This is arguably the most popular trope in modern fiction. It provides built-in tension and a satisfying "thaw" as characters realize their preconceptions were wrong.

Tropes are the building blocks of romantic storylines. While they can be clichés if handled poorly, they provide a comfortable framework for exploring complex emotions.

This is the "Romeo and Juliet" factor. Family feuds, career rivalries, or literal wars provide the pressure cooker that makes the eventual union feel earned and triumphant.

This trope forces characters into intimate situations, allowing them to skip the "small talk" phase and see each other's true selves under the guise of a lie.

By watching characters choose between love and power, or love and safety, we clarify what we value in our own real-world relationships.

Seeing couples actually talk through their problems instead of relying on "the big misunderstanding."