It wouldn’t feel like a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie if there weren’t characters that fans would begin imagining as a genuine romantic pair. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ story might be about the titular hero going up against the Dweller-in-Darkness to protect the village of Ta Lo, but his dynamic with Katy has been a smash hit amongst fans as well.
In a change from the norm for superhero movies, Shang-Chi didn’t have a love interest as his relationship with Katy was kept strictly platonic. While this worked great overall, it doesn’t mean fans should be discouraged from shipping them for a potential romance in the future. As it is, there are plenty of reasons why their pairing works so well.
There's A Lot Of Laughter In Their Relationship
Interestingly enough, Shang-Chi was brooding in personality whenever he wasn’t around Katy, while the times they were together had him be a funny person. Katy, being a perky individual in general, brought Shang-Chi out of his comfort zone and asked him to try new things with her.
The two can be as goofy as they feel without being embarrassed, as seen when they had dinner with their friends and weren’t phased by the latter’s judgments. Those rooting for them as a couple would love to see how this kind of laughter will translate when romance is in the picture.
They Defy Genre Tropes Of Being A Couple
As it goes for any MCU movie, there were plenty of superhero tropes in Shang-Chi. What was different was how the titular hero and Katy’s relationship was portrayed. Rather than be in danger as it normally goes for the friend character, Katy was shown to be Shang-Chi’s support and still fought on her own for Ta Lo.
This should give those who ship these two the confidence that there won’t be the "damsel in distress" scenario, even after they become a couple. It means that Shang-Chi and Katy can be seen as individual personalities, whose potential romance only adds to their characterizations.
They Bring Out The Best In Each Other
Neither character’s personalities would have developed had they not been around each other. As Shang-Chi revealed, they became friends after Katy stood up for him, which led to a strong connection forming between the duo, which carried this with them into adulthood.
Whenever either Shang-Chi or Katy was feeling down and unsure, they could rely on their friend to make them see their worth. It’s always heartwarming to root for a couple who don’t hold each other back while still giving themselves enough space to be independent.
Being With Shang-Chi Allowed Katy To Find Her True Calling
Katy taking up a leading role in fighting against Wenwu’s forces and the Dweller-in-Darkness was among the most shocking things in Shang-Chi, considering she had no powers. Katy was grateful to Shang-Chi for enabling her to experience the thrill that was missing in her life and she resolved to continue doing so.
A strong romance is where the characters appreciate what their partner makes them realize about themselves and this was the case here. While Shang-Chi initially tried to keep her safe, he respected her decision to fight once he learned that it was what she chose to do.
Katy's The Person Shang-Chi Needed To Make Him Forgive Himself
The story about confronting long-held guilt was among the best story arcs in Shang-Chi and the main character had to deal with taking a life at 14. He kept it hidden for a decade from Katy as he was afraid he’d lose her friendship, only for Katy to accept Shang-Chi’s past.
She made him understand that he had been taught by his father to hold on to vengeance and that feeling guilty meant he wasn’t a monster as he thought. It’s this kind of love and acceptance that the best movie couples have, with Shang-Chi and Katy already displaying it.
Their Relationship Can Progress Organically
The lack of a romantic angle is one of the ways Shang-Chi is different compared to other MCU movies but a slow progression into the pair developing feelings can work well. Now that Shang-Chi and Katy’s characters have been established, the follow-up stories could have them grow closer.
Rather than either of them being designated love interests that viewers are essentially forced to perceive as a romantic pair, Shang-Chi and Katy’s story can have genuine relevance to the overarching plotlines to give their romance an authentic feel.
They Always Have Each Other's Backs
While popular couples like Tony/Pepper and Steve/Peggy have been truly in love, one of the love interests is usually out of the action. Shang-Chi and Katy differ by being around each other the whole time and this will continue since they were shown to be partners by the movie’s end.
This should mean that both of them will be there, whether it is an action-packed scenario or something that relates to them on an emotional level. Even with the addition of a potential romance, Shang-Chi and Katy will still be seen as inherently being friends.
They Fit Right Into Each Other's Families
Some of the funniest scenes in the movie had Shang-Chi meeting Katy’s family and being mistaken as her boyfriend. While this confusion was played for laughs, he did make a genuine impression on them and it was heartwarming to see the chemistry there.
Likewise, Katy sympathized with Xialing’s feelings of abandonment at Shang-Chi’s hands, which then led to the two women becoming friendly. With Katy also having amicable relations with Ying Nan and Ta Lo, she and Shang-Chi are confirmed to fit right in with each other’s families. This is one of the aspects that shippers absolutely love and should only fuel further calls for things to become official.
They Have Battle Couple Vibes
The best indication of a superhero duo’s potential as a couple is how well they fare in battle. Shang-Chi and Katy had different areas of expertise, but they worked well in tandem as he was a close-quarters combatant while she took up the duties in ranged combat.
It’s easy to see this dynamic developing further and the pair coming up with a fighting style that covers all the bases, making them a surefire battle couple. It would bring with it the opportunity for fans to see their romance on an emotional level as well as their chemistry when taking on the villains that come their way.