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Ironically, many who opposed the final casting believed that Hunter Schaefer would have been a better fit for the role of Link, given her gender identity and appearance. Supporters argue that the gameplay and narrative elements of the franchise are not strictly gendered, and therefore, gender should not be a determining factor in casting.
Additionally, some pointed out the absurdity of the controversy, emphasizing that the characters of Zelda and Link are fantastical entities—sometimes non-human or mythic—and not bound by human gender norms. Critics also highlighted how the casting of relatively unknown actors could be a strategic choice to avoid unnecessary star power distractions and focus on storytelling.