http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TriangRelations

The worst kind of geometry.



It's like she's a Barbie with two perfect Kens

But wait, it just occurred to me

Maybe I can solve this with geometry

Yes, smarts can help this sitchywation untangle

So professors, teach me the math of love triangles..." Rebecca, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , " The Math of Love Triangles "What's a girl to do when she's stuck between menIt's like she's a Barbie with two perfect KensBut wait, it just occurred to meMaybe I can solve this with geometryYes, smarts can help this sitchywation untangleSo professors, teach me the math of love triangles..."

Advertisement:

The first assumption in a relationship described as a Love Triangle is that someone's got to go. There is a lot of good drama/comedy in that little conundrum.

Even if the writer chooses to challenge that assumption,note see: Take a Third Option, Marry Them All, or Polyamory there will be some pretty tricky footwork required to make it all come out to a resolution.

Here are the possible triangles. Put one to work.

Note: These are all point-in-time snapshots. It could be the situation at the beginning or it could evolve into this situation. These are often used to construct different faces of Love Polyhedra.

open/close all folders

Advertisement:

1

Examples

The classic Betty and Veronica trope. See that page for details.

2

Alice wants both Bob and Charlie, but cannot decide which. Both are unrequited or their wishes are unimportant at this point.Alice wants Bob, Bob wants Claire, and Claire wants Alice. Sometimes referred to as a Bizarre Love Triangle, after the New Order song. It can involve as many people as you like, turning it into a square, pentagon or more, but ultimately the love remains unrequited.

Examples

3

The classic love war set up. Bob and Charlie want Alice. Alice is neutral toward, or not initially thinking in romantic terms of Bob and Charlie, or thinking about them at all . Not a bad situation to be in, if you are Alice, though obviously a bit less so for Bob and Charlie. Some Alices will be tempted to see if there is any Type 7 (below) potential in the situation.

Examples

4

5

Alice wants Bob, who is already in a relationship with Claire. Bob is unaware/neutral (leaving Alice as a Hopeless Suitor ), or is aware of the interest and can't/won't reciprocate (leaving Alice in the "friend zone"). As the most complicated set of relations which is compatible with both monogamy and heterosexuality, this is very common.Alice loves Bob, but Bob loves Claire. Claire doesn't have feelings for either. Alice might try persuading Bob to give up on Claire. If Alice is Ax-Crazy (or otherwise extremely jealous ), she might attempt to Murder the Hypotenuse . Alternatively, Alice might just want her beloved to be happy , and try to set Claire up with Bob. This is the smallest situation directly involving at least three characters where All Love Is Unrequited

This can potentially involve more than three people, with Claire having feelings for David, David having feelings for Eric, and so forth (perhaps even looping around to Zeke loving Alice in a dodecahedral version of Type 2.)

Advertisement:

6

Alice wants Bob and Claire, who are already in a relationship. In this one, the "want" may or may not be sexual in nature—this could just be a platonic thing. Pair the Suitors is what happens when a type 1 or type 3 turn into a type 6.

Examples

7

The classic "affair" set up. Alice is in a relationship with Bob, but she's also in a relationship with Charlie. Either Bob and Charlie don't know about the other's involvement at all or Charlie knows he's the secret lover and acts accordingly. Much of the drama/comedy comes from all the work needed to make sure that the space between B and C stays free from any sort of information flow. A lot of geography between the two helps, or maybe a good social divide.

8

9

When all three parties are devoted to each other in some manner. This needn't be sexual, but this is the type that's the most compatible with polyamory in its various forms. The most obvious example is a straight-up threesome : Alice, Bob, and Charlie are happily in a relationship together. Or two of them are in a relationship and the third is a Friend With Benefits that they occasionally fool around with. Or Bob is in a relationship with both Alice and Charlie, while the latter two are friends but not intimate, possibly due to Incompatible Orientation Bob and Charlie are attracted/loyal to each other but are also attracted/loyal to Alice. Bob and Charlie might be best friends or siblings , and much of the conflict comes from wanting to pursue Alice but not wanting to hurt the other.

Examples

10

Alice and Bob are in a relationship, but Bob is attracted to Charlie. How sympathetically Bob is played depends on their gender . Similar to Type 4, but with a different point of view.

Examples

11

The classic affair set up with a twist. Alice is in a relationship with Bob and Charlie, but Bob becomes attracted/loyal to Charlie. Bob and Charlie may or may not know about the other's involvement with Alice. This situation is clearly the fault of Alice, who failed to control the information flow properly. Bad philanderer! No biscuit!

Examples

12

Alice and Charlie are in a relationship, often married, but Alice likes Bob and Bob likes/is loyal to Charlie. Depending on genders this can be a hilarious or very tragic set up.

Examples

13

Alice must choose between Bob and Charlie, but Bob is also attracted to Charlie. Could arise in a gay/bisexual situation, or could be non-sexual in nature. The non-sexual setup might be something like a boy (A) wants to please his dear old Mum (B) and wants to do naked things with his girl (C). Dear old Mum likes the girl, and monopolizes her attention with shopping trips and general girl-to-girl socializing stuff that greatly reduce C's naked-fun time.

Examples