Agent Palmer

Romance is in every thread of media. It’s another motivation for beating the bad guy, but in many instances overcoming differences to be together is much greater than any enemy. Circumstances usually dictate that in order to be with the one you love, you must overcome great obstacles, some self-made and others environmental or circumstantial.

Below are 10 romances from movies and television shows of various genres. In their own way, they all conclude in happy endings, but in most cases, it’s not an easy road from falling in love to consummation.

 

WALL-E: Eve & Wall-E

Being lonely is hard for almost everyone and everything. Wall-E has been on planet earth cleaning up alone for a very long time when he meets Eve. Obviously, their relationship is based upon actions, not words and that speaks volumes in itself.

The fact that Wall-E and Eve were able to get together should give you pause and make you think about what you are doing more than what you are saying.

Lesson: Actions speak louder than words, but you knew that.

Firefly: Zoe Alleyne Washburne & Hoban “Wash” Washburne

This unlikely pairing married apparently, against Captain Mal’s wishes. And who could blame Mal for objecting? Workplace romances are hard, the saying is “don’t dip your pen in the company ink,” or something like that, but that’s not why they are on the list. They are here because they are an unlikely pairing who at first meeting didn’t quite like each other.

Well, Wash’s quick wit and humor apparently broke through whatever Zoe was bothered by at first meeting. Wash, is very much an unlikely partner for Zoe, who it seems would be better fit for her captain. But she married the pilot because they fell helplessly in love with each other. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s not just Captain Mal, but her husband Wash as well that Zoe would be happy to die or kill for.

Lesson: You can date in the workplace, you just have to be very selective.

Star Wars: Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker

Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) wasn’t always evil, in fact he used to be a cute little kid who enjoyed podracing. But between being and amateur podracer and being the face of all evil in the empire, Anakin met, fell in love and married Padmé Amidala.

So how did a cute kid become evil? The answer lies in romance. Anakin turned to the Dark Side to prevent the pain of losing his wife, Padmé, during childbirth. But this would not come to pass and his anger and power would grow.

Lesson: Although the Dark Side is evil, don’t let it prevent you from loving and living in the present.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Jane and John Smith

When two hired assassins live together as man and wife it can be trouble. Especially, when you’re each given a hit for the other. During the course of this movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith go from looking like a “Stepford” couple on the outside and living secret lives to truly loving each other.

What changes their hearts? That would be nothing. They loved each other all along, but the truth, or lack there of, was in the way of having an actual relationship, so until they decided to stop lying to each other, it was more of a going through the motions relationship. It also helps, when both of your lives are at stake, but it doesn’t have to get to be honest with the one you love.

Lesson: Tell the truth, don’t hide it away.

Lord of the Rings: Rosie Cotton and Samwise Gamgee

This is the story of longing for a crush and of holding a torch for someone. Things like that don’t usually end in happily ever after, but this did. Samwise Gamgee, helped Frodo in the Quest for the Ring, because of his love for Frodo and the Bagginses. But towards the end of that quest, Sam had another motivation to get it finished and return to the Shire, Rosie Cotton. When he returned to The Shire after the Quest for the Ring and the War of the Ring were over and won, he and Rosie were married.

That’s what we know from the movies, but the books say a bit more. Sam and Rosie were close friends with Rosie expecting a marriage proposal from Sam before he left on his quest. In that time away, she, although not pleased, waited for his return.

Lessons: (1) Love as a motivator can help you overcome the greatest of obstacles. (2) Patience, good things will come to you in due time.

The Princess Bride: Princess Buttercup and Westley in The Princess Bride

This romance is somewhat like Rosie and Sam, both are in love with each other, but the difference is that while Sam fought to get back to Rosie while she waited, both Princess Buttercup and Westley fought for each other. Not through time but through circumstance. In fact, they even fought through death as Westley puts it, “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.”

Unlike a lot of the relationships I’ve mentioned and will mention, both Buttercup and Westley know each other to be their true love. Again, this movie is very quotable so in Westley’s words, “This is true love – you think this happens every day?” Well, he’s right it doesn’t.

Lessons: (1) When you find true love, don’t let it go. (2)When the candle burns at both ends, the fires are bound to meet in the middle.

Futurama: Turanga Leela and Philip J. Fry

Absence makes the heart grow fonder is what “they” say. But in the case of Futurama’s Leela and Fry, just being on the cusp of on again off again couple for years made the heart grow fonder. They’ve been on many dates and two marriages and only the second one took, but Fry was working towards this for 140 episodes or seven seasons.

From the moment Fry’s eyes met Leela’s eye, Fry was in love and although he toyed around with other relationships during the series, it was Leela that had his heart, should she choose to have it and eventually she did.

Lesson: Persistence, never give up on the one you love. (Apparently, she’ll come around eventually.)

Battlestar Galactica: President Laura Roslin & Commander William Adama

The romance between President Laura Roslin and Commander William Adama blossomed out of mutual respect and circumstance. For a time, after the Cylon’s attack, Roslin and Adama were both in charge, Roslin as President and Adama as Commander of the only military vessel left. Both respected each other and worked together, although at times they disagreed, they were for the most part amicable disputes.

Their romance didn’t culminate until later in the series. But what this tells us is that some people can understand what you’re going through and that is important. As leaders, the trust and faith thrust upon them by others and the stress and hard work to live up to that trust, was something that only Roslin and Adama could share with each other.

Lesson: It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have be.

The Fifth Element: Leeloo and Korben Dallas

Korben Dallas is just your average ex-military cab driver. His relationship with his mother is, well, less than perfect and his day job doesn’t exactly fit his bad attitude. However, when Leeloo, “the perfect being” literally falls into his cab, it’s not love at first sight. Maybe a little lust, but not love.

Korben does eventually feel love for Leeloo, but is not necessarily going to confide that to anyone, including her. But with the fate of the universe on the line, he does.

Lesson: You shouldn’t need the fate of the world to hang in the balance to tell someone that you love them.

Star Wars: Princess Leia & Han Solo

The quintessential science fiction romance of the genre, Princess Leia and Han Solo own that title. Their love story is one with ups and downs, I mean, getting frozen in carbonite can really put your relationship on ice, but not this one. Princess Leia thawed out her love and why did she do that?

Because Han isn’t just a smuggler, he’s the smoothest man in all of the systems. “I love you” says Leia before Han gets frozen in carbonite, “I know” is his response. It just doesn’t get much classier than that.

Seriously, this relationships success is a victory for Nerf Herders everywhere!

Lesson: Your station in life should not dictate who you love. Ever Nerf Herders can get a Princess.

A Recap of Lessons and Tips from the On-Screen Romances of Action, Science Fiction and Fantasy Heroes

• Actions speak louder than words, but you knew that.
• You can date in the workplace, you just have to be very selective.
• Although the Dark Side is evil, don’t let it prevent you from loving and living in the present.
• Tell the truth, don’t hide it away.
• Love as a motivator can help you overcome the greatest of obstacles.
• Patience, good things will come to you in due time.
• When you find true love, don’t let it go.
• When the candle burns at both ends, the fires are bound to meet in the middle.
• Persistence, never give up on the one you love. (Apparently, she’ll come around eventually.)
• It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have be.
• You shouldn’t need the fate of the world to hang in the balance to tell someone that you love them.
• Your station in life should not dictate who you love. Ever Nerf Herders can get a Princess.