The Internet is full of so-called “Ships” (From English “relationship”): These are beloved pairings of fictional characters celebrated with fan arts, fan fictions, and more. No fandom is safe – not even that of Overwatch. Google has now released the most popular Ships based on search queries.
Fans love their Ships! Especially when the pairings do not exist in the canon of the fandom. It is a release for the wishes of fans, who often hope for same-sex couples.
The Top 5 Ships – according to Google
Via Twitter, Google has now created a small animated graphic that visualizes the search queries for the Top 5 “Ships” over the past 12 months. One pairing remains dominant.
Just because they aren’t together doesn’t mean we can’t dream about it. This fan-created #Overwatch character ‘ship got the most love in Search this year. #YearinSearch https://t.co/wtqjULjCYe pic.twitter.com/o1PdcmLSxQ
— Google (@Google) December 27, 2017
McHanzo, the mix of McCree and Hanzo, has been the most searched pairing throughout the year. The others:
- McHanzo (McCree + Hanzo)
- Pharmercy (Pharah + Mercy)
- Reaper: 76 (Reaper + Soldier: 76)
- Widowtracer (Widowmaker + Tracer)
- Roadrat (Roadhog + Junkrat)
It is not surprising that only same-sex pairings appear in the top search terms. After all, there is still a need for improvement in popular culture – even though Tracer’s girlfriend was revealed in the Christmas comic of 2016.
Why McHanzo?
One factor is certainly that McCree and Hanzo have different characters: while one is a rough, charming cowboy, the other appears noble and principled.
Furthermore, both look good – both individually and together – and thus embody an ideal. Not least, the stories surrounding the two – especially during the brawl “Junkenstein’s Revenge” – must have provided plenty of nourishment.
The imagination knows no bounds, and it is wonderful when fans can express themselves creatively and dream.
Did you expect these top pairings, or would you have seen another in the upper ranks?
Ships also dominate on Tumblr regarding overwatch:
Overwatch is big on Tumblr – Cowboy-archer-sex is the biggest
