Shield Knight is the perfect subversion of the damsel in distress

Main channel: ‪@TBSkyen‬ || Let's plays: ‪@2BSkyen‬ || Twitch: /tbskyen || Support my work on Patreon / tbskyen, or on ko-fi / tbskyen || Find me as TBSkyen on Bluesky (s**tposting) || I am ohnoitstbskyen on Tumblr (articles) || #shorts #shovelknight

[@lunatic-k5209]

She’s the “he ask for no pickles” girlfriend for him

[@BuiHieuDong]

You could technically say that Shield Knight

[@MaxAim]

We barely see them together and yet I cannot think anything but "relationship goals" when thinking about them. That's great visual storytelling right there.

[@1KamaronConClase]

Friking love Shovel Knight and their designs, and your Shield Knight analysis feels on point!

[@ashleylightheart126]

it was never "I need to save the princess!" and always "I miss my wife tails."

[@GG-lk4xf]

I dont know why but i see shovel knight asking shield knight to reach things from the top shelves

[@diogoteixeira4950]

This is in part why I fell in love with this game story. This is not a story about a noble knight saving a helpless princess. This is the story of 2 partners who got separated and now one of them feels helpless and lost without the other, trying his best to find the other one

[@ninacochrane569]

Another really good visual signifier of differences is the helm accents. Shovel Knight has horns, which are inflexible and sturdy while also invoking (historically incorrect) Viking imagery. Meanwhile Shield Knight has feathers, which are long and flexible while also invoking Valkyrie imagery. Both very strong and complimentary while also being very different.

[@nathancleator1550]

along with her design i especially like how in the story shovel knights motivation isn't "i will rescue her because of love" it's "my buddy is in trouble and adventuring is lonely without her"

[@wayside9493]

I always got the vibe that shovel knight wasnt rushing off to rescue a helpless maiden and more determined to help his trusty companion. It harkens more to going to the aid of a true friend trope in story telling rather than defending/reacuing the pure and innocent princess- though SK and shield knight do very clearly care for each other. Who else is going to tell them he asked for no pickles.

[@Insertein]

The story of an introvert going on a perilous and deadly quest to get back their singular extrovert friend

[@deskslam4232]

Best thing is, both shields and shovels have proven themselves mighty fine as weapons.

[@videodog1234]

I love it whenever I see this setup of two character not just being different, but being COMPLETE opposites. Just taking the contrast and turning it to eleven. Something about being able to look at one detail of one character and finding out that the other has something contrasting makes it feel a little more deep. It's hard describe, but this is a perfect example of it.

[@miraculousmoonsanddragons]

"He's blue! And tall! And you're so red, and short! Nice little yin-yang thing we had going" -Captain Ginyu, DBZA ep 22 (basically what you comparing Shovel Knight and Shield Knight's designs made me think of because of the way you said it)

[@ridori7376]

She also canonically has a magestic flowing mane of hair under the helmet, kinda like Finn from Adventure time.

[@digstrememcdingus1463]

You forgot to mention in the original ending, she would have died, and he'd dug her grave with his Shovel

[@jmtaylor0811]

I think they’re happily married rather than dating

[@Apalachicolagandalf456]

One of the best fictional relationships ever I love them so much

[@SillyBoyKisser74]

I loved seeing Shield Knight in other Knights' games like specter knight, shows how strong she really was since you never really see her as an enemy before that game

[@freshnightmares]

more characters needing rescuing should be like this. courageous adventurers that end up in disastrous conditions is so much more interesting than dainty mcguffin-folk that simply get swiped by some big bad