Grotesque jealousy in romance comics, anime, etc

[rmdooley]

Jealousy in romantic plots can be good when it is used as a vice or a source of conflict and tension. When it is portrayed as an admirable element of romance, something to swoon over as the guy becomes possessive or the girl becomes manipulative, then it is a complete turn-off.

So I suppose:
Jealousy when bad = good
Jealousy when good = bad

[joannekwan]

When between humans, and not a part of some kink erotica, I HATE it.

[Hodge]

I'm way less concerned as a reader about jealousy being "bad" than I am about it being badly written.

This is mainly where I stand. Overall, I'm not too picky or judgmental of other people's writing (I suck at it myself, but trying to improve) but if jealousy is going to be a thing, I'd like it to be developed so that it deepens my understanding of a character.

[JRHoch]

Testify test tube, testify!

[beta1042]

what do you need me to testify?

[SleepingPoppy]

Usually it's kinda cheap, but I think it can be interesting if it's actually used with thought and attention. It's okay for a reasonable amount of jealousy to be a character flaw, too, all the better if it's something they'll work on over time.

I also understand that possessiveness can be sort of thrilling if one is reading for fantasy purposes.

But yeah, the typical romance jealousy tends to be very paint by numbers. If it's not a bad story otherwise it won't stop me from enjoying a casual read, but it's nice when it's absent or utilized with more purpose. ^^

[JRHoch]

I was supporting your view on jealousy. Testify as in you tell them, girl.

[HGohwell]

Day to day, it's pretty boring and cliche and borders on annoying. Especially when it's a romance where you're expected to see the jealousy as a sign of how much they're in love in a totally straight honest way. As if the creator really believes that. Romcoms and sitcoms often use it as a cheap misunderstanding and shortcut to drama that could be resolved within five seconds. This also crosses into the tsundere trope for me, especially when they're violent. And especially when they're not even a couple because she (usually she) constantly denies she has feelings and they're just friends but how dare he look at any other girl!

However, it's often about how it's handled. When in a ridiculously over the top comedy where you're supposed to understand this is utterly ridiculous, for instance the Love Tyrant anime/manga, it can be rather fun. The other time it can be interesting is when the jealousy is explored and dealt or just crosses straight iton yandere territory and its full horror (can't really be dealing with people romanticizing the yandere). I'm rather partial to some mutual possessiveness and jealousy when fully acknowledged as the mess it is.

[ButterflyEmpress]

I remember when I first watched Zero no Tsukaima, I was new to the whole "dere" stuff and other annoying tropes. I remember season 2 (I think) opening with Louise giving Saito a mask that would go off if he even just looked at another girl and she'd blow him up. I though it was the funniest thing ever. But now I'm a lil older I realized that Louise is terribly abusive. And to make things worse, they keep breaking up and Louise won't let him pursue any relationship with any other girl, despite claiming that she doesn't like him anymore. I can't stand that show now. Or anything similar.