Basic Trope: A non-monogamous relationship runs into problems that are directly related to it being non-monogamous.
- Straight: Bob is in a polyamorous relationship with both Alice and Fred. While she initially thought she could handle it, Alice becomes jealous of Fred and breaks up with Bob.
- Exaggerated: ???
- Downplayed: Alice breaks up with Bob, but her jealousy of Fred was only one of several reasons, most of which didn't have to do with polyamory.
- Justified: Alice's misgivings about the relationship are juxtaposed to The Reveal that her own father cheated on her mother when she was a child. Alice can't not associate that with seeing Bob with Fred no matter how much she wants to.
- Inverted: Alice becomes more committed to her relationship with Bob because of her complicated feelings about Fred's involvement.
- Subverted:
- Alice looks like she's going to leave the relationship, but changes her mind and decides to talk it over with Bob and Fred, and they collectively decide to give more consideration to her emotional needs and stay together.
- Alice breaks up with Bob, he wonders if it's about Fred, but she tells him she's just annoyed at always having to do the dishes for them both.
- Double Subverted: Alice looks like she's going to leave the relationship, but decides to talk it over with Bob and Fred. They agree with her initial thought that she probably can't healthily continue and part with her amicably.
- Parodied: ???
- Zig-Zagged: ???
- Averted: Alice has no trouble with her relationship with Bob despite him being polyamorous.
- Enforced: Network executives were uncomfortable with polyamory as a concept and forced the studio to either end the Alice/Bob/Fred relationship or have the show cancelled altogether.
- Lampshaded: ???
- Invoked: ???
- Exploited: Alice's frenemy Charlotte encourages Alice's misgivings towards Fred because she wants Bob and Fred for herself and thinks she has a better chance if Alice breaks up with them.
- Defied: Alice rejects the polyamorous Bob's offer to join his relationship with Fred because she knows she isn't suited to seeing him be involved with another person, with or without permission.
- Discussed: "I knew Bob was a polyamorist. I thought I could handle seeing him with another person, but it was driving me nuts and I had to leave."
- Conversed: TV critic Bill reviews the episode of the Show Within a Show where Alice breaks up with Bob and mentions that he saw it coming.
- Implied: Alice is in a polyamorous relationship with Bob and breaks up with him. She seemed to be jealous of Fred, but never actually gives a reason for leaving.
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