Developing Love Triangles: A Guide for Writers
The Importance of Character Development in Love Triangles
Love triangles can be tricky to pull off in fiction, as they can easily become cliché and predictable. However, with careful consideration and development, a love triangle can be a compelling plot device that adds depth and complexity to a story and its characters. To create a successful love triangle, there are a few key factors that writers should keep in mind.
All three characters involved in the triangle must be well-developed and fully realized. Understanding why the protagonist cares about each character is mandatory. If one character is underdeveloped or one-dimensional, the triangle will fall flat, and the reader will not be invested in the outcome.
The choice between the three characters should not be easy. The protagonist should struggle with their decision. If the choice is too obvious, the triangle will be anticlimactic, and the reader will feel let down. Even if a watcher/reader prefers one couple to the other, the love triangle is compelling because both options are viable choices for the protagonist.
The resolution of the triangle should not involve cheating or a sudden plot twist that removes one of the characters from the equation. Characters should actively decide that one person is not the right fit for them, leading to a resolution that is satisfying and true to the characters' motivations.
Jim and Pam Halpert - “The Office”
The protagonist should struggle with their decision, it creates tension and drama that keeps the audience invested in the story. It’s obvious that Jim is the better choice for Pam, but Pam would be letting go of long established relationship. However, Pam's journey to realizing that is what makes the love triangle satisfying. By the time Pam and Jim start their relationship, she has gone through a process of growth and self-discovery that makes her decision feel earned and authentic. The audience is invested in Pam's journey, and seeing her come to the right decision is a satisfying payoff.
This is why it's important to focus on character development in love triangles. When the characters are well-developed and their choices feel authentic, the audience will be invested in the story, even if they can see where it's headed. The satisfaction comes from watching the characters grow and change, and seeing them make the right choice at the right time.
Paige, Emily, Alison, and Maya / Spencer, Hanna, and Caleb - “Pretty Little Liars”
Pretty Little Liars leaned heavily on love triangles and the drama they brought in the later seasons of the show. The main problem is these relationships have no intention to be meaningful as it pertains to their protagonists in them. Like I said before for a love triangle to be successful, the audience needs to care about all three characters involved. When that doesn’t happen, it can feel like a tired plot device used as an advertisement tactic.
The worst part of Emily’s relationships and love triangles is that Paige felt like a placeholder love interest for the entirety of the series. Maya and Alison were more compelling characters who had a significant impact on Emily's life. Paige, however, was not a developed enough character for her and Emily ending up together to be realistic. She got the most attention and interactions with Emily as it relates to others'interest in her.
The show seemed to rely on Paige as a way to fill the third spot in the triangle without giving her character the attention and development she deserved. This lack of development for Paige as a character makes it difficult for the audience to invest in her relationship with Emily. It feels forced and unrealistic, and as a result, any love triangle involving her falls flat. Maya, on the other hand, had a compelling dynamic and a meaningful relationship with Emily that was developed on screen. Her sudden death was tragic and heartbreaking. Alison’s bond with Emily was shown to be different from the rest of the liars from the beginning. This dynamic adds an interesting layer to the love triangle because Emily's history with Alison makes her feel conflicted about her feelings for both Alison and Paige because Paige also has past with Alison.
A love triangle between Maya,Emily,and Alison would have been a better choice for the story. Towards the end of the series, it felt like the writer’s could only see Emily and Alison as a pairing if they rewrote her characterization. By simplifying Alison's character to fit into a neat box for the sake of the relationship, they may have undermined the very thing that made their dynamic interesting. Additionally, the ambiguity surrounding Alison's sexuality makes it difficult to fully explore the dynamics between her and Emily. This limited the potential for growth and understanding in their relationship and Alison’s character, as the writers are hesitant to fully commit to portraying Alison as anything other than a potential source of intrigue and mystery.
Within the same show, there was another love triangle involving Caleb, Spencer, and Hanna. This triangle was different from the Emily/Alison/Paige triangle in that all three characters were well-developed, and the audience could see why Hanna and Spencer wanted to be with Caleb, one more than the other. However, this triangle also felt like a tactic to delay the obvious ending of Hanna and Caleb being together. At the point when Spencer and Caleb became an item, the show spent 6 seasons developing Hanna and Caleb. It’s not believable that 6 seasons of investment would be thrown away, especially considering that the placeholder relationship was with Hanna’s best friend. There’s already a cheating plot within 10 episodes from the start of the Spencer and Caleb relationship, and as a result both Caleb and Hannah have a decent amount of character regression because of it.
Peyton, Lucas, and Brooke - “One Tree Hill”
Love triangles are a staple of Teen Dramas and One Tree Hill is another example of a show that utilized a love triangle to keep audiences engaged. The main love triangle in the show was between Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas, with the tension building throughout the first four seasons. The dynamic between the three characters was complex and often shifted, leaving viewers unsure of who Lucas would end up with. Personally, I don’t enjoy watching two girls, who are best friends, fight over a guy who cheats on one with the other. Lucas being the “prize” after how he handles this love triangle and later the love triangle with Lindsey doesn’t correlate with me. Even in that love triangle he reuses the ring he proposed to Peyton with to propose to Lindsey.
It's obvious that Lindsey had no longevity in the show, and that her presence was merely a plot device to delay the inevitable reunion of Peyton and Lucas. This triangle was resolved with Lindsey leaving Lucas at the altar, and only then does Lucas finally decide to be with Peyton. Peyton not being ready for marriage is compelling enough roadblock for their relationship alone, and to add Lindsey, only for her to essentially make the choice for Lucas by leaving him at the altar. An unexpected positive from this love triangle is that it brought Julian to the show.
Amy/Jonah/Kelly - “Superstore”
In Superstore, the love triangle between Amy, Jonah, and Kelly is another example of a well-executed love triangle. The relationship between Amy and her husband, Adam, is not even considered to be part of the love triangle, as it is clear that Amy has outgrown Adam, and their marriage is no longer fulfilling for her. Jonah, on the other hand, brings a sense of hope and positivity that Amy needs in her life, and their chemistry is undeniable. The addition of Kelly to the love triangle complicates things even further, as she is a kind and genuine person who genuinely cares for Jonah. And even with Jonah being a bad boyfriend to Kelly, it doesn’t ruin the best qualities of his character. It’s clear that Jonah's heart belongs to Amy, and the show handles this love triangle in a mature and nuanced way. The resolution of the triangle is satisfying, as it allows all three characters to grow and move on in a realistic and authentic way.
When the characters are well-developed and their choices feel authentic, the audience will be invested in the story, and the satisfaction comes from watching the characters grow and change. But this also points to the problem of the concerning trend in the media aimed at teenagers that fail to portray healthy relationships. Young audiences are often presented with toxic relationship dynamics, such as possessiveness, jealousy, and emotional manipulation, disguised as romance. Even with the examples above, there were opportunities for these toxic dynamics to evolve into something healthy or at least healthier. These portrayals can influence the way teenagers perceive relationships and what they consider acceptable behavior. It's crucial for media creators to prioritize responsible representation of healthy relationships in their work, or at the very least acknowledge that the toxic relationships and dynamics are in fact toxic.