Reflection and Analysis

Voltron: Legendary Defender - Don't Be Anti

I came across a list of reasons why Keith and Shiro aren't brothers – but also won't be, and there are problems with every single argument put forth. There are some others I'll discuss as well.

Last Names

The first reason on the list is that their last names are different, and that having similar sounding last names doesn't mean two characters are related. The biggest problem with this argument comes down to the fact only one of the last names is known within the canon material. Shiro and Keith could possibly have different last names, but they could also have the same last name.

One argument I've seen made regarding why the two won't have the same last name is because Keith's last name has consistently remained the same through all canon material. While I agree changing his last name would be odd, that does not mean it won't happen. In fact, there is a chance they may decide to change his last name simply because it hasn't been done yet, while for all the other canon characters it has. The staff have said multiple times they're sticking close to the original, but aren't beholden to it either if the plot calls for it.

The other argument I've seen is that the characters would also know Keith and Shiro were related, yet there was no mention of the two as siblings. However, just because nobody has mentioned Keith and Shiro are brothers are siblings in the series does not mean it isn't true. In the same token, nobody has mentioned the two not being siblings either, and the only way for something to be not true in canon is if something in canon outright says something isn't true.

I also wish to add that the reason this argument is even coming up is because those who were anti in regards to the two being siblings biologically tried arguing that the two couldn't be related because they didn't have the same last names, and those who were fans of the theory pointed out that having two last names does not mean two people aren't related, let alone aren't siblings.

All you're doing is flipping said argument on its head to try and make a counter argument, but said counter argument doesn't even work as a valid argument against the two being siblings. To make matters worse, you're doing the exact same thing you get mad at KL shippers for doing – not making sound arguments.

Looks

So, there are two arguments I've seen made, and both are actual contradictions of each other.

Argument 1: It is wrong to assume the only two Asian characters are related to each other because they look like each other.
Argument 2: They don't look like each other – because there are subtle differences.

The problem with the first argument comes down to the fact we're past the time when all Asian's in cartoons were made to look like each other, so the fact they do look like each other is significant. The problem with the second argument is that siblings do in fact have subtle differences. If they did plan on making the two brother's biologically, do you really think they would make it that obvious?

In reality though, my personal argument regarding looks comes down to the fact Shiro did have a brother name Ryo in GoLions, and if you aged Ryo down, he'd very likely look like Keith. The staff kept the English names for all the characters except Shiro. More specifically, we're talking about converting back to the original name a character – Sven – who was comprised of two characters, so where was the second character, Ryo?

That's why I personally started with the two being brothers, as it felt strange that Shiro would exist in the new canon, but not Ryo. Does that mean Ryo and Keith are the same character? Not necessarily. However, this led to me noticing that in the original series Shiro and Keith looked like they could have been related, but the others did not. I'm talking about the series where all the characters were originally Asian except for Allura and Coran, and the Asian characters did had distinctive features from each other.