Princess Peach is a damsel in distress
no more! And there is far more to know about this princess than baking
cake and hanging out with Toads. Since her debut back in 1985, Princess Peach,
also occasionally known as Princess Toadstool, has become an integral part of the "Super Mario Bros."
franchise. Her kidnapping is the inciting incident of the original NES classic, but her role in the
series has grown dramatically over the years. By the time "Super Mario Bros. 2" debuted, she'd
already become a protagonist in her own right. While Peach's first appearance showed her as a
damsel in distress, she's certainly experienced a transformation since her debut. Only adults would
have noticed the subtle changes in her character, as they've been there from the beginning to
see her evolution. With Peach taking a more active role in 2023's "The Super Mario Bros.
Movie," it's a good time to take a look back at some of the more subtle details about her
character that the kids might not pick up on. "Together, we are going to stop that monster." Princess Peach seems to do a pretty great job at
holding down the fort in the Mushroom Kingdom, but the fact that her title has never been upgraded
to "Queen" seems to imply that at least one of her parents is still alive and well. The question
is: Where are they, and what do they rule? King Toadstool was originally mentioned in the
manual for 1985's "Super Mario Bros.," but never puts in a physical appearance in the game itself.
Despite being a pretty big deal in Mario's world, the king only factors into some of the
games' spin-off media. King Toadstool appeared in some comic books released in
the early 90s, as well as a few other bits of print media published around the same
time. His wife is an even bigger enigma, and it seems like Peach has been largely
left to run the Mushroom Kingdom on her own. Princess Peach has had a few makeovers since
she became the subject of Mario's affections all those years ago. In addition to a frequently
changing wardrobe and some snappy fashion choices, her hair color has swapped several times.
In the original "Super Mario Bros.," Peach is seen with vibrant red hair, almost the
color of the lava in Bowser's castle. When she made her playable debut in "Super Mario
Bros. 2," she was animated as a brunette. In most modern incarnations, Peach is
seen with bright or sandy blond hair. In the real world, this is most likely
a decision based on console capabilities and changing design teams. But is it
possible that Peach went through a bunch of different hairstyles and colors before
she finally settled on one she likes? If so, one has to wonder which hair color is her natural
look. We're betting it's not the firetruck red, but could Peach have originally been a brunette
who decided that blonde monarchs have more fun? The relationship between Mario and Peach has been
a point of discussion for years. The "will they, won't they" nature of their friendship is
often called into question. Much of the time, it seems as though Mario is more
into Peach than she is into him, but a comedic video from Nintendo might have
thrown those established roles into question. Back in 2017, around the release of "Super Mario Odyssey," Nintendo produced a series of clips
in which Mario answered questions from fans. One of the fans asked what Mario enjoyed
most about adventuring with his friends, and he replied by listing some of his closest
associates…including Princess Peach and Pauline. "I love my friend toad and talkatoo
and Princess Peach and Pauline…" Sure, this goofy video was made for promotional
purposes, but it also gives the impression that something has happened behind the scenes
and Mario is no longer pursuing Peach as a romantic partner. The question is, how does
Princess Peach feel about being friend-zoned? Speaking of Pauline, it's difficult
to talk about Princess Peach and Mario's unique dynamic without bringing up the
plumber's first love. Back in the arcade days, Mario endeavored to rescue Pauline from
the clutches of Donkey Kong. Fortunately, Mario and DK put aside their differences
in the years since. But aside from a few cameos in smaller games, players didn't
hear much from Pauline until "Super Mario Odyssey." That's when she was put in a
position of power as mayor of New Donk City. Even though the pair never
directly interact through dialogue, they can be seen hanging out together on a
postcard toward the end of the game. Some could take this as a sign that Mario and
Peach aren't a romantic item after all, meaning she's not bothered by the reappearance
of Mario's ex. However, it could also mean that Peach is unbothered by Pauline's presence,
and doesn't feel threatened by her at all. Of course, this isn't the only empowering
thing Peach does at the tail end of "Odyssey." Peach became a playable character in "Super
Mario Bros. 2," and was featured in various sports titles, and spin-off games like "Super
Smash Bros." However, she has had a few breakout roles that secured her transformation from
a bewildered prisoner to kingdom saver. The Princess truly broke away from the damsel in
distress mold when she featured her own game on the Nintendo DS, "Super Princess Peach."
In her adventure, the tables were turned on the familiar "Mario" formula. Instead of
Mario setting out to save Peach from Bowser, Peach had to rescue everyone's favorite goomba
stomping plumber. "Super Princess Peach" paved the way for Peach's most significant act
of independence: "Super Mario Odyssey." After Mario manages to stop the forced
wedding between Bowser and Peach, both suitors attempt to win over Mushroom
Kingdom's princess. Though Mario and Bowser present Peach with bouquets and their
affections, Peach rejects them both in favor of a solo trip around the worlds
that Mario visited throughout his journey. Peach travels on her own terms, without the
need for anyone else to help her. In fact, she finds her own Power Moons that she offers to
Mario when he catches up with her on his journey. The new "Mario" movie also seems to
highlight Peach in a more active role, and trailers show her zipping down
Rainbow Road in a practical racing suit, reminiscent of her outfit that made its
first appearance in "Mario Kart Wii." Fans have already stamped their seal of
approval on this interpretation of Peach, showing that the princess can stand on her
own, with or without Mario by her side. "If you can finish this, you're coming with me."
