DeepSummary
Linda Holmes and Ayesha Harris discuss the trope of "will they or won't they" romantic tension between two characters in television shows. They examine different types of such relationships, including one-sided unrequited love, on-again/off-again couples, and unresolved sexual tension where characters are clearly attracted but don't act on it.
They analyze examples from shows like Frasier, Family Matters, Dawson's Creek, How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy, and Community. Holmes expresses frustration when shows force characters into romance when their bond seems more profound and non-romantic.
They conclude by discussing the cultural expectation that close opposite-sex bonds must lead to romance, with Holmes advocating for the ability to depict deep platonic connections without pushing characters into romantic relationships.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The "will they or won't they" trope of romantic tension between two characters is pervasive in television.
- There are different types of such relationships, including one-sided unrequited love, on-again/off-again couples, and unresolved sexual tension.
- While the trope can work well in some cases, it is often overused and forced into shows where it doesn't necessarily fit or feel organic.
- Not every close bond between a male and female character needs to turn into a romantic relationship.
- Some shows have done a good job portraying profound non-romantic connections between opposite-sex characters.
- Viewers and creators should be open to close platonic friendships and avoid projecting romance onto every male-female bond.
- Cultural expectations and tropes can sometimes limit the ability to depict certain types of relationships authentically on television.
- Analyzing the use and impact of well-worn tropes like "will they or won't they" can lead to more thoughtful and nuanced storytelling.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Yeah, I'm a grump in part because I just feel like it's overdone at this point.“ by Ayesha Harris
- “The thing that often, I think, gets dropped in thinking about, well, they are, weren't they couples? And Sam and Diane in particular is they got together at the end of the first season, and that show ran for 1011 seasons, and she stayed for several more, and the show was still good.“ by Linda Holmes
- “Cause I've always just felt like, oh, I would love to just see, like, a black man and a black woman who are both straight, who can just be friends and just help each other out and help each other out on their journeys of not being so uptight. And it is what it is.“ by Ayesha Harris
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Episode Information
Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
6/25/24
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