KJMackley
Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Dec 5th 2012 at 12:37:14 AM
The Big Bang Theory has Zack, while maybe not specifically for the Zack/Penny relationship the character himself plays some aspects of the trope both straight and subverts them. It helps that Zack was hysterical, playing off the Dumb Muscle/Jerk Jock stereotype and showing him to be a genuinely Nice Guy under all the stupid. The imdb message board occasionally gets a thread on "Bring Back Zack" and most posters agree.
LordCrayak
Since: Jun, 2009
SomeSortOfTroper
Since: Jan, 2001
Total posts: 7

I was inspired to do this thread after doing a run through of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix. Nearly every show has at one point or another, utilized the Romantic False Lead trope to prolong teasing a couple hooking up. Sometimes though, the Romantic False Lead becomes too endearing to the audience so they're either derailed or royally get the shaft in the name of the end game.
Which Romantic False Lead do you feel the greatest amount of sympathy for?
For me, it was Nora from How I Met Your Mother. I get that Barney and Robin is the Fan-Preferred Couple, but Barney and Nora's relationship was far better written and seemed like a more stable relationship. It boggles my mind that it was Quinn who Barney was quick to move in together and later propose to.
edited 4th Dec '12 7:08:49 PM by Lionheart0