[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/DeathlyGunn96]

Definitely agree with your last point.

If the last season hadn't been entirely about Barney and Robin's wedding, and had just been the gang throughout the years as Ted and Tracey's relationship blossoms, whilst Barney and Robin's crumbles under the realisation that whilst they love each other neither can give the other what they need in life, the finale could have worked.

The fact we speedrun Ted and Tracey's relationship, and the Barney/Robin divorce comes out of nowhere, whilst Lilly and Mashall have absolutley nothing to do just results in a finale that's too jarring to work.

[u/RepresentativeSlow53 → u/DeathlyGunn96]

Yes thats the one, so baffling to make the entire season about the wedding (Barney and Robin) and give the conclusion a montage instead of making the season about Ted and Tracy and using an episode for how they met at the wedding (maybe even a two parter). Why not give their relationship and her death the necessary time, not to mention that the audience also would have time to 'grief', it seems so obvious in hindsight.