Descendants: Fanon Ships vs Canon Ships

Hello, Fanaticals! Today we are going to look at why some of our favourite fanon ships just WORK versus canon.

Descendants is a realm where things can change at the drop of a hat. We see this in the first installment when Mal gives Ben a love potion and he is suddenly her boyfriend, but then despite the potion being washed away he stays with her. Not to mention, fanon ships just have a way of working their ways into our hearts and just staying there.

So, let’s take a look at some of the fanon ships and why they could work or not, and why there is the suspicion that the ship could exist!

Evie & Ben

After the second installment, these two honestly showed some deep-down chemistry that I feel was cheated out of seeing. The way that she teaches him how to act like the evil side of them, the plead to not leave her on the Isle, and the way he made sure she got into the limo to go back... Especially after Mal's constant rejection because of her own insecurities, the bond that began growing between Evie and Ben could have easily been nurtured and grew into something amazing.

But of course, though, there would be no true Happy Ever After for the series if Mal and Ben didn't wind up together. However, considering the conversation that took place after they got back from the Isle and the rescue, if Mal had rejected Ben again at the Cotillion, I could definitely have seen Evie stepping in eventually. At least, if she didn't have Doug around anyways.

Evie & Carlos

This may seem like an awkward pair, but these two also were clearly very close on the Isle. Honestly, I believe that if they had never been brought to Auradon then these two might have gotten together eventually, if only to reproduce since evil doesn't really believe in love.

However, going to Auradon set them on paths with Doug and Jane that honestly, no matter what you fanon ship I will always ADORE these two's canon ships.

Jay & Audry

During the end of the first installment, we actually see Jay and Audry dance together during the final song "Set It Off". I am sure that I am not the only one who assumed that was a lead up to the two of them starting a relationship of some sort. Out of the original four VKs, I could see Jay having a lot of chemistry with her despite their vastly different backgrounds.

However, Jay definitely has the knight in shining armor feel to him, especially after he joins the team and gets MVP. He's definitely the tall, dark, and handsome that she would be vain enough to be looking for in a perfect match; although it's quite obvious that she has a thing for blondes when you consider both Ben and Chad.

Jay & Lonnie

Keeping in mind that I haven't dived into the books or animated series, based on the movies this was actually the relationship I fully expected to see take off, especially after the second installment. It's not a surprise that Jannie fans feel left out at not being able to see this blossom.

Jay clearly respected Lonnie and her strength, especially as he obviously almost gave her a place on the team at try-outs, but it's actually not a surprise that with him being relatively new to the "being good" thing that he wants to abide by the rules. He's probably just not used to what "open for interpretation" means and nervous about asking the coach. Honestly, you kind of have to applaud him for that. I would, if it hadn't been for the fact that it was Chad that was in his ear making the comments the whole time.

Audry & Harry

While it might seem a bit repetitive of her and Jay, you have to admit that the brief interaction we see between these two at the end of the third installment before she pulls him off to dance is MUCH flirtier than the interaction with Jay. Audry is also a bit more accepting of VKs at this point then she was at the end of the first; quite possibly due to her having gone evil for a bit there, herself, and finally understanding how they felt growing up and possibly how their parents felt during their times.

Personally, this is actually a couple that I would have loved-and still would love-to see come back in the post-Rise of Red segments. While it is less likely with all the interviews surrounding the original cast and their feelings of doing more without Cameron, I would really lie to have seen Aubry get her Happy Ever After with someone you would least expect. Although, it had been heavily hinted at during the second, and the beginning of the third that she was on again/off again with Chad.

Mal & Evie

While these two may be best friends, I cannot help but feel like they were trying to ship these two in a way canonically. Here's why: their duet in the second installment. "In the Space Between" felt so much more like a love song than a friendship song, and I wish I could explain more while it felt that way. If you know music at all, then you know that sometimes songs just have specific feels to them. For example, there are SEVERAL songs that Americans play for Independance Day that actually have absolutely NOTHING to do with American Independance; ironically the song Independance Day" by Martina McBride is one of them, however many feel like the song screams of freedom. Which it does in a way; just not the freedom that most think it does.

Mal and Evie's duet is much the same to me. The ballad-type music and a good chunk of the lyrics seem much more like two lovers who are moving to opposite sides of the world in possibly a breakup or just for a little while, than it does two friends saying goodbye because they are going to be living in two different places. It's partly because of this that I could ship Evie and Ben, or even maybe a triad of these three together. However, it's also clear that Evie and Mal are practically sisters.

I won't lie, I was actually intrigued when I saw the top 10 Descendants ships for Archive of Our Own, but a little unimpressed to see how many of the canon couples that were there. What do you think of these fanon ships? Which ones do you see working, and which ones might work that aren't listed? Come exchange your theories with us! Until tomorrow, keep on theorizing, Fanaticals!