#-characters separate from the wi.nx

[floralovebot]

Hey you're the resident specialists expert do you think they're are as close as the winx are?

Hmm, yes and no! TL;DR: they aren't for the first three seasons but are starting S4.

For the first three seasons, the specialists are definitely not as close as the Winx are. Sky and Brandon kept a huge secret for around two years and while the main show glosses over Timmy and Riven's feelings about it, we do know they aren't exactly happy. Timmy canonically doesn't like Riven in the first season and Riven is yknow.. Riven. So yeah they definitely aren't that close.

S2 is slightly better but they're honestly taking baby steps at that point. Riven just realized that he likes being their friend, they're still recovering from the switch, and Timmy still feels left out. Then Helia gets added and it's a weird mix of "how does this new guy fit into the pre-established group/dynamics" and "actually the pre-established dynamics suck can we change them". Not to mention, they're a lot more preoccupied with the Winx than trying to be besties.

S3 is again, slightly better, but also not quite there. They're still trying to figure out their dynamics with each other. Even though they would die for each other at this point, there's a lot of things left unsaid that they don't feel comfortable talking about. Like Riven's deal with Darcy still leaving an impact on how they trust him or the switch leaving them mostly feeling yucked out by royal stuff. Timmy also still feels left out because sure they're getting close but Sky and Brandon are already besties, Riven considers them all besties, and Helia is in this weird state of "I'm out" for most of the season (show and comics!).

Season 4 was actually the biggest turning point for them! I genuinely think that in S4, the specialists were just as close as S1 Winx were (which is pretty big for them!). I think the biggest reason people have trouble seeing them as that close is that it really did start in S4 and most of the fandom hates everything after S3. Personally, I think the biggest factor is the change of environment! Red Fountain and Alfea have drastically different environments; one is a military school while the other is more of a prep school. The specialists spend their entire day training, sometimes going on missions, and being on call whenever the Winx need help. It's... stressful! One of the biggest reasons why the Winx got so close is because their environment allowed them to. While they obviously were in danger a lot, a good portion of the season was them just,, bonding. They lived in the same shared space, they had the same classes, they didn't really know anyone else, and the more encounters they had with the Trix the more they felt the need to be around each other.

The specialists had a very different environment for the first three seasons (and pre-s1). They had roommates and some of their classes didn't match. The first episode of S1 was also their very first mission together. Besides being a team, they didn't really have a lot of time to bond as friends? And outside of team stuff, they didn't feel the need to constantly hang out. Add in all of their issues and it's just,, bad! A big disaster disguised as petty arguments. I think the biggest reason why they didn't get as close in S2-3, despite them all trying harder, is that their environment didn't actually change (plus they're still working around that bad blood from S1 and before). But that's why S4 was so huge for them! It was a completely different environment, one that encouraged them to become closer.

In S4, they live together in a much smaller space, they work at the same job (minus Timmy but he still hangs out there so he counts), and while they still have to deal with evil villains and general danger, a lot of their day is made up of having fun, helping each other, and their work getting interrupted by random band sessions. Like,, S4 was practically a dream! Timmy literally buys clothes for them and they go grocery shopping together. They make each other smoothies and give each other advice (that's actually listened to!). S4 was literally the best season when it comes to specialist bonding/friendship time and it was the start of them being just as close as the Winx. Obviously, at that point the Winx are ahead, but,, it's a good start for a group of guys that practically hated each other at first.

Nabu's death,, was glossed over a lot imo and how it would affect the specialists wasn't handled properly in S5+. It wasn't even handled properly with Aisha so that's really no surprise. I barely consider the later seasons canon if we're not talking about a multiverse thing and the specialists especially get retconned a lot in them so,, even besides the Nabu stuff, it's just not great. While the specialists absolutely function as just love interests (which was on purpose don't forget what Winx was originally about), their bonding wasn't actually skipped over? It just wasn't as explicit as the Winx. But I think with the time allotted for them, and all of their issues, them getting closer in S4 makes a lot of sense. It was a completely different, much easier going environment and by that point, they had gotten comfortable with each other and considered each best friends. Because like,, they do consider each other friends, even as early as S1, they just,,, also have a Lot of issues that they often don't feel comfortable talking about. S4 encouraged that though and it did wonders for their friendship (not just Riven and Nabu! All of them!).

So... yeah. The specialists imo have a very unique relationship. They definitely have their issues and I don't think they were anywhere near as close to each other as the Winx were in the early seasons. But they are still friends and they do still care for each other. Them constantly risking their lives is proof enough yknow? S4 gave them the environment to actually talk about their issues and live relatively peacefully though and that's why it was their best season in terms of closeness. And I genuinely think that if Nick hadn't gotten involved, we would've seen a very different relationship with them in the later seasons. One that focused more on being truthful and sharing their feelings. That's where they were headed and it's a shame S5+ retconned everything so badly :(