Romantic Movie, and Show, Tropes That I Hate | Personal Opinion

No, I have never had my heart broken. Please, do not ask.

Note: Your Mileage May Vary in Regard to the Listed Examples.

Do not get me wrong, even though I am not a romantic myself, I do like romances when they are portrayed as cute and evolve steadily and logically. What I hate is when writers make romances out of nothing or attempt to develop them in inappropriate contexts. Romantic relationships are natural, but not every character needs one nor does nearly every established male and female friendship or acquaintanceship need to change into one.

Blatantly Sexualized Children

What it says on the tin. Children show interest in sexual activity in the name of jokes. It makes me question what is happening at home to make them experience puberty at a very early age, typically ages 5-10. This is often handwaved and ignored by the populace, but I argue that some jokes should be saved for adults. If you want your characters do adult things, just make them adults.

One episode of The Fairly OddParents depicted Timmy getting Norm the Genie to grant him wishes instead of Cosmo and Wanda. One of Timmy's wishes is that Trixie Tang fall in love with him. As a result of tricky genie magic, Trixie falls for every person, regardless of age, named "Timmy Turner." Right before the wish ends, Trixie says in the most passionate, disturbingly in-heat manner "now to give the biggest, wettest kiss to Dimmsdale's own Ti..."

One episode of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, "Crime Sheen Investigation," had Jimmy play a private eye. In order to clear Cindy Vortex of any suspicion, Jimmy authorizes an X-ray scan. Understandably, she slaps his face as hard as she can. Neutron and Vortex have flirted and even kissed on screen. Also, in "My Big Fat Spy Wedding" once Cindy catches the bouquet, she looks at Jimmy and aggressively bites her lip in a very suggestive manner.

Just let kids be kids.

Examples: Helga (Hey, Arnold!), Timmy & Tootie (The Fairly OddParents), Yakko and Wakko Warner (The Animaniacs), Jimmy & Cindy (Jimmy Neutron), All of the Loud Sisters (Studdy Muffin - Loud House), etc.

I'm Convinced, She/He's the One!

AKA, "Instant Crush, Just Add Attractive Person." The character who has the crush does not know much about his or her target, or they might not even care enough to find out, but has decided that they need to make this person theirs. This is a very common trope in media. In some cases, the crusher projects all manner of traits onto the crushee to justify their attraction. In others, the crusher justifies whatever the crushee does because he or she is attractive. This happens very often in reality in regard to celebrities. Depending on the person, fans will use one or both tactics to justify their approval of, or attraction to, a popular individual.

Examples: Fletcher and China (ANT Farm), Freddie and Carly (ICarly), Bernard and Amelia (Bizaardvark), Leonard and Penny (The Big Bang Theory), Becky (Dying to Know You), etc.

Instant Couple, Just Add Attractive People

That is it. It does not matter if they have chemistry or shared passions. As long as both are physically appealing, they can be a romantic pair. This is the shallowest depiction of romance, and it gets even worse if one, or both, member(s) of the couple admit that the appearance of their partner is enough to make it all worth it or even absolve them of wrongdoing.

Take for example, the Disney show "Bunk'd." After one of Emma's siblings tells her that Xander did something wrong (out of suspicion that he may be planning to kill her as a result of a misunderstood utterance), she replies "with those dreamy eyes, he could run a puppy mill and I'd still be with him." Admission of shallowness does not absolve it. People do not stop possessing the capacity for self-destruction and outwards harm just because you find them attractive. Never put anyone on a pedestal.

Examples: Jade and Beck (More or Less, Victorious), Emma and Xander (Bunk'd), Owen and Claire (Jurassic World), etc.

Thanks! Now be Mine!

Like superficial attraction, this trope describes a romantic crush that develops based on a feeling rather than actual chemistry. The crushee said or did the right thing at the right time, which ignites a passionate flame in the crusher. Often this type of scenario happens because someone did something cute or said something sweet and the recipient based an imagined, and intended to be realized, relationship off of the gesture rather than evaluating the person as a whole. I am supposed to find this cute, but I usually find it nauseating.

Examples: Lexie and Axl (The Middle), Carly and Freddie (Creddie Arc: ICarly), Austin and Ally (The Perfect Date! - Ditto), Fletcher and Olive (ANT Farm), Helga and Arnold (Hey Arnold!), etc.

This Just In, I Love You!

A character develops a crush on someone they have known a while for no good reason. If reasons are given, they will be the everyday "cute, sweet, funny" and the like. It can be one-sided or reciprocal. Regardless, there is no strong bond and/or are no hints of romantic chemistry between the two characters before the crush or relationship starts. This often results from the writers feeling that two characters should be together regardless of how they have interacted up until now. This is often shown by other characters walking in on them being very intimate, the secret coming out accidentally while the couple attempts to act cool, or two characters being strangely into touching each other and going to places together much more often than they did in the past. As with all sudden romances, my main issue is that absolutely no romantic chemistry developed or develops between the pair. Often, the two just say they are physically attracted to each other or each other's gestures. This is especially egregious if the two characters involved do not tell their shared friend(s) out of fear that they would not support them. That is needless drama. Just tell them as soon as the relationship starts. The worst part? When the couple is threatened with the possibility of a breakup, the protagonist, deuteragonist, or a side character, and the audience, has to sympathize and come up with reasons for them to stay together. Sorry, I do not care.

Examples: Sam and Freddie (Seddie Arc - ICarly), Logan and Jasmine (I Didn't Do It), Logan and Quinn (Zoey 101), Lilly and Oliver (Hanna Montana), Poppy and Branch (Trolls World Tour), etc.

May stem from or lead to Did I Miss My Chance? This is whenever a character becomes interested in a pursuer after the latter has entered a relationship or after their most recent relationship, or a recurring pattern of failed relationships, has ended. If played straight, it leads to Incognito Prince/Princess. AKA, two tropes down.

We've Bonded. Let's Kiss!

Two characters are "friends" for a short time and then get sexual, or for younger audiences, decide to go out. The qualification for this trope is rapid pacing, not a casual associate slowly becoming a "lover." Typically, two characters learn to tolerate each other and instead of nurturing a fulfilling friendship, or learning enough about each other to justify romantic curiosity, they decide to ride the high of promiscuity or immediate romance. A sprinkle of chemistry is not necessarily a go ahead for a relationship. This is a spontaneous trope that annoys me to no end. Try to get to know someone for longer before you decide that you are into them. Remember why you develop romantic feelings in the first place.

Examples: Harley and Aidan (Stuck in the Middle), Linguini and Colette (Ratatouille), etc.

Counters: Yi and Jin (Abominable), Din and Lina (Wish Dragon), Henry and Charlotte (Henry Danger), etc.

This trope is similar to You're Terrible, Let's Make Out! where two characters are on different sides of a feud and become romantically involved as a result of understanding each other. "Cherubs in demon's cloths" if you will. AKA, the Romeo and Juliet story. This can be portrayed horrendously if the romance is enough to make the couple dislike the feud, rather than mutual understanding and consideration of each other's groups. My gripe with this is that there should be more to spark negotiations than sexual desire between members of opposite groups, especially considering romantic attraction is largely involuntary. Heck, the couple may not even appreciate each other's cultures or philosophies (and if they do, why did it take falling in love for them to fight for unity?). For example, Disney's Pocahontas. The Lion King 2 is a less controversial example.

Your Prince/Princess Wears Different Clothes

This is very common in young-adult entertainment. In a nutshell, the romantic partner you were looking for was with you the entire time. Can be done with a casual associate or a long-term friend. What I fail to understand is why the relationship must turn romantic if you were satisfied with the "friendship" before. I understand that some feel lost when not in a relationship, but it is perfectly fine to take time for yourself and to spend time with friends. I strongly dislike it when characters misread their friends' kind gestures as potential romantic interest. You will not be loved more by a romantic partner than friends and family, especially since the only things good family and friends gain is satisfaction from supporting you at your worst and pushing you to your best. No amount of bodily gratification can replace those bonds. Perhaps you were not meant for a romance. Regardless, you are not missing anything.

Depending on the closeness of the pre-existing relationship, it could lead to:

Thanks, but I Want More.

Usually, there is plenty of love in their platonic relationship. If there is not, they should learn to be better friends. They should not desire more. Perhaps try having more meaningful conversations. Romance and/or casual sex will not fill any emotional gaps within. It is totally fine to like aspects of your opposite-sex bestie and want those traits in a partner. This by no means implies that you should date your best friend. Boys like women who remind them of their mothers and women like men who remind them of their fathers. Put the work into finding the right people and nurturing meaningful relationships.

This may stem from:

The Distant Fisherperson

Interestingly, this is a tactic that works in reality and is even taught by some people. You may have heard of the old, "look at someone and smile at them for a few seconds before turning away" trick. It works because you get the other person thinking about you via wondering why you held your gaze. In my experience, this makes someone who you would have never even thought about approaching initiate conversations. Admittedly, it can be used for psychological manipulation through making the recipient rapidly search their mind to find an explanation of what they did wrong or whether they are trying hard enough. In media, it often appears in the form of "my buddy/bestie usually hangs out with me, but someone else threatens to take them away from me." In children's entertainment, it will often be replaced with someone missing their best friend, learning to give them space, and trusting that they will always be there for them. In young-adult entertainment however, it will often lead to the jealous character questioning whether they have feelings for their supposed "buddy" or "bestie." Depending on the writer, and/or the channel, the answer is almost always yes. To me, the real issue is that the extroverted character is not having their social needs met by their friend and they come to the conclusion that the only way to keep them around is to date them, often listing the reasons why they were friends in the first place (openness, honesty, trust, compassion, and understanding are the basis of long-lasting friendships as well. The only thing that romances add is sexual attraction.) in the process. My point is, like I asked earlier, if you have a strong friendship, why does anything need to be added to it? Just appreciate what you have. You will not become a god through amorous touching and/or sexual activity. Trust me, giving without the expectation of a reward is so much more fulfilling.

Examples (fitting any or all of the previous three tropes): Mose(ly) and Ned (Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide), Abby and Jay (Sixteen Wishes), Austin & Ally (Ditto), Tyler and Nicky (Dog with a Blog), Danny and Sam (Danny Phantom), Penn and Sashi (Penn Zero), etc.

Bullied Means Beloved

Whenever a female character regularly picks on a male character, or vice versa, someone may come to the conclusion that the aggressor crushes on their target. The script gets points if the aggressor comes to this conclusion without any outside pressure (unless it is another version of This Just In, I Love You - wherein the character has no interest in the type of person their target is nor any interest in their passions, but does not rule out the possibility of a crush anyways). Unfortunately, other characters often implant this idea into their mind and the showrunners experiment with the target having a relationship with their bully. In the worst cases, this can turn into Livid Out of Love wherein the aggressor never changes the behavior they displayed before the relationship and they, or someone else, justify/ies it by saying that they act this way "out of love." This is a real-life trope and the opposite of Fondness Means Like-Like where a preteen or young teenager tells their parent(s) that someone of the opposite sex makes them feel good and the parent(s)/guardian(s) come to this conclusion. It is usually explained both in media and reality as the aggressor struggling to convey their emotions to their crush. While it is totally normal for someone to hate how much someone they like dominates their mind and how much internal pressure they have on them to do something about it, this trope annoys me when it is asserted in all cases where someone picks on another. It can be inferred in many cases that the bully has chosen to pick at the insecurities of their target to feel more secure themself. Their target just so happening to be a member of the opposite sex does not immediately make the situation this fall under this category.

Examples: Joe and Gabe (played with, Good Luck, Charlie), Cindy and Jimmy (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius), Helga and Arnold (Hey, Arnold!), Sam and Freddie (ICarly), Bo and Woody (Toy Story 4), etc.

The Try Hard Romantic Interest

These often exist to boost the ego of the protagonist or another major character. This character usually says or believes something along the lines of "I am the one who really loves and cares about you." Desiring someone is not the same as loving them. Even if the pursuer is caring and giving, their crush may still not be interested in them for a number of valid reasons. The crushee should not feel like they owe the crusher anything. They chose to assist them. That should be for their benefit. The only thing someone who actually cares about others should expect is appreciation from them. You either give unconditionally or you give for rewards. These types of characters should admit their feelings from the beginning and if the person does not feel the same, move on. Orbiting them hoping that they will change their mind is, usually, a waste of time.

Examples: Sheldon (My Life as a Teenage Robot), Bernard (Bizaardvark), Freddie (ICarly), Newt (Bella and the Bulldogs), Jack (Tall Girl), etc.

May evolve into:

The Super Persistent Wannabe Love Interest

This is sometimes done for comedy and other times done to make the viewer, or reader, sympathize with the lovesick character. It is often shown through terrible actions such as the crusher sabotaging the current relationship his/her crush is in to increase his/her chances. The pursuer may say something along the lines of "You like me deep down" or "You love me, you just do not know it yet." I have heard this in person. It is disgusting to say the least. This is a gaslighting tactic to make the pursued consider the possibility that they do really like their pursuer, but they are uncomfortable with it. This trope can appear with any number of the previous ones.

Examples: Willow (Liv and Maddie), Nikki Parker (The Parkers), Nevel (ICarly), etc.

If this is successful, it unfortunately leads to:

Fine, I Love You Too!

The common result of a character relentlessly pursuing their crush until they are too worn to fight back. This can overlap with any or multiple of the above tropes, but often develops towards the end of a movie, television series, or movie series with a one-sided crush or a love triangle. This is especially egregious if the person psychologically and/or sexually harassed their target. "There will never be an 'us'" is usually said by the target, often repetitively, and it is eyeroll-inducing. I can usually predict where this storyline will go from there.

Basically, a character expresses no interest in the person crushing on them, but later decides that they do have feelings for them, which may be the result of liking the attention and/or companionship instead of secretly desiring a relationship. Once again, the listed reasons could be shallow, make for a decent friendship, or in the worst cases: justify a restraining order, but the character does not take this into consideration for the sake of pandering to the least common denominator.

Examples: Skylar and Oliver (Mighty Med), Joey and Willow (Liv and Maddie), Professor Ogilvie and Nikki Parker (The Parkers), Divina and Paul (Paul Blart Mall Cop 2), etc.

Meanwhile, on cloud one...