Thing is, most of the shipping fuel is less due to that specific exchange and more due to the fact that AJ and Rarity act like an old married couple for most of the episode, culminating in them buying gifts for each other to make each other happy. It’s not hard to interpret that as a couple having a minor spat and then making up by getting each other presents.
@Background Pony #F1E4
You mean in this fandom, or overall? In the former case, I can think of at least Dislestia, Gildashy, Twixie and Diamondbloom off the top of my head. In the latter case, examples are far too many to list, but I could try if you like.
It’s practically half of shipping in general. The best examples I can think of of the top of my head are about a quarter of the shippings in Harry Potter(You’d probably get the idea from reading My Immortal). I also find it loved by the Yu-Gi-Oh fandom, where even foursomes have shipnames, even when it’s between characters who all want to tear each other’s guts out.
Heh. It’s so weird. I’ve been the same way with some same-sex friends as these two are and have even had the “I’m glad to have you as a friend” exchange, but there’s definitely never been anything close to sexual undertones to that. Conversely, I’ve never acted like that with my wife.
If they didn’t want any shipping, they shouldn’t have put well-rounded, compelling characters together in one ensemble.
Ah, who am I kidding. Fans get into shipping wars over even the flattest, most stereotypical cardboard characters. The only real way to avoid it is to have no show at all, in the first place.
Well, the episode did show why this is such a popular ship, as they were already arguing like a married couple.
We also saw quite a bit of fodder for Flutterdash as well.
Of course, anyone with half a brain knows no ship is ever going to happen, but it’s just fun to imagine.
