History Main / StalkingisLove

There is an unfortunate DoubleStandard common in the depiction of this trope. Stalker type behavior in a man can make him a romantic hero but the same behavior will almost always make a woman dangerous or pathetic. Interestingly, the StalkerWithACrush trope features an exactly opposite DoubleStandard- StalkingIsFunnyIfItIsFemaleAfterMale and the stalker is more likely to be portrayed as cute and desirable, while a male stalker is portrayed as pathetic and dangerous.

* ''Manga/FutureDiary'' plays around with this trope regarding [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]] (the [[StalkerWithACrush stalker]]) and [[ActionSurvivor Yukiteru]] ([[ShrinkingViolet the stalk-ee]]). While Yuno certainly believes firmly in this trope to the point where [[spoiler: she actually traveled to a [[AlternateUniverse parallel space-time universe]] ''just'' to be with him again]], Yuki is... less than convinced. He falls in love with her by the end, if only because [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie he's just as messed-up as her]]]].

* ''Manga/{{Zetsuai1989}}'' is about a male singer named Kouji who's childhood crush on a male soccer star named Izumi that he fell for as a kid, leads to assorted sexual harassment when the two meet in person years later. The series romanticizes stalking and rewards the attacker in the end when the victim becomes comfortable with his stalker and stops running away.

* In the ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' fan fiction[[FanFic/TheNotSoShortSecondLifeOfBreeTanner The (Not So) Short Second Life of Bree Tanner]] the main character, Bree, is the object of some restraining order-worthy affection from [[spoiler:Alec]], though -- unlike Bella with Edward -- she's not nearly as charmed by the creepily felonious antics or isn't shy about mentioning it.

There is an unfortunate DoubleStandard common in the depiction of this trope. Stalker type behavior in a man can make him a romantic hero but the same behavior will almost always make a woman dangerous or pathetic. Interestingly, the StalkerWithACrush trope features an exactly opposite DoubleStandard.

* Most ([[SturgeonsLaw but not all]]) ''Series/{{Glee}}'' fanfics that involve Kurt/Dave Karofsky will have this trope.

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[[quoteright:298:[[Literature/{{Twilight}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/edward_stalker_shrunk2.jpg]]]]

* The music video for Music/MichaelJackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" features Jackson following some random woman around a city block, singing about how much he loves her, and performing lewd dance moves. Rather than being annoyed or creeped out by this behavior, the woman in question is amused and the video ends with them embracing.

Sometimes this results from ValuesDissonance, since behaviors towards a LoveInterest that are considered appropriate in one time or place can seem creepy in others. Compare AbductionIsLove, DoNotDoThisCoolThing, and PlayfulPursuit.

* ''Manga/FutureDiary'' plays around with this trope regarding [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]] (the [[StalkerWithACrush stalker]]) and [[ActionSurvivor Yukiteru]] ([[ShrinkingViolet the stalk-ee]]). While Yuno certainly believes firmly in this trope to the point where [[spoiler: she actually traveled to a [[AlternateUniverse parallel space-time universe]] ''just'' to be with him again]], Yuki is... less than convinced. He falls in love with her by the end, if only because [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie he's just as messed-up as her.]]]]

* Played with the usual amount of taste and seriousness ([[PlayedForLaughs that is, none at all]]) in ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', where Matoi and Kafuka certainly believe this. Of course, Nozomu kindly informs her that ''[[CrossingTheLineTwice mutual suicide]]'' is true love. And then unfortunately informs her that he'd be happy to kill himself with her at any time, so she took up stalking him while her previous stalking victim started stalking ''her.''

** Which actually leads to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjnklo7QryU a chain of stalking]] HilarityEnsues

* In ''Manga/AskDrRin'', this is Meirin, full stop. Maybe justified by the fact that she and Asuka are [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend childhood friends]], but that angle just makes it look even more awkward.

* ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' does a variation. While Torso's actions towards his "lovers" are depicted as being very disturbing, Torso thinks what he's doing isn't wrong. Sasaki theorizes that Torso removes the legs of his victims so they won't "leave". Once he becomes obsessed with Mutsuki, he becomes obsessed with following him and making him his, which especially escalates after Mutsuki responds to his affections in the negative leading to him to cut off his limbs to keep him from leaving. A volume 4 diary entry reveals that he believes they share a mysterious connection, and this "spark" of desire will be his salvation. He just believes they need to have a long, private talk.....then Mutsuki will understand their destined bond, and return his love. After he cuts off Mutsuki's legs and arms he declares he will forcibly marry him while having him dressed up in a white dress and putting a wedding ring on his cut-off hand. He then stands in front of him shirtless while breathing deeply which heavily implies Attempted Rape. Usually, his past "lovers" rejection of him drives him to extreme violence to punish them including destroying their faces. Also, in chapter 73 of re: Torso brings Mutsuki a flower crown, but gets angry when Mutsuki glares at him and won't accept his compliments. He beats Mutsuki violently while screaming insults. He later has them on a makeshift bed and says he only beats Mutsuki because of how deep his love for him is. He also gets a sad backstory and Mutsuki finds himself sympathizing with Torso after hearing it despite how he abused him. Despite [[spoiler: Torso's gruesome end at Mutsuki's hands]] they are still shipped together in the 2016 calendar.
** Tsukiyama is depicted as Kaneki's StalkerWithACrush in a HoYay way radiating fanservice and is portrayed very sympathetically following him [[spoiler: being rejected by Kaneki and falling into an AngstComa after believing him to be dead.]]

* One time while watching Siryn sleep, ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} laments that what he's doing used to be considered romantic, but now it's called "stalking" and generally considered "Trespass". But that's Deadpool.
* [[ComicBook/NewWarriors Speedball]] does not mind ComicBook/SquirrelGirl's [[StalkerWithACrush disturbing stalking]] towards him. In fact, he finds it very cute. And it doesn't hurt that he likes hazelnut.
* Similarly ComicBook/BlackCat stalking ComicBook/SpiderMan isn’t presented as creepy. At one point she even shows Spidey the StalkerShrine she made for him and while a little freaked out, he still pursues a relationship with her.

* The RomanticComedy ''Film/{{Management}}'' was completely undermined by the fact that Steve Zahn and Creator/JenniferAniston's otherwise sweetly quirky relationship consisted of him stalking her across the country.

** From what is shown of her various exes, she also has a tendency to date psychotic people. This includes Gideon, who creates The League of Evil Exes to keep her from dating anyone else and return to him, [[spoiler:brainwashes her into being with him again, and hits and shove her down some steps in [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything a decidedly non-comedic way]].]] Compared to that, a guy who shyly follows her around at a party would be normal.
* The obvious ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' rip-off ''Blood Red Moon'' features this, with the male lead Victor. However, he does it... poorly. As ''WebVideo/ObscurusLupa'' put it in her review:

** Destro has this sort of relationship with the Baroness. Unlike traditional versions of the romance where it's entirely consensual, he seems ''very'' interested in the current one despite her showing only marginal interest in return. [[spoiler:He even has her husband killed for touching her.]] However, he also knows [[spoiler:she's mind-controlled.]]

* In the musical's sequel to ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', ''Theatre/LoveNeverDies'', [[spoiler:Christine realized long ago that she wasn't "looking with her heart" when she chose Raoul over the Phantom. So stalking and murder IS love in this version!]] It's especially sad considering that in the book Erik realizes that he's a sick, psychopathic, horrible stalker, but can't stop himself, eventually choosing [[spoiler:suicide]] as the solution. He may be TheWoobie, but the kind of Woobie who [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds doesn't mind killing hundreds of people to get the attention of his love interest. ]]

* This happens in the ''Twilight''-ripoff ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey''. The title character actually tracks Ana via her cellphone, which, in addition to being creepy, is kind of illegal.
** In the same book, Grey also stalks Ana Steele across state lines when she goes to visit her mother in Savannah, Georgia. Ana calls it stalking, too; she's just unable to grasp that stalking is a ''bad'' thing.
* In the second book of ''Literature/SongOfTheLioness'', Alanna explicitly calls George's behavior "stalking" while he's doing his DoggedNiceGuy routine, and in the third he has a couple of his spies follow her into the desert (where she is trying to get ''away'' from this and other complications of Corus). Although Alanna is annoyed with these things at the time, she eventually marries him. Tamora Pierce has since acknowledged this as a major case of {{Values Dissonance}}, as stalking was much less understood in the '80s, and even says it's the one thing about the franchise she'd like to go back and change.

* The plot of a ''Literature/TheBabysittersClub'' book featured the girls fearing the actions of a prank caller/prowler roaming the neighborhood. One night when two of the girls are sitting together, they're frightened by mysterious phone calls and noises outside. When one of the girls actually sees someone running away from the house at one point, she gets fed up and calls the police, who bring in one of her classmates. When she and the cops demand to know why he's been harassing her, he shyly admits that he was trying to work up the nerve to ask her out--and she ''accepts''. This isn't PlayedForLaughs or made out to be adorable like so many other examples, this is flat-out creepy and scary behavior that still results in the guy getting the girl.

** In self-aware moments, Angel himself seems to understand that this behavior is unhealthy. He seems aware that stalking is not good, but it is better than what he was doing before. The series never [[JustifiedTrope Justifies]] it, only asks latitude for the TorturedMonster Angel is.

** Arguably {{Deconstructed}} ''further'' by [[spoiler: Spike in season 5.]] After falling in love with Buffy, as he's soulless and thus [[AlwaysChaoticEvil chaotic evil by nature]], he begins exhibiting exaggerated stalking tendencies. This culminates in a twisted attempt at a GrandRomanticGesture where he tries to "prove" his love by [[spoiler: kidnapping Buffy so she can watch him stake Drusilla, his ex-girlfriend and sire]]. Justifiably, Buffy rejects him and is disgusted by the depth of his obsession, revoking his invitation into her home. It's not until a few episodes later, when he [[spoiler: endures nearly being beaten to death by a god in order to protect her and her sister's safety]] that he proves a meaningful interest in her, and his feelings are granted a some acknowledgement. For the rest of the season, he drops the stalking all together in favour of CourtlyLove, and is treated far more kindly by Buffy in return.

* Usually averted in ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'', which is a whole series deconstruction of RomCom tropes, but played straight in season two when [[spoiler:Josh realises that Rebecca has always been there for him and falls for her]], despite all the creepy stuff she's done towards him. However, it's implied that he was just desperate to find a rebound relationship as he hates being single, and while they seem happy together at first, by the end of the season he has some ''very'' cold feet.

** In the first season, Paul serves as a [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of TheDulcineaEffect, so while he ''is'' trying to save Echo, his actions come across as obsessive and weird at times, especially as he ignored a (seemingly) healthier romantic partner in Mellie. Eventually, Paul and Echo get together.
** Alpha gets a bit of this, too, with a lot less subtlety. He's AxeCrazy and obsessed with Echo, but in [[GrandFinale The Finale]] he's apparently reformed, and it's hinted he still loves her (though he [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy would rather see her happy with Paul]]). So he apparently ''did'' really love her, despite his earlier psychotic actions.

* {{Justified}} in the second season of ''Series/You2018''. Joe, the stalking, murderous, panty-sniffing VillainProtagonist eventually has his stalker-tendencies revealed to his LoveInterest Love... [[spoiler:who turns out to be totally into that. However, it ''also'' turns out that not only has she known about his true nature for quite a while, but she manipulated their relationship in similar ways and even has a few murders under her belt as well. As it turns out, only a fellow stalker would find stalking romantic. Joe, however, is [[{{Hypocrite}} appalled by this revelation]].]]

* In Wrestling/{{TNA}}, Brittany stalked Samuel Shaw, who had repeatedly said he was not interested in her. She persisted though and eventually, he did fall in love with her.[[/folder]]

* Used in-universe in ''Series/{{Mongrels}}'' episode "Nelson and the Human". While Neil's pursuit of a woman is clearly obsessive stalking, Nelson sees it as romantic and tries to come up with a scheme to get the two lovebirds together. In the end [[spoiler: Neil shoots the woman and her boyfriend, then himself.]]

* In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', the artificially intelligent computer, TEC-XX, expresses to [[DistressedDamsel Princess Peach]] (at the time, TEC's master's captive) that he has been overcome by strange feelings that compel him to continuously observe and eavesdrop on Peach. Peach's logical conclusion is that TEC is in love. Let's not forget that TEC first experienced these "strange feelings" when he ''observed her taking a shower''.

* Marinette of ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' is utterly obsessed with her friend Adrien, though it's mostly PlayedForLaughs. Her entire bedroom doubles as a StalkerShrine, and she has a wall-sized copy of his schedule so she always knows where he is. In one episode, she gets jealous that he didn't come to a tree planting session with their friends, so she breaks into his house to see what he's doing. Every character who knows about this obsession, from her best friend Alya to a random fireman, encourages it and views it as sweet and quirky. For his part, Adrien is mostly unaware of the depths of her affection and doesn't return it, but when he does get a glimpse, he shrugs it off. It helps that nearly ''every'' teen girl in Paris is likewise obsessed with Adrien (he's a famous model), and Marinette at least treats him like a friend rather than an idol. It's less that the stalking is treated as romantic, and more like it's treated as a harmless comedic quirk, but it makes some viewers uncomfortable all the same.
* PlayedWith in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''. Timmy casually references that AlphaBitch Trixie has a restraining order against him but Timmy’s own [[AbhorrentAdmirer disliked]] [[StalkerWithACrush stalker]] Tootie is someone he considers creepy and Timmy has filed a restraining order against her. However, many episodes have Timmy come to the conclusion that Tootie is genuinely in love with him.

* Wal-Mart once sold a men's shirt with "Some call it stalking, I call it 'love'" printed on it. In a red font. That looked like dripping blood. [[CrossingTheLineTwice Cute]].

* In ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'', this trope gets combined with GenerationXerox with regards to the Uzumaki family.
** In flashbacks, Naruto's father Minato is shown stalking Naruto's mother Kushina. He watches over her but doesn't actually step in when she gets bullied because he has faith that she can take care of herself. The one time she's outmatched, when she's kidnapped by enemy shinobi from another village, [[RescueRomance he's there to rescue her and this causes her to fall in love with him]].
** In the series proper, [[spoiler:Naruto's future wife]] Hinata is shown stalking Naruto early on in Part I. [[ShrinkingViolet She's too shy to talk him]] so she just watches him while hiding being a tree or pole. [[CharacterDevelopment She completely drops this behavior]] in [[TimeSkip Part II]], as she's able to overcome her shyness enough to talk to Naruto without much trouble.
** Finally, in the DistantFinale to the series, [[spoiler: Naruto and Hinata's son Boruto is shown being stalked by Sasuke and Sakura's daughter Sarada.]]

Sometimes this results from ValuesDissonance, since behaviors towards a LoveInterest that are considered appropriate in one time or place can seem creepy in others. Compare AbductionIsLove, DoNotDoThisCoolThing.

* Marinette of ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' is utterly obsessed with her friend Adrien. Her entire bedroom doubles as a StalkerShrine, and she has a wall-sized copy of his schedule so she always knows where he is. In one episode, she gets jealous that he didn't come to a tree planting session with their friends, so she breaks into his house to see what he's doing. Every character who knows about this obsession, from her best friend Alya to a random fireman, encourages it and views it as sweet and quirky. For his part, Adrien is mostly unaware of the depths of her affection and doesn't return it, but when he does get a glimpse, he shrugs it off. It helps that nearly ''every'' teen girl in Paris is likewise obsessed with Adrien (he's a famous model), and Marinette at least treats him like a friend rather than an idol.

* Played with in {{WesternAnimation/The Fairly OddParents}}. Timmy causally references that {{Alpha Bitch}} Trixie has a restraining order against him but Timmy’s own {{stalker with a crush}} Tootie is creepy and Timmy has a restraining order against her but Timmy does (at several points) come to the conclusion that Tootie is genuinely in love with him.

* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Edward Cullen starts out by flat-out stalking Bella and watching her as she sleeps. Does she mind? No. Even as he tells her how dangerous he is, she finds him more and more attractive, eventually allowing him to entirely isolate her from her old life and friends (even granted that she wasn't particularly happy with them to begin with, her sheer passivity can still come across as disturbing). Edward even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this in the prequel ''Literature/MidnightSun'', becoming disgusted with himself when he sneaks into Bella's window to watch her sleep and berating himself as a creepy stalker who ''should not be doing this''. [[IgnoredEpiphany It doesn't stop him from going ahead and doing it anyway.]] [[ParanoiaFuel Repeatedly.]] When he does finally confess that he has been watching her sleep, she is actually ''flattered'' by it.

* The protagonist of ''Film/{{Diva}}'' stalks an opera star, then finally meets her ... and she sleeps with him.

Some more forgiving depictions of this trope rely on the stalker simply being too shy to approach the object of his or her affections directly, and [[InnocentlyInsensitive is otherwise harmless]].

* In ''Film/KillingJessicaStein'', Jessica ends up with Josh who quite obsessively went through her personal files (including letters) at work. Apparently, because he was motivated by jealousy from their past relationship, this is fine.

* In ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'', Mizore constantly stalks the main character by hiding in a dozen various places and spying on him because she has a crush on him. [[AboveTheInfluence Too bad he never notices]].

* ''Webcomic/SamAndFuzzy'' has a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent strain of vampire]], known as "Chronic Tragic Gothic Romanticism"-type, who ''all'' believe in this trope InUniverse and take to the knowledge that [[RealityEnsues Vampirism does NOT make stalking attractive]] as though it's an AwfulTruth. The trope itself, incidentally, is ''not'' in force for any of them: Most people find vampires ''incredibly'' annoying to deal with as a result.

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Angel is a {{Deconstruction}}. He sees and falls in love with Buffy when [[JailBait she is fifteen]]. He expresses this love by stalking her for a year before revealing himself. In one sense, his devotion is played straight: Buffy herself is flattered to have the intense affection and protection of this [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Bad Boy]]. It is simultaneously denied: other characters, especially Buffy's male friends, think that his behavior is creepy and dangerous. They are justifiably suspicious of Buffy's vampire boyfriend and it takes Angel time to earn their trust.

* [[AvertedTrope Averted]] / Played with in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'' -- Cody does ''not'' appreciate [[StalkerWithACrush Sierra's]] torturous obsession with him for most of the season, but is generally touched when she remembers his birthday when [[ForgottenBirthday not even]] ''[[ForgottenBirthday he]]'' [[ForgottenBirthday did]]. Finally having him return her affection seems to prompt her to tone herself down. Somewhat, at least. Funny, he had no problem with stalking Gwen. Then, [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased when the roles get reversed, he's a bad guy]]

* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Edward Cullen starts out by flat-out stalking Bella and watching her as she sleeps. Does she mind? No. Even as he tells her how dangerous he is, she finds him more and more attractive, eventually allowing him to entirely isolate her from her old life and friends (even granted that she wasn't particularly happy with them to begin with, her sheer passivity can still come across as disturbing). Edward even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this in the prequel ''Literature/MidnightSun'', becoming disgusted with himself when he sneaks into Bella's window to watch her sleep and berating himself as a creepy stalker who ''should not be doing this''. [[IgnoredEpiphany It doesn't stop him from going ahead and doing it anyway.]] [[ParanoiaFuel Repeatedly.]] When he does finally confess that he has been watching her sleep, she is flattered. Yes, you read that right. She is flattered. By someone watching her sleep.

* In ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'', although Tsuna is sort of creeped out by Gokudera's StalkerWithACrush tendencies, the show depicts him as being a very loyal and wonderful friend, writing off his desire to kill off anyone who gets close to Tsuna as being [[ComedicSociopathy comedy]].

* Spoofed in ''{{LightNovel/Durarara}}'' when Anri (jokingly) implies that she's been stalking Mikado. Upon hearing this, Mikado's brain starts zig-zagging the hell out of this trope (complete with Mikado's Inner Puppet Theater) like only a hormonal teenager can before Anri finally tells him she was kidding

* Arima's dark side in ''Manga/KareKano''. Any time that he comes onto the screen, you just know Arima is seconds away from shattering. This is made worse because to the outside world, he appears to be a put together, genius with his only match being Yukino, his girlfriend. It's scary to slowly see his thoughts morph from wanting to be with Yukino, to wanting to isolate her from everyone and keep her just for himself. His fighting with these thoughts proves that Arima is a good guy, but him imagining tying Yukino in chains does not bode well for their relationship. This is a rare case of StalkerWithACrush in which not only is the stalker in a committed relationship with his crush, but he is also portrayed as so sympathetic that you just want to save him from himself.

* In the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', Maddie once told Jazz that Jack would camp out on her family's yard when they were away just so he could see her when she got back. While Jack and Maddie thought it was romantic, Jazz thought that it was nothing to be proud of.

* Displayed in the recurring ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' skit "The Denise Show", in which a teenage boy obsesses over his ex-girlfriend and contrives ways to get her back. Despite the comedy setting, it's made clear that his behavior is wrong--his father yells at him about it, Denise herself repeatedly tells him to leave her alone, and another girlfriend dumps him because he can't get over her. By the final skit, he mentions that a restraining order has filed against him.

* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Edward Cullen starts out by flat-out stalking Bella and watching her as she sleeps. Does she mind? No. Even as he tells her how dangerous he is, she finds him more and more attractive, eventually allowing him to entirely isolate her from her old life and friends (even granted that she wasn't particularly happy with them to begin with, her sheer passivity can still come across as disturbing). Edward even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this in the aborted prequel ''Literature/MidnightSun'', becoming disgusted with himself when he sneaks into Bella's window to watch her sleep and berating himself as a creepy stalker who ''should not be doing this''. [[IgnoredEpiphany It doesn't stop him from going ahead and doing it anyway.]] [[ParanoiaFuel Repeatedly.]] When he does finally confess that he has been watching her sleep, she is flattered. Yes, you read that right. She is flattered. By someone watching her sleep.

Most characters of this type are intended to be sympathetic; the lengths the fella goes to is supposed to show just how much he loves his beloved (or she hers -- this can happen to characters of any gender). But characters like this can be ''very'' unnerving to readers and audiences who realize just how far things have gone.