I’m thoroughly convinced that 90% + of screenwriters have never seen, let alone had, a healthy functioning relationship and couldn’t write one if there lives depended on it. What are the exceptions?
Castlevania, despite some of the creators being creeps, has a good one with Sypha and Belmont. It’s established off-screen and you simply see them interact as a couple that works closely together.
You don’t see the courtship at all and there’s little eroticism. I don’t know if lacking that excludes it from being considered romantic.
But I like the relationship where they clearly care about each other and I’m certain the romance would be believable if they showed it in-scene. It is odd however how Belmont has a foul mouth but won’t say something explicit to Sypha when they’re alone.
The other romantic relationships in the series are also established off-screen for the most part. You see couples talking to each other in bed and stuff, but there aren’t too many declarations of love or discussion on their relationship, but I think the lack of dialogue around that could be excused by it being 1474.
Bob and Linda Belcher. Healthiest marriage in the history of American television.
One of my favorite moments was when the kids were trying to convince them to get a dog and they drew a picture where Bob had a 2nd wife and described her in detail, Bob isn’t super into it mostly thinking about the financial implications but Linda immediately says “Oh I like her, she sounds nice”
That showed just how strong their relationship really is to me, they may not be poly but they could be and their relationship would still be rock solid
