Longing Look: Difference between revisions

{{quote|<poem>''Watching through windows,''<br />

''You're wondering if I'm okay.''</poem>|'''Cyndi Lauper''', "Time After Time"}}

Bob has feelings for Alice,<ref>(Though gender reversals are commonplace)</ref>, and reveals those feelings with a soulful look, tender gesture, or verbal cues that Alice [[All Love Is Unrequited|rarely]] ever [[Oblivious to Love|notices]]. There are a lot of possibilities, here are some of the more common ones:

* 1. Bob's expression changes when he looks at Alice to one of love (though only if she isn't looking).

* 2. When Alice talks about dating Charlie, Bob involuntarily clenches his fist.

* 3. If Alice comments how "crazy" it would be if they were a couple, his agreement is either less than enthusiastic or sincere, or he goes too far the other way.

Of course, this may also indicate less than noble love when Bob is a [[Stalker Withwith a Crush]]. Usually his expression will be [[Green -Eyed Monster|envious]] or darker, or he might look more intensely than he should. In either case, if caught and Alice (or Charlie) asks why and for how long he's been looking, Bob will either deny the accusation or answer with "I wasn't looking at you, [[Tsundere|idiot!]] I was just distracted" or the like.

The reciprocated version, most likely between [[Star -Crossed Lovers]], is the [[Held Gaze]].

Compare [[Beautiful Dreamer]], which may overlap with this. Contrast [[Male Gaze]], [[Female Gaze]], and [[Eating the Eye Candy]].

{{examples|Examples:}}

* Parodied by ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei-sensei]]'', in a [[Stalker Withwith a Crush|stalker]] character's common line "I was here all the time."

* This happens a ''lot'' to Sousuke from ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]''. Pretty much every person who's had feelings for him (which is [[Chick Magnet|almost]] [[Even the Guys Want Him|everyone]]?) has done this to him at least once (with him remaining [[Oblivious to Love|completely oblivious]]). Kaname has done it numerous times (notable instances include the episode where she was fondly watching him run away from security guards in the Bonta-kun costume, and the episode where she was watching him try to pick up girls unsuccessfully, only to see him help an old lady with a birthday present for her grandson). The class idol, Ena Saeki, apparently also did this to him. As she confesses in her love letter to him, "I've always watched you from afar and sighed..." while it shows her watching him [[Sociopathic Hero|planting land mines in the school]]. Tessa is even worse about it, as she's even shown slithering out of bed to go and happily watch him as he ''sleeps''. And Nami (from the novels) is ''constantly'' shyly watching him - especially during celebration parties after a victory in the AS tournament, where he'll be off alone drinking water. And then there's [[Stalker Withwith a Crush|Gauron]], who apparently ''recorded footage of Sousuke'' and was watching it with ecstasy. Guess there's just something about the boy that inspires people to <s> act like [[Stalker Withwith a Crush|Stalkers With Crushes]]</s> gaze longingly at him.

* Ryoga of ''[[Ranma One Half½]]'' does this to Akane a few times.

* In ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler (Manga)|Hayate the Combat Butler]]'' most of the characters have actually been caught ''by'' their romantic interest with looks of this, in both directions, sometimes they've actually been prompted by said interest. Save for Ayumu, none of them have had the nerve to actually confess though, so their lack of romantic knowledge ends up with it just being played for [[UST]].

** Hinagiku and Hayate have [[Longing Look|Longing Looks]] from both directions, [[Held Gaze|unfortunately not at the same time]].

* Yusaku Godai of ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'' does this to Kyoko a lot -- especiallylot—especially when she's just doing little things like working.

* Chi gives this to Hideki a ''lot'' throughout ''[[Chobits (Manga)|Chobits]]'', {{spoiler|and so did Freya towards her creator/father Ichiro. Hideki even immediately recognizes the look when Chitose shows him the video}}.

* In ''[[Harry Potter]] and the [[The Film of the Book|Deathly Hallows - Part One1]]'', Ron directs a lot of these towards Hermione.

** One notable example: In the scene where the [[Power Trio]] are in a cafe {{spoiler|after having to flee from Bill and Fleur's wedding}}, they're ambushed and attacked by a pair of Death Eaters. When the smoke clears and the bad guys lie unconscious, Harry and Hermione talk Ron out of killing one, at which point he goes over to Hermione and strokes the side of her face in a very protective gesture.

* ''[[Harry Potter]] and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'':

** In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', Hermione does a Type 1 to Ron, to the point where Harry feels like [[Foreshadowing|"he had interrupted her in the act of kissing him."]]

* In ''[[Threads of Time]]'', it's later revealed that [[Ax Crazy|Sali Tayi]] had always been watching [[Action Girl|Atan Hadas]] from afar, ever since she was a child. He evens thinks to himself while reminiscing that she was his only source of light and happiness (while showing a shot of him watching her while she's playing with her little brother). "I've always been watching you" indeed. The series tries to play it like it's sweet, and seems to try to use it as if to show that he isn't all a [[Complete Monster]], as he [[Pet the Dog|holds such deep love]] for [[Morality Pet|Atan Hadas]]. Unfortunately, it only seems to add to his creepiness, and makes him have the added quality of being a [[Stalker Withwith a Crush]].

* In ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'', Angel observes Cordelia at her desk this way in one episode.

** And in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', Angel is always smoldering at Buffy, especially ''after'' they consumate their relationship and realize that they can't...[[Unusual Euphemism|consumate]], anymore. Later, Spike takes over the lovelorn vampire role and possibly mopes about even more than Angel, alternating between smoldering lust and sappy adoration.

* There's at least three of these in the pilot episode of ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'' between [[The Captain|Mal]] and the [[Hooker Withwith a Heart of Gold|courtesan]] Inara. In fact, any time the two of them are together in a scene, either they just miss seeing a [[Longing Look]], or they share one simultaneously. But, [[Oblivious to Love|for various reasons]] they never quite seem to figure each other out. Joss likes this trope.

* The 2000s ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (2004 TV series)|The 2000s ''Battlestar Galactica Reimagined]]'']] has Lee Adama giving Kara Thrace quite a few of these and Kara giving him a few right back, though the [[Held Gaze]] is far more common between the two of them - to the point where it's better known as [[Fan Nickname|"the eyefrak"]].

* ''[[The X -Files]]''. Oh, sweet Jesus.

{{quote| '''Holman Hardt''': And you two've never...? ''(Mulder shakes his head)'' I confess I find that shocking. I've seen the way <br />

you two gaze at one another. <br />

'''Mulder (speechless for a moment):'''This is about you. I'm here to help you. I'm perfectly happy with my friendship with <br />

Agent Scully. <br />

'''Holman Hardt''': So according to your theory I walk in there, tell her I love her and the drought will end? <br />

* [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Odo]]. Dear, sweet, adorable Odo, who kept casting these at [[Oblivious to Love|a completely oblivious Kira]] until she finally wised up and [[Love Epiphany|got with the program]].

* [[Star Trek: Voyager|Chakotay]] did this many times to Captain Janeway, particularly in the episode "Resolutions". When she only has a towel on and she's just stepped out of a bath? Totally checking her out. Creepy.

* Arthur and Guinevere on ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]''. And then Lancelot joins in...

{{quote| '''CYRANO''' ''(rising):'' This Silenus, <br />

Big-bellied, coarse, still deems himself a peril— <br />

A danger to the love of lovely ladies,<br />

And, while he sputters out his actor's part, <br />

Makes sheep's eyes at their boxes—goggling frog! <br />

I hate him since the evening he presumed<br />

To raise his eyes to hers. . .Meseemed I saw <br />

* In ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'', Bonnie does this near the end of the game, looking at John with his wife with what described as a deep and longing look as they leave her family's ranch.

* Rodolfo does this for his ex-wife Maria in ''[[El Tigre the Adventures of Manny Rivera]]''. Though he also does it when she is aware of it. He's got it bad.

* Helga does this constantly to the titular ''[[Hey Arnold!]]''.

* Aang of ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' has all three varieties for Katara.

* ''[[Exo Squad]]'': Maggie Weston and Alec De Leon share a few, as do J. T. Marsh and Colleen O'Reilly; but neither of them hold a candle to the looks that Nara Burns gives Marsala. The [[Longing Look]] seems to be permanently affixed to her face in his presence.

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