope Garcia and Derek Morgan from "Criminal Minds" help to redefine the archetype of platonic friendship and love. Despite the fact that Morgan refers to Garcia as Baby Girl and that Garcia (sometimes) refers to Morgan as a statuesque god of sculpted chocolate wonder, their banter is done in a jovial and friendly way. These two are coworkers that just work; Garcia and Morgan also happen to be devout friends. The love and concern for one another shows up multiple times within the show, perhaps even within each episode that the two appear in together. Do these two toe the line between romantic and non-romantic love, perhaps, but I'll let you be the judge of that.
4. Veronica Mars and Wallace Fennel
In the teenage soap, "Veronica Mars," Wallace Fennel and Veronica Mars were ride or die friends from their initial meeting without the slightest hint of a romantic connection for the duration of the show. These two were there for each other through thick and thick; never once did Wallace question Veronica's loyalty or love and Veronica reciprocated that mutual respect, love and support. Veronica and Wallace's relationship survived high school politics and Neptune's seedy underbelly. The level of trust between these two characters is inspirational. Despite the show's too-short three-season run, the show's writers managed to create such an incredible dynamic between these two protagonists without relying on a romantic sub-plot to strengthen Veronica and Wallace's connection or the intensity of their love and admiration for one another.
5. Steve "Captain America" Rogers and Natasha "Black Widow" Romanov/Romanoff
In "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," Steve and Natasha team up in what is, in my opinion, one of the better portrayals of a male-female relationship that does not lead to a romantic relationship or sex in action and superhero movie history. The dynamic benefits from actor Chris Evans and actress Scarlett Johansson's chemistry on screen, but ultimately the arc and comprehensive development of Steve Rogers' and Natasha Romanoff's platonic relationship in CA:TWS comes from the writer's ability to depict a non-romantic relationship between these two. Plus, Natasha spends the majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films trying to set Steve up with other women from S.H.I.E.L.D. These two characters have a very special friendship that is defined by their different personalities and shared experiences. Of course, I am referencing the Captain America and Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the relationship between these two characters in the Marvel Comics get a bit more complicated. But, just watch "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and you will see the undeniable friendship between these two two superheroes.
6. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler
Ugh, these two—where do I even begin? The connection between Olivia and Elliot on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" is undeniable. Their chemistry borders on unreal; the way these two can communicate with just a look or simple sustained eye contact inspires me to be closer and better connected to my own friends. For over 10 years, these two have supported each other through endless cases, trials, traumas and triumphs. Not only did they work side by side, but they put their lives in each other's hands every day. They had trust, chemistry and opportunity, but the writers never got them together. It never happened! Not once! What class acts. Benson and Stabler avoided a cheap, predictable storyline; their relationship proved that powerful things can come from a platonic love and relationship.
7. Gary "Eggsy" Unwin and Roxy Morton
Honestly, as I was watching "Kingsman: The Secret Service," I began hedging bets that Roxy's character was meant as folly for Taron Egerton's lead character, Eggsy, but much to my surprise this was not the case. Roxy ad Eggsy's relationship is platonic and despite the chaotic and hostile environment, these two manage to support each other. From the moment that Eggsy and Roxy meet in training to be a Kingsman to the film's end, these two manage to remain very good friends who encourage each other to challenge themselves and ultimately save the world. They demand that the other push personal boundaries and work outside of their comfort zone. The mutual respect and admiration that the writer's create for these two characters shows how even in the midst of a literal apocalypse that an individual can draw his or her greatest strength from the love of a friend.
Honorable Mentions Include: Ilsa Faust and Ethan Hunt ("Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation"), Joan Clarke and Alan Turing ("The Imitation Game"), Luna Lovegood and Harry Potter ("Harry Potter"), Joey and Phoebe ("Friends"), Pam and Michael ("The Office"), Sam and Ainsley ("The West Wing) and Imperator Furiosa and Max Rockatansky ("Mad Max: Fury Road").
