History Main / TokenRomance

* The second game of the ''VideoGame/HeroOfTheKingdom'' series has this between the eponymous hero and the [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princess]] he rescues. There ''is'' a small indication of LoveAtFirstSight when he sees her, but she doesn't seem like she even particularly likes him until he confesses his feelings (which the player didn't know he had) and they kiss. By the end of the game they're engaged, somewhat randomly.

The reasons behind this are understandable: love is often quoted to be universal, and directors and producers want to cater to the [[MultipleDemographicAppeal largest demographic possible]]. [[MenBuyFromMarsWomenBuyFromVenus What better to draw females to theaters]] than with [[GirlShowGhetto a few tender scenes inserted here and there in an action or disaster movie?]] Or to [[{{Fanservice}} titillate]] the [[MaleGaze males]] [[AllMenArePerverts in the audience]] with a GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hanging around the hero? Or [[FemaleGaze vice]] [[AllWomenAreLustful versa]]?

* ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'': It's easy to forget that Nakia is technically T'Challa's ''ex''-girlfriend for most of the movie. The ComedyOfRemarriage subplot feels so tacked-on, you need only change a few lines of dialogue to think they were a current couple dealing with the stress of a long-distance relationship.

* Aurelius and Mira in ''Film/TheLastLegion''. While both are important as individual characters, their romance adds nothing to the plot whatsoever. It's a cute little subplot, though, largely thanks to the pair being played by Creator/ColinFirth and Creator/AishwaryaRai, who have lovely onscreen chemistry.

* The romance between Jonathan Archer and Erika Hernandez on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' was almost entirely unnecessary to the plot -- while Erika herself was critical in helping Archer deal with the emotional hell that was season 3, that story arc would have worked just as well if they were merely old war buddies, and in any case her main purpose to the plot was to be the HeroOfAnotherStory. TropesAreNotBad, however; the actors have lovely chemistry, their relationship does make sense, and it never becomes a RomanticPlotTumor.

* TheMovie of ''Film/TheChroniclesOfNarnia: Film/PrinceCaspian'' throws in a love subplot between Susan Pevensie and the title character, giving Susan more to do than she had in the book. Audience reactions were mixed.

* ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'' has this between Bowen and Kara who HookedUpAfterwards. It's biggest contribution to the plot is [[VillainousCrush to make Einon creepier]].

* ''Film/TheRaid'' proves that TropesAreTools. The heroic Officer Rama has a pregnant wife who appears briefly at the beginning and then is gone from the rest of the movie. Knowing this makes us care more about what happens to him and a later scene has him drawing the strength he needs to keep fighting from his love for her.

Sometimes it [[TropesAreTools works]], but even then, it'll still have "obligatory romance" stamped on it because the mere presence of a lone hero with the [[TheSmurfettePrinciple token female]] is enough for the audience to anticipate sexual tension.

* Subverted by most Franchise/JamesBond movies. At first glance, it seems that the Bond Girl has no real bearing to the plot beyond fanservice, but the female lead plays a significant role in all but 5 movies: ''Film/DrNo'', ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'', and ''Film/LicenceToKill''.

* Most ''Film/JamesBond'' films. There's a reason the term "Bond Girl" was created. In every movie there's a new woman that Bond falls in love with but has little bearing on the plot and won't be seen again.
** ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'', ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'', ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'', ''Film/GoldenEye'', ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'', and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' avert this. ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' dedicate great amounts of time to develop their story's romances, while ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' averts it entirely as Bond doesn't get together with the girl in the end.
** Add ''{{Film/Goldfinger}}'' to the list in that it was Pussy Galore who actually saved the day. Bond wasn't even aware he'd turned her to his side until he'd already been rescued by Felix. ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'' and ''{{Film/Thunderball}}'' also have the love interest be the catalyst to kick off the plot. In the former, she's used by SPECTRE to bait Bond into stealing the Lektor. In the latter, she's the sister of the original pilot of the plane carrying the nuclear missiles and just happened to be the villain's lover.
** A nice subversion in ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'', where Elektra King is strongly hinted to be Bond's token love interest early on but is subsequently [[spoiler:revealed to be the [[BigBad main villain]]]].

* In the [[ContinuityReboot rebooted]]'' Film/StarTrek2009'' film, Spock and Uhura's romance could be removed and its loss wouldn't affect the plot at all.

Unfortunately, the romance subplot itself tends to be shallow and underdeveloped, existing only because the audience expects the hero to have a healthy love life. In fact, if the romance was removed entirely, it would barely leave a ripple in the overall plot quality. The love interest is nothing more than a bland, forgettable SatelliteCharacter, and may even be [[DisposableLoveInterest ignored or replaced by another love interest in a sequel]].

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' plays with this trope. The romances with [[BiTheWay Leliana]] and [[DepravedBisexual Zevran]] have no impact on the plot. However, Alistair's romance becomes extremely relevant when it becomes apparent that [[spoiler:one of you has to die to end the Blight]], not to mention that with the right Origin [[spoiler:you can become queen.]] Equally, Morrigan's romance ends with her desperately trying to deny her feelings for you [[spoiler:because she has to get you to impregnate her with baby-Cthulhu and then run away through the Eluvian to an entirely different plane of existence.]] Yeah, [[LoveHurts it doesn't end well.]]

* ''Series/{{Charmed}}'': Starting in season 7 Phoebe would have three different boyfriends, each lasting five or six episodes, [[OutOfFocus just to give her character something to do]]. An episode of season 8 rectified this.

* ''Film/PitchPerfect'': Becca and Jesse's relationship adds little to the plot and nothing to her character. All of her growth comes about due to her interaction with The Bellas. We get no indication that he has any impact on her whatsoever. The filmmakers seem wise to this since by the time of the sequel, Jesse is essentially DemotedToExtra.

* In the [[ContinuityReboot rebooted]]'' Film/StarTrek'' film, Spock and Uhura's romance could be removed and its loss wouldn't affect the plot at all.
* Played straight in the first [[Franchise/StarWars Star Wars]] Triology (IV - VI) with Han and Leia. She is not a minor character but the [[TheSmurfettePrinciple only woman]] with a little more lines. The plot, however, focusing on the fight against the empire and other subplots, is not affected by their romance although Leia and Han are both main characters. [[spoiler:When Leia [[DistressedDude saves Han]] from Jabba in Return of the Jedi there is a "saving your love interest" background but the plot rather focuses on the male characters and their [[DamselInDistress rescue mission]] for [[GoGoEnslavement Leia in the bikini]]. However, if they had just been friends or at least allies this wouldn't have changed anything.]] Even later when there is implied that Han [[spoiler:is [[TwoGuysAndAGirl jealous of Luke]] of his bond with Leia]] this doesn't cause any real conflict between the three about this; nothing would be different if there wasn't a love subplot. [[spoiler:That part is [[LongLostRelative easily resolved]] later on anyway.]]

* ''Film/BlackPanther'': It's easy to forget that Nakia is technically T'Challa's ''ex''-girlfriend for most of the movie. The ComedyOfRemarriage subplot feels so tacked-on, you need only change a few lines of dialogue to think they were a current couple dealing with the stress of a long-distance relationship.

* ''Film/{{Oldboy 2003}}'': Dae-su's relationship with Mi-do initially appears to be an essentially irrelevant sub-plot to his quest to find the person responsible for locking him up all those years, [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope but instead turns out to be the whole point]] of the villain's revenge scheme]].

The reasons behind this are understandable: love is often quoted to be universal, and directors and producers want to cater to the [[MultipleDemographicAppeal largest demographic possible]]. [[MenBuyFromMarsWomenBuyFromVenus What better to draw females to theaters]] than with [[GirlShowGhetto a few tender scenes inserted here and there in an action or disaster movie?]] Or to [[{{Fanservice}} titillate]] the [[MaleGaze males]] in the audience with a GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hanging around the hero? Or [[FemaleGaze vice versa]]?

* One of the criticisms of ''Film/AntMan'' is that the [[spoiler: ending kiss between Scott and Hope]] comes completely out of nowhere, and that there was little buildup for it in the actual film.

%%* Disney's ''{{Newsies}}''.

The reasons behind this are understandable: love is often quoted to be universal, and directors and producers want to cater to the [[MultipleDemographicAppeal largest demographic possible]]. [[GirlShowGhetto What better to draw females to theaters than with a few tender scenes inserted here and there in an action or disaster movie?]] Or to [[{{Fanservice}} titillate]] the [[MaleGaze males]] in the audience with a GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hanging around the hero? Or [[FemaleGaze vice versa]]?

The reasons behind this are understandable: love is often quoted to be universal, and directors and producers want to cater to the [[MultipleDemographicAppeal largest demographic possible]]. What better to draw females to theaters than with a few tender scenes inserted here and there in an action or disaster movie? Or to [[{{Fanservice}} titillate]] the [[MaleGaze males]] in the audience with a GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe hanging around the hero? Or [[FemaleGaze vice versa]]?