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TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots are one of the most common ways in which the makers of a show can cheapen the series’ plot. Romantic pairings and relationships sometimes bring depth to the show and a new dimension.
When such relationships are added for views or feel out of place, they make the viewers lose sight of the original premise and also reduce the depth of the characters. Therefore, here are 10 TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
Dexter, Friends, and other TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots
1. The Office
The Office is one of the most popular shows in modern times. It is also credited with bringing the eternal love story of Jim and Pam to the viewers, which was loved universally. While their love story felt natural and an important part of the show, some other relationships did not feel needed.
One of those was between Andy and Erin. It made The Office one of those TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots. Andy was introduced in season 3 and was not a universally popular character. Therefore, giving him a complicated love story that spanned multiple seasons of the show felt like too much.
The chemistry between Andy and Erin was okay, but not natural, and it felt like the writers wanted to create another romance like Jim and Pam. It is one of those clear instances of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots that derail the central plot of the show.
2. Parks and Recreation
This political satire had so much clever writing that it felt like a letdown when an unnecessary romantic subplot was added in the show’s fourth season. While other relationships on Parks and Recreation are handled well and feel natural, the dating between Tom and Ann felt neither humorous nor believable. The relationship felt like an odd one out, and it wasn’t even clear why the two began dating, because they were complete opposites.
The relationship ended when the season ended, and viewers are still confused as to why the writers added that in. The relationship also showcased lazy writing, and it felt unnatural because Tom was a terrible boyfriend to Ann, and Ann was much too intelligent to keep up with his behavior as long as she did. The romance was doomed from the start and felt like a filler that was added to stretch the episodes. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
3. Friends
Even the most popular show on the planet is not safe from controversies and is an example of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots. Friends is a show that thrived on the dynamic of friendship between its six lead actors. And while relationships like Ross and Rachel and Monica and Chandler felt natural and a part of the series, the addition of a romantic dynamic between Rachel and Joey felt extremely unnecessary.
In the show’s eighth season, Rachel is pregnant with her and Ross’s child and moves in with Joey. The two begin to fall for each other, which lasts till the show’s tenth season and became annoying for fans. The relationship felt out of place because Joey and Rachel shared a warm friendship over the years, and adding a romantic subplot between them felt like a way of adding extra tension that was not needed. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
4. Stranger Things
Stranger Things has taken the world by storm with its immense popularity and its blending of sci-fi, horror, mystery, and drama within a nostalgic 1980s setting. While the series deals with life-threatening conspiracies and massively dangerous monsters, the creators of the show have still managed to add a bunch of romantic subplots. Therefore, the show has become an example of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
Over the course of the show, the series has introduced a bunch of characters, and almost all of them have a romantic subplot. Mike and Eleven, Lucas and Max, Dustin and Suzie, Hopper and Joyce, and the love triangle between Steve, Jonathan, and Nancy. While the romantic pairings don’t feel out of place, they do feel unnecessary to the massive calamity that the show is dealing with.
Further, it feels like the show spends too much time on these relationships when there are more urgent matters to care about. Nor are the viewers able to stay actively interested in these relationships, nor do they feel well-developed. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
5. Community
Sometimes, comedy shows try to incorporate romantic subplots in their shows, and while it can work, like in the case of Jim and Pam on The Office, it is still a risky decision. This is exactly what happened in Community, which focused on a group of friends who studied at a community college. While there were some romantic subplots between the characters on the show, the most unnecessary of them was between Troy and Britta.
There was an initial attraction between the two during the start of the show, and the relationship finally took shape in the show’s third and fourth seasons. However, the duo quickly decided to go back to being friends. Therefore, it all felt even more unnatural and unnecessary. While the two had decent chemistry, it did not fit with the dynamic and tone of the series.
The show is about comedy and laughter, and there is no time for heartfelt romances in the show. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
6. Lost
Lost is another one of those shows that got sidetracked from its main objective and plot and incorporated other subplots. Not only is it one of those TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots, but it also added other supernatural subplots that didn’t make sense and convoluted the storyline. However, the love triangle between Jack, Kate, and Sawyer felt the most unnecessary romantic pairing of all in the show.
It felt like a soap opera track in a survival drama. The romance not only felt out of place with the tone of the show but also hampered the flow of the series and reduced the depth that the three characters had shown. It is easy for romantic pairings to get reduced to cliches, which is what happened with the three characters. The romantic arc felt repetitive and took away from the main storyline, which made the viewers watch the show in the first place. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
7. The Umbrella Academy
The superhero comedy-drama had many bizarre storylines, and while some of the crazy plots were entertaining and drove the story forward, some of them were just downright uncomfortable to watch and were not needed. This was the case with the romantic pairing between Allison and Luther, who are a part of an adoptive family of superheroes.
While they are not related by blood, they have grown up together and feel like siblings to the audience. Therefore, the flirting between the two felt incestuous and extremely unnecessary. The Umbrella Academy has many crazy adventures and twists, but this one was not needed.
Ultimately, all of this didn’t even matter as Luther ended up marrying another woman, and the relationship between Luther and Allison felt like a subplot that was not needed. Therefore, it is one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
8. Dexter
One of the cult classics, Dexter, is a show that has enjoyed popularity and is known for its subversive plot and storylines. However, it is another example of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots. And that too, which is incestuous. The titular serial killer’s adoptive sister, Debra, has many romantic pairings over the course of the show. While these pairings reveal many different sides of her character, the romantic subplot between Debra and Dexter was not needed at all.
During season six, a therapy session makes Debra think that she has begun liking her sibling. However, the plot is quickly abandoned after she finds out about Dexter’s dark actions. The unnecessary addition of a controversial plot felt like a desperate move on the makers' part to make the show popular. However, this romantic angle between a sibling pair was not the best move, and it was one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
9. This is Us
This is Us is a thoughtful and poignant drama that has been well-received by viewers and critics alike. The show focuses on the various characters of the Pearson family and has many romantic subplots between the different characters. However, while most of them fit the tone of the show and are endearing, some of them have turned out to be controversial.
One such example is the pairing of Rebecca and Miguel. After having a beautiful romance with Jack, it felt very sudden that Rebecca would remarry Jack’s best friend after his tragic death. The bond between Rebecca and Jack is so close that viewers and critics feel that Rebecca's marriage to another person, especially Jack’s best friend, does not sit right.
Further, the pairing between the two was underexplained, as viewers did not get any explanation as to why the two had ended up together. A romantic subplot needs to be created slowly and gradually to develop a bond. However, that was not the case with Rebecca and Miguel, and it was one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
10. How I Met Your Mother
The final entry on this list of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots goes to the famous sitcom How I Met Your Mother. As the show’s title suggests, the series was about the long-running mystery of Ted meeting the “mother.” In between all this, the show focused on the lives of its multiple characters who went through many breakups and life changes.
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However, the show increasingly began to take romantic detours back to Robin, and it felt forced and repetitive. Throughout the show’s decade-long run, it felt like a lot of energy had been wasted on exploring the romance between Ted and Robin. While the viewers were finally ready to see Ted’s new love and the "mother."
It was yet another shock when it was revealed that the mother had died, and Ted ended up with Robin again. The never-ending romance between the two felt like a betrayal of the original premise of the show, and it made the show feel like bait, which cheapened the emotional aspect of the series. Therefore, it was one of those cases of TV shows with unnecessary romance subplots.
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