Princess Zelda of The Legend of Zelda animated series is a damsel-not-in-distress and much more. Though it only aired for 13-episodes and has suffered negative reviews, Zelda does come out the big winner in this series. And the way she does this is not just through positive qualities usually assigned to a princess character, but also through her flaws, giving her a more complete personality. Zelda is portrayed as a strong female character and a hero on and off the screen.
In battle, she serves as an equal yet different partner to Link with her own strengths and weaknesses, making them a successful tandem. While Zelda is still placed in situations where she does need to be saved by Link, she also does her fair share of saving Link when he gets into situations where he is helpless. She even takes the lead in figuring out strategies.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
In the episode, “Underworld Connections,” because of her connection to the Triforce of Wisdom that had been separated into three pieces, she can direct Link in how to defeat the monsters that stole them and decipher the locations in the Underworld where they fell. Even before this, Link would have fallen to his death if not for Zelda swooping in to catch him after he was caught in an explosion. What this reveals is that while Zelda can probably hire another hero, she values their relationship so much that she will risk her own life to save him, and choose Link over the Triforce.
Her regular clothing is not even typical princess fashion. She usually wears a long-sleeved shirt with a vest on top as well as long pants with thigh-high boots. Fashionable yet functional, Zelda is always ready to defend her kingdom and her Triforce whenever Ganon chooses to attack. Ironically, Link shows more skin in the series than Zelda does.
Zelda is compassionate and shows support for Link when a Gibdo turns him into a frog in “Kiss ‘n Tell.” When Link is crying and distraught about his body image and what that means for the rest of his life, Zelda comforts him by hugging him and saying that she will be there for him no matter what.
She even asserts a healthy balance on the romantic side of their relationship. In “The Missing Link,” it is revealed that Zelda actually is in love with Link when Ganon separates Link’s spirit from his body and she’s the only one who can see him because of her love for him. Moreover, when Link does something romantic or speaks authentically about his love for her, and Zelda becomes receptive and wants to kiss him.
However, she also has no qualms refusing Link’s flirtatiousness when he’s inappropriate. This shows that Zelda is a high-quality woman who wants Link to put effort into their relationship, show that he can connect emotionally with her and treat her with respect.
However, sometimes she mistreats Link, getting mad at him for a failure when he’s done everything he could. In “Sing For The Unicorn,” Ganon arrives at Hyrule Castle on a unicorn to kidnap King Harkinian, Zelda’s father. As Link swoops into action, Ganon sends him falling to certain death. While Zelda is able to save Link, she immediately scolds him for allowing her father to be kidnapped.
Several times, their fairy friend, Spryte, calls Zelda a “snoot,” and Zelda displays this behavior in “The White Night,” where she falls for the handsome Prince Facade and pretty much forgets that Link exists. She even laughs out loud at Link when he tries to fit in with the nobility. She gets humbled when Link saves her from a Zola even when she doesn’t deserve it, while Facade didn’t want to get his hero clothes muddy.
All of these traits show a refreshing side to the female heroine: While she is a kind, loving, and benevolent princess, she isn’t perfect and right all the time and is allowed to express herself emotionally, even if she’s wrong. What does redeem Zelda through her faults is that she comfortable being herself, flaws and all, around Link. Though under the radar with only 13 episodes to her credit, this iteration of Zelda is not only a hero in the show but a complete personality that is distinct from the other damsels-in-distress that 80’s kids were exposed to.
Source: – Comic Book Resources
