Cleaning Up Romantic Loose Ends: Difference between revisions

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*** Likewise Mei-Ling drops herself out of the race by annulling her engagement to Syaoran now that she sees he has found someone he loves more; this completes her promise she made to him when they were younger. As an aside, Mei-Ling tells Tomoyo later that night that she cannot hate Sakura for it as it is not her fault.
*** Likewise Mei-Ling drops herself out of the race by annulling her engagement to Syaoran now that she sees he has found someone he loves more; this completes her promise she made to him when they were younger. As an aside, Mei-Ling tells Tomoyo later that night that she cannot hate Sakura for it as it is not her fault.
* ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' resolves the love triangle between Hikaru, Lantis and Eagle by nobly killing Eagle off. (Which does not occur in the manga, where Hikaru [[Tenchi Solution|does not feel a pressing need to choose just one]]...)
* ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' resolves the love triangle between Hikaru, Lantis and Eagle by nobly killing Eagle off. (Which does not occur in the manga, where Hikaru [[Tenchi Solution|does not feel a pressing need to choose just one]]...)
* ''[[Shuffle]]'' does this ''twice'' to the main obstacle of the final pairing, both by having her [[Yandere|go nuts]], and then having a two-second implication that she falls in love with [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|another of the girls]] in the ending credits.
* ''[[SHUFFLE!]]'' does this ''twice'' to the main obstacle of the final pairing, both by having her [[Yandere|go nuts]], and then having a two-second implication that she falls in love with [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|another of the girls]] in the ending credits.
* [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|Schoolgirl Lesbian]] Shizuru from ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' has had two of these occur. In the [[Anime]] itself, she goes insane, though a combination of her popularity and the [[Reset Button]] nature of the ending save her in the end. The video game based on this, which is aimed at a different [[Demographics|demographic]], has her committing suicide if the [[Dating Sim|main character chooses to be]] with Natsuki.
* [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|Schoolgirl Lesbian]] Shizuru from ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' has had two of these occur. In the [[Anime]] itself, she goes insane, though a combination of her popularity and the [[Reset Button]] nature of the ending save her in the end. The video game based on this, which is aimed at a different [[Demographics|demographic]], has her committing suicide if the [[Dating Sim|main character chooses to be]] with Natsuki.
** In the [[Mai-HiME|manga]], this is averted, as while Natsuki continues having feelings for Yuuichi after he has essentially chosen Mai, Shizuru does not go insane, kill herself, get together with anyone else or even seem affected at all by Natsuki's pursuit of Yuuichi.
** In the [[Mai-HiME|manga]], this is averted, as while Natsuki continues having feelings for Yuuichi after he has essentially chosen Mai, Shizuru does not go insane, kill herself, get together with anyone else or even seem affected at all by Natsuki's pursuit of Yuuichi.
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* ''Almost'' averted in ''[[Love Hina]]''. Even the [[Distant Finale|day before the wedding]] of Keitaro and Naru, Suu and Shinobu both admit they still have it ''bad'' for the former... and when Motoko chides them for their fixation, Shinobu pulls out Motoko's latest bodice ripper manuscript which involves a swordswoman cutting down the bride at a wedding and ordering the groom to "Take me now!" Fortunately, they all are willing to [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy|let the happy couple be]].
* ''Almost'' averted in ''[[Love Hina]]''. Even the [[Distant Finale|day before the wedding]] of Keitaro and Naru, Suu and Shinobu both admit they still have it ''bad'' for the former... and when Motoko chides them for their fixation, Shinobu pulls out Motoko's latest bodice ripper manuscript which involves a swordswoman cutting down the bride at a wedding and ordering the groom to "Take me now!" Fortunately, they all are willing to [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy|let the happy couple be]].
** On the other hand, {{spoiler|"Character C" Mutsumi goes the "wanting Character A to be happy" route - in a way - earlier in the series (Chapter 82 and 83)... by revealing that she's equally in love with Keitarou ''and'' Naru, and wants to make them both happy by helping them get together, thus stepping aside from her own interests to play matchmaker for them instead, ultimately lumping her in with the rest of the group's mutual satisfaction for the happy couple.}}
** On the other hand, {{spoiler|"Character C" Mutsumi goes the "wanting Character A to be happy" route - in a way - earlier in the series (Chapter 82 and 83)... by revealing that she's equally in love with Keitarou ''and'' Naru, and wants to make them both happy by helping them get together, thus stepping aside from her own interests to play matchmaker for them instead, ultimately lumping her in with the rest of the group's mutual satisfaction for the happy couple.}}
* By the end of the manga of ''[[Ranma ½|Ranma 1/2]]'', {{spoiler|when Ranma and Akane look set to finally marry each other when Akane's dad blackmails Ranma into marrying Akane, Akane's three major competitors have been [[Last-Minute Hookup|paired off]], with varying degrees of success: Ryoga has chosen [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy|to stand aside]] while he pursues a relationship with Akari. Ukyo had a suitor in the form of Konatsu. Shampoo has Mousse as a suitor.}} However, only the Ryoga instance is in any way successful, as they went on to summarily ignore their "consolation prizes" and Shampoo outright attacked the bride at her own wedding {{spoiler|though Ranma got in the way entirely by accident and Ukyo may have been attacking Ranma not Akane.}} Even Ranma and Akane don't get anywhere romantically; not only does Akane never explicitly admit, even to herself, to being in love with Ranma, Ranma denies it when Akane asks if she heard him declare that he loved her, at that time (Ranma has accidentally told her that earlier in the manga when he didn't know it was her and the manga is unclear as to whether or not he did say it in the last arc, it looks more like he was thinking it while yelling Akane).
* By the end of the manga of ''[[Ranma ½]]'', {{spoiler|when Ranma and Akane look set to finally marry each other when Akane's dad blackmails Ranma into marrying Akane, Akane's three major competitors have been [[Last-Minute Hookup|paired off]], with varying degrees of success: Ryoga has chosen [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy|to stand aside]] while he pursues a relationship with Akari. Ukyo had a suitor in the form of Konatsu. Shampoo has Mousse as a suitor.}} However, only the Ryoga instance is in any way successful, as they went on to summarily ignore their "consolation prizes" and Shampoo outright attacked the bride at her own wedding {{spoiler|though Ranma got in the way entirely by accident and Ukyo may have been attacking Ranma not Akane.}} Even Ranma and Akane don't get anywhere romantically; not only does Akane never explicitly admit, even to herself, to being in love with Ranma, Ranma denies it when Akane asks if she heard him declare that he loved her, at that time (Ranma has accidentally told her that earlier in the manga when he didn't know it was her and the manga is unclear as to whether or not he did say it in the last arc, it looks more like he was thinking it while yelling Akane).
** Ranma blows chances to do this quite often. He refuses to throw a fight to Mousse to get rid of Shampoo and in another storyline goes out of his way to ruin Kuno's chance with the one girl that actually liked him. [[What an Idiot!]].
** Ranma blows chances to do this quite often. He refuses to throw a fight to Mousse to get rid of Shampoo and in another storyline goes out of his way to ruin Kuno's chance with the one girl that actually liked him. [[What an Idiot!]].
*** Neither of those would have really changed the status quo if he '''had''' gone along with it. Shampoo only declared she would go on a date with Mousse if Ranma lost to him, not that she would marry him or something like that; having never thought of him as a love interest in the first place, she would have put up with having to go out with him once and then gone right back to chasing Ranma, with the only difference being that Mousse would be even more pissed off by it than usual. And Kuno never was interested in Mariko in the first place... not to mention that she got over him without the slightest effort after seeing him beaten and, evidently, realizing what a lustful idiot he is.
*** Neither of those would have really changed the status quo if he '''had''' gone along with it. Shampoo only declared she would go on a date with Mousse if Ranma lost to him, not that she would marry him or something like that; having never thought of him as a love interest in the first place, she would have put up with having to go out with him once and then gone right back to chasing Ranma, with the only difference being that Mousse would be even more pissed off by it than usual. And Kuno never was interested in Mariko in the first place... not to mention that she got over him without the slightest effort after seeing him beaten and, evidently, realizing what a lustful idiot he is.
*** Also considering that Tatewaki actively pursues both Ranma and Akane another girl would in no way have resolved things. Ranma also sees it as being dishonorable to throw a duel (that arc and a few later ones like the one with Gosunkugi wearing battle armor clearly show this to be the case).
*** Also considering that Tatewaki actively pursues both Ranma and Akane another girl would in no way have resolved things. Ranma also sees it as being dishonorable to throw a duel (that arc and a few later ones like the one with Gosunkugi wearing battle armor clearly show this to be the case).
* Also from [[Rumiko Takahashi]], ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'' presented a long-running, but less complex [[Love Dodecahedron]]. Protagonist (and dropout) Godai is in love with Kyoko, who is actively pursued by suave tennis coach Mitaka, while Godai reluctantly dates Kozue. All this, while Kyoko pines for her dead and perfect husband. Eventually, Mitaka discovers an engagement with a girl who loves dogs (his [[Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?|crippling phobia]]) and soon [[Last-Minute Hookup|warms up to her]]. For her part, Kozue [[Loving a Shadow|outgrows her infatuation with Godai]] and breaks up with him.
* Also from [[Rumiko Takahashi]], ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'' presented a long-running, but less complex [[Love Dodecahedron]]. Protagonist (and dropout) Godai is in love with Kyoko, who is actively pursued by suave tennis coach Mitaka, while Godai reluctantly dates Kozue. All this, while Kyoko pines for her dead and perfect husband. Eventually, Mitaka discovers an engagement with a girl who loves dogs (his [[Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?|crippling phobia]]) and soon [[Last-Minute Hookup|warms up to her]]. For her part, Kozue [[Loving a Shadow|outgrows her infatuation with Godai]] and breaks up with him.
** Don't forget Godai's third "relationship," Yagami. He was continually appalled at her advances, but it was a romantic complication nonetheless.
** Don't forget Godai's third "relationship," Yagami. He was continually appalled at her advances, but it was a romantic complication nonetheless.
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* An [[Egregious]] use of the trope was in the film ''[[Pretty in Pink]]''. Originally the heroine was supposed to end up romantically with her offbeat platonic buddy, but the test audiences insisted that she end up in the arms of the superficial rich pretty-boy instead. Thus was the [[Revised Ending|ending of the film changed]], with poor old Ducky going for some girl who merely winks at him from the dance floor, despite his stalker-like fixation with the heroine throughout the entire damn film. It's speculated that this is why the writer created the film ''[[Some Kind of Wonderful]]'' the next year with the exact same story (save for the genders switched) with the "original" ending.
* An [[Egregious]] use of the trope was in the film ''[[Pretty in Pink]]''. Originally the heroine was supposed to end up romantically with her offbeat platonic buddy, but the test audiences insisted that she end up in the arms of the superficial rich pretty-boy instead. Thus was the [[Revised Ending|ending of the film changed]], with poor old Ducky going for some girl who merely winks at him from the dance floor, despite his stalker-like fixation with the heroine throughout the entire damn film. It's speculated that this is why the writer created the film ''[[Some Kind of Wonderful]]'' the next year with the exact same story (save for the genders switched) with the "original" ending.
** The ending was changed because the test audiences pointed out that the original ending creates a hell of a [[Broken Aesop]] about not crossing class lines. Ducky going with another girl at a single dance just showed that he was able to move on (contrasting with the girl's father, who let his life fall apart because he never did).
** The ending was changed because the test audiences pointed out that the original ending creates a hell of a [[Broken Aesop]] about not crossing class lines. Ducky going with another girl at a single dance just showed that he was able to move on (contrasting with the girl's father, who let his life fall apart because he never did).
* The deleted scenes on the [[Limited Special Collectors Ultimate Edition|Special Edition DVDs]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings|Return of the King]]'' pair Eowyn, who couldn't win Aragorn from Arwen, with Faramir. Granted, this was in the books, but the films emphasized the [[Love Triangle]] far more, making the trope more obvious as a side effect.
* The deleted scenes on the [[Limited Special Collectors' Ultimate Edition|Special Edition DVDs]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings|Return of the King]]'' pair Eowyn, who couldn't win Aragorn from Arwen, with Faramir. Granted, this was in the books, but the films emphasized the [[Love Triangle]] far more, making the trope more obvious as a side effect.
** The trope is hardly present in the books: Arwen and Aragorn are set to marry from the first book, but the reader only gets glimpses of their relationship, while Faramir and Eowyn's is given a lot more importance.
** The trope is hardly present in the books: Arwen and Aragorn are set to marry from the first book, but the reader only gets glimpses of their relationship, while Faramir and Eowyn's is given a lot more importance.
* Resolved quite nicely in the final words of the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy: "It's not like that at all. He's my brother."
* Resolved quite nicely in the final words of the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy: "It's not like that at all. He's my brother."
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* ''The Merchant of Venice''. After Bassanio successfully courts and marries the wealthy Portia, his friend Gratiano and Portia's handmaid Nerissa also decide to marry each other, apparently for the hell of it.
* ''The Merchant of Venice''. After Bassanio successfully courts and marries the wealthy Portia, his friend Gratiano and Portia's handmaid Nerissa also decide to marry each other, apparently for the hell of it.
* ''[[1632]]'' does this on a regular basis. The first book started off at the wedding reception of Tom Simpson and Rita Stearns. Then, Gretchen Richter and Jeff Higgins get married, followed by Mike Stearns and Rebecca Abrabanel, with Julie Sims and Alex Mackay at the end. 1634: The Galileo Affair ended in the marriage of Frank Stone and Giovanna Marcoli and the engagement of Sharon Nichols to Ruy Sanchez de Casador y Ortiz.
* ''[[1632]]'' does this on a regular basis. The first book started off at the wedding reception of Tom Simpson and Rita Stearns. Then, Gretchen Richter and Jeff Higgins get married, followed by Mike Stearns and Rebecca Abrabanel, with Julie Sims and Alex Mackay at the end. 1634: The Galileo Affair ended in the marriage of Frank Stone and Giovanna Marcoli and the engagement of Sharon Nichols to Ruy Sanchez de Casador y Ortiz.
* The romantic "tension" in the ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'' series between [[Our Vampires Are Different|Edward]], Bella, and [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Jacob]] is resolved when {{spoiler|Bella marries Edward, and Jacob "imprints" (the werewolf version of discovering a soulmate) on Bella and Edward's [[Squick|newborn daughter Renesmee]]. It's okay because while Renesmee's going to [[Younger Than They Look|appear 17 when she's 7]], mentally she'll be an adult.}} All together now: [[Squick|Ewwwwwwwww...]].
* The romantic "tension" in the ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'' series between [[Our Vampires Are Different|Edward]], Bella, and [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Jacob]] is resolved when {{spoiler|Bella marries Edward, and Jacob "imprints" (the werewolf version of discovering a soulmate) on Bella and Edward's [[Squick|newborn daughter Renesmee]]. It's okay because while Renesmee's going to [[Younger Than They Look|appear 17 when she's 7]], mentally she'll be an adult.}} All together now: [[Squick|Ewwwwwwwww...]].
** Additionally, ''Breaking Dawn'' also sees Kate and Garret hooking up with only a few sentences of them spending time together and implies that {{spoiler|Charlie and Sue}} are in the process of hooking up (after, erm...{{spoiler|Sue cooks meals for Charlie, it seems}}). In the first story, Bella casually plays matchmaker for her friends, with no real mention of how well the friends get along before that. In fact, almost all of the protagonists are hooked up with someone, and the characters who are meant to be unsympathetic are [[Unfortunate Implications|left single.]]
** Additionally, ''Breaking Dawn'' also sees Kate and Garret hooking up with only a few sentences of them spending time together and implies that {{spoiler|Charlie and Sue}} are in the process of hooking up (after, erm...{{spoiler|Sue cooks meals for Charlie, it seems}}). In the first story, Bella casually plays matchmaker for her friends, with no real mention of how well the friends get along before that. In fact, almost all of the protagonists are hooked up with someone, and the characters who are meant to be unsympathetic are [[Unfortunate Implications|left single.]]
* This is done rather wonderfully in ''[[Stardust (novel)|Stardust]]'' where Tristran gets home, finds the girl he went on the adventure for in the first place {{spoiler|wants to marry someone else}} and promptly informs her his heart's desire is for her {{spoiler|to have the happiest marriage anyone ever had}} before going to find his star.
* This is done rather wonderfully in ''[[Stardust (novel)|Stardust]]'' where Tristran gets home, finds the girl he went on the adventure for in the first place {{spoiler|wants to marry someone else}} and promptly informs her his heart's desire is for her {{spoiler|to have the happiest marriage anyone ever had}} before going to find his star.
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* Parodied on ''[[Friends]]''. After Ross and Rachel get back together and Monica and Chandler announce they're dating, Joey asks Phoebe if they should get together, by the virtue of them being the only main characters left. Phoebe reveals that she has a long term-strategy for the two of them in which they make off with Chandler's money and Rachel's children, and kill Ross.
* Parodied on ''[[Friends]]''. After Ross and Rachel get back together and Monica and Chandler announce they're dating, Joey asks Phoebe if they should get together, by the virtue of them being the only main characters left. Phoebe reveals that she has a long term-strategy for the two of them in which they make off with Chandler's money and Rachel's children, and kill Ross.
** All in all: Ross, Rachel and Chandler had all kissed each of the five characters. Monica never kissed Phoebe or Joey (except for an alternate universe in the latter case). Back to the trope, it can be seen with many details throughout the series: Joey introducing Phoebe to her husband (and being actually the one who would marry them later on), Joey and Rachel deciding they're better off as friends (after roughly two years of build-up for their relationship to finally take place), Janice finally getting over Chandler after "one last moment of weakness", Gunther being shot down by Rachel in the finale, hooking up Ross' ex Julie with Rachel's ex Russ, etc.
** All in all: Ross, Rachel and Chandler had all kissed each of the five characters. Monica never kissed Phoebe or Joey (except for an alternate universe in the latter case). Back to the trope, it can be seen with many details throughout the series: Joey introducing Phoebe to her husband (and being actually the one who would marry them later on), Joey and Rachel deciding they're better off as friends (after roughly two years of build-up for their relationship to finally take place), Janice finally getting over Chandler after "one last moment of weakness", Gunther being shot down by Rachel in the finale, hooking up Ross' ex Julie with Rachel's ex Russ, etc.
** Perhaps the most obvious ''[[Friends]]'' example of this trope: Ross's wedding to Emily. "I, Ross, take thee Rachel..."
** Perhaps the most obvious ''[[Friends]]'' example of this trope: Ross's wedding to Emily. "I, Ross, take thee Rachel..."
* ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' has Jess becoming a good boy, trying to rekindle his relationship with Rory but finally accepting she's in love with somebody else. It also has Christopher being OK with not being Lorelai's soulmate (after a lot of frustration over it).
* ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' has Jess becoming a good boy, trying to rekindle his relationship with Rory but finally accepting she's in love with somebody else. It also has Christopher being OK with not being Lorelai's soulmate (after a lot of frustration over it).
* The last few seasons of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' gradually allowed the [[Official Couple]] Riker and Troi to drift apart, even having Troi date Worf with Riker's approval. Later appearances by Worf never acknowledged this plot arc, and Riker and Troi were married in one of [[The Movie]] sequels. Exactly how they patched things up is left to the viewer.
* The last few seasons of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' gradually allowed the [[Official Couple]] Riker and Troi to drift apart, even having Troi date Worf with Riker's approval. Later appearances by Worf never acknowledged this plot arc, and Riker and Troi were married in one of [[The Movie]] sequels. Exactly how they patched things up is left to the viewer.
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