Culture editors, staff pick favorite ‘ships’

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, The Miami Student Culture staff decided to share our favorite ships—or romantic pairings—from different media.

Momo Ayase and Okarun from ‘Dan da Dan’

Momo has a secure attachment style, and Okarun has anxious attachment (I love attachment theory, and this show is full of rich dynamics). This anime shows them having an interesting relationship, normalizing healthy communication and boundaries in a society that does the opposite. These two characters ensure each other’s growth in an entertaining way.

– Josie Zimmerman, Staff Writer

Megan and Graham from ‘But I'm a Cheerleader’

I love Megan and Graham because they met in an unfortunate situation: at conversion therapy camp. Despite the world around them being harsh and hateful, they fall in love. They have a sweet relationship with each other, and I love their dynamic.

– Ren Chaffee, Staff Writer

Syd and Carmy from ‘The Bear’

They have a complex, intense relationship that intertwines their careers as chefs with their personal lives together. They have a “will-they-won't-they” dynamic. The way they show care for each other through understanding each other is my favorite thing about their dynamic.

– Ren Chaffee, Staff Writer

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from ‘The X-Files’

Their relationship is built on trust — not attraction. Sure, who isn't insanely attracted to Fox Mulder? But their relationship forms from the idea of being working partners first — relying on each other in terrifying extraterrestrial situations appears long before romance even enters the equation. Not to mention, they complete each other. Mulder is driven by belief, obsession and the idea that something is, in fact, out there. Scully contrasts this by being the grounded, research-oriented one.

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— Elise Hanna, Staff Writer

Elle Sattler and Alan Grant from ‘Jurassic Park’

What's more romantic than watching a Tyrannosaurus rex tear through a lawyer? Answer: nothing. Sattler and Grant challenge each other, all without trying to change the other. Grant says he doesn't want kids, and Sattler prompts him to question his assumptions about children and vulnerability, with the intention of helping him grow. Grant listens to her, especially when she points out that the flora brought to the park is not safe for the dinosaurs, something that pretty much went unnoticed by the others.

— Elise Hanna, Staff Writer

Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff from ‘Marvel’

Marvel robbed the public of this pairing in the movies. They are together in the comic books, and their relationship just makes sense to me. Their personalities match so well.

— Layla Norris, Staff Writer

Helen and Madeline from ‘Death Becomes Her’

In both the film and musical adaptation of "Death Becomes Her," the dynamic between Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp fascinates me. They're incredibly queer-coded, and unbelievably complex. They're best friends, who are always competing, and it even escalates into them murdering each other. Very romantic, if you ask me.

— Stella Powers, Culture Editor

Gale and Dewey from ‘Scream’

Normally, I don't spend much time obsessing over straight ships, but Gale and Dewey are the exception to that. They have some of my favorite scenes in film ever; They're unbelievably cute. Also, in the later films, they absolutely devastate me. I love when a ship makes me feel every emotion humanly possible, and these two do just that.

— Stella Powers, Culture Editor

Rey and Kylo Ren from ‘Star Wars’

Look, I know I am not reinventing the wheel with this ship, but I can't help but love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. The tension and chemistry that they share in those movies is unparalleled, and I have to attribute that to Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver's performances. The subtle eye contact, the frustration, yet respect for each other, the yearning — I could go on. I just love them, and I am still so mad at J.J. Abrams for taking these two away from me.

— Ayla Peden, Assistant Culture Editor

Sally Albright and Harry Burns from ‘When Harry Met Sally’

While I love enemies-to-lovers, I also really enjoy friend-to-lovers, especially if the characters didn't even like each other at first. That is essentially the plot of "When Harry Met Sally," which is why I adore this movie so much. Meg Ryan in any romcom has to be a 10 out of 10 — it's the rule of the universe. Now, put her together with Billy Crystal, and a movie written by Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner, and you have yourself a witty, too relatable at times, romance. The love confession at the end makes me cry every time, and I'm so happy that Harry met Sally.

— Ayla Peden, Assistant Culture Editor

powers40@miamioh.edu

pedenae@miamioh.edu