Relationship Upgrade: Difference between revisions

The moment when two characters become an [[Official Couple]].

 

 

For many shows it is a natural part of the ongoing narrative. For some it's a twist. For still more it's a season [[Cliff Hanger]] or standard ploy for the [[Grand Finale|series finale]] to be employed at the [[Last-Minute Hookup|very end]]. For others it triggers [[Shipping Bed Death|a specific type of Jumping The Shark]], especially if it breaks the [[Relationship Ceiling]].

* ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' appears to play this trope straight with {{spoiler|Shinji and Rei}} in the second film finale. Appears because with Hideaki Anno's habit of [[Mind Screw|Mind Screwing]] the viewer, we can never be sure... ''Rebuild 3.0'''s trailer didn't even show Shinji so until the film comes out, we're in the dark.

* 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.

* 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.

* At the end of ''[[Happy Lesson]]'', Chitose's mothers decide that he's a grown man and doesn't need mother figures anymore...he needs ''wives''. They all change into bridal gowns and marry the poor guy on the spot.

* Occurs at the end of episode 18 of ''[[D.N.Angel]]'' between Daisuke and Riku.

* In ''[[Fairy Tail]]'', {{spoiler|Alzack and Bisca are revealed to have gotten married after the time skip}}. {{spoiler|Sherry is also engaged to Ren after the Oracion Seis arc hints at them getting together.}}

== [[Film]] ==

* [[Firefly|Simon and Kaylee]] finally get it on at the very end of ''[[The Movie|Serenity]]''. {{spoiler|[[Squick|With River watching.]] }}

* In ''[[Kung Fu Panda 2]]'', Tigress has changed from a bitter [[The Resenter|resenter]] of Po becoming the Dragon Warrior, to his best friend with some [[Ship Tease]] of becoming still more to him.

 

 

== [[Literature]] ==

** Harry and Ginny.

** Same with Ron and Hermione in Book 7.

* [[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?

** 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]]}}.

* In the ''[[Nightrunner]]'' series, Alec and Seregil get upgraded to [[Official Couple]] after almost two books of [[Ho Yay]].

 

== [[Live Action TV]] ==

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

* In ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'', after 3 and 1/2 seasons of subtle growth and development, Laura Roslin told Bill Adama that she loved him, to which he responded "About time."

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

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

** And Echo and Paul, just before {{spoiler|Alpha makes him brain-dead.}}

* [[Sonny With a Chance|Sonny]] and Chad go on their first date in ''Falling For The Falls''.

** {{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.}}

*** It held, or was reinstalled. {{spoiler|Then was promptly [[Cosmic Retcon|erased from]] [[Ret-Gone|all time]] three episodes later.}}

* 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.

* Booth and Brennan in ''[[Bones]]'', despite several false starts, finally achieved their relationship upgrade at the end of Season 6.

* ''[[Glee]]'': Occurs in "Original Song" between Blaine and Kurt.

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

* ''[[Babylon 5]]'': John Sheridan and Delenn get theirs in "[[Babylon 5/Recap/S03 E11 Ceremonies of Light and Dark|Ceremonies of Light and Dark]]" when he tells her, "...I can no longer imagine my world without you in it." Although they don't get their [[Big Damn Kiss]] until eight episodes later, from that episode on, they are for all intents and purposes together romantically.

 

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* This is essentially the point of all [[Dating Sim|Dating Sims]] and most [[Visual Novels]].

** 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.....

* In the ''[[Mass Effect]]'' series, Tali and Garrus have forged a strong bond with [[Player Character|Commander]] [[Magnetic Hero|Shepard]] due to the events in the first game to the point where they both [[Undying Loyalty|trust him/her unconditionally.]] Depending on both Shepard's gender and choices, the relationship he/she has with these two characters can turn into a romantic one.

'''Tali:''' What do you mean, 'something to come back to'? ''(in a flirty tone)'' This is just a fling, Vakarian; I'm using you for your body...!<br />

'''Garrus:''' You're so mean... ''and I'm okay with that.'' }}

* In the ''Persona'' series, it's reaching a certain rank in your social link with a girl (or boy, if you're playing ''P3P''). You're given the option to pursue a closer relationship. This can happen with every girl you Social Link with, and if you're already dating one, there's no reason why you can't date more. Christmas Eve is also sort of like this - one of your girlfriends (or the girl you have the highest s-link with) will call you and invite themselves over, [[Fade to Black|and...]]

** ''[[Persona 4]]'' and the Female Protagonist route in ''[[Persona 3]] Portable'' are unique in that it's optional and you the player can choose to take the upgrade.

* ''[[Penny and Aggie]]'':

** 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.

** {{spoiler|The title characters}} go from enemies to friends to lovers.

* In ''[[Slightly Damned]]'', Buwaro and Kieri ''finally'' kiss after Buwaro gets seriously injured trying to defend Kieri.

 

 

** Shego and Drakken too. Although theirs happens during the ''second'' [[Grand Finale]] of the series.

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

** It's actually vaguer then that - Leela specifically refers to herself as single in "Those Darn Katz!", and [[Word of God]] have confirmed that they aren't really together at the moment.

** In the sixth season, they finally had sex. {{spoiler|[[Squick|In Zoidberg and the Professor's bodies]]}}

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

* Predictably, Danny and Sam in ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' got together by the [[Grand Finale]].