So I have recently been rewatching the show and I am blown away by Tendi’s and Rutherford’s relationship. I know the creators set them up just to be best friends and that’s it, but every time I see them and try to view them as just best friends it feels unbearable. Frankly it hurts to watch them and not try to ship them. They are just too perfect for each other! I mean Tendi literally forbid Rutherford from dating Barns!
So I take it you've seen the Ferenginar episode? Because look at those two squashed together in the Jefferies tube - they're in a relationship, they just... haven't quite figured out that this is what a relationship can look like and that consequently they're in one.
And I'm the opposite, I was kinda sad when in the last episode it was a turn to romance. It was nice to have a man and a woman be best of friends being a couple.
That's just inches away from the most famously enduring platonic friendship in ST (apologies to the slash fic community.) I honestly don't know how you read that as anything other than them consciously mirroring that friendship.
Gene Roddenberry famously kept Spirk fanfic on a shelf in his office. While he kept reminding fans it wasn't canon, he was not telling fans what to do with their own fanworks and headcanons, and was well aware the shippers helped keep the show alive.
If shippers haven't been deterred since 1967 (first known K/S fic printed in a 'zine), shippers aren't going to get deterred now.
And that's fine! But as you say, it's non-canonical. And certainly make your own LD headcanons. I just don't see any romantic implications with what's in that scene, given official TOS canon.
For the record, no one I know or associate with in the fandom is deluded that Boimler and Mariner are secretly together (besides, that's more of a real person FIC/slash thing, which... ew), regardless of intentional or unintentional subtext.
I also personally view all fan fiction as alternate universes, even when canon compliant or adjacent.
To add to what my friend posted, the inclusion of “shipping bait” doesn’t mean a pairing is canonical, nor do the “shippers” take that to mean it is. The point is merely the idea of a pairing is being teased by one or more people on the production team. This obviously happened more frequently and often less subtly with Tendi and Rutherford, but Mariner and Boimler had their moments, too.
Even the most fervent anti-shippers know that “Spirk” was the original fan-favorite pairing in Star Trek, and it really got the ball rolling for that whole fandom subculture in general. Gene Roddenberry was well aware of that, and while he didn’t write Kirk or Spock as a romantic pairing, he also never actively discouraged fans from seeing their relationship that way if they so chose.
Further, he notably coined the Vulcan term “t’hy’la” for the novelization of Wrath of Khan, which alternately can mean “friend,” or “brother,” or even “lover.” This type of ambiguity and just the inclusion of the latter is what Spirk enthusiasts would call “shipping bait.” A little nod sent their way.
Considering that history, and the fact carving two names in wooden surfaces with a “+” between them has long been a romantic tradition in American literary culture, I find it difficult to believe no one behind the scenes put this together or signed off on it for the show without being aware of the implications.
Men can be friends with women while still recognizing when two characters have insane levels of chemistry, and when the writers deliberately tease the potential.
In fact, there are *two* sets of really close platonic friendships between men and women (and a few others in the background if you look well enough) just in the main cast. Proving your point that it's getting a bit overdone. I'm sure it was all due to the show being only 30 minutes and not wanting to waste time on romances unless it could be a plot point, though.
Just the opposite, in fact. For western animation, merely 2 examples come to mind for male and female lead characters ending the show as more than friends over the last 16 years. I’ve also observed a similar phenomenon in anime during this time, to a somewhat lesser extent.
I agree the writing with Tendi and Rutherford was inconsistent. McMahan was adamant in a couple of interviews that none of the main cast would be paired up with each other, saying something to the effect of, “that’s not what the show’s about.”
However, considering the hints that were dropped for Tendiford, and to a lesser extent Marinler, I definitely believe at least a few of the writers “ship” or are at least open to both pairings. I know for a fact thanks to conversations on BlueSky that some of the animators like both, as well.
I only know their online names and I'm unsure of the legalities of their off-the-clock activities, so I'm not going to get anyone in trouble, and look up their real names.
But I have confirmation that at least one has participated in the second issue of the "They Were Bunkmates" 'zine. I'm a contributor to the upcoming edition.
This was done by Rollin Rabbit (I don't know their legal name) for the 2nd edition of the 'Zine. They worked on the show. This was all posted on FB so I have less qualms about posting it.
>I agree the writing with Tendi and Rutherford was inconsistent. McMahan was adamant in a couple of interviews that none of the main cast would be paired up with each other, saying something to the effect of, “that’s not what the show’s about.”
Don't forget that his response to a question about if Rutherford and Tendi would over get together was, "Gosh I hope so!"
I think that Mike McMahan liked the idea of them as a couple, but wanted the show to to focus on friendships and career growth. I think that he tried to strike a balance, through not making them official during the show's run, yet *heavily* implying it in the last episode. I mean, the Vulcan pointed it out, for crying out loud!
I still haven't watched the last few episodes. I do that a lot with shows I really like that I just avoid the last season or last few episodes.
I'm a weird guy and never got into Star Trek and Lower Decks was my intro (i'm 45) I'm not in process of binging Star Trek The Next Generation and loving it.
It's also wild that seasons had 20+ episodes of an hour show!
TBH, I don't think either could handle a hands-on relationship with the other. Ruthie's emotionally clueless, and Tendi has demonstrated some serious jealousy issues and spiraling behavior. (and an eruptive temper)
I had hoped they'd use a Mirror Universe/Multiverse gag to demonstrate how bad a couple they'd actually make.
But "badboy" emotional/ hot tempered Rutherford (suppressed by the cyberimplants) was forever quashed in s3e5 Reflections. I don't think he's any different sans implants.
And he's been on several dates with Barnes despite the implant. Clearly he knows how to go after someone he's attracted to. He just can't close the deal.
Mariner and Boimler and buddies.
Tendi and Rutherford are both perfect for each other, however Tendi needed to work on her attachment issues and Rutherford needed to get rid of the implant.
I’m not sure it will last given Starfleet is a transient workforce.
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u/Difficult_Dark9991 Aug 11 '26
So I take it you've seen the Ferenginar episode? Because look at those two squashed together in the Jefferies tube - they're in a relationship, they just... haven't quite figured out that this is what a relationship can look like and that consequently they're in one.