Love and Lust in TV Land

(Published Feb. 16, PDI-Super)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Fictional people have been written to reflect some of reality’s more complicated relationships, especially in some of the better-written TV shows. Love, lust and all the things in between can be entertaining and addictive narrative hooks. They can be explored thoroughly, if done just right. These characters pursue what they want, and if some of these examples are any indication, there’s a different thrill in the supposedly illicit. Well, here are some memorable fantasy TV hookups, breakups, complicated relationships and couples, in no particular order:

Veronica Mars’ first season boyfriend trouble was easy to follow, as she’s torn between rich kid jerkoid Logan Echolls and rich kid weirdo Duncan Kane. She also has a chaste relationship with the hot new Italian cop, but it was one of the show’s best moments when she unexpectedly locked lips with Logan, someone who’s almost her exact opposite. Hawt.

Titus Pullo, Rome’s rogue centurion, loved the slave girl Eirene from the get-go. He treated her with uncommon respect. Sadly, he went berserk after discovering that her heart belonged to a fellow slave. It was rewarding, however, that Eirene and Pullo found that rare connection eventually, before the amoral warrior-woman Gaia entered the picture.

The Jenny-Tim-Marina triangle of The L Word was developed well, however predictably. When lesbian restaurateur Marina met the similarly well-read Jenny, they hit it off fast. They soon repeatedly fool around behind the back of the latter’s boyfriend, Tim. But, wait, Jenny still fancies guys! Yep. Bisexual.

In Queer As Folk, among the most intriguing storylines was the breakup of the longtime lez couple Melanie and Lindsay, caused by the blonde’s unexpected attraction to an artist. A guy! This was foreshadowed over a span of episodes, but the eventual tryst was still surprising.

Also in QAF, college boy Justin abandoned his bedhopping soulmate Brian Kinney for a sweet and gifted violinist. The inevitable discovery by Brian and his succeeding devious machinations to mess up the new lovers were excellently executed.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always had affecting romance arcs and moments, but the Buffy-Riley-Angel confrontation back in the fourth season was among the best. It was priceless when the Slayer’s vampire ex Angel and current soldier beau Riley first met face-to- face under less than pleasant circumstances. Ah, that Buffy and her alpha male admirers. Angel mocking Riley in front of Buffy: “You sleep with this guy?!” Zing.

Super-double agents Julian Sark and Lauren Reed from the series Alias were formidable as separate threats, but together, they made life hell for her husband Vaughn and his ex-girlfriend Sydney Bristow. The villain team-up was just wickedly cool.

The implied occasional pairing of Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones in Torchwood was a stunning revelation. Everyone knows that Jack’s into guys, but Ianto? After his whining and mourning in the episode where his girlfriend-turned-killer cyborg nearly snuffed the Torchwood agents, who’d have thought?

24’s Jack Bauer and Nina Myers, ex-lovers and eventual arch-enemies, gave the show an interesting dynamic during the early seasons. It was especially mind-blowing when their enmity escalated.

Everyone saw it coming. Heroes’ Claire Bennet, cheerleader with regenerative powers (and daddy issues), just had to fall for West, the classmate with potentially freaky secrets. But the young super-lovebirds’ relationship felt natural, and one that you just had to root for. Too bad the other love angles in the second season felt too contrived.