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I don't know if this was already done, but I'm just curious to know. I would be really upset if Steele got Jenna instead of Balto. The whole plot would be changed, Things could have been different. What's your opinion?
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I'm not sure if another topic has the same graphic or not.. But yes, the whole plot would be changed and they probably wouldn't have made Balto. Nonetheless, the sequels.
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Alasken's remark couldn't say it more precisely, really. There's also the fact that, if Steele got Jenna, that would basically say that evil dominates in the end, and that strength and malice are superior to courage and integrity. In other words, a movie more fitting for bringing up Nazis than American citizens.

I know Steel isn't Jenna's type but, if Steel did end up with Jenna I would say interesting, odd but interesting.

The entirety of disagreeing with the statement screams "friend zoned" around here LOL

Now, without the sequels, I wouldn't have assumed Balto ended up with Jenna. Even as a kid I didn't get that impression, mainly because of how anticlimactic their romance was throughout the ENTIRE movie. I wouldn't have assumed she ended up with Steele. I would've assumed they remained single or found someone better suited to them, of which Balto and Jenna are not, to each other.

As the movie is, I would say I'd be surprised she picked Steele at all. Heck as the movie is (sequels included) Balto predictably ends up with Jenna. I wasn't surprised so much as unimpressed at this, even as a kid.

Let's say Jenna's "choice" was based on whoever returned with the medicine. Balto, hilariously, decided to not take action until upon realizing the team was lost. Had the team not gotten lost, Balto would've been left in the dust, not just by Nome, but by Jenna herself. If Steele had returned with the medicine as a hero, I wouldn't have blamed her because quite frankly Steele is a catch Hidden text : click to show and even if he's egotistical, he still would've proved his determination and heroism. And I would've agreed with it, despite his "attitude".

You may be saying "BUT THEN JENNA WOULD'VE ENDED UP WITH THE BAD GUY AND THAT'S JUST WRONG, JENNA SHOULD'VE GONE WITH BALTO BECAUSE HE'S A NICE GUY AND DESERVES IT". There have been lots of scenarios in movies, cartoons, and other forms of storytelling that end up with the hero not "getting the girl" but her "ending up with the bad guy" when it turns out that he was just better for her than the hero was. And that case, to too many people, makes him the "villain" in their eyes, because to THEM, the hero "deserves the girl" when in reality no one has any obligation to anyone just cuz they're "nice". Just because someone's a villain from one perspective, doesn't make him a villain from another, and it certainly doesn't mean "evil dominates in the end". It's all about who's better-suited for whom, not who "you" think is better for them, like soooo many mentalities I come across around here.

If Star had been the one to lead the team back, she probably would've ended up with him LOL I would've preferred him be the hero and get the girl anyway. He's not only modest and kind, but he has a personality. He COMPLETES Jenna LOL Which is more than what I could say on Balto.

I could see that working. (Don't click below if you haven't seen The Incredibles).
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Cat, the whole point is that Steele wasn't suited for anyone but himself. Even if he had brought the medicine back successfully, he would have still been a jerk whose chromosomes were the closest thing he had to a redeeming quality. The notion of heroism being about the magnitude of one's deeds regardless of honor or integrity belongs in the myths of the ancient Greeks and other cultures who viewed things like stealing as a rite of passage. Regardless of whether you can wrap your brain around this or not, the fact that Steele was bound and determined to get his way no matter what was right or who got hurt in the process makes him a villain. Not just a villain "from one's perspective," but a villain point-blank. His attitude made him bad even before he cheated in the race or tried to kill those kids' hopes of survival.

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In about every movie I see, the bad guy never gets the girl and the "troo hero" always gets her. The film was very predictable. It would be cool if Steele got Jenna. Jenna was a "brainless b*tch" as AW said anyway. LOL
Quite honestly, I'm sure if Balto wasn't attracted to Jenna, he wouldn't have went after the medicine.

If Jenna was brainless, she would have bought Steele's story. She did not buy it, therefore she wasn't brainless.

DT- That's the point of saying she'd be, and not she is. Read the whole thing next time. Carefully.

In fairness that isn't actually what AW was saying at all...



A very interesting take on things Cat - thanks for posting. I must be honest I don't agree with some of it but I like your reasoning in other points and the fact that the hero doesn't always get the girl is valid. Looking at the way the sequels panned out, I could suggest that given the fact that Balto seems to prefer his bachelor lifestyle on his pad with his guy friends rather than living closer to Jenna (if her family didn't want to take him in) suggests that with the puppies, Balto, as a red blooded male in fact got "what he wanted" but perhaps the long term relationship wasn't "what he wanted" if you know what I mean.

Sequels aside (because they never really happened as far as I am concerned) looking at the evidence I would say that Balto was meant to get the girl as the movie pushed that fact from the start...

Balto's characteristics are presented early on, he is a fast moving, fast thinking individual that seems to care about others around him. He saves Boris from the knife adding to the towns negative impression of him and then rescues Rosie's hat despite potential risk to himself. These little acts are showing us that he is a hero in the making where as Steele only cares about his image shown by his anger to being out run by a stray dog (despite the fact that Balto ran a short distance where as Steele has pulled a team and sled over several miles), strutting in front of the ladies and checking his fur for the camera.

Then you have the awkward and embarrassed behaviour between Balto & Jenna following the comment "I'm sure that Jenna would love to have you on our team". Both seemed shy, smiling in a way that they had just been set up in a blind date situation. The same goes for the clumsy meeting shortly after where Balto slid into Jenna bumping nose to nose. Jenna did not retreat, push him away or freak out, a short distraction from her owners and she actively looked to see where he went.
The romantic meeting under the hospital for the northern lights scene opened Jenna's eyes to see that there was perhaps more to Balto other than what could just be a curiosity or a small crush. Following which only to lead Balto to decide that he wants to help Rosie. At this time it could be selfish intentions that he wants to make Jenna happy (since she was clearly sad) or maybe impress her further or he might even care... he is a dog after all so who knows.

Balto actively takes part in the race to select the team showing that he wants to help. That was him first taking action to help and the fact that he was excluded by the humans left him powerless to help at least in his eyes. Jenna is cheering for Balto personally so if she didn't have an interest in him, why wouldn't she just root for the usual fast (and well trained) sled dogs?

The team getting lost was Balto's second chance... he probably/possibly did care about the other dogs and up to this time, I think he developed more compassion for Rosie rather than impressing Jenna (i.e. the coffin scene and where he and Boris look through the hospital window). This also resulted in Boris changing his attitude rather quickly too and wanting to instantly help. Also note that any romantic thoughts were further cemented in Jenna when she smells Balto's scent at the hospital window and she seems surprised that he has gone after the lost team, again she is realising what Balto is about.

Balto, Boris, Muk & Luk and to a lesser extent Jenna were all heroes by the very sense of the word i.e. putting other's needs before your own. Whether Balto was doing it for Jenna, the other dogs, Rosie or the whole town, he was still in the hero category. I say this because Steele was the opposite in character. He was bringing the medicine back but he wasn't going to do it to help and save the world, he was doing it for the glory and to add it to his sled-dog résumé. If he were to get the girl then it would have been another trophy for him and nothing more so I'm not sure if Jenna would have gone for that. Steele wasn't a bad guy as such but he was just selfish and arrogant. The fact that he lead the team astray and refused to listen to his team mates backs this up.

Finally with the good guy getting the girl, the reunion between Balto and Jenna should say it all. By a miracle Jenna's damaged leg is perfectly healed and while the hero stands on the podium for the crowd to applaud he is joined by his best girl. The curious expression from Jenna at the end followed by the goofy smile from Balto suggests something deeper is going on than what the humans can see.

Wow, you guys. This makes my comment look like a 6 year old wrote it.
I also appreciate you guys for posting. Thanks! My first active topic!

To be Honest, I'd be Upset. Jenna Belongs with Balto and Steele Belongs with a B***hy Type dog that is a Glory hound like Him and super Popular.

I did, but I'm not so sure about Crona.


That's something I don't see mentioned a lot, but it would have been nice if they had shown something of Jenna's recovery process. I could see the scene re-done with Jenna wearing a cast or something.

As for the expression from Jenna, I think it speaks for itself.