Ship Rant: HoYoâs Dan Heng/March 7th (from âHonkaiâ)
Disclaimer: Toxic âfansâ DNI (do not interact). Queerphobes included.
Letâs talk about an elephant on the Astral Express (Dan Heng/March 7th). Every fandom has that 1 âdefaultâ ship people cling to because it happens to be conveniently heteronormative and consists of the first 2 characters you meet. Just because theyâre âopposites attractâ on paper doesnât mean they belong in a romance. In fact, if you really look at their dynamic (especially after Marchâs âHuntâ path and Evernight revelations), shipping said pair feels like a step backward for both her and Dan.
1. The âOpposites Attractâ Trap
The trope is classic; stoic, traumatized scholar and bubbly, amnesiac girl. In Dan/March, this doesnât manifest as romantic tension (more so sibling-like exhaustion). Dan Heng doesnât look at March with âpiningâ eyes; he looks at her like a brother who is 1 âcheck outâ away from a migraine. Their bickering isnât flirtatious-itâs the functional friction of 2 people who have been stuck on a train together for too long. Forcing a romance here ruins the âfound familyâ vibe, which is among the most sacred things the Express has.
2. The Evernight Shift Barely Changed Anything
Even after March took up the sword and we start peeling back the layers of her past (or lack thereof), the romantic chemistry didnât magically appear. If anything, seeing March grow into a more capable version of herself only highlights how much she needs peers (not a babysitter). Dan Heng is carrying the weight of the High Elderâs sins; March is a blank slate trying to write her own future. Theyâre walking in completely different directions.
3. Better Suitors for March 7th
If we have to ship the pinkette mascot with someone, there are options that actually create a spark instead of a wet firework:
*The Trailblazer (Stelle/Caelus): They are among the better Express suitors for March. Why? Because theyâe both ânewbornsâ in this world. They share the trauma of not knowing their origins and are partners-in-crime who enable each otherâs chaos. Whereas Dan Heng just tries to suppress it.
*Sunday: Despite the currently nascent dynamic between him and March, the potential is there. You have the ultimate symbol of âOrder & Controlâ vs a girl who is literally defined by the âRemembranceâ and chaos of being unfixed in time. The narrative friction between Sundayâs heavy, philosophical burden and Marchâs forced optimism is much more interesting than the âheâs quiet, sheâs loudâ trope with Dan.
Also, canât the pinkette at least be paired with someone that isnât really part of nor have a long history with the Express? Preferably those who are legal and better match her overall vibe/energy (especially in a romantic sense)?
Bottom Line: Romantically shipping Dan/March 7th is the path of least resistance. Itâs safe, easy, and kind of boring. Let Danny have his peace and quiet; March can find someone who doesnât treat her like a chore to be managed.
Why I'm Not a Fan (The âHot Takeâ Conclusion)
As someone who isnât even a huge fan of Marchâs âmain character energyâ to begin with, the ships often feel like theyâre trying to make her more interesting than she actually is. If weâre going to do it, at least choose the ships that challenge her character rather than ones that just feel like a default setting.
Seriously, keep most of the Astral Express (minus certain ships) strictly platonic/familial. The âfound familyâ is already full as it is.
P.S. Iâm neither the 1st nor last with such sentiments, but felt the need to express them in a blog post. Also, platonic content for Dan Heng/March 7th is still fairly limited.
