just out of curiousity, what are your top 10 hollyoaks crack ships/rare pairs 👀
Oh, anon, you have no idea the can of worms you had just opened. So, crackships/rarepairs specifically, huh? (I mean, just about every ship that doesn't involve Ste or John-Paul are a rarepair, let's be honest.) Okay, let's do this. (These are in no way in ranked order btw)
Joel Dexter x Ryan Knight (Knightdex)
It's so stupid and (so far) based on literally one (1) interaction between them, in Rory Douglas-Speed's first episode as Joel in 2016, in which Ryan has called Joel for help in taking Warren down in Patrick's murder investigation. The moment they have outside of the police station was so incredibly gay for no reason, and I'm forever going to be thinking of how unnecessarily close Ryan got to Joel. I will provide a gif as evidence:
2. Brendan Brady x Simon Walker (Bralker)
I feel like they count as a rarepair because everyone prefers stendan (obviously <3), but the chemistry between Emmett Scanlan and Neil Newbon is genuinely insane. Like, they're constantly eye-fucking each other, and Walker can say it was all an act as much as he wants, but I'm not convinced. There's just something to be said for their very toxic, one-secretly-wants-the-other-dead, partners in crime thing.
3. Amy Barnes x Michaela McQueen (McBarnes)
I think men were not good for Amy, and Michaela was right there. I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers (even if they were more like messy frenemies most of the time), so I already loved the idea of them, but then I saw this one scene from like 2006 where Ste confronts Michaela and asks if she fancies Amy, and I'd believe it wholeheartedly.
4. George Smith x Callum Kane (PalmKane)
I love their friendship, and I totally get why the show kept it platonic because it was such an important dynamic to have on TV back in 2012, no judgement, just pure trust and affection for each other. But as I said, I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers, so! I wish Callum hadn't died because they were genuinely one of my favourite parts of that era.
5. Max Cunningham x O.B
It's funny for me to count this one considering I haven't watched a single scene featuring Max other than the one where Claire tells him Tom is in the lake to try and drown Max, and then OB saves him. But what did it for me was OB's return in 2016, the way he cares for Tom (Max's little brother), and reading through their entire history lmao. I'm planning on going back and watching the scenes I can find on youtube (currently organising a playlist) so that I can fall even harder for them. I truly believe they were soulmates.
6. Cleo McQueen x Nathan Nightingale (Clathan)
Again, I don't know if this counts as a rarepair because they were technically together in the show, but I also don't think anyone actually ships them anymore? Either way, they're adorable and if Nathan hadn't died, I would've wanted them together and married and happy <3
7. Sienna Blake x Trevor Royle (Trienna)
Yes, Sienna was not necessarily good for Trevor, and he chose Grace, but the colouring book therapy session?? I'm still crying over them.
8. Ste Hay x John Paul McQueen (McHay)
I'm cheating again, I know, they were canon, people shipped them (probably still do), but not nearly enough. I still want them back together now, in 2024, I am BEGGING. Reunite them. Give them another chance. Let them be HAPPY.
9. Robbie Roscoe x Callum Kane (Roscane)
Look, Robbie came into and immediately did way too much just to try and impress Callum and get him to be his friend. I will die on the hill that Robbie is queer. (TBF the same could be said for Freddie Roscoe, too.)
10. Romeo Nightingale x Prince McQueen (Rinse)
I miss the Daily Rinse <3 Also, having Romeo's exit be him riding off on a horse while Prince tearfully watches him as "Love Story" by Taylor Swift plays? Most romantic moment ever, and their names are made for each other, come on.
I am ALWAYS happy to talk about Hollyoaks (or EastEnders), especially ships, so please feel free to send more questions/talk to me about anything! <3
