History Main / PeerlessLoveInterest

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', it's strongly indicated Lyanna Stark was this to Robert Baratheon, as in [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire the books.]] He [[TheMourningAfter never got over her death]] and states she was "the one thing I ever wanted" and that "seven kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left behind". Not even his wife Cersei Lannister, who at the time of their marriage was said to be the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman, could compare as far as Robert was concerned; none of the numerous other women he sleeps with can hold a candle to Lyanna, either. It's implied (outright stated in the books) that Robert had an overly idealistic view of Lyanna and [[LovingAShadow didn't truly know the real her]] – such as when he complains to Ned that she should've been buried somewhere she could see the sky instead of the crypt at Winterfell, only for Ned to remark that she's a Stark and belongs there with her family. It's eventually revealed that [[spoiler: Lyanna [[AllLoveIsUnrequited never returned Robert's affections]] and eloped with Rhaegar Targaryen instead; she was even convinced Robert [[WouldHurtAChild would've murdered her newborn son]] simply because of who his father was]].

If there are class distinctions, she is of a higher societal rank than he is. [[UptownGirl She usually comes from a wealthy family]], [[BlueBlood and an old family]], and is treated [[InformedAttractiveness as if]] she's the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman, which might give her AttractivenessIsolation. To top it all off, [[HerosMuse even if she is spoiled she's actually a genuinely worthwhile lady]]. The hero is generally determined to fight to prove his worthiness of her, or to defend her honor or reputation, thus becoming TheChampion to her.

One literary term for this type of character--the girl who is too perfect to be obtained--is the ''princesse lointaine''.[[labelnote:note]]French for "faraway princess"[[/labelnote]]

* ''Manga/KannazukiNoMiko'' has a lesbian example. Chikane is such a perfect girl that even having the courage to propose to her elevates you above the other students. The main character, Himeko, is absolutely smitten by her and believes that she's living the dream when ([[WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld due to one thing and another]]) she begins living with her. [[spoiler:{{Deconstructed}} -- crazy things happen and in the end, Chikane is revealed to be neither angel nor devil, just a girl the same age as Himeko]]. There's no such thing as a peerless lover.

* ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'': Initially, Anna is perceived to be the perfect girl and a model student by her peers and Tanukichi, who secretly nursed a crush on her. That changes after a single accidental kiss awakens her long repressed hormones, causing Anna to become [[ExtremeLibido a horny]], [[TheJuggernaut nigh unstoppable]] stalker. It shatters Tanukichi's ideal image of her and leaves him terrified.

* Played with and/or deconstructed over the course of the original ''Film/StarWars'' trilogy, vis a vis Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. In the very first film (Episode IV: A New Hope), the pirate mercenary Han, after a heated argument with the recently rescued princess/senator/revolutionary, nevertheless admits feelings for her, and begins to ask farm boy main protagonist Luke Skywalker (who also has romantic designs on her) "You think a princess and a guy like me..." only to be cut off with a very curt and blunt "no". Han and Leia, of course, become romantically entangled over the course of the later movies, and eventually marry.

** Dragged through the mud and deconstructed with Enesdia. Her betrothed Andarist has delusions about her IncorruptiblePurePureness. Her brother Kadaspala has an unhealthy obsession -- though not of a romantic nature -- with how pure and virtuous she is and considers her impending marriage to be detrimental to those qualities. Others consider her vain and spoiled. She is none of these extremes, and the only one who sees that, Cryl Durav, thinks she only considers him her adopted brother and is unreachable for him for other reasons.

* Kotonoha Katsura from ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' starts as this. The guys at her school either look at her from afar or ogle her GagBoobs without actually asking her for a date, since not only she's considered to be [[CuteBookworm beautiful and smart]] but also comes [[TheOjou from a millionaire family]]. (In the meantime, almost all the girls either ignore or bully her [[AttractivenessIsolation out of jealousy and envy]].) Makoto Itou is the first guy who ''ever'' asks her out, and he himself had also been also liking her from afar at first.

->''"I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea,\\
And thy name is like a prayer \\

* Dianne Court from ''Film/SayAnything''. Since she's beautiful and the valedictorian, everyone assumes that she's completely unapproachable. When [[Creator/JohnCusack Lloyd Dobler]] asks her out and she accepts everyone is astonished, especially Lloyd himself.
* Played with and/or deconstructed over the course of the original ''Film/StarWars'' trilogy, vis a vis Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. In the very first film (Episode IV: A New Hope), the pirate mercenary Han, after a heated argument with the recently rescued princess/senator/revolutionary, nevertheless admits feelings for her, and begins to ask farm boy main protagonist Luke Skywalker (who also has romantic designs on her) "You think a princess and a guy like me..." only to be cut off with a very curt and blunt "no". Han and Leia of course later on become romantically entangled over the course of later movies, and eventually marry.

* In the ChivalricRomance ''The Earl of Toulos'', the earl falls in love with his enemy's wife and sneaks into his lands to catch a glimpse of her. Then he withdraws until she is [[MaliciousSlander accused of adultery]]. Whereupon he goes in disguise to act as her champion and clear her name. (Some variants have an ending tacked on where she is widowed and they marry.)
* In another ChivalricRomance, ''Sir Degravant'', Degravant, persecuted by his neighbor, falls in love with his daughter and risks himself on a venture to his enemy's lands, where he catches a glimpse of her and has to fight free. Later he wins TheTourney [[StandardHeroReward in which her hand is the prize.]]

** Invoked with Lady Hish Tulla, who is one for both Anomander Rake and Silchas Ruin, who consider her the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman and thus, even though both have scored first base before, they still see her as unreachable and virtuous and only to be worshipped from afar.

* Kotonoha Katsura from ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' starts as this. The guys at her school either look at her from afar or ogle her GagBoobs without actually asking her for a date, since not only she's considered to be [[CuteBookworm beautiful and smart]] but also comes [[TheOjou from a millionaire family]]. (In the meantime, almost all the girls either ignore or bully her [[AttractivenessIsolation out of jealousy and envy]].) Makoto Itou is the first guy who ''ever'' asks her out, and ''he'' himself had also been also liking her from afar at first...

* ''Webcomic/SandraOnTheRocks'': As far as [[StraightGay Lavali's]] concerned, she has no hope of ever being [[EvilIsSexy with Eva]], even though she hit on Lavali and [[http://www.sandraontherocks.com/strips-sotr/scribbling_on_my_hand gave her her phone number.]] Which is the reason she said she couldn't muster the nerve to call her:

* Played with and/or deconstructed over the course of the original ''Film/ Star Wars'' trilogy, vis a vis Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. In the very first film (Episode IV: A New Hope), the pirate mercenary Solo, after a heated argument with the recently rescued princess/senator/revolutionary, nevertheless admits feelings for her, and begins to ask farm boy main protagonist Luke Skywalker (who also has romantic designs on her) "You think a princess and a guy like me..." only to be cut off with a very curt and blunt "no". Solo and Organa of course later on become romantically entangled over the course of later movies, and eventually marry.

** Dragged through the mud and deconstructed with Enesdia. Her betrothed Andarist has delusions about her IncorruptiblePurePureness. Her brother Kadaspala has an unhealthy obsession -- though not of a romantic nature -- with how pure and virtuous she is and considers her impending marriage to be detrimental to those qualities. Others consider her vain and spoiled. She is none of these extremes, and the only one who sees that, Cryl Durav, thinks she only considers him her adopted brother and is unreacheable for him for other reasons.

* Played with and/or deconstructed over the course of the original ''Film/ Star Wars'' trilogy, vis a vis Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. In the very first film (Episode IV: A New Hope), the pirate mercenary Solo, after a heated argument with the recently rescued princess/senator/revolutionary, nevertheless admits feelings for her, and begins to ask farm boy main protagonist Luke Skywalker (who also has romantic designs on her) if "You think a princess and a guy like me..." only to be cut off with a very curt and blunt "no". Solo and Organa of course later on become romantically entangled over the course of later movies, and eventually marry.

* Played with and/or deconstructed over the course of the original ''Film/ Star Wars'' trilogy, vis a vis Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa. In the very first film (Episode IV: A New Hope), Solo, after a heated argument with the recently rescued Princess, nevertheless admits feelings for her, and begins to ask farm boy main protagonist Luke Skywalker (who also has romantic designs on her) if "You think a princess and a guy like me..." only to be cut off with a very curt and blunt "no". Solo and Organa of course later on become romantically entangled over the course of later movies, and eventually marry.

* ''Manga/MakenKi'': Usui falls for [[{{pettanko}} Himegami]], who's considered to be [[HelloNurse one of the hottest girls]] at Tenbi Academy. Which made his chances of hooking up with her seem unlikely to begin with; becoming much less likely once he and the others learn she's [[spoiler: the daughter of Yamato no Orochi]]. Meaning, she's both [[BlueBlood royalty]] ''and'' [[spoiler: a demi-goddess]]! But she [[{{Subverted}} subverts it]] near the end of chapter 65, when she tells him [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c065/21.html she's not above him]] and finally provides him with [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c065/22.html a faint glimmer]] [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c065/23.html of hope.]]

* Most ''VideoGame/TokimekiMemorial'' games, including the [[DistaffCounterpart Girls' Side series]], have as the main love interest a seemingly perfect character who is beautiful, athletic, intelligent, beloved by the school populace, and easily the most difficult character to win over.

* Griffith from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' has shades of this, being not only a FatherToHisMen but an [[LongHairedPrettyBoy incredibly beautiful man]] in an otherwise gritty setting. His lieutenants [[TheProtagonist Guts]] and [[TheSquadette Casca]] are both implied to have feelings for him but see him as too perfect to approach, and end up settling for each other instead. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of [[TheSociopath Griffith]]'s feelings [[{{Yandere}} for his lieutenants]]. When Guts overhears Griffith claim that his only friends are those he sees as equals, he temporarily quits Griffith's service and leaves on a journey to find himself; to say Griffith takes this poorly would be a [[MoralEventHorizon massive understatement]].

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* In ''La Princesse Lointaine'' (written by Edmond Rostand prior to the more famous ''CyranoDeBergerac''), a knight falls in love with a princess solely from hearing a description of her beauty and virtues. The play is [[BasedOnATrueStory based on]] the story of the troubadour Joffrey Rudel and his love for the Countess of Tripoli.

* In the ChivalricRomance ''The Earl of Toulos'', the earl falls in love with his enemy's wife and sneaks in his lands to catch a glimpse of her. Then he withdraws until she is [[MaliciousSlander accused of adultery]]. Whereupon he goes in disguise to act as her champion and clear her name. (Some variants have an ending tacked on where she is widowed and they marry.)

* In ''La Princesse Lontaine'', a knight falls in love with a princess solely from hearing a description of her beauty and virtues.

Contrast GirlNextDoor. Often leads to LovingAShadow.

* ''Webcomic/SandraOnTheRocks'': As far as [[StraightGay Lavali's]] concerned, she has no hope of ever being [[EvilIsSexy with Eva]], even though she hit on Lavali and gave her her phone number. Which is the reason she said she couldn't muster the nerve to call her:

* ''Webcomic/SandraOnTheRocks'': As far as Lavali's concerned, she has no hope of ever being [[EvilIsSexy with Eva]], even though she hit on Lavali and gave her her phone number. Which is the reason she said she lost the nerve to call her:

* ''Manga/MakenKi'': Usui falls for [[{{pettanko}} Himegami]], who's considered to be [[HelloNurse one of the hottest girls]] at Tenbi Academy. Which made his chances of hooking up with her seem unlikely to begin with; becoming much less likely once he and the others learn she's [[spoiler: the daughter of Yamato no Orochi]]. Meaning, she's both [[BlueBlood royalty]] ''and'' [[spoiler: a demi-goddess]]! But she [[{{Subverted}} subverts it]] near the end of chapter 65, when she tells him [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/22/ she's not above him]] and finally provides him with [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c065/22.html a faint glimmer]] [[http://www.mangatown.com/manga/maken_ki/c065/23.html of hope.]]

* ''Manga/MakenKi'': Usui falls for [[{{pettanko}} Himegami]], who's considered to be [[HelloNurse one of the hottest girls]] at Tenbi Academy. Which made his chances of hooking up with her seem unlikely to begin with; becoming much less likely once he and the others learn she's [[spoiler: the daughter of Yamato no Orochi]]. Meaning, she's both [[BlueBlood royalty]] ''and'' [[spoiler: a demi-goddess]]! But she [[{{Subverted}} subverts it]] near the end of chapter 65, when she tells him [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/22/ she's not above him]] and finally provides him with [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/23/ a faint glimmer]] [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/24/ of hope.]]

* ''Manga/MakenKi'': Usui falls for [[{{pettanko}} Himegami]], who's considered to be [[HelloNurse one of the hottest girls]] at Tenbi Academy. Which made his chances of hooking up with her seem unlikely to begin with; becoming much less likely once he and the others learn she's [[spoiler: the daughter of Yamato no Orochi]]. Meaning, she's both [[BlueBlood royalty]] ''and'' [[spoiler: a demi-goddess]]! But near the end of chapter 65, she finally provides him with [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/23/ a faint glimmer]] [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/24/ of hope.]]

* ''Manga/MakenKi'' [[PlayedStraight plays it straight]] by having Usui fall for Himegami, who's considered to be one of the hottest girls at Tenbi Academy. Which made his chances of hooking up with her seem unlikely to being with; becoming much less likely once he and the others learn she's [[spoiler: the daughter of Yamato no Orochi]]. Meaning, she's both [[BlueBlood royalty]] ''and'' [[spoiler: a demi-goddess]]! But in chapter 65, she finally provides him with [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/23/ a faint glimmer]] [[http://readpanda.net/Maken-ki/65/24/ of hope.]]