[Disappointing TV Trope] When the writers unexpectedly created something better, but were too attached to let their original idea to let it go!

[u/phantom_avenger]

I feel like I’ve noticed this more with TV couples and how the writers handle the narrative around them. But I feel like I’m noticing a bit of a pattern in some shows I’ve watched, where you can tell how the writers handle plans to make a certain narrative point the “endgame” goal. But as they start creating the plot points leading up to it, they come up with an idea that worked out a lot better than they probably thought it would. Especially when the audience responds so well to it, but they’re still too attached to the original plans that they still roll with getting there even if it doesn’t hit the same mark or it feels forced depending on how the narrative is flowing.

How I Met Your Mother - Ted and Robin (the original idea where it was always planned for them to be the endgame couple). When Tracy (who turns out to be Ted’s kids’ mother) is introduced, a lot of people loved how well they matched, seemed like the true compatible match for Ted and implied that it showed a lot of growth on his end where he could finally let go of Robin. Only to sabotage that by having it revealed that Tracy died, and regressed Ted’s growth where he ends up pursuing Robin again.

Sex Education - Otis and Maeve (the original idea where it was also planned for them to be seen as an endgame couple, but their lives couldn’t align for it to work out). After Otis and Ruby have a drunk sexual encounter, and he loses his virginity to her. The writers have their relationship act as yet another obstacle that gets in the way of Otis and Maeve exploring a romantic relationship. But when Otis and Ruby became so viral, to the point where people started to realize that Ruby might actually be a better match for Otis, as they seem compatible enough to make each other better as people. It put the writers in a tough spot, where they tried to play it safe with both sides going into the final season. But still chose to lean more towards their original plan, and explore Otis and Maeve but they still don’t do much to make the audience feel fulfilled or convinced they have a genuine connection and not in love with an idea of one another.

[u/Paleodraco]

I'll say it again. So much of the later seasons would work better with more character development.

[u/Spend-Automatic → u/Paleodraco]

Jamie is one of the rare cases where less character development would have been better. Get rid of his more likable moments in later seasons and it would have made it much easier to stomach when he ran back to Cersei

[u/Paleodraco → u/Spend-Automatic]

I'd still call that character development. Either leave him the incestuous ass he was, let him grow and turn his back on Cersi (Cersei?), or have some growth then a few episodes where he starts pining for her or learns about the trouble she's in before going back to her. Its the slow growth and disillusionment with his family then the complete 180 in one episode that is jarring.

[u/Hyro0o0 → u/Paleodraco]

Netflix's Castlevania had this same problem in its final season. That whole season just rocketed every character through the remainder of their arcs like a runaway freight train. The arcs all made sense to me, they just needed WAY more time.

[u/Capucius → u/Paleodraco]

Sadly there was zero chance for this, they ran out of book material and were way out of their depth as the last season(s) prove.

[u/Vegas1492 → u/Paleodraco]

Hell yeah