Love, it's everywhere! And it makes stories better, really.
Like it or not, romance is actually a constant theme in story. It is everywhere. Go ahead, try and think of something you've watched or read lately that didn't have some form of romance in it.
A scene from my favorite Cartoon of all time "ReBoot". In this moment, their world is pretty much dead and destroyed, and in what might be the last moments of their lives, the two heros finally reach out for one another. Makes your heart break a little.
Could you think of one? If you did, are you sure there wasn't at least a hint of it there?
When I was growing up, my favorite cartoons were actually aimed more for boys than girls. They had a lot of action, the main plot was often that of war, survival, heroic deeds, thwarting the evil one(s), etc. I loved these stories, and the actual telling of the tales has kept a lot of these favorites a part of my entertainment even in adulthood. But there was always a part of these shows that made their way through my tom-boy shell to my inner girlie girl, and that was the backstory of love.
Yep, even in the shows made for boys, there was that element lingering in the background and I picked up on it, secretly feed off it, and found myself absolutely thrilled when something that was kept purposely off screen was brought forth and put on display even if it was only in the last episode of the series.
Maybe you don't agree, but I think this enhances the story. Here's why:
1) It makes the characters more human – So human may not be the best choice of words, because the characters could be something other than human. Still, knowing that they have emotions, that they can become connected to another being is a big booster. I don't care what you say, even the most cold, calculated, creations have some empathy, so form minute form of caring.
2) It gives the characters something to fight for – Yes, peace, harmony, righting the wrongs of the world, that is something to fight for, but what about hero? What about their needs? Has anyone ever really considered that, no matter how completely awesome the character is they are probably a little selfish on the inside? Maybe the reason they haven't proclaimed their undying devotion is because they just know how to prioritize, and feel they can wait until they win and it's all over. Which brings me to the next point…
3) It adds to the tragedy – Picture this: You're about to finish off a war that made you join with your enemies because there was the almighty mutual threat lingering over you. It's almost over, you're giving the commands and then BOOM! You're being double crossed. Next thing you know, you're being thrown into enemy territory, forced into being a prisoner in a place that you are never going to be able to escape from, and you have no way to stop it from happening. The only thing you're able to do in those finally is look over at the person you love. You don't even have time to say words; you can only steal a fleeting image. Sure, it would be kind of funny to have the character go 'well this sucks', but it's more heart breaking when there's more of a reason for it to suck than just simply being bested by the enemy.
I could probably find more points as to why romance, an often disliked genre, is actually very enhancing to any story when used in the right amounts and ways. It doesn't matter how thick your skin, or how much you think it's sappy and gross, deep down inside you get all warm and fuzzy when you see the hero get the girl (or vice versa)even if you don't want to admit it.
Just so you know, "ReBoot" is property of and created by Rainmaker (Formally Mainframe) It's awesome, nerdy, and Canadian, just like me! (Ok, so it's awesomer than I am, but still)
