Do you know 5 Franchises That Were Ruined By Their Love Triangles

Love triangles in franchises can be incredibly captivating, particularly when all of the romantic partners are likeable characters, and viewers can envision the protagonists being content with either one. The most celebrated films and television series have become so renowned partly due to their engaging love triangles. Such relationships keep the shows interesting and add credibility to the notion that love can be challenging, particularly when compassionate characters become entangled in the conflict.

However, many franchises have portrayed love triangles in a way that renders the entire plot disordered, excessively dramatic, and even repulsive to viewers. In these instances, the love triangle can feel forced or contrived, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Did Eowyn Settle for Faramir Because Aragorn Rejected Her in LOTR?

Sex Education

In The Lord of the Rings, the character Eowyn finds herself drawn to Aragorn, but he is already in love with Arwen. Later, Eowyn finds solace in the company of Faramir, and they eventually fall in love. Some viewers have speculated that Eowyn only chose Faramir because Aragorn rejected her, but this interpretation overlooks Eowyn's growth as a character throughout the story. Ultimately, Eowyn learns to value herself and find her own happiness, rather than waiting for a man to choose her.

Sex Education has become a popular series on Netflix due to its diverse cast, honest themes, and positive representation of different communities. However, the show's focus on teen angst can sometimes overshadow its sentimental moments and undermine its message. One instance of this is Eric's decision to choose Adam, a former bully who tormented him for years, over Rahim, a kind and caring person. This choice could be seen as condoning violence against the LGBTQ+ community and normalizing Adam's homophobic behavior for the sake of his character development.

The Ledgend of Korra

The Legend of Korra, an animated series based on the beloved show The Last Airbender, received mixed reviews from fans. While the original series was praised for its exceptional storytelling and visuals, The Legend of Korra was criticized for its overemphasis on heartbreak and arguments that overshadowed the show's central message of peace.

As the Avatar, Korra's role is to promote harmony with the world around her, using her elemental abilities to inspire others and draw power from the source of energy bending. However, much of the show's focus is on Korra's love triangle with Mako and Asami, causing unnecessary drama and detracting from the show's central theme.

Eventually, Korra and Asami end up together, which is a positive addition to the show. However, the journey to get there was marred by excessive tears and almost ruined friendships. The Legend of Korra could have benefited from a stronger focus on promoting harmony and peace rather than a drawn-out love triangle.

Director Peter Jackson faced a significant challenge when adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's book to the big screen: the lack of female representation. To address this issue, the filmmakers expanded Galadriel's role, which led to some controversial moments in the franchise. They also introduced the character of Tauriel, a warrior, silvan guard, and wood elf who had the potential to become a strong female lead.

Unfortunately, Tauriel's character is ruined by the unnecessary love triangle between her, Legolas, and Kili in The Hobbit. This distracting plotline takes away from the epic fantasy adventure and undermines Tauriel's potential as a strong female character. Without this problematic entanglement, Tauriel could have been a great depiction of a powerful and independent female warrior.

As the release of The Hunger Games prequel approaches, fans are reminded of one of the biggest criticisms of the franchise: the love triangle at its center. In a story about child starvation, survival, and rebellion against an oppressive government, it seems out of place for the protagonist to spend so much time obsessing over her romantic relationships.

Furthermore, the relationships themselves are problematic. Gale's love for Katniss is based on her symbolic importance to the revolution, while Peeta's love for her is more genuine, as demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice himself to protect her during the games. However, when Peeta's mind is altered by the tracker-jack venom, he becomes obsessed with killing her, which is not a healthy depiction of love.

These romantic plotlines detract from the powerful social commentary that The Hunger Games represents. The franchise touches on themes of poverty and suffering that are relevant in our own world, and the love triangle only serves to weaken the impact of these messages.

Twilight

When it comes to bad love triangles, the one in Twilight takes the cake. Even Kristen Stewart, the lead actress, didn't expect the franchise to be a success. The story's two love interests, Edward and Jacob, are both problematic in their own ways.

Edward, the vampire, introduces Bella to a toxic co-dependent relationship, puts her in danger by attracting enemies, and then abandons her to fend for herself. On the other hand, Jacob, the werewolf, manipulates and coerces Bella into loving him, forcibly kisses her against her will, and even threatens to die in battle if she doesn't kiss him in front of her boyfriend. Neither of these options presents a healthy example of what a loving relationship should look like.

Despite being almost entirely focused on the love triangle, Twilight manages to ruin the entire narrative that could have otherwise had so much potential.