A lot of things about Zelda's plotting clicked for me in a new way when I read about how the directors were inspired by Twin Peaks and just surreal little characters and moments:
My pet conspiracy theory, of which there is sadly ample contrary evidence, is that the Zelda universe was supposed to be more like the Bond universe, where it just kind of reboots and picks and chooses its continuity rather than the convoluted branching of time, which I think doesn't add anything to it.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/12/feature_how_david_...
My pet conspiracy theory, of which there is sadly ample contrary evidence, is that the Zelda universe was supposed to be more like the Bond universe, where it just kind of reboots and picks and chooses its continuity rather than the convoluted branching of time, which I think doesn't add anything to it.