Austen played with this idea in one draft of Persuasion. She dropped it for the fantastic letter-writing scene instead. The Amanda Root movie combines both endings.
Pride & Prejudice 1940 uses this trope. Lady Catherine does not visit Elizabeth out of spite but, rather, to test her resolve at Darcy's request.
Such scenes can be gratifying in the "paying off the character" sense. Viewers are delighted that Lady Catherine actually likes Elizabeth.
However, I'm not a fan. The specter of "enabling" hovers. If the couple need this much help, what will happen in the future? And will the interfering 3rd party ever back off? (Would any sane couple want to owe Lady Catherine for their happiness?)
A modern variation is slightly more acceptable but still off-putting. The couple argue. Each runs to his or her corner. Each then confers with a best friend, who gives good advice, such good advice, the protagonists run back and apologize to each other.
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| I prefer the disinterested best friend. |
The variation on the variation is the well-meaning, inclusive, adorable parental figure (see Lady Catherine) who keeps nudging the couple. This variation simply makes my skin crawl. I am apparently not the only one since some romance novels involve telling this parental figure, in loving terms, to take a hike. (In fact, a few novels have the protagonists intelligently point out that the constant nudging put off the protagonists making a decision since they had to make sure they were making the decision themselves and for the right reasons--with unclouded minds.)
