History Main / TenMinutesInTheCloset

* In the very first episode of ''Series/Riverdale'', Archie and Veronica are forced into a round of Seven Minutes In Heaven in Cheryl's closet. While they at first try to pass the time by taking turns asking each other questions, the two eventually give in to their mutual attraction and start kissing passionately.

* Jura does this to Hibiki and Dita in the second season of ''{{Vandread}}''. And broadcasts the security camera feed to the entire ship. A red alert interrupts things before anything really comes of it.

* The ''FreaksAndGeeks'' episode "Smooching and Mooching" has Bill sent to the laundry room for "seven minutes in heaven" with head cheerleader Vicki Appleby after she "loses" at SpinTheBottle. Vicki, previously depicted as the AlphaBitch, actually ends up bonding with Bill and even gives him his FirstKiss before all is said and done.

* In ''NorthernExposure'' Maurice Minnifield and Ruth-Anne Miller are no longer speaking to each other because of some feud involving a business loan. Ed, the local Native American wannabe film director, uses his own {{Genre Savvy}}ness to lock them both in a cabin till they both work out their issues, 'cause that always works in the movies.

Used in sitcoms - usually of the teen-oriented variety - when they want to do a somewhat suspenseful episode based on romance, or when the [[WriterOnBoard writer wants a relationship to form between the characters]] but can't do it normally.

Named after the party game (also known as "seven minutes in heaven") where two people are forced to spend time alone in the dark to... "talk".

* Happens in ''LovelyComplex'' with the two main characters. And despite her stating she likes the guy with her right now, he [[ObliviousToLove still doesn't get it]].

* Subverted in ''{{Gokusen}}''. Yankumi's students lock her and Shin in a storeroom in an attempt to get them together. Not only does it not work, but the principal was there the whole time behind a box.

* Mei (Naru's Stepsister) in ''LoveHina'' attempts to do this with Keitaro and Mutsumi in an attempt to make them bond and drive Naru back home. It fails when Naru breaks them out with the "help" of Keitaro i.e. she punches him through a wall.

* It happens in ''RanmaOneHalf'' (even though Ranma set it up as a ploy to get a suit that happens to hate him off Akane), resulting in a bit of a heart-to-heart and much blushing. Probably would have ended up as more had Akane's family and Ranma's dad not made it evident that they were eavesdropping by bursting in on them.

* On ''{{Glee}}'', Sue locks Kurt and Blaine in a fake elevator for two days to try to make them get back together and only lets them out once they kiss. Since they're still friends, they spend the time talking and playing games and they ''do'' kiss to be let out, but her plan doesn't succeed in making them get back together. They end up getting back together on their own a few episodes later.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Slumber Party Panic", Finn is trying to help keep the horde of zombies approaching the party at the Candy Kingdom a secret. When Jake gets suspicious, Finn distracts him by getting Jake and Lady Rainicorn to play "seven minutes in heaven".
** Finn and Princess Bubblegum have to do after losing at musical chairs. The Candy people think they're kissing in the closet, but they actually escaped to have some fun together.

* A very strange version appeared in ''[[Literature/{{Belgariad}} Belgarath the Sorcerer]]'' where, after the nation of Arendia fought off the bad guys, they were left leaderless because the Dukes of the two halves of the country had a duel and killed each other. Since one had a son and the other a daughter, a marriage was proposed between them. Unfortunately, they hated each other completely. Polgara had them locked in a bedroom suite together for around three weeks. They liked each other very much once they got out.
** Technically, Polgara's orders were to "keep them locked in there until the shouting stops and the giggling starts". Since both of them were teens, it's entirely plausible. This is also pretty much a case of BecauseDestinySaysSo. Poledra essentially told Polgara, "They're going to get married, and they're going to like it. Get started on that."

* In one episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Ronon and Dr. [[strike:Kaylee]] Keller are trapped in her medlab for almost the entire episode, and are headed down this path, although they only actually kiss once just before the doors open.
** Which is then... ''somethinged'' in a later, "What If?" episode where she hooks up with... Rodney. It's not really a subversion, or maybe anything at all really, since, stuck on a ship for a week with no one else they know to talk to, fits this trope to a T. They later hook up.
* A subversion occurs in the TV series ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''. When the warden of the prison where Earl is an inmate attempts to stop two gangs from fighting, he locks the leaders in solitary together for a month. Predictably, they fight for a while ... then they calm down ... then they start talking ... and then fall in love. But ironically, they still have to remain enemies when they get out of solitary, or their gangs will turn on them. So they find whatever excuse to get in trouble and get locked up together.

LockedInARoom + SlapSlapKiss. Two characters have been LockedInARoom together by their friends because they think they have a crush on each other. They spend the episode talking, sitting close to each other, [[TruthTellingSession coming clean with each other]], and usually kissing at the end when their friends charge in cheering for them. You know - a complete ReTool of their character relationship accomplished in the span of one episode.

Can occasionally be used to resolve non-romantic problems.

{{Subtrope}} of RomanceEnsues. Related to CaughtInTheRain.

* Also happens in ''RanmaOneHalf'' (even though Ranma set it up as a ploy to get a suit that happens to hate him off Akane), resulting in a bit of a heart-to-heart and much blushing. Probably would have ended up as more had Akane's family and Ranma's dad not made it evident that they were eavesdropping by bursting in on them.
** This doesn't usually happen, even when their parents have locked them in together. Frankly, when you can easily break through boulders with your bare hands, doors aren't really obstacles anymore.
* Eriol locks Sakura and Shaoran in an elevator in ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''.

* Subverted in the introduction of ''GoodLuckChuck'', where the titular character is practically assaulted by a goth girl during the party game (while both are still pre-teens) and flees the closet in terror after she claws his chest.

* When Hawke is PlayingCyrano for Aveline and Donnick in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', this is his/her primary technique.

* Zig-zagged in ToraDora, as Ryuuji and Minorin are locked in a storage room, and while they do talk out, they also spend just as much time trying to get out. No relationship upgrade, either.

* Mei (Naru's Stepsister) in ''LoveHina'' attempts to do this with Keitaro and Mutsumi in an attempt to make them bond and drive Naru back home. [[spoiler:It fails when Naru breaks them out with the 'help' of Keitaro - she punches him through a wall...]]

* Zig-zagged in ToraDora, as [[spoiler:Ryuuji and Minorin]] are locked in a storage room, and while they do talk out, they also spend just as much time trying to get out. [[spoiler: No relationship upgrade, either.]]

LockedInARoom + SlapSlapKiss. Two characters have been LockedInARoom together by their friends because they think they have a crush on each other. They spend the episode talking, sitting close to each other, [[TruthTellingSession coming clean with each other]] and usually kissing at the end when their friends charge in cheering for them. You know - a complete ReTool of their character relationship accomplished in the span of one episode.

** An earlier episode had [[AlphaBitch Connie]] send Meg in with a pig. Lois gets revenge for Meg by sending [[LovableSexPest Quagmire]] around to "scar them for life."

* A very strange version appeared in ''Belgarath the Sorcerer'' where, after the nation of Arendia fought off the bad guys, they were left leaderless because the Dukes of the two halves of the country had a duel and killed each other. Since one had a son and the other a daughter, a marriage was proposed between them. Unfortunately, they hated each other completely. Polgara had them locked in a bedroom suite together for around three weeks. They liked each other very much once they got out.

This has nothing to do with ''TrappedInTheCloset'', which is eighty-something minutes, not ten. Or with [[GayBravado that]] [[SorryImGay oth]][[InvertedTrope er]] [[FauxYay kind]] [[ArmoredClosetGay of]] [[TransparentCloset closet]].

* In a side-story to ''Comicbook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', the title character kidnaps Glittering Goldie and forces her to work his claim to teach her a lesson. At the end, they fall in love... and never see each other again, except in a burning dance hall for a fleeting moment. (That ending part comes about because in CarlBarks' stories, they never do meet again, and DonRosa wanted to stay true to that.)
* In the final issue of ''[[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice]]'', Dick's birthday party has them playing a sort of SpinTheBottle / TenMinutesInTheCloset mash-up. [[{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]], his best friend, spins him and while he assures her that they don't have to do anything, she grabs him and kisses him like there's no tomorrow, because she's actually got a huge crush on him.

* Meg Griffin on FamilyGuy had this at a Halloween costume party, where she made out (and possibly more) with someone dressed as [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]]. [[spoiler: At the end, she finds out he was [[BrotherSisterIncest Chris]]. {{Squick}}]]
* One episode of KingOfTheHill has Bobby go to a girls AND boys sleepover at the house of a girl he likes. Her friend, a troublemaking girl, has them play 7 minutes in Heaven. They talk things out and decide they like each other, but they still have a few more minutes. They give in to the cheering of the kids outside the closet and Bobby takes off his shirt. Hank barges in and interrupts before they go any further.

* One episode of KingOfTheHill has Bobby go to a girls AND boys sleepover at the house of a girl he likes. Her friend, a troublemaking girl, has them play 7 minutes in Heaven. They talk things out and decide they like each other, but they still have a few more minutes. They give in to the cheering of the kids outside the closet and Bobby takes off his shirt. Hank barges in an interrupts before they go any further.

** Technically, Polgara's orders were to "keep them locked in there until the shouting stops and the giggling starts". Since both of them were adolescent, it is even plausible. This is also pretty much a case of BecauseDestinySaysSo. Quite literally; Poledra essentially told Polgara, "They're going to get married, and they're going to like it. Get started on that."

* A very strange version appeared in ''Belgarath the Sorcerer'' where, after the nation of Arendia fought off the bad guys, they were left leaderless because the Dukes of the two halves of the country had a duel and killed each other. Since one had a son and the other a daughter, a marriage was proposed between them. Unfortunately, since they hated each other completely, Polgara had them locked in a dungeon meant for nobles for around three weeks. They liked each other very much once they got out.
** Technically, Polgara's orders were to "keep them locked in there until the shouting stops and the giggling starts". Since both of them were adolescent, it is even plausible.
*** This is pretty much a case of BecauseDestinySaysSo. Quite literally; He essentially told Polgara, "They're going to get married, and they're going to like it. Get started on that."