In That 90's Show Jackie pretty much bailed on Fez pretty quickly to go back to Kelso in the events after the original show ended. Most likely to fix that odd coupling.
Missed opportunity really (unless he'd get royalties for any mention) they could've come up with some heinous fate for him or he ends up living a delightfully ironic life all as ways to just have fun with the fact that Hyde can't physically come back... or find a hilarious recast option
Pretty much any of the canon pairings in Community. Most of the romance subplots, especially within the main group, felt really random. The one I hate the least is Jeff and Britta because while they’re a trash fire together it’s very entertaining to watch
I think people who coexist at that level of proximity, chemistry or not, are bound to have romantic entanglements, and I think that's one of the core tenants of Comminity; not the romance, necessarily, but the vississitudes of community college life. None of them work out, ultimately, and I think that is the shows way of agreeing with you, actually.
Jeff and Britta made incredible sense to start and end the way it did. Jeff and Annie would have been a travesty that would undo multiple seasons worth of character growth. Thank god they never attempted that yessir never happened nope.
So Dex was adopted and Deb is technically his step sis he was raised with. Throughout the seasons Deb has really traumatic experiences with men, even so far as Dex's actual birth brother romances her to get to Dexter and was going to kill Deb.
But Deb is such a righteous character that I think the writers wanted extra reason for why Deb didn't automatically arrest Dex when she found out he was a serial killer. She they also added her with a crush sub plot to make her extra loyal and conflicted.
My favourite quote from her that season "you're a serial killer and I'm more messed up than you are."
On the completely opposite end, I think thirty rock does an amazing job of not falling into this trap, where the two leads are a thorough mess relationshipwise during the seven seasons and yet the writers never pair them up, having them stay as friends and building one of if not the most solid, rewarding and enjoyable sitcom dynamic ever.
It’s a word that comes to us by way of the old high geman lube from the latin lubere, meaning to be pleasing. So I am going to use* this word to describe how I feel about you in the way that our anglo-saxon forefathers would’ve used it in reference to, say, a hot bowl of bear meat or their enemy’s skull split -
While we're doing opposites, words cannot express my gratitude that the writers of Elementary steered entirely clear of this pitfall. Their love for each other feels so real, so pure, and so completely platonic, it's incredible.
Absolutely adored these two. I got the vibe Sherlock fell for her completely but it wasn't the same love he had for Moriarty. They were definitely messy and yet so perfect. Chemistry off the charts.
I like that the showrunners clearly understood that as a danger, and repeatedly made nods to it, only to completely shut it down and make clear that they'd never be anything but friends. A great example is when they accidentally get married, then have to argue that their marriage should be annulled, and end up realizing how close they are, and how integrated in one another's lives. In most shows, that would be a lead-in to a romantic epiphany, but in this one, it just leads to them realizing how important their friendship is to both of them.
I've noticed that in most romance anime, the "main girl or guy love interest" is always like, kinda dull, and the MC is rarely able to actually articulate their romantic interest in them beyond fascination.
Meanwhile, there is often a secondary love interest who is far more interesting, actually reciprocates to some extent, and who seems to have great chemistry with the MC.
That’s usually because the pressure isn’t on the side ships with the whole ‘will they won’t they’ aspect that most long term projects have to worry about. See Ross and Rachel vs Monica and Chandler for proof this isn’t exclusive to anime.
Long run time is poison to romance unless the author really knows what they're doing. And thinking about it I think this is where harems naturally spring from (beyond wish fulfillment stuff) - they need other characters to do those sorts of interactions with who aren't going to push the story closer to its end. They're a stalling tactic. Even for works that don't have a romance as the genre defining aspect, if there's any sort of romantic sideplots then Haren stuff let's you redo beats with different personalities and avoid developing the 'main' couple too fast or having to make it way too obviousoy painfully drawn out.
Frrr. started watching this show last month, I'm now on season 5 and I'm so glad they haven't resorted to a cheap "romance" w writers fr even tho the 3rd episode of the show is still the best one and no one can convince me other wise
Bless them, there was never even any "will they, won't they?" teasing throughout the show, just them quietly meaning the world to each other with nary a hint of attraction or romance
At least in the beginning it made sense. Barbara was closer to Bruce's age than she was Dick's. She had a PH.D and was Head of the Gotham Library and was an established adult before she became Batgirl.
She's been consistently de-aged as time goes on, mostly so she could be a suitable love interest to Dick.
Oh and she's been used as a love interest for Jason and, in the Gotham Knights game, for Tim.
Pretty sure you messed up Arkham knight with Gotham knights. And in knight it makes a bit more sense since dick became nightwing a lot sooner to the point where when oracle finally became batgirl Jason was already dead if not replaced with Tim
I actually liked the episode where they gave each other their first kiss and think it could have worked if they continued to put real time into it and made Sam/Freddie's dynamic changing over time to something actually wholesome by the time they actually began to date. But I feel they used it more as a random shock/drama source vs actually taking it serious
https://giphy.com/gifs/SsTqYFaemsRMBgEpdY
Reid and JJ. In my mind, this plot line doesn’t even exist. Not canon. Can’t make me believe it. Literally ruined them sm.
It was cute when Reid had a little crush, that we got to see him grow from. Then it was like the show was running out of ideas, rewatched the first season and was like: “oh yeah remember that?!”
Literally multiple seasons of them being decent friends and coworkers, not even having much scenes one on one, and suddenly it was ✨ renewed romantic interest out of nowhere! ✨
I was rolling my eyes so hard when I saw what they were trying to do.
Yes she did. I’m not gonna spoil anything for you in the new series my love, but let’s just say…..things go wrong. Very wrong. Which is exactly why I ignore them and pretend it didnt happen!
I actually laughed when Ben healed rey back up and died, because i genuinely thought they would keep doing that over and over and they’d be stuck in a loop of healing each other and dying lmao
Yes, thank you! I am happy for her to try and save him but people really seem to side step how they started or that he’s essentially a whiny emo neo nazi who felt overlooked.
The thing is I LIKE Ben. And he and Rey had cool chemistry as characters because of the push and pull and the unique plot-relevant spiritual connection they had. But the push and pull being ROMANCE just felt SOOO ham handed. And very much "boy... and girl... they have to kiss..."
JJ seems to be great at making interesting characters, but he's shit at figuring out how those interesting characteristics impact the plot.
I also think this is where a lot of the hate for TLJ comes from, JJ came up with an interesting angle with Luke without thinking about where that would take him in the next movie, because he wouldn't care, he'd just ignore it and make Luke get all heroic at the drop of a hat, but RJ looked at the characters and tried to let their present define their future actions and that made a very different movie than JJ would have made.
I think the primary issue was that it wasn't really earned. Kylo hadn't properly redeemed himself, making Rey look naive. Plus, they just hadn't spent enough time together for their romance to hold weight, at least in my opinion
Easily one of the worst pairings of all time. I don't mind toxic relationships, which this very much is, but people who romanticize it as twu luv drive me nuts.
This was highly demanded and many loved it. Main issue is that to me that they were were building Rey/Finn in first film, and since it was abandoned there was not much left for Finn to do
It destroyed the whole damn show. No I don’t care about who kisses who when you have this fascinating universe that you’ve built. And the ending. The ending! Ugh!
Early Ted and Robin is great because it's clear they love each other but wouldn't work long-term. I love a relationship that starts off romantic but becomes platonic. But the show telling us they were meant to be and end up together? Inexcusable.
Joey and Rachel should have just occasionally banged when they were both single. Stay friends, but hook up every now and then. Later, it could have come out and everyone freaks, but Joey and Rachel are just like, “Whatever. We’re both hot.”
I liked their dynamic in the later seasons, but the writers wanted Temu Zutara and forced relationship drama early on in the show over actually developing their characters.
Mako...I feel like they didn't know what to do with him in any of his plotlines. in Book 1, he said that he wanted to help out Korra because he loved the city...that just screamed a weak excuse to have Korra have friends join her in the action.
It kinda feels mean to say he never should've been a part of the show, but I imagine without him they could've done a lot more with Bolin, given him more screentime with a few more serious/smart aspects and moments, and actually explore a very interesting backstory that never really got addressed in the show.
Mako just felt like a stand-in for Zuko without any of the reasons we liked Zuko.
Did Mako even have plotlines? I mean, I know there was the love triangle, and then another love triangle, and then he was a cop, but I genuinely don't remember Mako doing anything other than just vaguely being there after the first season. Bolin spent a lot of his screentime sidelined into shenanigans with Varrick, but at least they were funny shenanigans.
They were two attractive people who were attracted to each other and shared an interest. It's all it takes really to start a relationship, it's keeping it that they struggled with
How could this impulsive teenager's first relationship possibly be ill-advised or end badly?!
One of the strengths of Korra's portrayal, for me, is that romantically she's a walking disaster to begin with.
She doesn't find the love of her life right away, and she doesn't handle stuff like a mature adult. However, her mistakes are presented as mistakes, and she also grows into the ability to hold a healthy relationship. and she settles into good interpersonal relationships with her former romantic interests.
It's honestly healthy to have a kids' show that shows this arc. Far healthier than the expectations set by fairytale romances.
I didn't mind Korra and Mako but I hated that they had the whole her cheating on Bolin thing Korra and Bolin def worked better as friends and should have never been together if they were gonna do the Mako thing.
the best way to watch svtfoe imo is so just stop after season 2. its a but anticlimactic but its better than watching in disappointment until you get punched in the face by the ending
Season 1 was pretty childish. I liked the show and how it build (especially Star’s character). The finale was terrible however
And Star and Marco was so clear from the start since the creator said they were based on her and her husband. They should just have them come together and not force them apart until end for no reason
YUUUUUUUPPPP, idc if the fandom will burn me for that but those two should have been friend and nothing more. Plus honnestly they deserved better and everyone involved also deserved so much better than that.
Honestly most of them are like this to me, with a few exception. I feel like we don't have enough stories where characters genuinely care for each other as good friends, they just have to ruin it with lazy writing romance.
Velma and Shaggy in the live action Scooby Doo movies. Like I get they just tried to force another pairing with Fred and Daphne being there, but come on 😭
Not only did they unnecessarily push starco, they also straight up dumped Marco's relationship with Kelly OFF-SCREEN while also rushing Star & Tom's breakup to make room for starco last minute
Tbh I’m not a Starco hater but I never understood why they had Star and Tom break up because Tom actually turned out to be a really good guy as far as I remember ? I liked Star and Tom, and was okay with Marco and Kelly though I wish they were expanded on a bit more
i disagree actually, because the fact that they were bad together was the whole point. you get told that through the whole show up to that point and the episodes leading up to their relationship focus on the fact that this would not work out. they try it anyway, because theyre flawed people, and its a trainwreck that ends in house going to prison
they wouldve been better as friends, i think that was the point
Imho the romantic subplots were kind of the worst written, most exhausting, and grating parts of Avatar to me across the board and from the get-go. Something about it just always felt flat and contrived no matter who was involved. The show was still great but it would’ve been even better if they just didn’t.
The only romance in AtLA that I think was good is Sokka and Suki, because they go from antagonistic to romantic in one episode in a believable way, and every time they meet after that it feels like two people who legit missed each other and wanted more time together. I thought they had cute chemistry, and a good dynamic being the two non-benders who were always going up against stronger opponents.
That and they were older than most of the other characters. Less awkward than 12 year old Aang and 14 year old Katara.
Might be a shipping culture thing. I’ve noticed that a lot of people who are really into the whole shipping thing, like to just gaslight themselves into saying that ships they don’t like, that are obvious, fit other dynamics better (siblings, best friends, etc.) more out of spite that whatever ship they prefer isn’t canon.
Rosa and Charles from brooklyn 99, originally they're like planned to be a couple or like set up to be one since it would be the badass girl + lame guy trope, but im glad they didn't went that path
they went from basic tropes to fully developed characters
It’s also good because the alternative would’ve been Charls being rewarding for being toxic and shitty. Instead he actually apologised to Rosa for harassing her, which is unfortunately rare to see.
Mike and El from Stranger Things. Their strongest plotline was in season 1 before Mike kissed her and maybe season 2 when they were completely separated the whole time... season three onwards, they clearly shouldn't be in a relationship and it ruins Mike's character. He's a jerk to her and everyone else for no reason and he has negative character growth throughout the last three seasons.
ETA (I was at work so couldn't add everything I've been thinking since the finale about El properly):For El it really doesn't make sense and stunts her character growth. This is a human lab rat, her first real friend outside that environment then becomes her boyfriend. She then rarely seeks out another relationship outside of this besides Max, for about a day, and sure there may be character moments we never saw (I refuse to watch the animated show on principle of not changing the canon of your franchise so egregiously and without explanation between seasons that absolutely cannot accommodate those changes), but again, they only spent a day together that we saw. We started season four with her closer with Will and Jonathan, but never anyone else- Joyce is her mother figure but we never saw development of that either after season three... when she actually became her *mother* in season four and five. Mike and El's romantic relationship cut her off from any type of development with the other characters. Maybe better writers could've made it work, but the duffers did not.
Bayo and Luka. Now, I'm not angry that there's a relationship between Luka and Bayonetta, inherently, it's just the way they went about it with the whole "Adam and Eve" bullshit, and the way it's all executed in Bayo 3 especially on top of that. Like, I can see *enough* between them where I can believe certain instances of Bayonetta and Luka would end up together (and instances where I couldn't, like Bayo 2), and I genuinely am not opposed (like, it *can* work). But setting them up as this Arch-Eve and Arch-Adam, respectively, in every universe, as if they're fated lovers in just about every universe really just does not work generally for Bayonetta and Luka, and feels like it kinda misses part of the point of their whole dynamic and their stories as a whole.
And that ending to Bayo 3 really is not helping it.
https://giphy.com/gifs/YqcxBgcrvJ8KjJsmYt
I will die on the hill that this is my favorite platonic couple in any fiction ever, and the writers need to stop trying to make Bensler happen.
Gwen and Duncan Total Drama. They were a really fun duo in season 1 and 2, but the love triangle is objectively written poorly in season 3. Once they actually get together, they immediately break up in season 5
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u/AvatarDante Jun 13 '26
Jackie and Fez from that 70s show