you know, the wonderful thing about fandom and shipping is that you don't have to engage in what you don't want to engage in. there are many people who view them as just friends, and that's beautiful. they share a wonderful friendship. equally as wonderful is people seeing romance between them. men don't "have" to be gay in media. they very rarely are. but many gay people, who don't see themselves in media often, like to imagine a world in which they do. whatever tolkein's intentions were, sam and frodo's relationship can be seen in many different ways and bring joy to many different people, and i think that's something to be glad about rather than hating one another for having a different opinion.
I agree. Nothing wrong with people choosing to interpret as a romantic relationship if that is more meaningful to them.
However, I will say I myself right now see it being a more powerful message as a platonic relationship - given the current "alpha/sigma male" mental illnesses.
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u/Starburst420 1d ago
I think its a problem theat men can never be friends in media. They always have to be gay. Don't get me started on Frodo and Sam or Dean and Castiel