#even for untraumatized folk the ilu is a milestone in a relationship. it was a whole plot point in transformers 2

[constantvariations]

This might just be my aversion to this in media, but I absolutely hate that the bees jumped straight into "I love you"

Writers have been using it as a crutch probably since written language was invented. Two characters get jammed together by the plot for a decent length of time so Of CoUrSe they're in love!!

Instead of showing us these characters are in love, or in the process of falling, they tell us. Which is bad, lazy writing

You can compare it to any number of well-written romances, but my go-to is Rick and Evie from The Mummy 1999 because (outside of the forced kiss) it is a perfect depiction of strangers to lovers

Physical attraction is reinforced through the acting and camera framing (most notably after Rick cleans up and when Evie gets new clothes), but the dynamic shift is where the real meat is

Originally a business transaction of "I saved your life so lead me to this impossible place" and thoughtless words getting on each other's nerves, these two casually save each other's lives, look after the other's well-being, teach each other their fields of expertise (adeptly using that knowledge in the sequel to show that time has passed), give gifts with adorable awkwardness, and argue like an old married couple

There are so many instances where you see them growing closer and closer together that you wouldn't be able to fit them all in a single gifset. And not a single I love you

But the bees? Sure, there's flirts and trauma bonding, but there's no real substance to any of it. There is not a single real conversation between them. They can't even list real qualities they like about the other when held at metaphorical gunpoint!

Which is why the "I love you" is so annoying. These two are still testing the waters about the other's feelings, there is no fucking way they should be jumping straight into established domesticity

I'm glad that it was made canon, but it is entirely unearned in terms of dynamic development

#rwde #thinking abt the bees again bc i just wrote my characters confessing and first kiss #its a personal rule of mine to never use ilu romantically in stories bc it forces me to actually think abt the relationships unique shape #every relationship is its own language and you need to be fluent in every single one if you want to be a good writer #and yes some relationships can start off at ilu but it doesnt fit w the two characters w abandonment/abuse issues #even for untraumatized folk the ilu is a milestone in a relationship. it was a whole plot point in transformers 2 #for an even better example of shown not told romance look at the beginning of Up #thats a whole damn story w no dialogue #the bees truly cannot compare #do they even know if the other has food allergies? #hope they don't have to have that conversation at gunpoint as well