Relationship Upgrade: Difference between revisions

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There may have been [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]] earlier, romantic feelings on either side or even an unmistakable [[Held Gaze]] or two, but that was all on paper. This is ''it'', the actual relationship. It's happening, starting now. In a work, it's that point where [[That Didn't Happen|until further notice]] there's no more sense in asking [[Will They or Won't They?]]. In [[Real Life]], it's that point beyond which you'd feel justified calling the other person "my boyfriend/girlfriend".

Not to be confused with [[Level Up At Intimacy 5|characters upgrading their abilities by socialization]].

 

{{examples}}

 

* The kiss between [[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water|Jean and Nadia]] may be treated as the moment where this upgrade takes place. Unfortunately, it was very inconveniently placed in the middle of an arc, with about 20% canon material. Regardless, they end up as an official couple in the epilogue.

* ''[[Toradora!]]'' is a good example of this trope. With a confusing [[Love Dodecahedron]] and twice your daily serving of [[Will They or Won't They?]] , {{spoiler|Taiga and Ryuuji ''finally''}} get upgraded from [[Platonic Life Partners|...whatever they were,]] to {{spoiler|a couple in episode 24, where Ryuuji [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|proposes]] [[Tear Jerker|to Taiga.]]}}

* In the ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' manga, {{spoiler|Ed}} and {{spoiler|Winry}} play out this trope well. Before leaving for the west, {{spoiler|Ed}} somewhat "confesses" his feelings to {{spoiler|Winry}} at the train station, using the words: "It's equivalent exchange! I'll give you half of my life, so give me half of yours!" Though he corresponds alchemy with love, {{spoiler|Winry}} acknowledges what he really means, resulting in her agreeing to give him all of her life. Then, she quickly corrects herself, being flustered when those words dawned on her. Depending on how you want to interpret it (some say this was a proposal, while others say it was merely a confession), {{spoiler|Ed}} and {{spoiler|Winry}} end up with two children anyway, not to mention a wedding ring on {{spoiler|Edward}}'s finger. After spending their entire life denying any romantic feelings, they pass their comfort zone and hit home run!

* In ''Mobile Suit [[Gundam Seed]]'', Mu la Flaga and Murrue Ramius manage to upgrade from [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]] into an actual relationship only after they've defected from the Earth Alliance and are thus no longer officially constrained by the military's rules against fraternization.

 

== [[Literature]] ==

** Harry and Ginny.

** Same with Ron and Hermione in Book 7.

* Book four of ''[[Tortall Universe|The Immortals]]'' has Daine and Numair realizing that they were meant for each other. The previous books give a few clues to this end, but not all that many - the fact that Daine was in her early teens and Numair in his late twenties, and [[Hot for Student|her teacher]], would have made that a bit...[[Squick|squicky.]]

* [[Star Wars|Luke Skywalker]] and [[Expanded Universe|Mara Jade]]. Han and Leia went through it a bit. So did Jacen and Tenel Ka. Let's not even get started on Jaina. No one can seem to catch a break. Even Ben looks like he's going to get his own version of his parents' relationship in the person of [[Capulet Counterpart|Vestara Khai]].

** All the other Skywalker-Solos are listed and and yet the most explicit relationship upgrade is missing: Anakin Solo and Tahiri?

*** Probably because {{spoiler|HE'S DEAD}}... Although via ''special means'', they talk about it, thus confirming the Upgrade, in [[Fate of the Jedi]].

** Arguably [[Averted]] for Ben and Vestara. Their relationship ''starts'' with [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]], and goes on to [[Dating Catwoman]] instead of friendship, and as of ''Vortex'', {{spoiler|Vestara [[You Can't Go Home Again|can never go back to the sith, and decides to stick around and help Luke and Ben]]}}.

** Except that was a "if you don't get out of this alive" kiss. The real [[Relationship Upgrade]] happens after the final battle at camp, when she gives him his birthday cupcake.

 

* ''[[Scrubs]]'' dabbled with this repeatedly in the relationship between JD and Elliot. At one stage they even became [[Friends with Benefits|no-strings-attached "sex buddies"]], which JD says is the best thing a man can hear from a female friend. They receive their true [[Relationship Upgrade]] into [[Official Couple]] during the final (well technically there's another season, but in truth it's really more of a spin off setting/content-wise) season, one that is clean and without any drama mucking it up (aside from one bit of drama that arbitrarily arises during the two-part episode, but that is mostly to make way for a strong [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] at the end).

* In the middle of the final season of ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'', Major Nelson finally drops the [[Idiot Ball]] and confesses his feelings for and to Jeannie.

* Jim and Pam on ''[[The Office]]'' (U.S. version) got a [[Relationship Upgrade]] between seasons three and four, and then another one later on.

* Harry and Christine in ''[[Night Court]]''. A bit of a subversion in that they don't date for very long before deciding they work [[Better as Friends]].

* In ''[[Hannah Montana]]'' Oliver and Lilly had been friends since kindergarten and now are an official couple.

* As of season 3, ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''. (Boy, considering how central [[UST]] is to the show, even posting this is practically a spoiler!)

* [[Dollhouse|Topher and Bennett]], just before {{spoiler|Saunders shoots Bennett in the head.}}

* Olivia and Peter from ''[[Fringe]]''.

** {{spoiler|1=Which was instantly railroaded by AltOlivia switching places with the real Olivia, and an oblivious Peter continuing his relationship with (and ''impregnating'') the wrong one. When the real Olivia found out...she didn't take it too well. It's up in the air right now whether the upgrade will hold.}}

* This was originally presented as Zach & Flo's story line in Season 3 of ''[[The Amazing Race]]''. They came on as [[Just Friends]] looking for more; only they ended up averting it when Flo left the race dating a racer from another team.

* It's not really clear whether the scene at the end of the second season of ''[[The Sarah Connor Chronicles]]'' with John and Cameron in bed together is supposed to be this or the ''opposite'', with John realizing how much of a machine she really is and understanding the sexual tension between them isn't real.

** Since he commits a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] and {{spoiler|dives into the future to get her chip back}}, it seems pretty confirmed he doesn't think of her as a machine.

* On ''[[Boy Meets World]]'', Cory and Topanga officially get together in the first episode of season three.

* What Brody wants from Abby in ''[[Against the Wall]]''. She wants them to stay as [[Friends with Benefits]].

* In Season 3's "[[Chuck]] Versus the Other Guy", Chuck and Sarah dropped the [[Will They or Won't They?]] pretenses and got their relationship upgrade by episode's end.

* Grissom and Sara on [[CSI]] in the season 6 finale-the last scene showed them in bed together.

* The writers and actors of ''[[Castle]]'' didn't even try to hide the fact that Beckett and Castle were eventually going to become a couple; the tension (which was arguably the primary driving force behind the show) was in seeing how. {{spoiler|As of season four's finale, "Always", it finally happened. It remains to be seen how future seasons will handle their relationship upgrade}}

 

* Subverted in ''[[Tales of Legendia]]''. Senel and Shirley ''want'' to have a [[Relationship Upgrade]], it's just... weird, since he treated her like a sister for a long time.

** Kind of one-sided actually. It's only Shirley who ''wants'' the [[Relationship Upgrade]]. [[Chaste Hero|Senel]] just wanted to be with her again, most likely as family, while he pines over her dead sister. Yeeeeaaah.....

{{quote|It does. It does feel right. After all this time. You and me.}}

** The third game also had a moment that left nearly every fan in roaring approval: if neither Tali nor Garrus was romanced and both survived the suicide mission in ME2, {{spoiler|you can walk in on them hugging}}. Their embarrassed attempts at making up an excuse (she asked him to check her helmet for a rupture) to Shepard are both hilarious and heartwarming.

* Aubrey and Jason in ''[[Something Positive]]''. For a long time part of the group of friends the comic centres on, they're now married and have adopted a daughter.

* At the end of ''[[Scary Go Round]]'', Amy and Ryan are friends likely to get together. After a three-year [[Time Skip]], the follow-up strip ''Bad Machinery'' sees them recently married.

** Sara and Daphne go from friends, to not on speaking terms (when Daphne, bitter over her [[Unrequited Love]], decided to believe the "rape" slander against Sara), then back to friends again, and finally to lovers.

** Brandi and Stan go from [[Friends with Benefits]] to an exclusive relationship.

* ''[[Kim Possible]]'':

** In what was meant to be the end of the series, ''[[The Movie|So The Drama]]'', Kim and Ron become [[Official Couple|officially "More Than Friends"]] (complete with cheering section).

*** It was only implied on that one however.

* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', The two [[Beta Couple|Beta Couples]] pretty much [[They Do|just happened]], without any proper upgrades. Meanwhile, the main couple had this no sooner than in the very final scene of the very final episode. The one beta couple was a case of [[New Old Flame]], so they didn't ''need'' an upgrade, just a reunion after Zuko was finally un-exiled from court. As for the other, their upgrade was in the prior season, during 'Serpent's Pass'. She just got [[Put on a Bus]] for the rest of the season shortly thereafter.

* Presumably, Robin and Starfire after ''[[Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo]]''.

{{quote|'''Cyborg''': [[Lampshade Hanging|Well it's about time!]]}}

* While Candace and Jeremy from ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'' were an [[Official Couple]] from the get-go, they don't refer to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend (and share their [[First Kiss]]) until the episode, "Summer Belongs to You." (Although the timing of their [[Relationship Upgrade]] is made more complicated by the fact that the episodes don't air in the same order they take place. In some episodes, Candace is still only crushing on Jeremy; in some episodes, they are de facto dating; and in some episodes they are "officially" boyfriend and girlfriend.) Season 3 starts with them being unquestionably canon though, as Candace tries to find out what Jeremy likes about her.

** Subverted in the movie. Isabella kisses Phineas at the end but then they're both exposed to an amnesia ray that wipes both their memories of the event.