History Main / TheyDo

* The seventh season of ''{{House}}'' opens with House and [[spoiler:Cuddy]] ''[[WillTheyOrWontThey finally]]'' beginning a romantic relationship... which has, so far, been surprisingly touching, realistically complicated and in-character -- or, at least, the show certainly hasn't turned from MedicalDrama to SoapOpera.

-->-- '''WilliamShakespeare''', ''Much Ado About Nothing''

* {{Glee}}. Klaine. The kiss. {{Squee}} and a resounding "IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME" ensued.

** Didn't hurt to be wed ''before'' those RunningTheAsylum started reading Marvel, or else [[SpiderMan they would]] [[ComicBook/XMen be toast]].

* {{Glee}}. Klaine. The kiss. {{Squee}} ensued.

* {{Shrek}} and fiona at the end of the first film. The second and third ones are actually built around their relationship.

* A horrible, horrible subversion in {{Spiderman}}, where Peter and Mary-Jane, whose marriage ''was'' a successful example of TheyDo, was forced into a pitiful CosmicRetcon courtesy of OneMoreDay and JoeQuesada.

** And [[BattleCouple they are]] '''[[BackToBackBadasses awesome!]]''' It is interesting to note, though, that their relationship is [[FireForgedFriends slowly and steadily built despite]] [[InHarmsWay having two opposing empires hunting their asses]], and Moya being a station interchange for DyfunctionJunction. With all the [[MindRape psychological problems]] and [[BreakTheCutie recurrent attempts by their foes to break them]], they really do [[EarnYourHappyEnding earn their happy ending]] and it ''works''.

If there has been an engaging "will it work?" plot up to this point, a TheyDo can induce a variation of ShippingBedDeath (or, of course, it can induce the standard brand if it doubles as a RelationshipUpgrade)- in which case, cue a [[AuthorsSavingThrow last second split up]], one party getting run over [[PutOnABus by a bus]] or some other malarkey. Writers may try to avert this by segueing into a new kind of story- [[ChangingOfTheGuard shifting the focus]] to a [[BetaCouple newer couple]] to keep the old romance plots open, or using the stable relationship to open up fresh new avenues for comedy, drama and adventure. Contrast with MaybeEverAfter, which is when a romance arc ends without clearly confirming whether or not TheyDo.

If there has been an engaging "will it work?" plot up to this point, a TheyDo can induce a variation of ShippingBedDeath (or, of course, it can induce the standard brand if it doubles as a RelationshipUpgrade)- in which case, cue a [[AuthorsSavingThrow last second split up]], one party getting run over [[PutOnABus by a bus]] or some other malarkey. Writers may try to avert this by segueing into a new kind of story- [[ChangingOfTheGuard shifting the focus]] to a [[BetaCouple newer couple]] to keep the old romance plots open, or using the stable relationship to open up fresh new avenues for comedy, drama and adventure.

* ''DaCapo'' plays it straight with [[spoiler: Junichi [[BrotherSisterIncest hooking up]] with Nemu, [[NotBloodSiblings his stepsister]], and all the troubles they had to face afterwards made the series' quality improve ''by orders of magnitude''. Special mention to the [[TearJerker extremely sad]] endings [[DieForOurShip Miharu, Yoriko]], Kotori and Sakura received. Especially Sakura.]]

* ([[{{X-Men}} Cyclops and Jean Grey]] may not have been married until the 90s (deaths, resurrections, and ReplacementGoldfish will do that to a couple), but had been in a relationship for about as long as Reed and Sue, becoming an old married couple since before they ever tied the knot. Then... stuff happened to them. Nowadays Cyclops is with [[{{Kuudere}} Emma Frost]].

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where we are finally done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. If the story is done with them, they live HappilyEverAfter. If it isn't, when the rest of it happens to them they'll have each other. Give them enough time, and they'll likely [[HappilyMarried be married]] when it does.

* Same deal in ''DaCapoII''. Koko and Yoshiyuki hook up in the very first episode. [[spoiler:They break up late into the first season though.]]

** To be fair to the anime, they're technically still boyfriend and girlfriend from about episode 4 on, so most of the interesting stuff still does happen after they become a couple. The series does decline shortly after the first time they ''sleep'' together, but generally speaking the series does improve or continue to be equally good after they start ''dating''.
* ''ItazuraNaKiss'': It becomes interesting after they get married. Seriously, just skip the first season.
** This is probably one of the few shows that go beyond marriage and [[{{Clannad}} does not have problems right after]]
* Tomoya and Nagisa of ''{{Clannad}}'' fame. DiabolusExMachina steps in, with Tomoya being screwed over repeatedly, first with [[spoiler:Nagisa's death, then Ushio's]]. [[IGotBetter They got better]] though.

*** The pictured couple ([[{{X-Men}} Cyclops and Jean Grey,]] if you didn't already know) may not have been married until the 90s (deaths, resurrections, and ReplacementGoldfish will do that to a couple), but had been in a relationship for about as long as Reed and Sue, becoming an old married couple since before they ever tied the knot. These days, though, the "power couple" title is given over to Cyclops and [[{{Kuudere}} Emma Frost]]. Discussion over whether it's deserved or not goes...[[WallBanger elsewhere.]]

* Villainous example:Titania and Crusher "The Absorbing Man" Creel of MarvelComics.

* The second ''{{Shrek}}'' film is arguably better than the original just because Shrek and Fiona's relationship is handled so well.

* Both Han Solo and Leia and Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade have been cited as examples of this in the StarWars ExpandedUniverse.
** There's also Jacen and Tenel Ka, though they never got married. One of the funniest moments was when Ben Skywalker found out and said:
--->''You guys aren't married, and you had a kid? You're going to be in so much trouble!''
** Ben almost slept with Tahiri in ''Invincible''. Yes, {{shotacon}} is [[{{Squick}} squicktastic]].
** The StarWarsExpandedUniverse gave us more than you would think. Corran and Mirax Horn, Wedge and Iella Antilles, Tycho and Winter Celchu, Wes Jansen and his ego... Corran and Mirax are a particularly good example, though, since they got a series chronicalling their FourthDateMarriage, then several books chronicalling the results of that marriage.
* If ''[[LoisMcMasterBujold Diplomatic Immunity]]'' is anything to go by, [[VorkosiganSaga Miles Vorkosigan]] hasn't lost one whit of his awesome by being HappilyMarried, and has in fact gained some.
** Genetic. Of course--this is the Vorkosigans we're talking about. Miles's parents Cordelia and Aral get HappilyMarried at the end of ''Shards of Honor'', continue to be awesome throughout ''Barrayar'', then settle down to a life of (comparatively) RetiredBadass-ness.
* [[{{Discworld}} Commander Vimes]] started out as a parody of the FilmNoir detective, so obviously he couldn't be in a happy relationship. He got married to Lady Sybil in his second appearance though, and became a much more interesting character - and Lady Sybil has, as well.
** In fact, though the consensus is that Vimes is a walking CrowningMomentOfAwesome in any case, almost all of the scenes with his son are listed on either the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome CMOA]] page or CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* In ''MysticAndRider'', Senneth and Tayse are both completely {{Badass}} and made of awesome, and they finally manage to get past the AnguishedDeclarationOfLove phase at the very end of the book. In the subsequent books, in which they are together, and then married, they are far, ''far'' more awesome because they complete each other. BattleCouple extraordinaire; terrifyingly powerful fire mystic dedicated to simple human kindness marries sword-wielding BadassNormal who loves her more than life itself. King's Mystic and King's Rider, indeed.
* In the ''[[HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Harry Potter]]'' [[WhereAreTheyNow epilogue]], Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermoine... although they may not be the {{fan preferred couple}}s.

* ''{{Babylon 5}}'' with Sheridan and Delenn. They walked through fire for their love, but the series really only got better after that.

** And how.

* Also arguably, Jim and Pam on the US ''TheOffice'', in that it hasn't started to suck.
** And on the British original, [[spoiler:well, there wouldn't be an entry here if Tim and Dawn didn't get together at the very end of [[UnCanceled The Special]].]]

* ''TheNanny'' after Fran and Max got married.

* ''TheXFiles''' Mulder and Scully; it wasn't their hookup that spoiled the show, it was David Duchovny's departure. In the 2008 movie, while they do have their issues, they appear to be happy together.
* In ''{{Scrubs}}'', there's JD and Elliot in the eighth season when they finally get together with a stable relationship after a majority of the series (aside from a break from the fourth season to end of the sixth season) went through their on-and-off-again relationship with varying amounts of Will They or Won't They.

* Niles and Daphne on ''{{Frasier}}''. Except for the stupid "fat farm" arc, but that was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot the actress more than anything.]]

* While they don't actually get married, of course, (yet, anyway, since WordOfGod says they do eventually) Kim and Ron of ''KimPossible'' hook up in the series's first GrandFinale. Of course, the show got a PostScriptSeason in which the relationship was handled quite wonderfully.

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where we are finally done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. If the story is done with them, they live HappilyEverAfter. If it isn't, when the rest of it happens to them they'll have each other. By that time they'll likely [[HappilyMarried be married]].

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where we are absolutely, positively done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. If the story is done with them, they live HappilyEverAfter. If it isn't, when the rest of it happens to them they'll have each other. By that time they'll likely [[HappilyMarried be married]].

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where we are absolutely, positively done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. If the story is done with them, they live HappilyEverAfter. If it isn't, when the rest of it happens to them they'll have each other.

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where we are absolutely, positively done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. If the story is done with them, they live HappilyEverAfter. If it isn't, they'll be going through it together.

The conclusion of a RomanceArc with a HappyEnding. The point where the last thread of conflict reaches resolution, and we are absolutely, positively done with [[SecondActBreakUp breakups]], [[ThirdActMisunderstanding misunderstandings]] and second thoughts. Maybe the story is over now and we're left to assume those two lived HappilyEverAfter. Maybe there's still some story left, in which case we're likely to see them HappilyMarried. Their relationship stops being a plot point and becomes a constant.

[[quoteright:230:[[Comicbook/{{X-Factor}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jean_playful_with_scott.jpg]]]]

If there has been an engaging "will it work?" plot up to this point, a TheyDo can induce a variation of ShippingBeDeath (or, of course, it can induce the standard brand if it doubles as a RelationshipUpgrade)- in which case, cue a [[AuthorsSavingThrow last second split up]], one party getting run over [[PutOnABus by a bus]] or some other malarkey. Writers may try to avert this by segueing into a new kind of story- [[ChangingOfTheGuard shifting the focus]] to a [[BetaCouple newer couple]] to keep the old romance plots open, or using the stable relationship to open up fresh new avenues for comedy, drama and adventure.

When it coincides with a RelationshipUpgrade and isn't a LastMinuteHookup, a TheyDo can cause ShippingBedDeath- in which case, cue a [[AuthorsSavingThrow last second split up]], getting run over [[PutOnABus by a bus]] or some other malarkey. Writers may try to avert this by segueing into a new kind of story- [[ChangingOfTheGuard shifting the focus]] to a [[BetaCouple newer couple]] to keep the old romance plots open, or using the stable relationship to open up fresh new avenues for comedy, drama and adventure.