March 23, 2006
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Written by Kimberly Logan in Jaunty PostThere seems to be an epidemic on television right now. A creeping, insidious epidemic that has caused almost all of my favorite couples on all of my favorite shows to be on the outs. At the same time. Sigh. It’s enough to make a girl weep.
On Related, the once solid marriage of Bob and Ginny has been wobbly since Ginny miscarried several episodes ago. I’ve hated seeing these two so strained with each other. To me, the writers have shown that the strength of this couple’s relationship lies in honest communication. Neither of them is perfect, and they have their arguments and disagreements, but they have always been able to talk it out. Unfortunately, that’s not so this time. On Guiding Light, Tammy has broken up with Jonathan. (Something that I knew was coming, but happened a lot sooner than I had expected.) Jonathan has often said he has nothing without Tammy, and watching him declare his love and beg her to come back to him has been heartbreaking. It’s even harder knowing that Tammy still loves him, but has pushed him away because of guilt. (It’s a loooong story…) Good grief, even Jin and Sun on Lost were looking a bit shaky for a while there last night! (And I’m still wondering if we know the whole truth about Sun’s pregnancy. Stay tuned…)
I have always tended to invest way too much of myself in television couples. This is part of the reason I got away from watching soaps for so long. I hated the constant getting together and breaking up of couples I loved, only to watch them move on to other people, then get back together, then break up again. I always ended up feeling like I’d been put through an emotional wringer. I used to enjoy Grey’s Anatomy, but once McDreamy’s wife came to town I could see the writing on the wall and couldn’t stand to watch anymore. Obviously being a romantic has it draw-backs. 
Oh, well. At least one good thing has come from all this angst. It has reminded me exactly why I love romance novels so much. That HEA sure can come in handy when you need a pick-me-up!
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Shana Says:
I’m like you, Kim. That’s why it’s hard when I write to make my characters unhappy. I hate it when they are apart and struggling. And on TV, the writers can torture their audiences so much more.
Real break-ups are hard as well. I have a band-aid theory on break ups. You can tear the bandage slowly and prolong the pain, but it’s small pinpricks of pain. Or you can rip it off quickly, suffer, but then it’s over. I have always wanted to be the ripping off kind of person. Unfortunately, I’m the slow type.
Lois Says:
Heck, I’m still rather disappointed that they got rid of Edmund because I saw lots of potential with him and Cassie. Cassie and Jeffrey are okay, but they domesticated him too much, and they made Cassie too calm. She needs her little bit of bad girl streak.
But that’s why I like Romances — you know what’s going to happen at the end, even though we don’t know how they are going to get there!
Lois
Janelle Says:
Who are some of your favorite t.v. couples? Mine are:
Joey and Pacey (Dawson’s Creek… I know… not exactly quality t.v. but I love it!)
Lois and Clark (From Lois and Clark: the New Adventures of Superman)
Mulder and Scully
Ross and Rachel
Kimberly Logan Says:
Oh, Lois, I loved Edmund! I really miss his character and wish GL would bring him back. He was such delicious fun when he was evil. That’s part of the reason I have been so glad to see that there is still some bad boy left in Jonathan. But this break-up with Tammy is killin’ me! I just about cried when the security guys had to drag him away from her the other day. My poor, poor Jonny.
And Janelle, Pacey/Joey and Ross/Rachel are two of my favorite sets of T.V. couples ever! I was so glad when Dawson’s Creek and Friends ended with all of them together. I’d add Buffy and Spike to the list. And Sawyer and Kate, if Lost will ever get off their bums and actually pair them up!
Mary Says:
Yeah, what IS up with Sun??
I actually started watching Grey’s Anatomy AFTER the wife came back, and I’m liking it.
I’ve stopped watching shows when they broke up my favorite characters but of course I can’t think of an example right now.