Dysfunctional Couples: Relationships That Won't Work but the Writing is Good

I was a young teen--fourteen or so. I was sitting in the back of my friend's car while her mother drove. Her mother had divorced and later remarried. My friend was the only child from the remarriage (my friend had multiple older step-siblings). 

The mother said, "Of course, if both members of the couple were truly Christian, they would be able to make the marriage work."

Without thinking, I said, "Oh, that isn't true!" 

In retrospect--about two hours later--I freaked out. I would never had said anything if I'd thought about what I was saying and to whom. But from the perspective of decades, I'm glad I did. What I remember is the mother's gratified smile. She wasn't upset at my teenage disgust at the idea that any two people could make a go of it as long as they were nice or moral enough. 

Oddly enough, many television relationships reveal a similar mindset to that woman. That is, they can't image that two characters they like can't make a go of it. If the relationship fails, it must be due to a 3rd party--a rival--cheating--the possibility of cheating. 

But three of the best-written non-workable couples on television reveal the opposite. 

Sherlock and Fiona from Elementary: Sherlock is honestly attracted to Fiona and she to him. He honestly likes her and vice versa. He doesn't break up with her due to her neural atypical behavior. Rather, he breaks up because he perceives himself as his work, not as a man who works and then has a relationship. His is an interesting definition of relationship, which Watson--at least--challenges when she points out that her mother has no interest in her father's books. But Sherlock is not the same as Watson's mother, and Watson doesn't assume he should be, only that he should be kind and quick in his break-up. 

Jo and Isaac from Forever:  Jo and Henry are an interesting match. The actors have terrific chemistry. There is also never any suggestion that their first loves won't remain their first loves. The future relationship (which would have happened if the show didn't end with Season 1) rests on the fact that not only like each other, they like what the other person wants in a relationship. Isaac is a great, fun guy. But what he wants in a relationship is not what Jo wants--which, again, she perceives in Henry. 

Booth and Hannah I write about here: https://katewoodbury.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-significant-others-other-bones.html

In all three cases, the issue is not CHEATING. The issue isn't even personality. Everybody is swell. The issue is what a person wants in a relationship. Absent a cultural agreement--A relationship IS the following--that issue comes down to individual compatibility.