I can't figure out what makes a ship work for me.

[betweensunandmoon]

Not very many fictional couples get me excited, and of those that do, Raoul/Christine and Will/Elizabeth are the only ones that really have anything in common. My reactions to most romances in fiction are "Ugh, shoehorned love interest" or "I like these characters as individuals, but not together" or "Yeah, sure, they make a cute couple, but I'm not really feeling it."

Comments

[igenlode]

I think it helps when the relationship is already established (i.e. Will and Elizabeth have known each other for years and are obviously in love, but can't marry because of class differences)

Good point. If Will had just walked in to deliver his master's sword and had fallen in love with the Governor's beautiful daughter on the spot, I don't think the relationship would have been the same.

(Though, thinking about it, Robin and Marian are basically enemies-to-lovers in "The Adventures of Robin Hood"...)

[betweensunandmoon]

If Will had just walked in to deliver his master's sword and had fallen in love with the Governor's beautiful daughter on the spot, I don't think the relationship would have been the same.

Then it would have been "shoehorned love interest" and I would have hated it. :D

(Though, thinking about it, Robin and Marian are basically enemies-to-lovers in "The Adventures of Robin Hood"...)

True, that.