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- As for the first point: They're mutually exclusive for any given work. Beta Couple is for secondary characters. Official Couple is for main characters. Of course, in a franchise main character-ness can shift over time so what may be true in one work may not be the case in another.
- On that note, I'd say for SEED they're the Beta Couple. Kira and Lacus are undeniably the leads there. SEED is Kira's journey and Lacus is the single most important person in the Cosmic Era and while Cagalli and Athrun's relationship is arguably more tumultuous, it's also more straightforward. Kira has multiple love interests and his relationship with Lacus is further compounded by the shifting sides of war and... everything about Flay. I'd then argue that Kira and Lacus become the Beta Couple in Destiny due to a lack of spotlight on their relationship. It's stable and essentially taken as a given without much need for exploration, in contrast to Athrun and Cagalli's relationship which does get more focus.
I have to abstain on Freedom since I haven't seen it.
But yeah. Overall, I'm with you. I think both of them merit Official Couple and Beta Couple entries, with the caveat that the entries mention that depending on the work they switch.
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@Larkman Thanks for your insights. I agree with your points and I am still inclined to put both entries for both couples with precisions on works as you suggested.
@Arivne I will ask there.
I think I will close this query and continue on the forums then. Thanks.
Edited by CybranLord
A recent edit on the Gundam SEED Main Characters page switched Official Couple to Beta Couple here for Athrun and Cagalli : https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/article_history.php?article=Characters.MobileSuitGundamSEEDMainCharacters&page=4#edit40337667
A little context first : Athrun and Cagalli (the Beta Couple of the edit) are still main characters of the overall franchise and they are the second couple of the Cosmic Era, behind Kira and Lacus (the Official Couple of the edit). In fact, Athrun is the deuteragonist of the franchise for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny until Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom where he loses his deuteragonist status to Lacus. Lacus and Cagalli, while still main characters, are behind in importance compared to Kira and Athrun in the first two works (and also Shinn in SEED Destiny) and in the third, Athrun and Cagalli didn't have much screentime, being Demoted to Extra. One more thing, Kira and Lacus didn't really hook up in SEED, they are somewhat a couple in SEED Destiny (a Chastity Couple to be exact but still a couple) but their couple really only blossoms in SEED Freedom.
My questions :
After reflexion and overall in the Cosmic Era, I think both Kira/Lacus and Athrun/Cagalli are Beta Couple to each other : Kira/Lacus have things going smoother for them in SEED Destiny (and arguably SEED) than Athrun/Cagalli while the situation is reversed in SEED Freedom where Kira/Lacus faces hardships while Athrun/Cagalli didn't have problems in their couple.
I am inclined to restore Athrun/Cagalli Official Couple entry and adding a Beta Couple entry for both couples. But I wanted opinions first before doing so. And also to prevent edit wars.
Thoughts on that ?
Edited by CybranLord