Originally Posted by
Anchorsify
Eh? Well, I suspect you disagree, but Whedon's run didn't really rely upon Claremont that much (and his references weren't just specific to Colossus--it was really meant to show Kitty coming back to the school as an adult and referencing several childhood instances/habits/events, most notably her history and relationship with Emma.. as an enemy). But I'm guessing you saying that means you didn't like them much then when it came to the picnic, the fastball special, the other moments they shared/interactions they had.. which is fine, but I definitely did like them! That said, sure, Gugg's run never really made them all that believable.
I don't really think their relationship is based off of childhood feelings (though that is hard to get away from with anyone you've known for so long.. that's not unique to them, though, that's just life and how we work as humans.. and mutants). Most notably because even when they aren't dating (see: Cable and X-force) they still support one another and believe in each other as people. They weren't dating but Kitty still visited him in the prison and (rightfully) didn't believe he was some awful person for what they were sent in for, even if they were not exactly on great terms then. Piotr has less of those moments, but has generally been shown supportive of whatever she does (beyond warren ellis, that is).
I tend to think the introvert/extrovert, logical vs emotional aspects of them tend to work pretty well. Kitty is more prone to impulse and emotional outbursts (which are sometimes biting, because of her intelligence), whereas Piotr is tempered but more wise than intelligent, balancing out each other's weak spots.. which I think works well. But, y'know, not trying to harp. I mostly just think most people don't know how to write Piotr as anything more than a russian brute, and kitty as much more than a love interest to somebody, which leads to some boring moments. But then is that the relationship or just poor characterization in general? You can't really get a good relationship arc from bland characterization to begin with, I'd say. In much the same way that I think Kitty would/should be a great leader of the X-men (or the Marauders now), but she's historically been shown to be a rather piss-poor school headmistress and leader of an X-man team.. but I don't so much attribute that to the character as I do the writing at the time. But that is somewhat murky in becoming extremely subjective there, admittedly.
Illyana is another topic altogether, but suffice to say I don't see how "if it was meant to be it'd have happened by now" to be much of a logical argument at all. It's easily countered with: He killed himself to save all of mutant kind, Kitty took a bullet for Earth to go MIA for years, he took a juggernaut curse for her because she manipulated him into it just to make a point while intentionally letting her brother suffer its effects well aware she could end it anytime. Hor does it make much sense from her to begin with, seeing as how kitty and piotr literally read bedtime stories to her and she's been nothing but supportive of them up until then for her entire life.. but yeah. I wouldn't say Illyana 'called them out' so much as 'inadvertantly caused problems between two people she cares for more than anyone else because she has serious interpersonal relationship problems of her own she's projecting by accident onto a bride the night before her wedding when her nerves are in all kinds of knots', but it's impossible to say considering they never really addressed it beyond 'sorry I shouldn't have said that / no it's ok'. Super weird how Illyana never even talked to her own brother about it, even, given she sort'a altered his life by accident there (and she's been gleefully happy to let him know when she did it intentionally to cause him pain, as out of character as that was to me, also).
But I suppose I just don't see it as defined by their childhood feelings. It started that way but I don't think that's what maintains any of it to current-day.. I mean, AoXM kind of proved that, didn't it? They were drawn together not because of their past relationship (which they didn't even remember)*. I wouldn't call it solely a nostalgia 'ship, but understandable if you feel they should be moving on from past relationships and stop revisiting the past (though I think that's rather unlikely for any marvel character, relationship or otherwise).