Daily Debate: Should Zelda Take a More Active Role in the Legend of Zelda Movie, or Should She Play the Classic Damsel in Distress?
Posted on November 16 2023 by Nick Miller
A question to consider for the recently announced Zelda movie is: what role will the princess play in the story? Classic fantasy storytelling typically portrays a princess as a damsel in distress, a girl in a tower awaiting her gallant knight. But more contemporary takes on the fantasy genre have begun to put women in roles that were traditionally masculine. So, which route should the Zelda movie take? Should Princess Zelda be a helpless damsel in distress or an absolute powerhouse who all but defeats the bad guy on her own?
I know those two options are rather extreme and going with either one would probably be detrimental to the movie, so naturally, the answer should lie somewhere in the middle.
If we look at how Princess Zelda is portrayed over the course of the games, we will find that, more often than not, she is strong, capable, and an asset to Link, even if she still needs saving. Ocarina of Time has Zelda actively fighting Ganondorf in the shadows as Shiek; but despite that, she still needs to be rescued at the end of the day. Spirit Tracks portrays Zelda as a companion character to Link, yet she’s a spirit and requires Link’s help to reunite with her body. Tears of the Kingdom shows Zelda reforging the Master Sword but requiring Link’s aid in returning to her role as princess of Hyrule. Princess Zelda is at her best when she can hold her own but is vulnerable enough to need Link.
A movie that successfully portrayed a princess in a similar light is The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In that film, Princess Peach was a wise and intelligent leader. The audience could believe that she was a capable ruler, but not to the point of belittling or overshadowing Mario as the hero. At the end of the day, Mario and Peach needed each other to defeat Bowser. They each brought meaningful qualities to the relationship that the other character lacked, which made them a team, neither better than the other. Likewise, Link and Zelda should be companions, Link with his courage and Zelda with her wisdom, working together to defeat Ganondorf.
So, what do you think? How would you like to see Zelda portrayed on the big screen? How big of a role should she play in the adventure? Let us know in the comments.
Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders. His other favorite video games series include Kingdom Hearts, Fallout, and Ratchet & Clank.
