Love is weird. The entire concept of giving your everything to someone, trusting them to not completely destroy your heart, it’s kinda crazy. But it’s also beautiful. Love has no boundaries; it’s an endless path of passion, impulse, and addiction. It’s human nature to crave love, and to love to be loved. It’s selfish, and it’s intense. So, it’s no mystery as to why we retreat to books, tv series, and movies to grasp at this concept. Which is why, dear readers, I’m going to share with you my favourite romantic tropes, couples and friends that bring me comfort and pain.
Lots and lots of pain.
I’m definitely not your resident cinephile because my Netflix to-watch list is filled with shit I never actually watch; I always go back to things I’ve seen one too many times. But, I have my fair share of opinions. So get ready for some teen angst “therapy”.
PETER PARKER AND GWEN STACEY
I struggled to make a decision on what Marvel pair I wanted to incorporate into this piece. I debated on Wanda Maximoff and Vision, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, and even Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. But then, I remembered the esteemed web slinger and his blonde belle.
The Amazing Spider-Man. Not so amazing because he couldn’t save Gwen. Haha… I’m kidding, that shit was traumatising. If you don’t think that Gwen Stacey was the absolute perfect partner for Peter Parker, then you’re crazy. MJ may have redeemed themself in the MCU with Zendaya, but we don’t talk about the first Mary-Jane Watson.
So, you came here for love and angst, and that’s exactly what this pair will give you. Their relationship blossomed in the first film, and it was exciting to see someone who loved Peter Parker for, well, being Peter Parker. Things took a turn for the worst in the second film, because their love story plummeted the same way Gwen did.
…I’ll stop with the jokes, I know they’re not funny.
I do think it was refreshing to see this relationship on the big screen, getting the recognition it deserves. If only they had more time. If I ever hear the words “stay with me”, you can bet I’ll end up in my room alone, wrapped up like a burrito, eating a litre of ice cream and crying along to whatever sad boi hours soundtrack I can find.
LORELAI GILMORE AND LUKE DANES
If you watched Gilmore Girls, can we be friends? Shoutout to my mum for introducing me to this show, because it’s definitely my go-to option whenever I’m scrolling aimlessly through Netflix.
While there is an intense love arch between Rory and Dean, Rory and Jess, and Rory and Logan, I think the most tumultuous relationship is that of Lorelai and Luke. Why? Because it’s so bloody obvious that these two are destined for each other but it takes them nearly the entire series to actually realise that. Between Lorelai’s denial and Luke’s pining, I don’t know who is worse. Trust me, you’ll be more invested in wondering when these two are gonna make it official then whatever teen drama Rory can find herself mixed up in.
Bringing it back to an angsty romance, this pair are unbelievable. Luke’s “hidden” sadness at Lorelai’s relationships with men that aren’t him and Lorelai’s own mother telling her the absolute obvious, are the perfect mix for showing this slow-burn romance.
I’m still rewatching this, so I don’t have too much more to say. But if you need something that shows a realistic, slow romance where two people who are obviously right for each other either don’t see it or don’t want to admit it, well you’ve found the right show.
AMY MARCH AND THEODORE “LAURIE” LAURENCE (& JO MARCH)
What a shitshow, honestly. I haven’t read the book, and I’m honestly questioning how I’m an English major given that I don’t read much. But, I’ve watched both the 1994 and 2019 adaptations of Little Women, so I like to think that I know what I’m talking about. I’m gonna stick to the 2019 film, given that I think more people might have watched that one because, ya know, Timothee Chalamet.
Like I said earlier, love is weird. And it hurts so much more when the boy you’ve been in love with your whole life is in love with your older sister, and that it’s nobody’s fault. We don’t choose who we love, it just happens… despite what Amy might say. It doesn’t get any easier when you see yourself as the second choice, the second best in everything.
Amy March is one character I greatly admire. Some may think she’s rather annoying or conceited, but Florence Pugh’s performance was one that swayed me to love her. She understands her forced place in a patriarchal society, which despite how unquestionably awful it is, shows how she’s grown out of childish naivety. And, she admits that she’s always known she would marry rich. She does not hide this fact, which I think is a very brave thing to do. Enter Laurie, and shit hits the fan.
Laurie has always loved Jo. This is a fact. He proposed, but she rejected him. Then, he finds himself loving her sister. A bit awkward, don’t you think? I personally believe that the unrequited love, to the mutual pining, and sudden confessions is the perfect mix of love and angst.
Maybe Laurie and Jo were meant to be together, if you believe that. I, however, find comfort in the relationship between Amy and Laurie. Although in haste, it worked.
HISTORIA REISS AND YMIR
I’ll admit that I was fully prepared to write about Mikasa and Eren for my inevitable mention of Attack on Titan. I mean, from their backstory, to that raggedy scarf, to that damned table scene, I wanted to. But I want to avoid spoilers (even though I haven’t read the manga, *cough* fake fan *cough*, so what spoilers do I even have?). But anyways, let’s talk about my favourite right-person-not-enough-time couple.
Pain. That’s all there is to it. Between Historia and Ymir, we experienced so much angst, all through acts of hidden love (was it really hidden though?). But heartbreak takes an intense turn when Ymir’s letter is finally handed to Historia. Hurts even more when you realise that the small blonde had done everything she could for her people, that she decided to take on her duty as Queen despite her age, helped destroy her father and give hope to Paradis, but she could never have her true happy ending herself. And Ymir, bless her. All she wanted to do was survive, and yet she found herself falling in love.
If you didn’t shed at least one tear at the lines “I’m going to die soon, but, I’ll die without regrets. Or that’s what I’d like to say. Truth is, I do have one. It’s that I never got to marry you”, then do you even have a heart?
MADDY PEREZ AND CASSIE HOWARD (& NATE JACOBS)
To be honest, I only added this iconic due because season two of Euphoria has ended and I did not watch a single episode. It still lives up to all the hype (I think?), but I personally haven’t been bothered to keep up with the show on anything other than TikTok.
But alas, let’s talk about a different kind of love: friendship. I know enough to say that Maddy and Cassie were somewhat platonic soulmates. Despite the questionable actions or conversations, the pair were always there for eachother. So it hurts so much more when the fierce Maddy Perez finds herself confronted with the relationship between her supposed best friend and her ex-boyfriend. If that’s not heartbreaking enough, how about this choked up pleads to Cassie as the blonde hid in her bathroom: “You’re a fucking coward and I would’ve never done this to you, I would’ve never done this to you.”
Some people say losing a best friend hurts more than losing a romantic partner, and I think the writers and directors of Euphoria really took that to heart.
Good luck for season three. If you do watch it, let me know what happens with Lexi and Fez, they’re all I care about.
