One of many issues I dislike most about TV fan tradition is our obsession with romantic pairings.
And but, right here I’m, absolutely admitting that I’m a part of the issue.
It’s embarrassing to really feel so deeply for fictional {couples}, to let a present dictate my emotional state based mostly on whether or not two made-up characters do or don’t find yourself collectively. However some exhibits have gotten to me — actually gotten to me — and for those who’re studying this, I wager you’ve been there, too.
What I’ve been attempting to determine is: who’s truly responsible? Is it the present itself? The way in which the characters are written? The actors and their chemistry? Or is it a chaotic mixture of all these issues, plus some invisible power that makes us lose our collective minds over fictional relationships?
Take Veronica Mars, for instance. That present obtained me good with Veronica and Logan. Their will-they-won’t-they dynamic drove me up a wall as a result of they had been so clearly good for one another.
And but, the writers insisted on dragging issues out, throwing in Piz (bear in mind him? No? Precisely.) and making us endure by pointless roadblocks.
I even donated to the Veronica Mars Kickstarter film, hoping to see Veronica and Logan lastly get their glad ending. And so they did… till the Hulu revival spit within the face of the fanbase by killing Logan off in probably the most pointless, rage-inducing manner doable.
I’ve by no means seen a fandom shut down so quick. That single determination successfully killed Veronica Mars, and to this present day, I don’t hear individuals clamoring for an additional revival. What’s the purpose when Logan is lifeless?
Then there’s The Vampire Diaries, a present that ensured even probably the most devoted followers would discover their allegiances examined.
Whereas Elena was locked into the love triangle with Damon and Stefan, each brothers had their very own significant relationships outdoors of that dynamic — Stefan and Caroline had one thing lovely, Damon and Katherine had been electrical.
Personally, I used to be a Damon woman, and Delena (sure, I cringed typing that phrase) was my endgame. But when Elena had ended up with Stefan, I wouldn’t have been offended.
Each main pairing in The Vampire Diaries had one thing compelling to supply, and it was onerous to really hate any of them — even when we had our favorites.
Now Arrow… Arrow is the place my transport frustration reached new heights.
I needed Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance to get their comic-book love story. As an alternative, the present threw Felicity Smoak into the combination, and the fandom went to warfare.
And we discovered that even earlier than we even met these characters, Oliver had already torched his relationship with Laurel by sleeping along with her sister. Enter Sara Lance, and issues had been doomed earlier than they even started.
Laurel was my favourite character, and the way in which the present handled her was atrocious. She misplaced her love, misplaced her life, after which obtained changed by alternate-universe variations of herself. (Greater than as soon as, if I recall appropriately.)
The Arrow transport wars had been brutal. Laurel followers and Felicity followers did not combine nicely, and the toxicity was actual.
One of the stunning transport battles I’ve ever witnessed got here from When Calls the Coronary heart, of all issues. Who knew Hallmark followers may get so intense?
For years, we watched Elizabeth navigate a love triangle with Nathan and Lucas. I used to be firmly Workforce Lucas — in all probability as a result of he was the so-called unhealthy boy that Hope Valley didn’t instantly embrace. He was a dreamer with an excellent coronary heart, and I used to be offered.
However simply when it appeared Lucas had gained Elizabeth’s coronary heart, the brand new showrunner pulled the rug out from underneath us. Immediately, Elizabeth declared that she solely picked Lucas as a result of he was the “protected alternative.” Excuse me?
Followers misplaced their minds. Individuals vowed to give up watching. (And so they weren’t simply bluffing — scores dropped.) The saddest half? Lucas has barely been used since, and the magic is gone. I tapped out, and I’ve no regrets.
Now, my present obsession is The Manner Residence, which has me questioning my sanity but once more.
On paper, Kat and Elliot are the “childhood mates to lovers” dream pairing. He’s pined for her for many years, and now they’re lastly getting their probability. However then Kat begins time-traveling to 1814 and meets Thomas Coyle, and all of a sudden there’s hearth. Sparks. Chemistry.
The fandom is divided.
Fb teams are in chaos. Kalliot followers are defending the slow-burn best-friends-to-lovers trope, whereas TomKat followers (together with me) are screaming that the precise sparks are with Thomas.
How did I get right here?
How does a fictional relationship on tv encourage such intense feelings? Why am I sitting right here, passionately advocating for a ship like my private happiness relies on it?
I hate it. And but, I find it irresistible.
As a result of irrespective of how irritating transport tradition may be, it’s additionally proof that TV nonetheless has the facility to make us really feel one thing. And for all of the instances I’ve sworn I wouldn’t get emotionally invested in one other fictional couple, I do know I completely will.
And when it inevitably occurs, I’ll be proper again right here, screaming into the void.
Are you embarrassed to be part of the transport tradition? What ‘ships have made waves in your world? Share your ideas with me in a remark beneath!