M is for Minor Flaw, Major Breakup

Fictional characters, especially on television or long book series, seem primed to break up with their significant other at the drop of a hat. While humans have been courting potential partners and quickly moving on from glaring mismatches for most of our evolutionary history, TV-Land levels of finicky dating criteria are a modern phenomenon.

The message shown in the media concerning the 'minor flaw breakup' is twofold. First, it suggests that trivial incompatibilities are utterly unsolvable. There is no effort to communicate and solve the problem together. We don't see one partner deciding to live with the minor irritation because their significant other is otherwise an excellent match for them. Which leads us to the second point: the image we are shown in fiction of 'true love' is one of complete compatibility. Being in love, these stories tell us, means never arguing (except over a Wacky Misunderstanding), never compromising, and never needing to talk to your partner about your needs, because a True Love will automatically know. Anything less than this absolute perfection means the person just isn't for you.

Real humans in real relationships do annoying things. Our partners do annoying things which we tolerate because we love them and understand that the annoyance is trivial and fleeting. If our characters are going to be genuine and believable, they have to have the same flaws, and be able to love and respect their partner as a human, not a cardboard cutout of the 'perfect' lover.