History Main / FalseSoulmate

* In ''Literature/BloodAndChocolate'', Aiden tells Vivian he believes she's his soulmate, because she understands him better than anyone else and never judges him. Vivian starts to wonder if it's true and does think she's in love with Aiden, so she decides to [[NonHumanLoverReveal reveal to him that she's a werewolf]], believing he will accept her unconditionally. It does ''not'' go well. Vivian comes to realize she and Aiden were both in love with their idea of each other [[spoiler:and she decides to be with Gabriel, a fellow werewolf who loves all of Vivian and helps her to accept herself]].

* ''Film/{{Wolf}}'': Charlotte Randall to Will Randall. He separates from her after he discovers she's been cheating on him, but before she gets killed [[spoiler: by Stewart Swinton, whom she's been having the affairs with]].

* Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Athha went down this path in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED SEED]]'', they ended as the [[BetaCouple Beta Couple]] to Kira and Lacus. In ''Destiny'', they eventually grew apart due to Athrun getting involved with ZAFT again, Cagalli's position in the Orb government (and the stress involved), her ArrangedMarriage to Yuna Roma Seiran, and differing views on [[TheChessmaster Chairman Durrandal's]] real goals and motivations. While there seemed to be a bit of hope for the two reconciling near the end of ''Destiny'', WordOfGod has stated that they're "just friends now".

* In the ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses'' series, Tamlin is revealed to be this to Feyre in the second book, ''A Court of Mist and Fury''. Much of the first book is dedicated to developing their romance and by the next book they're getting married, but it soon becomes clear this isn't going to have a fairytale ending. Both of them are traumatized by their experiences Under the Mountain, with Tamlin acting like nothing happened but becoming protective of Feyre to the point of possessiveness, leaving her feeling suffocated and emotionally unsupported. The fact that as his wife she'd clearly do little but [[BabyFactory give him heirs]] and [[TrophyWife stand around looking pretty]] also gives her serious doubts about marrying Tamlin, right up to the moment she walks down the aisle. Then there's the part where Tamlin [[spoiler: locks Feyre in their house even though he knows it's a TraumaButton for her, causing her to have a severe panic attack]]. It's eventually revealed that Feyre's true love is [[spoiler: Rhysand]], whom she has a mating bond with and who comparatively treats her better. When Tamlin finds out, [[NotGoodWithRejection he doesn't take it well]]. ''At. All.''

* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Bella Swan turns out to be this for Jacob Black. He falls deeply in love with her, but while Bella ''does'' admit to loving Jacob, she states she loves [[RomanticVampireBoy Edward]] [[FirstGirlWins Cullen]] more. It doesn't help that as [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent a werewolf]], Jacob's OneTrueLove is his 'imprint' – when a werewolf 'imprints' on someone, they [[LoveAtFirstSight instantly recognise that person as their soulmate]] and become devoted to them; this doesn’t seem to be the case with Bella. In fact, Jacob wishes he ''would'' imprint so that he'd stop pining for Bella. In the end, it's revealed that Jacob's imprint is in fact [[spoiler: Bella and Edward's ''daughter'', Renesmee, and the author even hints that part of the reason Jacob fell in love with Bella in the first place was because he was subconsciously 'waiting' for Renesmee]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': Played straight when Princess Fiona believes Shrek is her true love because he rescued her. Cue hysterical laughter from Donkey and Shrek. Shrek solely rescued her for Lord Farquaad so he could get his swamp back. Subverted when [[spoiler:Shrek really is her True Love, as evidenced when they kiss and she turns into an ogre]].

* ''Fanfic/WhatItTakes'': Felicity Smoak to Oliver Queen. At the start of the story, they're vacationing in Bali and seemingly happier than ever. However, their relationship hits a rough patch after Oliver starts getting homesick, and when he asks her about returning to Starling, she's extremely hostile to the idea, causing an argument. Their relationship gradually deteriorates from that point on with Felicity's continuous refusal to go back and visit their loved ones. [[spoiler:And then they're visited by Athena and attacked by H.I.V.E., whereupon he learns that she's been deliberately isolating him from his loved ones, who are in a major crisis and have been all but begging him to come back and help. Oliver immediately calls her out on her actions, but her refusal to accept any blame or to go back and help them with him effectively destroys their relationship and any hope of them getting back together after. Not long after, Oliver returns to Starling and eventually gets back together with Laurel Lance while they're still on the run, and is much happier]].

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* ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'': Roland for Marianne. They're supposed to be getting married at the start, but it's obvious that Roland doesn't much care for Marianne as a person; he's mostly interested in her because [[MealTicket she's the crown princess]]. Marianne then catches him cheating on her before the ceremony and wants nothing more to do with him. She later admits she was taken in by his charms and good looks, and [[LovingAShadow didn't really know him]]. And then it turns out her true love is [[spoiler: the Bog King]]; this is exemplified in the ending where [[spoiler: Roland's attempt to use a love potion on Marianne fails, because her genuine love for the Bog King makes her immune]].

* In ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'', this is [[spoiler:the premise for the "bad" epilogues, and also the "neutral" epilogue with Lily.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'',
** During Season 1 it seemed like [[spoiler: Mako]] and [[spoiler: Korra]] are meant to be each other's OneTrueLove like Aang and Katara were in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. PoorCommunicationKills however, and [[spoiler: Mako]] and [[spoiler: Korra]] prove to be incompatible and break up for good at the end of season two.
** In season four, [[UnholyMatrimony Baatar is engaged to Kuvira]] and because of this [[FoolForLove turns a blind eye]], and even [[MoralEventHorizon actively participates in Kuvira's slow descent into dictatorship]]. This changes quickly in the series finale when [[spoiler: Kuvira reveals she is not above [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness sacrificing Baatar to accomplish her goals]]]].
** [[spoiler: Tenzin and Lin]] are alluded to have been in a very serious relationship, but WordOfGod stated that [[spoiler: Lin's aversion to motherhood and Tenzin's need to have kids after Aang dies and leaves him the LastOfHisKind]] doomed their romance.

* ''Manga/The100GirlfriendsWhoReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLoveYou'': There have been a handful of women who haven't triggered a Love Shock with Rentarou when they made eye contact.
** The manga's illustrator, Yukiko Nozawa, who Rentarou helped draw the manga in Chapter 69. (The volume extras mention that she would've been one of his soulmates if the God of Love was drinking while filling out Rentarou's paperwork.)
** Kusuri's mother, who Rentarou met in Chapter 74. His harem at that point included [[AbsurdlyYouthfulMother Hahari]] and [[KissingCousins Chiyo]], so he had good reason to expect that she would be one of his soulmates. In this case, it was to set up a BaitAndSwitch to introduce Rentaro's next soulmate: [[spoiler:Kusuri's ''grandmother'', Yaku]].
** Shizuka's mother, who Rentarou confronts at the end of Chapter 134.

** Kusuri's mother, who Rentarou met in Chapter 74. His harem at that point included [[AbsurdlyYouthfulMother Hahari]] and [[KissingCousins Chiyo]], so he had good reason to expect that she would be one of his soulmates.

* In ''Literature/NightWorld'''s ''Dark Angel'', Angel is revealed to be this to Gillian Lennox. He starts out as the one person who understands Gillian the most and she frequently confides in him, regarding him as being as important to her as [[LoveInterest David.]] Angel later claims outright that they're soulmates. However, Gillian gradually becomes alienated from him due to his increasingly disturbing behavior, realizes she doesn't like the person she's becoming under his influence and also comes to realize she doesn't really know much about Angel as a person. It's revealed near the end that [[spoiler: David is her real soulmate]].

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' being that it originated as a teenage hero has a problem in that the constant running melodrama that Marvel likes spinning since their adoption of "the illusion of change" corporate mandate makes it difficult for any girl to be Spider-Man's soul-mate for long, at least on the part of editors and executives if not necessarily writers and fans:
** Gwen Stacy was Peter's first real relationship, the first girl he fell in love with, and both Lee and Romita Sr. thought initially that she would be the OfficialCouple. But readers never liked the relationship, and saw her as a bland character and didn't care for the fact that she liked Peter but hated Spider-Man and wrongfully blamed him for her father's death. Even Creator/StanLee admitted that he saw Gwen as uninteresting. The writer Creator/GerryConway saw Gwen as a false soulmate but felt it would be interesting and add drama for her to die in a famous storyline, that in his view allowed him to satisfy both groups. Gwen fans could see her as Peter's TheLostLenore while those who didn't care for her could happily start rooting for Peter to get with his real soulmate, ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson.
** ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson is a zig-zagged example. Originally she was established as a BlindDate Peter's Aunt May had set for her nephew who largely avoided her because he didn't like the idea of being such a loser that he needed his Aunt to be his wingman. After early hints that Peter was making a mistake skipping on her (namely that Liz and Betty run into her and their thought bubbles confirm she is incredibly pretty), many thought that she was set up as the LastGirlWins (in a time when Marvel Comics hadn't adopted ComicBookTime early readers believed that the story would eventually have an ending) which was buoyed after her iconic appearance. Creator/GerryConway who had read the comics since the beginning and who like all readers saw MJ as fitting set them up as a couple, and he repeatedly stated that MJ and Peter were made for each other. But a perfect relationship had the problem of potentially leading the story to an end, Marvel has tried to push back even if in practical terms, she is Spider-Man's most common, recurring, iconic relationship and is the most important relationships the pair ever had.

* ''Fanfic/WhatItTakes'': Felicity Smoak to Oliver Queen. At the start of the story they're vacationing in Bali and seemingly happier than ever. However, their relationship hits a rough patch after Oliver starts getting homesick, and when he asks her about returning to Starling, she's extremely hostile to the idea, causing an argument. Their relationship gradually deteriorates from that point on with Felicity's continuous refusal to go back and visit their loved ones. [[spoiler:And then they're visited by Athena and attacked by H.I.V.E., where upon he learns that she's been deliberating isolating him from his loved ones, who are in a major crisis and have been all but begging him to come back and help. Oliver immediately calls her out on her actions, but her refusal to accept the blame or to go back and help them with him effectively destroys their relationship and any hope of them getting back together after. Not long after, Oliver returns to Starling and eventually gets back together with Laurel Lance while they're still on the run, and is much happier]].

* ''Manga/SacrificialPrincessAndTheKingOfBeasts'': Sariphi for Ilya. They met when they were children, when Ilya's master was visiting the village and Sariphi offered him an ointment for his bruises caused by his TrainingFromHell. After this, they looked forward to see each other, which happened usually once a year. When he learns that Sariphi had been taken as a sacrifice to the land of the beasts, Ilya doesn't rest until he sneaks into the palace, getting immediately arrested and discovering that Sariphi is fine and has become the king's fiancée. Thinking that the beasts had somehow brainwashed her, he escapes and kidnaps her, refusing to listen to Sariphi's protests. When Leonhart comes after the two, Ilya fights him, determined to show Sariphi how vile the king of beasts was; much for his disappointment, Leo refuses to fight dirty, going as far as allowing Ilya to hurt him, for the young man's frustration. It is only when he sees Sariphi cry and run to Leo's side that Ilya realizes that he's trying to save Sariphi to make it up for his little sister (whom looked like her), whom was devoured by beast bandits in front o fhim when he was a kid. Leonhart forgives him and Ilya leaves Sariphi and the land of beasts for good, embittered.

* Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Athha went down this path in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED SEED]]'', they ended as the [[BetaCouple Beta Couple]] to Kira and Lacus. In ''Destiny'', they eventually grew apart due to Athrun getting involved with ZAFT again, Cagalli's position in the Orb government (and the stress involved), her ArrangedMarriage to Yuna Roma Seiran, and differing views on [[TheChessmaster Chairman Durrandal's]] real goals and motivations.
** While there seemed to be a bit of hope for the two reconciling near the end of ''Destiny'', WordOfGod has stated that they're "just friends now".
* Most of the first chapter/episode of ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn'' emphasizes Yona's huge childhood crush on Su-won; even [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Hak]] comments that they're perfectly matched for each other. However, [[spoiler: Su-won ends up murdering Yona's father and chasing her and Hak from the castle.]] As such, Yona's [[LovingAShadow idealized image]] of Su-won shatters and it takes her [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest a while to recover from the heartbreak]]. As the manga goes on, she slowly and unconsciously falls for [[spoiler: Hak]], only realizing it until ''after'' she's already in love with him.

* The ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'' episode "Spacemates" has Nina become convinced that [[SingleMindedTwins Chip and Skip]] are her soulmates thanks to a Ouija board. When she tries to go on a date with them, she struggles to go through with it, but eventually starts to believe they're soulmates after [[ItMakesSenseInContext they build her a rocket ship made from dirt.]] Chip and Skip are oblivious about the "soulmate" thing and don't seem to be attracted to Nina, [[StatusQuoIsGod and it never comes up again after this episode.]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'' episode "Spacemates" has Nina become convinced that [[SingleMindedTwins Chip and Skip]] are her soulmates thanks to an Ouija board. When she tries to go on a date with them, she struggles to go through with it, but eventually starts to believe they're soulmates after [[ItMakesSenseInContext they build her a rocket ship made from dirt.]] Chip and Skip are oblivious about the "soulmate" thing and don't seem to be attracted to Nina, [[StatusQuoIsGod and it never comes up again after this episode.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'', this is [[spoiler:the premise for the “bad” epilogues, and also the “neutral” epilogue with Lily.]]

* Peyton for Mac on ''{{Series/CSINY}}''. They were fairly serious in season 3 and very early in season 4, although Mac still struggled with losing his wife. But she eventually leaves him with a [[DearJohn Dear Mac]] letter. When she returns for an ep in season 6, she explains that she knew that she couldn't give up her ties to her home and family in London, and didn't want to force him to choose between her and his life in New York. The original plan was to have a LoveTriangle with Mac’s friend Audrey, but that ended up an AbortedArc. Mac ultimately ends the series engaged to his SecondLove Christine Whitney, with whom he has a much more natural and compatible relationship.

* In the first 8 books of ''Literature/DragonlanceTheNewAdventures'', it seems like [[spoiler:Davyn and Nearra]] were on their way to becoming an OfficialCouple, but in the Trinistyr Trilogy they break up, and [[spoiler:Davyn]] starts a relationship with [[spoiler:Rina]] instead.

** Gwen Stacy was Peter's first real relationship, the first girl he fell in love with, and both Lee and Romita Sr. thought initially that she would be the OfficialCouple. But readers never liked the relationship, and saw her as a bland character and didn't care for the fact that she liked Peter but hated Spider-Man and wrongfully blamed her for her father's death. Even Creator/StanLee admitted that he saw Gwen as uninteresting. The writer Creator/GerryConway saw Gwen as a false soul-mate but felt it would be interesting and add drama for her to die in a famous storyline, that in his view allowed him to satisfy both groups. Gwen fans could see her as Peter's TheLostLenore while those who didn't care for her could happily start rooting for Peter to get with his real soul-mate, ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson.

* ''{{Manga/Parasyte}}'': Kana has an unexplained power to locate people infected by parasytes, and the first person she meets with one happens to not only not be corrupted but be introduced to her by his defending someone from bullying. She believes her power to be an innate connection to Shinichi as her soulmate, her KnightInShiningArmor. Her misguided belief is furthered by her being the first person he opens up about TheMasquerade to, and his girlfriend can neither sense nor understand TheMasquerade. But he explicitly, repeatedly tells her that her power is not a connection specific to him, but to a certain type of dangerous person, and for her own sake, she should ''flee'' if she feels it. But then again, he's also a MasterOfTheMixedMessage, by at times being closer and more open to her than he is to his girlfriend, and skipping a date that she overheard him planning in order to meet her. [[spoiler: Except because of their arranging to meet, she picks up on a similar signal to his, and meets a parasyte that gives her a fatal wound just as he show up, and she dies in his arms.]]

* Peyton for Mac on ''{{Series/CSINY}}''. They were fairly serious in season 3 and very early in season 4, although Mac still struggled with losing his wife. But she eventually leaves him with a [[DearJohn Dear Mac]] letter. When she returns for an ep in season 6, she explains that she knew that she couldn't give up her ties to her home and family in London, and didn't want to force him to choose between her and his life in New York. The original plan was to have a LoveTriangle with Mac’s friend Audrey, but that ended up an AbortedArc.

** Wesley Snipes (no, not that Creator/WesleySnipes) is sure that he and Liz are "settling soulmates", even though the two can't stand each other. Liz, though, is not ready to give up on the idea of true love just yet. [[spoiler: In the last season, she ends up marrying her equally {{Adorkable}} boyfriend Chriss Chross, a much better match for her]].

* [[spoiler: Grant Ward]] is this to [[spoiler: Skye/Daisy Johnson]] during the first season of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': he's [[spoiler: a HYDRA agent]] who has been faking almost his entire personality since they met. When she finds out the truth, she's completely repulsed, and events in the second season, [[spoiler:namely her shooting him]], plus WordOfGod from the actor indicate that the ship is totally sunk. Ironically, [[spoiler:Daisy]] thought [[spoiler:Lincoln Campbell]] was alive and dating her in the Framework in Season 4. [[spoiler:Turns out it was Ward]].

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'':
** Surprisingly, the main character Ted was this to his fiance Stella. In Robin's own words, Ted was "disappearing into someone else's life". Stella would later apologize to Ted for leaving him on the day of their wedding and explained that while she did love and care for Ted because he helped her believe in romance again, she was always in love with Tony.
** One of the major criticisms for the series finale is [[spoiler:The Mother being this for Ted.]] It probably wasn't intentional but most fans took it that way.

* [[PlayingWithATrope Possibly]] Yennefer for Geralt in ''Series/TheWitcher2019''. They fall in love and he's one of the first people in years she feels she can lower her guard around (and vice versa). But then she learns that Geralt's final wish to the djinn in Rinde linked her to him, leaving her visibly disappointed and angry, as she believes her feelings for him are not real and are only caused by magic. Even when Geralt insists that their love is real, Yennefer has doubts and abandons Geralt.

* During season one of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', it seemed like [[spoiler: Mako]] and [[spoiler: Korra]] are meant to be each other's OneTrueLove like Aang and Katara were in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. PoorCommunicationKills however, and [[spoiler: Mako]] and [[spoiler: Korra]] prove to be incompatible and break up for good at the end of season two.