i actually kinda enjoy love triangles? they do get done poorly so i get why people tend to hate them because sometimes they exist ONLY as a cheap tactic for relationship tension, but even so I don't really mind that.
some reasons people don't generally like love triangles
Type 1 love triangle: A likes or is liked by both B and C.
- Usually, there's one obvious winner. And it's usually the first character A interacts with. (So for examples sake, B is the main love interest, C is the secondary love interest) This part is actually ok, but readers will sometimes check out of any A&C scenes because they can tell their love wont go anywhere.
- It can be frustrating when the secondary love interest (C) is more likable than the main one. Sometimes C is so good that it makes B look bad lol.
- If C is LESS likable, they're just an annoyance for the audience, made doubly annoying by A's affection towards them.
- When C only exists to add a speedbump to A&B's relationship, it's very obvious and might not be very enjoyable to read.
Type 2 love triangle: X likes Y, Y likes Z, Z likes X.
- It's generally a more interesting format than type 1, but the cyclical nature of it can annoy fans that want progress in a specific relationship
- This type is common in episodic content that has to maintain some kind of status quo. If the triangle is a core part of the status quo it usually isn't altered permanently or until the end is in sight. Can get repetitive.
Before I get into the part where I talk about cool things about love triangle, I do wanna say that if your characters are nicely fleshed out, even the most basic love triangle is still completely FINE. you don't need to go subverting things if you're happy with what you're doing and mindful of the above pitfalls.
anyway,
Things Love Triangles sometimes do that I like
(it's mostly type 1 triangles)
- One of the triangle points is secretly a villain, or becomes a villain. I think a famous example of this is in Frozen but lol it's a bit poorly done . As long as the villain isn't SUDDENLY a villain, it's great. I would also tread carefully with rejection being a major motivation for turning to villainy. It can be a valid and even interesting motivation but I've seen some Yikes executions of it.
- The first character that A has chemistry with is NOT the final love interest. Maybe I like this because it's justice for all the good secondary love interests that have died lol. No but really, putting the main character in a brief relationship with the secondary love interest before they get with the main one offers a lot of opportunities. The main character gets a chance to learn more about romance and about their own feelings.
- i don't think I've ever seen a piece of media taking a love triangle and developing it into a polyamorous situation but I want it
- Here's one I'm actually writing right now: Characters B and C eventually fall for each other rather than character A.
- Basically as long as the secondary love interest is more than that, it does so much to improve the situation. Even if it's just that they're a fun character even outside of their relationship to the main character. Giving them some plot significance helps tho.