Celebrating & Analyzing Zelda’s Character Ahead of Echoes of Wisdom

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is here! In preparation for diving into a brand-new, Zelda-centric Zelda adventure, join Dan and Aaron—neither of whom had started this new journey at the time of recording—as they return to their roots as Zelda fans and analysts, exploring the range of representations and symbolisms Princess Zelda has borne throughout the years. How can Nintendo's stance toward spin-offs and experimentation inform our approach to Echoes of Wisdom? What do Zelda's transformations across decades of games reveal about the essence of her character and the virtues undergirding Zelda's universe? What can the evolving dimensions of Zelda and Link's relationship with each other, Ganondorf, and the player illuminate about the good and bad aspects of control? Listen in and find out!

Spoilers for: Mulholland Drive, I Think You Should Leave, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, A Link Between Worlds, and Tears of the Kingdom.

References:

Hughes, Dan (2017). "Does The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Belong in the Video Game Canon?" With a Terrible Fate.

——— (2015). "Link the Gaijin: The Outsider God and the Hero in The Legend of Zelda." With a Terrible Fate.

Suduiko, Aaron (2015). A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask. With a Terrible Fate.

——— (2020). "The Horror of Code Vein is You." With a Terrible Fate.

——— (2023). "Tales of the Abyss, Kabbalah, and Gaming as a Spiritual Act." With a Terrible Fate.