>>546372249
>This is just my observation based on Shadamy stuff, I'm actually of the belief that all Shadow ships are best served as counter examples to prove that Maria was the one.
I think that understanding Shadow, at the highest level you possibly can as a stupid gaijin, reveals to you that all Shadow ships are only pale imitations of his bond with Maria. Even if you view their relationship as purely platonic, the friendship and emotional support she offered him made him feel content in life like nothing else.
A bond as strong as or stronger than the one he had with Maria is impossible. He will never find anything close to it again, even if he tried, which he won't. Even if she were magically revived, she'd have her hands full dealing with the damage that was done to Shadow's mental state.

Most shipperkeks prioritize their ships over the characters, and I wanted to avoid that, but I still wanted to ship him. Ideally, Shadow's partner would be a major alive female character in the franchise.That's why most people gravitate towards Shadouge or Shadamy, they're obvious options that aren't technically impossible.
After years of consuming Shadouge, Shadamy, even Sonadow or crackships, I realized the best pairing for Shadow was always right in front of me. Its controversy is almost fitting since it shows that even Shadow's capacity to love is deemed "wrong" by humanity, just like everything about him. His positive emotions are considered wrong unless they benefit others. His very existence is seen as wrong.

I still think that when people say Shadow should "move on," what most of them are really saying is that they want to force him into socially-accepted normalcy to avoid breaking their own immersion.