Line #127 Main/ThirdWheel


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7
8	->'''Cas:''' I could be your third wheel.\
9	'''Dean:''' You know that’s not a good thing, right?\
10	'''Cas:''' Of course it is. A third wheel adds extra grip, greater stability.
11	-->-- ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', "[[Recap/SupernaturalS08E08HunteriHeroici Hunteri Heroici]]"
12
13	Any instance where at least one other character is hanging around a couple and some form of social awkwardness results.
14
15	The nature of the third wheel can vary widely. He might be a nuisance to the couple and be constantly told to leave them alone. On the other hand, he might get pulled willingly along with the couple, possibly because they need his help, enjoy his company, or just don't want to be alone with each other. Circumstances might simply conspire to keep the third wheel around, whether or not any of them want him to be there.
16
17	Usually does not translate into a relationship between a couple and a third party who genuinely like to spend time together in a friendly way, since that would imply little to no awkwardness.
18
19	See also FriendVersusLover, JealousRomanticWitness and MomentKiller. Contrast OneTrueThreesome, where all three are in a relationship with each other.
20
21	----
22	!!Examples:
23
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
27	* ''Manga/BlueSpringRide'': Touma, Uchimiya, and Shun. Touma and Uchimiya are the ones with girlfriends. Therefore, whenever the three run into Futaba and her friends, Touma and Uchimiya end up making plans with their girlfriends and leaving out Shun.
28	* ''Manga/{{Challengers}}'': The foreign transfer student Rick quickly becomes a nuisance after he starts following the main couple around in the hope of getting with {{Uke}} and HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Tomoe before Kurokawa, who has more morals when it comes to relationships, [[RelationshipUpgrade upgrades their relationship]] from JustFriends to OfficialCouple. Even after they become lovers he still hangs around with them just in case.
29	* ''Literature/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'': It's Minami's job to guard Miyuki, even when the latter is cuddling with her fiance.
30	* In ''Manga/TheLoveAndCreedOfSaeMaki'', this is invoked by Ran Daimon. To learn all of [[IntrepidReporter Sae Maki's secrets]] she wedges herself into Misao and Sae's DestructiveRomance, despite Misao's reservations and Sae obviously not wanting her around. Because Sae never reveals her BitchInSheepsClothing PsychoLesbian nature around others Ran believes that her presence will protect Misao from Sae's abuse.
31	* Near the end of ''Manga/TanakaKunIsAlwaysListless'', Tanaka plans to go to [=WcDonald's=] together with Shiraishi, but Oota invites himself for the outing, oblivious to the ShipTease between Tanaka and Shiraishi. It wasn't until they all go home that Oota realizes that he might have interrupted the pair's date and feels bad about it, although Shiraishi herself is relieved that she doesn't have to be alone with Tanaka. Tanaka himself is more ambivalent--at first he shares Shiraishi's exact sentiment, but then decides that he wouldn't have minded being together with her alone.
32	[[/folder]]
33
34	[[folder:Comic Books]]
35	* ''ComicBook/{{Robin\|1993}}'': While Ives prefers to only join Tim and Ariana if it's a double date and he's accompanied by Callie, things don't always work out in his favor and he usually antagonizes Ari even if he is with Callie. Unknown to Tim, Ives is actually an incredibly useful third wheel because whenever Tim takes off to deal with something as Robin without an explanation, Ives makes one up for him while also implying Ari is being ridiculous for questioning her boyfriend's disappearance.
36	* ''ComicBook/UltimateDaredevilAndElektra'': Elektra and Matt have met and fallen in love. And Foggy? Is there anything he can do to help Matt? Yes: he can help by leaving.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Fan Works]]
40	* Following the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' where Danny and Sam finally get their RelationshipUpgrade, {{Fanon}} believes this is the case for Tucker. However, stories such as the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'' show that despite Danny and Sam being a couple, they're still Tucker's friends.
41	* In ''Fanfic/GapYearAdventures'' by Creator/AAPessimal, after seven years at school followed by over a year of travelling together, Mariella becomes one when Rivka meets the Cenotian exchange student Aaron, sent to Rimwards Howondaland to learn agricultural management. Mariella does not like the feel of this very much, especially when she realises it makes it less socially awkward to make up a four. And the only available man is [[AbhorrentAdmirer Horst Lensen]].
42	* ''Fanfic/ATheoryOfButterfliesAndOtherInsects'': Marcy finds herself stuck in this position between Percy and Braddock. Percy was the first friend she made among the toads, but Braddock is highly uncomfortable around her due to [[spoiler:being the only toad aside from Grime aware that she caused the heron attack]]. Percy [[LockedOutOfTheLoop isn't aware of what the problem is]], but awkwardly asks Marcy to give him the chance to spend time along with his crush.
43	* ''Fanfic/TheStoryOfApolloDaphneAndLucaAnItalianTragedy'' has a PlayedForDrama example with [[OppositesAttract Luca and Alberto]], whose strong love for each other [[LoveMakesYouDumb unknowingly]] make Giulia one and, as if that wasn't enough, increases her insecurities regarding her [[CelibateHeroine lack of desire of finding a romantic partner]].
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
47	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': Timon and Pumbaa certainly become third wheels once Simba and Nala meet up again. Simba kind of politely lets Timon know that the two of them aren't wanted.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
51	* In ''Film/TheAdventuresOfMiloAndOtis'', main characters Milo the cat and Otis the dog spend most of the film trying to reunite, but when Milo falls in love with another cat, Otis becomes this for a little while.
52	* ''Film/TheBandsVisit'': Haled tags along on Zelger and Papi's double date with Zelger's girlfriend Anna and her cousin Julia. In a twist, he ends up being Papi's RomanticWingman and helps him break the ice with Julia.
53	* ''Film/IWantYouBack'': Emma lives with a pair of college sweethearts who don't hesitate to be affectionate in both private and public, which rankles her.
54	* At the end of ''Film/KickAss'', Todd is stuck reading a comic book between his previously nerdy friends who are now happily snogging the girlfriends they acquired in the course of the movie.
55	* In ''Film/TheKissingBooth2'', Elle becomes this for her best friend Lee and his girlfriend Rachel, constantly spending time with them because her boyfriend (and Lee's brother) Noah is away at university. In this scenario, it actually makes things awkward for ''Rachel'', because Lee tends to prioritize Elle while inadvertently neglecting his girlfriend and Elle is initially oblivious to the fact Rachel wants to spend time with Lee without her.
56	* Both ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'' and its sequel ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows'' are ripe with this trope. Holmes is a third wheel to Watson and Mary, or Mary is a third wheel to Holmes and Watson; HeterosexualLifePartners or HoYay, your choice.
57	* In ''Film/WhatPriceHollywood'', Max becomes this much to Mary and Lonnie’s annoyance. In one instance, he comes to their house flat-out drunk and says he’ll burn their house down if they don’t let him in. They let him in, and he goes into their bedroom, completely unaware of how he’s driving a serious wedge between Mary and Lonnie.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder: Literature]]
61	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
62	** When considering the idea of his two best friends getting together, one of Harry's concerns is that it'll be impossible for the three of them to hang out like they used to. Luckily, they spend too much time snarking at each other to turn into SickeninglySweethearts.
63	** While staying at Grimmauld Place in the seventh book, Harry notices Ron and Hermione [[SleepCute fell asleep together holding hands]], which ''does'' make him feel rather lonely.
64	* ''Literature/MansfieldPark'': Henry Crawford visits Fanny Price in Portsmouth and tries to get her on her own, but finds Fanny's 15-year-old sister Susan a hindrance.
65	* ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'': Leo Valdez, first with his two best friends Jason and Piper after they start dating. Now he's the seventh wheel since all of his other friends have started dating each other. The villain mocks him for never fitting in.
66	* ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'': Keith has a NotBloodSiblings crush on his adoptive sister Catarina, who got engaged to Prince Geordo a little before Keith was adopted into her household. When all three of them grow into teenagehood, Geordo regularly invites Catarina to what he means to be dates. In addition to [[IdiotHero Catarina]] not always realizing she's meant to come alone and not seeing any problem with bringing Keith along, Keith frequently invites himself to what events Catarina actually goes to alone as her chaperone, as he worries Geordo will use TheBabyTrap on Catarina.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
70	* A ''Series/MrShow'' sketch is about this: a couple's friend joins them on their ''honeymoon''. The husband doesn't see anything wrong with his buddy hanging around his wedding night, but his wife objects. Every time they say the words "third wheel", the couple freezes and the third guy sings a brief song on an acoustic guitar: "Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend. Always in the way!"
71	* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode, "Manhunt", Troi's mother, Lwaxana, tries to trick Captain Picard into spending a romantic dinner alone with her. Picard, seeing through her motives, asks Lt. Commander Data to join them. Data spends the entire meal giving long, detailed lectures on his work.
72	-->'''Picard:''' Data, you will never know how much I owe you for that.\
73	'''Data:''' Indeed, Captain? I know many more interesting anecdotes, sir. For example...\
74	'''Picard:''' Data...\
75	'''Data:''' Sir?\
76	'''Picard''': Later.\
77	'''Data:''' Yes, sir.
78	* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. In "Rejoined, Jadzia Dax wants an excuse to have dinner with her ex-partner (in a previous host) Lenara Kahn, but as this is against the norms of Trill society she ropes in Julian Bashir to maintain the pretext that she was actually having dinner with him and invited Lenara to join them. Cut to Bashir looking bored as the two happily chat away, ignoring him the whole time until he's called away for a medical emergency. After he leaves, Lenara notes what a good friend he must be to Dax to put up with that.
79	* On ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Ted Mosby, when between relationships, is sometimes one to Marshall and Lily. When he very briefly moves out, they realize how much they need him, since he was the one who bought most of the household items like towels, dishes, food...
80	* Once one of the guys starts dating on ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', at least ''one'' of the others becomes this for the couple:
81	** When Leonard and Penny first got together and before Sheldon was introduced to Amy (and frankly, even ''after''), he became their third wheel. Less awkward, more annoying the heck out of them with Sheldon being generally oblivious to it. To the point that Sheldon's neediness even prevents Leonard and Penny from moving in with one another full-time once they marry.
82	** Then when Howard started dating Bernadette, it was Raj's turn. Unlike Leonard, Penny, and Sheldon, this one ended up playing ''both'' ways because of Howard and Raj's considerable HoYay, with Bernie and Raj taking turns as the third wheel.
83	** With Raj finding his own relationship, Stuart has taken over. He's been living with Howard and Bernadette after first the comic book store burning down, and then the death of Mrs. Wolowitz (with whom he had been staying while getting back on his feet). Stuart is perfectly happy with the arrangement, however, and all the discomfort is on Howard and Bernadette's end, with neither quite bringing themselves to issue an ultimatum for him to move back out.
84	* ''Series/TheAffair'': Max indicates that he's always felt this way towards Noah and Helen, valuing his friendship with the former but having an unrequited crush on the latter. He actually supports Noah financially after their separation just so he can have a shot at Helen again. Noah later calls him out on this when he realizes his "friend"'s real motive.
85	* On ''Series/TheCosbyShow'', Rudy's best friend Kenny becomes this when she starts dating a boy. Rudy doesn't see a problem with it, but the boy straight out calls Kenny a third wheel at one point.
86	* On ''Series/SchittsCreek'' Stevie is shown to be this to David and Patrick a few times. Alexis is also seen hanging out with David and Patrick. Later, Stevie drags David along as she pursues Emir, even though she knows David wouldn't want to be the third wheel.
87	* ''Series/TheStrangeCalls'': Banks is all set to go on a date with his love interest, Kath, but the date is crashed by his boss, who also has an interest in her. Awkwardness ensues.
88	* ''Series/ZondagMetLubach'': Parodied when the King and Queen were accompanied on an official trip by the Foreign Minister, Stef Blok. Lubach pitched a bunch of romantic scenarios with the royal couple, but Stef Blok had to be present at each of them.
89	* An entire episode of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', "[[Recap/CheersS2E15AndCoachieMakesThree And Coachie Makes Three]]" revolves around lonely, clueless Coach tagging along with Sam and Diane, totally unaware that he's getting in the way of their romance.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Music]]
93	* In the novelty song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIkhRZtrosM Third Wheel]]" by comedian Tim Hawkins, the narrator is an unwanted presence in the couple's lives.
94	* ''Music/GarfunkelAndOates'' did the song "Me, You, and Steve", where the eponymous Steve keeps hanging around with a girl and her boyfriend and killing any possibility of a romantic mood.[[note]]It later became a popular song for [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Tony Stark/Steve Rogers]] fanvids.[[/note]]
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Theatre]]
98	* Robert from ''[[Theatre/CompanySondheim Company]]'' willingly plays third wheel to five married couples he's friends with. In fact, they love and depend on him so much they have ''several'' songs about him third wheeling.
99	-->What would we do without you?
100	-->How would we ever get through?
101	-->Should there be a marital squabble
102	-->Available Bob'll
103	-->Be there with the glue
104	[[/folder]]
105
106	[[folder:Video Games]]
107	* In the ''Friendship is Magic'' fan game, ''Super Lesbian Horse RPG'', Rainbow Dash complains that Twilight would be this on her date with Fluttershy. Twilight's JoinedYourParty text even calls her this. This becomes a BrickJoke later in the game when Applejack joins the party. She's dubbed the fourth wheel, upgrading the party to "car" status.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
111	* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', when Jade, Liam, and Dash are introduced, Liam is hanging out with the couple Jade and Dash. Liam doesn’t mind, probably because he spends a lot of his time making intentionally awkward jokes.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:WebComics]]
115	* ''Webcomic/CirqueRoyale'': Charles Klownikov Sr. was this to King George and Queen Louise Mills; he was George's best friend and George kept him around for years. Louise put up with him more than anything else, eventually suggesting he be the Clowny Kingdom Ambassador to Mimeopolis to get him off her couch. PlayedForLaughs when a side panel shows that a photo George had on his desk of him and Charles was actually [[https://www.tumblr.com/cirqueduroyale/717138339852075008/the-full-image-of-the-picture-king-george-kept-on his wedding picture]] and Louise had been standing to the side giving a dirty look.
116	* In ''WebComic/TheQuickAndDirtyLifeOfFritzFargo'', [[http://fritzfargo.com/comics/loverboy-page-15-2/ Fritz's best friend Eddie brings him along on a date]].
117	* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': When the FireIceDuo that Undine considers joining forces with turns out to be a SickeninglySweethearts BattleCouple, she gets the mental image of a burning wheel, a frozen wheel, and a wheel engulfed in water (representing her own MakingASplash powers). The burning and frozen wheels have a heart between them.
118	* ''Webcomic/TrippingOverYou'': Hebert is very seldom away from Milo's side, much to the annoyance of Milo and sometimes Milo's boyfriend Liam. Not helping Hebert's case is that he's TheTease with NoSenseOfPersonalSpace whatsoever.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Western Animation]]
122	* In ''WesternAnimation/DanVs'', the titular character is this to his friend Chris and his partner Elise. In ''The Fancy Restaurant'' Dan even accompanies Chris and Elise on their anniversary dinner:
123	-->'''Dan:''' Why is having a third wheel a bad thing? Third wheels provide stability, that's just physics.
124	* In the ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'' episode "Put Your Head on my Shoulders", Fry starts to worry that his relationship with Amy is going too fast, so he intentionally invites a third wheel on their date.
125	-->'''Amy:''' So, ready for a secluded picnic with just you and me?\
126	'''Fry:''' Hey, you know who loves secluded picnics with just you and me? ''(Looks over at Leela who shakes her head.)'' Uh, Dr. Zoidberg!\
127	'''Zoidberg:''' Did someone say something about a free hot meal?
128	* The ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse2013'' short, "[[Recap/MickeyMouseS1E17ThirdWheel Third Wheel]]" has Goofy inviting himself on Mickey and Minnie's date.
129	** Similarly, the episode "[[Recap/MickeyMouseS5E13OverTheMoon Over the Moon]]" focuses on the Moon taking Mickey and Minnie on an around-the-world trip during their nighttime date, and eagerly waiting for the two to kiss on the lips.
130	** In the earlier ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' short "Daisy's Road Trip", Daisy invites herself on Mickey and Minnie's road trip to watch the sunset.
131	* A non-romantic variation appears in the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Two to Tutor". Señor Senior Senior hires Shego to tutor Junior in proper villainy but becomes increasingly resentful as Shego brusquely brushes off his attempts to drop in on the lessons and see how Junior is doing. Finally, he goes so far as to tip off the intended target of their planned robbery.
132	* Cyborg deliberately becomes one of these in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' episode "Rocks and Water".
133	* Mentioned in an episode of WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb, with Stacy being the third wheel to [[OfficialCouple Candace and Jeremy.]]
134	-->'''Stacy:''' Lately I've been feeling like a third wheel around you guys.\
135	'''Candace:''' What? No. I always saw it more like Jeremy and I were two wheels [[NotHelpingYourCase and you were separate]], [[SidetrackedByTheAnalogy on a unicycle all]] ''(sings a quick snippet of "Entrance of the Gladiators").''
136	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons'': Bert is a frequent third wheel on Ralph and Melissa's dates, in one episode he clips a unicycle to their tandem bicycle so he can be a literal third wheel.
137	* The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' episode "Metal Attraction" has a non-romantic version. Jack's mom has recently been let in on the masquerade, and her sudden interest in everything is starting to grate on [[CoolBigSis Arcee.]] Then Bulkhead's human partner tags along on one of their missions, and they start jamming to rock music together.
138	-->'''Arcee:''' No matter where I turn, I'm the third wheel.
139	* At the end of the ''[[WesternAnimation/KaBlam Life With Loopy]]'' episode "Larry's Girl", Loopy ends up never leaving Larry and Stacey alone once they become a couple.
140	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'': In the episode "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!", Flintheart Glomgold accompanies Scrooge and Goldie (who have BelligerentSexualTension) on their quest to find the Golden Lagoon. The delusional narcissist Glomgold is, he believes Goldie is in love with him, and he mockingly calls ''Scrooge'' a third wheel. He only realizes that ''he's'' the third wheel during the climactic final battle of the episode, where Scrooge and Goldie focus solely on each other. He's not happy once he figures it out.
141	--> '''Glomgold''': Flintheart Glomgold will ''not'' be a third wheel!
142	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ThirdWheel