Even though it can be difficult to tell the stories of ten central characters, Eternals did it well enough by showcasing the stories of all of the ten Eternals in one film. One such story that we found cute and heartwarming was in connection to the relationship between Thena and Gilgamesh, who were companions for hundreds of years. But are Thena and Gilgamesh in love with one another in Eternals?
It was never expressly shown that Thena and Gilgamesh are in love with one another, but what we do know is that they have a bond that’s deeper than what they share with the other Eternals. They legitimately care for one another in a platonic yet very deep way that goes beyond normal romantic intimacy.
The truth is that it is hard not to think that Thena and Gilgamesh love one another, given the fact that they have been through a lot together after hundreds of years as companions. Then again, the thing about their bond is that it was pure and legitimate caring instead of just the same kind of romantic and sexual feelings that most people have for the people they love.
Are Thena And Gilgamesh In Love In The Eternals?
One of the things central themes of the entire Eternals film is the relationship that each of the members of the Eternals has with one another. Specifically, we are talking about the romantic feelings that some of the members have with other members of the group, especially when we consider the fact that they only have each other.
Of course, we have seen this kind of setup throughout the entire movie, as we were introduced to the romantic relationship that Ikaris and Sersi have as early as the opening parts of the film. And in the latter parts of the movie, we discover that Druig and Makkari were secretly in a relationship with one another as well.
However, the one relationship that has made fans gush and feel warm is neither of the two abovementioned relationships. Instead, we are looking at the relationship between Angelina Jolie’s Thena and Don Lee’s Gilgamesh, which is the type of setup that not a lot of us fully comprehend in terms of what it truly is. So, are Thena and Gilgamesh in love with one another?
The thing about the relationship that Thena and Gilgamesh have with one another is that this was something that went beyond the normal boundaries of what a relationship is, at least as far as romantic relationships are concerned. There is no doubt that they loved one another, given the fact that they were willing to sacrifice for one another and that they had a bond that was deeper than what they had with the other Eternals.
One such instance of their deep bond was the fact that Gilgamesh was the only one willing to take care of Thena, who was suffering from Mahd Wy’ry, throughout the entire film. While some would say that Gilgamesh only volunteered to become her caretaker because he was the only one that could fight her equally, Gilgamesh never saw it as a chore and was always willing to help Thena snap out of her Mahd Wy’ry episodes every single time.
Of course, we also saw Thena’s deep love for Gilgamesh when she was able to grow as an individual and fight her Mahd Wy’ry episode in her final battle against the Deviant Kro. By being able to overcome her own weakness, Thena was able to slay Kro, who was augmented with the powers of both Ajak and Gilgamesh.
That said, what we can say for sure is that they love one another, but that doesn’t mean that they are “in love” with one another. There is a difference between loving one another and being in love with one another, as the latter is more of a romantic kind of love.
It was not the kind of love wherein they were in a sexual relationship, which was what Ikaris and Sersi had before they broke up. Instead, it was a healthy love for one another that allowed Thena and Gilgamesh to be able to spend hundreds of years as companions without even getting tired of one another’s presence.
What Kind Of Relationship Do Thena And Gilgamesh Have?
While we did say that Thena and Gilgamesh did indeed love one another, we can also say that this was not the usual kind of romantic relationship that you often see getting portrayed between a man and a woman. Instead, the kind of love that Thena and Gilgamesh have for one another is more platonic in nature but still goes beyond normal platonic love.
In an interview, Angelina Jolie was able to properly sum up the relationship that Thena and Gilgamesh had with one another when she said that it was not the kind of relationship that is usually presented when we are talking about the romance between a man and a woman. Instead, it was more like two soldiers who are unbelievably loyal to one another because they know what each other has been through.
It is that same loyalty for one another that allows each other to have a deep respect for the other without even stating what their relationship is. Jolie even said that the relationship between Thena and Gilgamesh is a friendship that doesn’t need to be stated because it “just is.” And we have seen this healthy respect and friendship between Thena and Gilgamesh, who both needed one another during the entire film.
In a way, it was a relationship that allowed each other to find their balance. We know that Thena needed Gilgamesh because he was the only one capable of snapping her out of her Mahd Wy’ry episodes. And Gilgamesh needed Thena because, after seemingly defeating all of the Deviants on Earth, he needed to find a purpose in his life, and that purpose was to be around Thena and keep her safe and sane.
This is what we meant when we said that the relationship between Thena and Gilgamesh was something that transcended what people often think whenever they think about a man and a woman loving one another. They indeed loved one another, but that was the kind of love that was rooted in mutual friendship, respect, and the need for each other’s presence.
Thena And Gilgamesh Relationship In Comics
One of the things that makes the Eternals film so unique is that the relationship between the characters was something that was almost entirely original to the MCU version of the Eternals. Even Ikaris and Sersi aren’t even romantically linked in the comics because they are actually portrayed as cousins.
That means that Thena and Gilgamesh are not in a relationship in the comics. Their relationship isn’t even the same as the one that they have in the MCU film. Instead, we might as well say that the relationship between Thena and Gilgamesh and the comics is more of a professional one, considering that they are both Eternals.
