So... yeah. Sorry about the haphazard post yesterday. Let me fix this!
When it comes to these sorts of countdowns, it sometimes becomes difficult to not have the entrees all stem from video games, but even more difficult at times can be trying to figure out who to add from a series I've given a lot of shout outs too. This being the case, as the Legend of Zelda is my favorite video game series and after doing an entire year's worth of pictures for it once, including a fully Zelda themed Halloween Countdown, it can be a little hard finding anything else to really pay tribute to. Of course, since Zelda is still an ongoing series, more characters continue to be added into the fray so it does sort of correct itself in the end.
Now, when it comes to Zelda, the series has become more and more known for it's plucky side characters. Starting with the bane of everyone's existence, Navi, the series has gotten better about tag teaming the ever silent protagonist, Link, with a character that opposes his stoic nature; and it makes sense, with a series that has gotten so much more story driven, someone has to push the narrative along and Link's mute self can only do so much! Of course, with only doing a Top Ten for this countdown I wanted to toss in some of my all-time favorites and Zelda naturally gets thrown into that category but the real question was... just WHO would I add!? There's so many to choose from!
Honestly, I could add any one of them and while my favorite sidekick to Link was Midna, with Linebeck being an extremely close second, in the end I sided with Ravio... even though, technically Ravio is not your sidekick in the game, at least not to the likes of Midna or Tatl, and so on. I added him though because he, out of all of them, really does oppose Link the most out of any of the weird characters he's been forced to pair up with over the years. I mean, yes there is a totally obvious and valid reason for that opposition, but I'm just saying they did it well! Taking the quiet, stoic, courageous Link and making an annoying, coward who never shuts up is just wonderful to me. Of course, I also have a real weak spot for alternate universe scenarios and finally getting a legit parallel Link was awesome to me (Yeah. Spoilers. Sorry. Seriously, is there anyone out there that doesn't know that twist yet!?) Especially as I've wanted to see one since Majora's Mask, which also took place in an alternate universe. I know Shadow Link is a thing, but I want a parallel Link that has a personality and can be a foil as opposed to a seldom used villain.
While I feel Ravio is sadly underused in the game (which is odd as he plays a big role in terms of gameplay, but not AS much in terms of story) and I feel the ability to buy all your items from the get go kinda destroys Zelda's over all dungeon mechanics, I do really love the character and was always delighted when he was on the screen, both despite the fact and because of the fact that he's a horrible cretin who kicks you out of your house and then pulls that "Don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful" pose immediately aftewards. I would have liked to have seen him do more in the story, but at the same time I feel a little goes a long way for Ravio so maybe it was best. In the end, he's a great foil and serves his purpose of parallel Link!
Ok... the TRUE reason I added him was I recently replayed A Link Between Worlds and he was on my mind at the time! But hey, it works.
