History PlayingWith / PairTheSpares

** Or, depending on setting, Charlie and Carol enter into a MarriageOfConvenience given how Charlie [[HeirClubForMen wants a son to carry on the family line]], Carol [[ChristmasCake isn't getting]] [[MyBiologicalClockIsTicking any younger]], and they get on well enough to tolerate each other.

'''Basic Trope''': As well as the main couple(s), most or all minor characters are paired up, usually at the end.

* '''Exaggerated''':
** Every character in the work finds their ideal mate in the conclusion, even very minor characters who were never part of the LoveDodecahedron or UnwantedHarem. It turns out that the male characters in this story outnumber females by two, but once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[SuddenlySexuality even though there was no prior evidence of their sexuality]]. One of them even shrugs and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]], "[[GratuitousFrench C'est la vie]]!"
** The last several episodes of the show are dedicated to pairing the rejects and other spares. In the second-last episode, a few new characters are introduced solely for this purpose.
* '''Downplayed''': Three recurring side characters (Alan, Ben, and Claire) are left single, but are clearly shown to prefer it that way; Alan and Claire need their space, and Ben is {{asexual}}.

** To eliminate the competition, Alice or Bob used mind control or love potions on the spares to put them together.

** The mind control wears off, and Charlie and Carol decide to stay together.

* '''Invoked''':
** Charlie asks Carol out.
** Bob and Alice set all of their friends up on blind dates. Some work and some don't, but they keep pairing the spares until everyone they know is spoken for.

** Every character in the work finds their ideal mate in the conclusion, even very minor characters who were never part of the LoveDodecahedron or UnwantedHarem. It turns out that the male characters in this story outnumber females by two, butnce all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[SuddenlySexuality even though there was no prior evidence of their sexuality]]. One of them even shrugs and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]], "[[GratuitousFrench C'est la vie]]!"

* '''Justified''': Charlie used to date Carol before he fell for Alice, and wants to see if he and Carol can make their relationship work again now that Alice is out of the question.

'''Basic Trope''': Characters are paired together in order to make them unable to compete for the affections of the characters who are the main couple.

** Every character in the work finds their ideal mate in the conclusion, even very minor characters who were never part of the LoveDodecahedron or UnwantedHarem.
** The last several episodes of the show are dedicated to pairing the spares. In the second-last episode, a few new characters are introduced solely for this purpose.

* '''Inverted''': Charlie and Carol ''start off'' as a happy BetaCouple, but break up when Alice and Bob show up, and remain single for the rest of the story.

* '''Parodied''':
** Bob and Alice date Carol and Charlie, then Bob and Carol date Charlie and Alice, then Bob and Charlie date Alice and Carol, and when the madness ends, they're all completely monogamous and satisfied.
** The male characters in this story outnumber females by two. Once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[SuddenlySexuality even though there was no prior evidence of their sexuality]]. One of them even shrugs and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]]:
--> "[[GratuitousFrench C'est la vie]]" (cue the passionate kiss scene)
* '''Zig Zagged''': Rejects from the LoveDodecahedron regularly get together and become happy {{Beta Couple}}s. Meanwhile, the main couple keep on getting into more Love Dodecahedrons.

** Charlie and Carol do not get together.
** There is a different number of men and women.
** MarryThemAll

** Everyone remains single.

----
%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Every character in the work finds their ideal mate in the conclusion, even very minor characters who were never part of the LoveDodecahedron or UnwantedHarem.
* '''Downplayed''': Three recurring side characters (Alan, Ben, and Claire) are left single, but are clearly shown as being {{asexual}} or otherwise happily single.
* '''Justified''':
** Charlie used to date Carol before he fell for Alice, and wants to see if he and Carol can make their relationship work again now that Alice is out of the question.
** To eliminate the competition, Alice or Bob uses mind control or love potions on the spares to put them together.

* '''Zig Zagged''':
** Several episodes are dedicated to pairing the remaining spares from a LoveDodecahedron with each other but no match really works until the end.
** Rejects from the LoveDodecahedron regularly get together and become happy {{Beta Couple}}s. Meanwhile, the main couple keep on getting into more Love Dodecahedrons.
** All of the LoveDodecahedron and UnwantedHarem end up happily paired with each other once Alice and Bob are spoken for. Then Alice and Bob break up, but now there's no-one left for them to turn to.

* '''Invoked''': Bob and Alice conspire to set Carol and Charlie up on a blind date.

%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Downplayed''':
** Charlie and Carol have this suggested to them at the end of the series, but we don't see if they follow up.
** Three recurring side characters (Alan, Ben, and Claire) are left single, but are clearly shown as being {{asexual}} or otherwise happily single.

* '''Subverted''': After Bob and Alice get together, Charlie and Carol go out on one date and realize they have nothing in common.
* '''Double Subverted''': Charlie and Carol don't work out, but then Carol meets Dave and Charlie meets Danielle.

** The male characters in this story outnumber females by two. Once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[SuddenSexuality even though there was no prior evidence of their sexuality]]. One of them shrugs and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]]:

** Alternatively: The male characters in this story outnumber females by two. Once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[AssPull even though there was no prior evidence of their sexuality]]. BonusPoints if one of them just shrugs it, and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]]:

** [[MarryThemAll The couples were all together to begin with.]]

* '''Straight''': Bob and Alice are the main couple. Charlie, who had a crush on Alice, and Carol, who had an unrequited love for Bob, are both paired together.
* '''Exaggerated''': Every character in the LoveDodecahedron or UnwantedHarem finds their ideal mate.
* '''Downplayed''': Charlie and Carol have this suggested to them at the end of the series, but we don't see if they follow up.

* '''Inverted''': Charlie and Carol ''start off'' as a happy BetaCouple but break up when Alice and Bob show up and never get together again.

* '''Parodied''':

** Alternatively: The male characters in this story outnumber females by two. Once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[AssPull even though there was no indication that either of them was anything other than heterosexual.]] BonusPoints if one of them just shrugs it, and [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall nods to the camera while saying]]:

* '''Zig Zagged''':

* '''Averted''':

** Alternatively: There is a different number of men and women.
** MarryThemAll.
* '''Enforced''': The GrandFinale or SeasonFinale is approaching and all that [[UnresolvedSexualTension [=UST=]]] has to get resolved!
* '''Lampshaded''': "I guess, it's only you and me left, girl..."

* '''Discussed''': "So...Bob and Alice are together. I was wondering, Carol, if you'd like to..." "Go out with you once I get over him? Why not?"

* '''Reconstructed''': In a DistantFinale set twenty years later, Charlie and Carol are shown to be a happy family with three kids. Time proved them a good match.

* '''Enforced''': The GrandFinale or SeasonFinale are approaching and all that [[UnresolvedSexualTension [=UST=]]] has to get resolved!

* '''Enforced''': The GrandFinale or SeasonFinale are approaching and all that {{UST}} has to get resolved!

* '''Downplayed''': ???

--> "C'est la vie" (cue the passionate kiss scene)

* '''Justified''':

* '''Parodied''': Bob and Alice date Carol and Charlie, then Bob and Carol date Charlie and Alice, then Bob and Charlie date Alice and Carol, and when the madness ends, they're all completely monogamous and satisfied.
** Alternatively: The male characters in this story outnumber females by two. Once all the girls are paired off, the two male "spares" both reveal that they are gay and hook up, [[AssPull even though there was no indication that either of them was anything other than heterosexual.]]
* '''Deconstructed''': Charlie and Carol get together, but neither are completely over their former loves.
* '''Reconstructed''': In a DistantFinale set twenty years later, Charlie and Carol are shown to be a happy family with three kids. Time proved them a good match.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Several episodes are dedicated to pairing the remaining spares from a LoveDodecahedron with each other but no match really works until the end.

* '''Averted''': Charlie and Carol do not get together.

Back to PairTheSpares.

<<|PlayingWithWiki|>>

* '''Justified''': Charlie used to date Carol before he fell for Alice, and wants to see if he and Carol can make their relationship work again now that Alice is out of the question.

** TenchiSolution.

** To eliminate the competition, Alice or Bob uses mind control or love potions on the spares to put them together.

* '''Reconstructed''': In a SoWhatDoWeDoNow epilogue, set twenty years later, Charlie and Carol are shown to be a happy family with three kids. Time proved them a good match.