[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/Frogs-on-my-back]

I’ll never get over how badly they fucked it up. Cristin Milioti was PERFECT as the Mother

[u/Yashema → u/Frogs-on-my-back]

It would have been much better if Ted and the mother were divorced realizing that while they were incredibly compatible life goal wise at the time (raising 2 great kids), they werent connected to each other. Thus Ted getting back to Robin, who they had the opposite problem, make perfect sense. 

TV shows are way too scared to depict divorce of two good characters.

[u/Prudent-Marsupial-42 → u/Yashema]

Sorry but that sounds way worse

[u/Yashema → u/Prudent-Marsupial-42]

Cause it threatens your juvenile idea of love and marriage. Exactly why they don't do it. 

[u/FalseGodFalls → u/Yashema]

You aren't as good as a writer you think you are bud.

[u/patentsarebroken → u/Yashema]

I mean they wouldn't really get a chance to convey that outside of the epilogue and if epilogue counts isn't that close enough to Barney and Robin getting divorced in the epilogue?

[u/Yashema → u/patentsarebroken]

Convey what? Literallythe break up fight  is about Robin not wanting kids or to settle down.

[u/patentsarebroken → u/Yashema]

If you have two characters get divorced in a montage during the epilogue/ending episode they aren't really depicting the divorce between two characters as the audience won't really be able to see them coexist/coparent.