Enemies to lovers tropes

[LapisWhale]

Personally, I love it when the LI and the MC would literally kill each other at the first opportunity =)) I'm talking the blood, gore, and serious injuries. Not something soft like friendly or workplace rivals, but genuine enemies on opposing sides xDddd

I've already known about Yang from Piofiore, heard that he's an absolute trash and the MC gets completely butchered with bad ends everywhere. But that falls under a power imbalance dynamic, where their romance feels more like the MC having Stockholm syndrome =))) And honestly, I hate seeing my girls being mistreated. I prefer it when the tension goes both ways.

What are your thoughts on this trope, especially when they don't hesitate to pull the trigger on each other?

 

[dzccc]

我最喜歡的創作者"禁飼育"其中一部作品"魔女的處刑日"中女主角與男主角也算是這樣的關係
在某些結局裡面男主角慘死了
但是也有BAD結局，女主角又與男主在一起了
我對這種劇情很著迷，他們是敵人，但在某些情況下又忍不住互相吸引:)

My favorite creator, "禁飼育" has a work called "The Witch's Execution Day," in which the female and male protagonists have a similar relationship. In some endings, the male protagonist dies tragically,

but there are also bad endings where the female protagonist and the male protagonist get back together. I'm fascinated by this kind of plot; they are enemies, but under certain circumstances, they can't help but be attracted to each other. :)

I used a translator to translate my comment.
我使用翻譯機翻譯我的留言

 

[Darmian]

Im sorry, but i hate enemies to lovers from the bottom of my heart. I have no issue with them being rivals, though.

I mean if the case is like in For Your Murderer manhwa. The male lead causes so much trauma to the female lead and ends up hurting her in so many ways.

People are hyped to see their relationship turn into romantic ending, while i muttering to myself that the female lead be better off dead than giving up her dignity to fall for that freaky guy.

Kinda embarrassing that i actually not really read that manhwa, but keep up the story update bcs the female lead not really give a damn about that man.

 

[satory]

I love enemies to lovers trope! But I've never seen it being properly done in otome games :( Closest thing that is there - imbalanced relationship, where hate is one-sided and other side (usually LI) doesn't feel strong negative emotions. Or tsunderes, but it is also not enemies to lovers

 

[ruruchan2u]

I like this tension dynamic. It shows more intense emotions from the get-go. Lots of character development to get over difficult circumstances and opposing view-points. The mains need to constantly battle hate and desire. As for the kill-on-sight: personal vendetta? shared scorn is still a form of passion. Can't stomach tortured mc for LIs amusement and disdain where she either fawns out of fear/survival. The dynamic has to have this unspoken what-if tension that turns the tide according to respective morals.

 

[LapisWhale]

I mean if the case is like in For Your Murderer manhwa. The male lead causes so much trauma to the female lead and ends up hurting her in so many ways.

People are hyped to see their relationship turn into romantic ending, while i muttering to myself that the female lead be better off dead than giving up her dignity to fall for that freaky guy.

That sounds more like an imbalanced relationship xC I totally hate it when it's like that too!! I actually prefer it if they're professional, and their actions are understandable, not just for the sake of causing harm, if it makes sense :Ddd

 

[LapisWhale]

I like this tension dynamic. It shows more intense emotions from the get-go. Lots of character development to get over difficult circumstances and opposing view-points. The mains need to constantly battle hate and desire. As for the kill-on-sight: personal vendetta? shared scorn is still a form of passion. Can't stomach tortured mc for LIs amusement and disdain where she either fawns out of fear/survival. The dynamic has to have this unspoken what-if tension that turns the tide according to respective morals.

Oh, I absolutely love how you put it! 'Shared scorn is still a form of passion' is such a perfect way to describe it.

Personally :Đ it doesn't even need to be a personal vendetta. It could just be that they are on different sides, and those sides are actively trying to wipe each other out. But honestly, both? Both is good xDddddd

 

[Shelia]

I'm a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Although I know it's a silly trope from a realistic perspective and usually doesn't reflect well on the characters' mental health ;).
I think it's a bit easier to portray this in books or TV shows; in games, it seems pretty difficult to me. I mean, you have to somehow show the characters' development and give them choices that make the player really want to, well, choose them.
I can't recall ever coming across a really well-executed theme like this in any game (not just otome games). It's a shame, because it's kind of my little guilty pleasure.

 

[LapisWhale]

Closest thing that is there - imbalanced relationship, where hate is one-sided and other side (usually LI) doesn't feel strong negative emotions. Or tsunderes, but it is also not enemies to lovers

Such a shame, honestly Unlike a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic, I absolutely hate imbalanced relationships, especially when it's my girls getting mistreated Dx

 

[LapisWhale]

I think it's a bit easier to portray this in books or TV shows; in games, it seems pretty difficult to me. I mean, you have to somehow show the characters' development and give them choices that make the player really want to, well, choose them.

I mean, it is true that it's a bit hard to portray them =)) but honestly, it's just modern games in general, and otome games at that, don't really want to come out of their comfort zone.

 

[Darmian]

That sounds more like an imbalanced relationship xC I totally hate it when it's like that too!! I actually prefer it if they're professional, and their actions are understandable, not just for the sake of causing harm, if it makes sense :Ddd

That kinda dynamic doesnt even feel like enemies to lovers thou. Why the male lead have to harm to female lead and then force her feeling to accept fall in love and be couple with him? So unfair....

 

[Vita5193]

I love this trope, i enjoy watching how the relationships between the characters change.

 

[failedwebsite]

I can't recall ever coming across a really well-executed theme like this in any game (not just otome games). It's a shame, because it's kind of my little guilty pleasure.

It's not that uncommon in BL games. Here is the poster boy - Shiki from Togainu no Chi:

 

[Shelia]

It's not that uncommon in BL games. Here is the poster boy - Shiki from Togainu no Chi:

BL isn't really my thing, but wow, this game looks really promising. I think I'll add it to my Steam wishlist and check it out for myself—maybe it turns out I've just been picking the wrong titles, and it's not that I don't like the genre as a whole :D

 

[甘味鎮痛剤]

I like the "enemies to lovers" trope like with Miyabi in UN:LOGICAL. They're on opposing sides, but they never physically or mentally hurt the MC. I also hate seeing the girls get hurt.

 

[ninnikuryona]

I mean if the case is like in For Your Murderer manhwa. The male lead causes so much trauma to the female lead and ends up hurting her in so many ways.

People are hyped to see their relationship turn into romantic ending, while i muttering to myself that the female lead be better off dead than giving up her dignity to fall for that freaky guy.

Kinda embarrassing that i actually not really read that manhwa, but keep up the story update bcs the female lead not really give a damn about that man.

but it was never a romantic story!! it was specifically a psychological thriller, and the way the male lead was obsessed with the female lead was like being obsessed with an object. thats the whole point>< he was shown as a genuine psycho since childhood, and he never understood human emotions or feelings that well, so no way he would actually fall in love with a person!

the ending was pretty mediocre all things considered, but i feel like if it turned into romance outright, that would be even worse LOL. good thing it never went into that direction though^^

 

[xinyll09]

Im sorry, but i hate enemies to lovers from the bottom of my heart. I have no issue with them being rivals, though.

I mean if the case is like in For Your Murderer manhwa. The male lead causes so much trauma to the female lead and ends up hurting her in so many ways.

People are hyped to see their relationship turn into romantic ending, while i muttering to myself that the female lead be better off dead than giving up her dignity to fall for that freaky guy.

Kinda embarrassing that i actually not really read that manhwa, but keep up the story update bcs the female lead not really give a damn about that man.

i read the manhwa. it's not supposed to be romance it's thriller manhwa. they were never going to be together it's only the fans asking for it.

 

[failedwebsite]

BL isn't really my thing, but wow, this game looks really promising. I think I'll add it to my Steam wishlist and check it out for myself—maybe it turns out I've just been picking the wrong titles, and it's not that I don't like the genre as a whole :D

It's an edgelord classic.
The censored, console version has been recently ported to PC and translated, so you can try it first (and avoid Keisuke's notorious exploits). Though I don't know what they replaced the R18 scenes with as I'm yet to play it.

 

[Darmian]

but it was never a romantic story!! it was specifically a psychological thriller, and the way the male lead was obsessed with the female lead was like being obsessed with an object.

i read the manhwa. it's not supposed to be romance it's thriller manhwa. they were never going to be together it's only the fans asking for it.

My bad, i think i got little carried away after saw many comments just talking about the ship...

thats the whole point>< he was shown as a genuine psycho since childhood, and he never understood human emotions or feelings that well, so no way he would actually fall in love with a person!

the ending was pretty mediocre all things considered, but i feel like if it turned into romance outright, that would be even worse LOL. good thing it never went into that direction though^^

Yeah, talking about the tension between this both character is soo thats what keep me following the updates.
About the ending, honestly i kinda hope she can kill that guy, that would be a wild way to end the story. Glad author didnt make them into romance couple

 

[ninnikuryona]

Yeah, talking about the tension between this both character is soo thats what keep me following the updates.
About the ending, honestly i kinda hope she can kill that guy, that would be a wild way to end the story. Glad author didnt make them into romance couple

no worries!! i know discussions online are very misleading, because theres a certain genre of people who take their obsession with yandere to the next level defying all logic LOL

i think its fine when a story doesnt end with a "yandere" (hes not even yandere) falling in love with the mc. i was more pissed with the sudden bait and switch because i guess the author was tired of her own manhwa which is why she wrapped everything up too soon;-; id be happy to see more of fl's inner struggles between her murderous nature and her being above something as inhumane as murder.. but at least weve got a fanservicey romantic spinoff;w;

 

[Darmian]

no worries!! i know discussions online are very misleading, because theres a certain genre of people who take their obsession with yandere to the next level defying all logic LOL

i think its fine when a story doesnt end with a "yandere" (hes not even yandere) falling in love with the mc. i was more pissed with the sudden bait and switch because i guess the author was tired of her own manhwa which is why she wrapped everything up too soon;-; id be happy to see more of fl's inner struggles between her murderous nature and her being above something as inhumane as murder.. but at least weve got a fanservicey romantic spinoff;w;

Exactly. Yandere characters are fun bcs they make story more thrilling to be read. But i think a lot of people are misunderstanding this character. What kind of yandere treats their victim like a toy even barely caring about them and only thinking about their own benefit? Wait, doesnt that fit definition of yandere too?? Im not yandere expert, so correct me if i wrong.

If thats really the case, then i kinda of feel bad for the author. She already put together with pretty complex story, yet some readers seem to completely miss the point of the plot.

 

[ninnikuryona]

Exactly. Yandere characters are fun bcs they make story more thrilling to be read. But i think a lot of people are misunderstanding this character. What kind of yandere treats their victim like a toy even barely caring about them and only thinking about their own benefit? Wait, doesnt that fit definition of yandere too?? Im not yandere expert, so correct me if i wrong.

i guess the definition of a yandere is pretty "muddy" in the west these days.. because some believe that a yandere is anyone who ever expresses the slightest hint of possession ever, and others believe that a yandere should never ever ever ever EVER try to hurt their beloved one (or his beloved one, because i havent read such discussions about female yandere). or their beloved's friends or relatives or anyone like that. which is also funny because like, how is it a yandere then? yandere characters are many things, but theyre definitely not these little submissive angels that wish for love in peace for all the world...!! if a character briefly states "keep your eyes on me and only on me", it doesnt make him a yandere..
either way, for a yandere to be a yandere, he has to be in love with his "target". and inseop wasnt in love with gijeong, so its definitely not a yandere story. those who genuinely believed these two have a chance, even after inseop tried to KILL HER BROTHER and forced her into total isolation, are.. very positive ill just say that LOL

If thats really the case, then i kinda of feel bad for the author. She already put together with pretty complex story, yet some readers seem to completely miss the point of the plot.

i heard that the author has only written lighthearted comedy stories before fym, which is why the extras look like.. like that ww. so who knows. was it pressure from the readers, which tugged at her? was it her own exhaustion in a genre unfamiliar to her? i dont know:(

 

[Darmian]

Haha, so many different variant of yandere that forgot what yandere is suppose to be (––"). I suppose people should know the whole point from a character, including what is their motive. And you will now are this character is yandere or not.

those who genuinely believed these two have a chance, even after inseop tried to KILL HER BROTHER and forced her into total isolation, are.. very positive ill just say that LOL[/COLOR]

Ah poor readers. Author already put hint so many to Inseop, but they still choose blindly about that hope until the end of the story.

i heard that the author has only written lighthearted comedy stories before fym, which is why the extras look like.. like that ww. so who knows. was it pressure from the readers, which tugged at her? was it her own exhaustion in a genre unfamiliar to her? i dont know:(

Oh, i didnt know about that. I think if author choose hiatus, she can still cooking for the plot. The concept of the story actually pretty cool and fascinating thou....

 

[Fruitcup]

Enemies to loves is peak i very much enjoy it. Unless it leans heavily into abuse then im checking out
▔\▁((.′◔_′◔.))▁/▔

 

[vitanchlo]

Whenever I've seen it done so far, especially in books, it always falls flat. The enemies aren't truly enemies and the period between when they turn from enemies to lovers happens too quickly and unrealistically. I actually never played a route where I can actually say it was enemies to lovers, maybe Chikage (Hakuoki)? But even then I don't think I'd consider it to be. I notice it happens a lot more in BL games so maybe everything I've said above about not playing any routes like this was a lie.