Queer representation on television and movies has been a topic of conversation for many years now. While some believe changes have been made and there are more queer and gender non-conforming characters on the screen, some still don’t see that change. The truth is that representation could be better. Queer characters rarely get a happy ending on the screen, so fans have created their own headcanons with characters they love.
When fans don’t see themselves represented in TV shows or movies, they turn to their theories and ideas of what may happen in a particular story. Whether the hints are given onscreen or not, they take the chemistry of two characters and create plausible pairings that would make them happy. That is how these 10 non-canon WLW ships came to be.
Barbara Howard and Melissa Schemmenti (Abbott Elementary)
Abbott Elementary introduced a queer character and his relationship, which made fans extremely content. The representation was there. Jacob and Zach’s relationship was a happy and healthy one that many could turn to. However, Barbara and Melissa’s dynamic caught viewers’ attention, and many began to wonder if there could be more than a friendship and a work wives title between them.
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The truth is that there aren’t many older queer or interracial couples on television. The representation is definitely lacking there. So, the possibility of these two women finding love in each other at a certain age after everything they had shared attracts the fans.
The Abbott Elementary fandom (or at least those who ship these women) has taken to Archive of Our Own, and there are over 400 fanfictions written for these two characters in which they find love with one another.
Misty and Nat (Yellowjackets)
If there is something Yellowjackets has managed to do amazingly, it’s the queer representation. Throughout its two seasons, the show has introduced several characters who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. The storylines for these characters have varied from relationships when they were teenagers to characters marrying someone of the same sex. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from creating their own headcanons with characters they believe could have ended up together.
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The chaotic dynamic between Misty and Nat led to fans of the show making this one of the most talked about non-canon WLW ships. Whether it was because of the chemistry between the actors or because of how different yet connected these two characters were, many began to ship them and wish they would end up together.
There are over 200 fanfictions written for these characters on Archive of Our Own.
Nat and Lottie (Yellowjackets)
The non-canon WLW ships on Yellowjackets did not end with Misty and Nat. As a notable character who seems to have chemistry with many of the characters around her, Nat became part of another very popular pairing introduced during Season 2: Nat and Lottie.
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Even though Lottie had been a key member of Season 1, adult Lottie came into the scene during Season 2 and had plenty of scenes with Nat. Then, fans began to ship them, paying extra close attention to their interactions and how they behaved around one another.
There are nearly 300 fanfictions written for this ship on Archive of Our Own.
Amanda Rollins and Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
Even though the vast majority of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans ship Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler and have fallen down the rabbit hole of the “will they/won’t they” trope, there are those who believe there should have been more than a friendship between Benson and Amanda Rollins. Both women started off disliking each other and not knowing how to work together to becoming best friends.
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In Season 13 Episode 20, “Father Dearest,” Benson and Rollins go undercover as a queer couple to get information from a sperm donor bank. At that moment, many fans saw the potential between these two women and began shipping what could have been.
Nowadays, there are over 400 fanfictions written for Benson and Rollins on Archive of Our Own.
Amelia and Carina (Grey’s Anatomy)
Throughout its 19 seasons, Grey’s Anatomy has introduced several queer characters who belong to different letters in the LGBTQ+ community. Some of these characters have remained on the show, while others have departed. Their storylines included marriages, children, and the discovery of one’s self. Among these queer characters, fans could find Carina DeLuca and Amelia Shepherd.
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Even though Carina and Amelia have their respective relationships, that hasn’t stopped fans from making them one of the Grey’s Anatomy non-canon WLW ships. The show itself goes as far as saying there is some attraction when Amelia mentions she has previously fantasized about Carina.
This pairing is mentioned in over 500 fanfictions on Archive of Our Own.
Kara and Lena (Supergirl)
Historically, any DC character considered “good” has always been an enemy of the Luthor family. However, Supergirl changed that dynamic completely when it introduced Kara and Lena Luthor. The two of them had a close relationship and friendship that captivated the audience immediately.
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Still, the fans saw this friendship as something that could have turned into more. Some even believed the show was queerbaiting them by giving them hopes that something would happen between these characters when in reality, the friendship line was never crossed. That didn’t stop them from shipping these two women together.
Over the years, the Kara and Lena shippers have produced over 20,000 fanfictions on Archive of Our Own.
Becca and Chloe (Pitch Perfect)
Regarding queerbaiting, the Pitch Perfect franchise did a terrific (or terrible) job. Every movie hinted at a relationship beyond friendship between Becca and Chloe. The two characters were always a bit too close (more than your regular besties), and the movie went as far as to show a shower scene between the two characters that got the shippers talking.
Even though being queerbaited is something fans hate, this didn’t stop them from making Becca and Chloe one of the most talked about non-canon WLW ships. The hope didn’t die until the last movie, with fans still hoping the two women would end up together.
There are over 4,000 fanfictions written on Archive of Our Own for these two characters.
Paris and Rory (Gilmore Girls)
Creating headcanons for non-canon WLW ships isn’t something that started in recent years. On the contrary, it has been around for a long while. A great example of this is those fans who used to watch Gilmore Girls and always wanted there to be more between Rory and Paris.
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Although the two had a great friendship, the shippers believed there was more to be explored there that could have possibly made both characters happy. The truth is that many headcanons for this pairing came from the speculations around Paris’s sexuality. When there are no confirmations of a character’s sexuality, fans can shape them to their viewing and liking to guarantee they feel seen or represented.
This pairing has over 200 fanfictions on Archive of Our Own.
Rachel and Quinn (Glee)
The old Tumblr days sure saw a lot of posting and commenting on Rachel and Quinn on Glee. Many fans love the “enemies to lovers” trope, and these two women fell perfectly into that category. The two started out hating each other to becoming friends.
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Quinn’s sexuality was explored during an episode where she slept with Santana. In Rachel’s case, nothing was mentioned beyond her only dating guys. None of these scenarios stopped fans from shipping them, believing there had always been more behind the hatred between these two characters.
Archive of Our Own has over 3,000 fanfictions written for these characters.
Jane and Maura (Rizzoli & Isles)
Rizzoli & Isles is one of those shows that was heavily accused of queer baiting. Even though these two women were introduced as friends and coworkers, there always seemed to be more between them. The promos for new episodes and the advertisement for the show always hinted at a relationship between the two that never happened.
Although fans were upset about this queerbaiting, that didn’t stop Jane and Maura from becoming one of the most popular ships among non-canon WLW ships. Fans didn’t stop shipping them despite the controversy surrounding the show and the storyline. There was always that bit of hope that they would end up together.
There are over 1,000 fanfictions written for them on Archive of Our Own.
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