They Should've Been Together

You know that time when you’re reading a book (or watching a movie/series), you decided that you have a favourite character and that character would be perfect for the lead character. Like you’ve pictured it in your head and hope that by the end of the story that you’d somehow be correct – not necessarily on how it’ll get there but it better have your OTP get together goddammit.

For those who don’t know, OTP means One True Pairing and doesn’t automatically mean the two lead characters that the author deemed perfect for each other but who you deem perfect for each other. Sure, some fans can argue that it’s not canon and we will suffer in knowing that our pair will never ever be together but, I say that’s the thing that makes it more exciting. And I can argue back that what was written will be end of their OTP while I can let my OTP’s million possibilities explode in my brain.

(That, of course, only if I know that my pair would never happen in the story. However, if my pair was the destined pair in the story, whoever says otherwise can just deal with it.

This is fangirling 101. Rationality is thrown out the window.)

For example, my favourite being Draco and Hermione from the Harry Potter books. (Can I hear a whomp whomp from Dramione fans?) The conflict is so classic – the star-crossed lovers - that it’s not hard to pair them together and, it didn’t help that the actors who portrayed them are very, very good-looking. I mean, Tom Felton was totally not the Draco Malfoy I envisioned described in the books, he was supposed to be nasty and snooty-looking not hot and just slightly snooty-looking, and don’t even get me started on Emma Watson.

Dramione brought to you by this lovely fanart from a Google Images search.

Anyway, there’s something so juicy about forbidden love and the fact that JKR confirmed that Draco had the hots for Hermione made my imagination go into overdrive. The angst, the what-ifs, what-could-have-beens are so irresistible, it made my head hurt. Hermione needed something to drive her away from her too strong of a loyalty to Harry and Draco needed salvation – it’s a perfect setting. But then, when you think about it, if JKR went that way, it would’ve stolen a bit of Harry’s spotlight and would probably need another book for a side story.

They were the biggest what-if, admit it.

Or how about Harry and Hermione? The-love-that-shan’t-be-explored? To be honest, this felt like it had more potential than going the way of the One Big Happy Weasley Family. If I were being brutally honest, I'd think that Ginny ended up with Harry just because she looked like Lily Potter. I mean, what was that? Turning suddenly into a super heroine by the time the series was nearing it's end. 

Sigh.

How she could resist those abs is something I wouldn't understand.

And, Twilight? (Yes, I’m talking about it because I have this sort of morbid fascination about it.)  All you readers out there secretly know that Jacob is way better for Bella. I mean, Edward? Come on, he’s just sparkly.

As for television, show writers have this way of making awesome second lead characters and leaving viewers like me clutching at my pillow and heartbroken.

Three words: Damon and Elena. This is one pairing that is so close to happening but I feel that won’t happen anytime soon or ever. Those who are watching The Vampire Diaries would know that Stefan was actually the worse of the brothers when they’ve just became vampires. Damon didn’t ask for it, really, he was content being in love with Katherine and that was it. Now that Elena comes into the picture, Stefan is the saint and Damon is the devil.

Well, at least, they ended up together in real life.

Oh dear lord, why? Can’t Damon just get redemption? He’s too hot for unrequited love.

Warewolves have such epic abs.

And True Blood, you’re making my belief firmer that in a werewolf-human-vampire triangle, werewolves deserve the human better.

Screw you, Eric Foreman and Hyde's conscience. 

How about Hyde and Donna from That 70's Show? Hyde struggling with his feelings for Donna is so much fun to watch, I wondered why it had to be Jackie that he had a relationship with. Imagine the drama it would've brought to the show! But alas, there is a reason that the show is a comedy and not a drama.

-Tula

I have to admit, when Tula brought this topic to my attention, my mind went blank for a minute. I don’t really keep track of OTPs or at least my mind isn’t wired to think collectively like that.

At least, they ended up together in real life (?).

There’d be a few that I thought deserved a cult following—I’d have to agree with her on the Hermione-Harry bit—man I’d join that ship in a heartbeat. And there’s also that overtly-explored love triangle in One Tree Hill once upon a time (raise your hand if you were a fan before that show went haywire-boring after season 4). But I did imagine how’d be great to see a Brooke-Nathan hookup. Sadly, the writers never considered. Man, forget that James Lafferty can’t act for the life of him; his gorgeousness deserves the equally hot and husky Sophia Bush, but whatever. I read the show’s in its 9th and final season. There goes my college life, whuuut.

If only he wasn't gay.

If there’s One True Pairing in film off the top of my head that I totally rooted for during its time, it would be from the badly ended chick flick My Best Friend’s Wedding. I don’t think it needs any further explanation. The character Julia Roberts played was meant to end up with her guy best friend (played by Dermot Mulroney). And they say that one of the film’s charms is that the girl surprisingly doesn’t end happily ever after with her love interest. Her gay friend (played by Rupert Everett) doesn’t turn straight for her either. (Rats!) And it was supposed to be a feel-good movie, gaddammit. AND PLEASE, even if it went down to a contest on who had the bigger mouth, Julia would still beat Cameron (Diaz) by a long shot. C’mon.

And more than 10 years later, you can still feel the chemistry.

In the small screen, the only thing that ever really caught my attention would be the abusive and obviously doomed-from-the-start relationship between Buffy Summers and Spike a.k.a. the vampire who’s the spitting image of Billy Idol in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even before the rest of mankind got into the whole fascination over the vampire romance angle, there was that epic Buffy series from the late 90s to early 2000 that paved the way. Buffy was a badass slaying vampires yet she fell for the broody bloodsucker Angel at first. Didn’t go crazy over THAT pairing but that's that. Eventually though, the genius that Joss Whedon is, he must’ve seen the chemistry between Buffy and Spike loud and clear that another pairing had to happen. Alas, like all dark fantasy dramas, or at least the ones I’ve seen, the “love” part of the show had to end a tragic ending. But the show kicked ass, nonetheless. And Spike didn’t even have to sparkle. And he was very ugly when he turned into vampire mode. And he wasn’t brooding, for chrissakes. And so he was pretty special even though he turned to ashes in the end. Poof!

--Soc