by Charlie Fabre
If you, like me, recently saw Challengers in cinema and are obsessed with it, then this article is for you. Quite frankly I cannot get enough of Art and Tashi and Patrick, and I may have to treat myself to a trip to the cinema two more times (as Zendaya herself advises!) – but in the meantime, I’ve been thinking about other iconic love triangles.
Angsty and intense and above all romantic, love triangles are a STAPLE in the romance genre, but also in every genre, really. So let’s run through some of the most iconic love triangles in film and literature.
1. Art x Tashi x Patrick
Let’s start off with the throuple of the hour – the Challengers characters are engaged in a very intense game of love and passion and, of course, tennis. Watching these guys flit from one to the other on screen was honestly really sexy. No matter what team you’re on, I think we can all agree that there should have been more Art x Patrick action…
2. Will x Tessa x Jem
Those of you who are fans of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters series will know the pain and angst that was gifted to us when she wrote The Infernal Devices trilogy. I’m a Will girl, personally, but the best thing about this love triangle was that the trio loved each other unconditionally, romantically and platonically, and that’s what made it so beautiful and so heartwrenching!
3. Elena x Stefan x Damon
Oh to be a high school girl being fought over by two immortal vampire brothers – some people just get to live others’ dreams! I’ve always been team Damon, I can’t resist the ‘bad boy’ archetype, but Stefan has a lot of strong suits as well. Most of the show – The Vampire Diaries – revolves around the constant drama between these guys, made even worse by the fact that Stefan and Damon are BROTHERS! It’s also a little weird that Elena is Katherine’s doppelganger, but let’s not unpack that right now…
To be fair, this show is absolutely littered with love triangles, like Caroline x Tyler x Klaus, and Jeremy x Anna x Vicky… It’s just never ending, but we love it.
4. Gale x Peeta x Katniss
This is a love triangle that follows through most of the plot of The Hunger Games, but honestly there’s ZERO competition here – we all know Peeta is the best man. Sweet sweet Peeta, Gale could never hold a candle to you.
5. Gatsby x Daisy x Tom
If you thought it was only new romantasy and teenage drama books and shows that were giving us love triangles, you’re wrong. The classics loved them too, and if you’re looking for drama The Great Gatsby will give you plenty of that. Gatsby has been searching for his long lost love Daisy for years, but when he finds her she is married to Tom Buchanan. It’s all a little questionable to be fair: Tom isn’t a great guy, Daisy’s a little flaky, and Gatsby is sort of a liar… But who cares! All’s fair in love and the roaring 20s, right?
6. Serena x Dan x Nate
Everyone dates everyone in Gossip Girl, let’s be real, but the pairing that constantly comes up and causes friction is Dan and Nate’s fued over Serena. This is especially dramatic as Dan and Nate are really good friends, and at times these romantic pursuits pull them apart. Between Nate and Serena’s history, and Dan balancing Serena out, it’s kind of hard to pick which boy suits her best.
In the end the show-runners decided that Lonely Boy was going to get the girl, but I guess that just means Nate is for me…
7. Edward x Bella x Jacob
How can we talk about iconic love triangles and not include these guys? Team Edward and Team Jacob were probably chants you heard all through your teen years – maybe you and your friends even got into fights over opposing opinions. It’s safe to say the Twilight years were INTENSE, and miss Myers certainly kept us guessing! Though, of course, Edward gets the girl in the end, and Jacob gets their daughter…? Let’s not dwell on it too much, this is the love triangle that defined all love triangles!
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