I think this is why ‘The One’ Eternal Lucrative Lusty Love Trope is attractive in today’s culture.

‘The One’ Eternal Lucrative Lusty Love Trope plot (summarized):

A sort of poor, usually literate, effortlessly attractive, ‘good’ girl (often clumsy) marries ‘up’ (concerning socio-economic expectations) without a prenup because he is willing to give her everything always and forever until death (or a stake or something) do them part.

She is young, lovely, generous, and kind — not a fan of the existing caste/class system but not too overtly opposed. We're all victims of circumstance/empathy for everyone, stable society = clear expectations, one day of chaos is worth centuries of subjugation probably, what-about-the-children, etc.

He’s freakishly rich and sexually desirable and needs some serious social-emotional learning/re-branding to maintain his prestigious position in the existing caste/class system, which he heads in some mystical, magical manner that is systemically morally questionable.

But ultimately he’s a good guy, again, a victim of fortuitous circumstance.

She must (regrettably but comfortably) accept her perceived lack of access to power to enact structural change. It is unfortunate, but inevitable that she finds herself here, but look, now she can claim diminished accountability, right? Isn't that a relief?

He must (regrettably?) accept his (rather comfortable, materially speaking) role in holding up the precarious structure upon which we all depend. Again, accountability is, if not diminished, severely limited to maintaining status quo (or chaos! anarchy!)

#sorrynotsorry

I unabashedly read and watch Bridgerton, a recent phenomenal example of ‘The One’ Eternal Lucrative Lusty Love Trope , and I have been known to dabble in Bridgerton’s even more fantastical counterparts.

What are Bridgerton’s even more fantastical counterparts one may ask?

Let me give you a list — if you recognize yourself as ‘involved’ in one or more of these genres, you will automatically understand the appeal of the rest.

They are all incestuous kissing cousins (‘gentile nobles’ - most wealth is generational!) within the cosmic realm of the romcom-romdram (romantic comedies — romantic dramedies.) They include but are not limited to:

Vampire-monster novels (Twilight, Phantom of the Opera, etc.)

Royal fiction (marry a prince/duke/viscount…)

Marry a celebrity (a lot of fan fiction here…very parasocial…)

Marry a wizard/fairy/god/magically gifted creature (see no. 1, but less physically tortured/torturing)

Marry a ‘laird’ — adjacent to no. 2 but he’s more ‘macho,’ and (usually) so is she but like not on the surface — she’s a feminine she-man, a tough broad with great boobs and a strong right hook in a low-cut bodice with a bitter backstory and an aversion to tears…

‘Marry-a-billionaire’ type novels where we-the-audience get to pretend we are Lauren Sanchez/Kate Middleton only less strategic and more esoterically ‘enchanting’

Superman/Lois Lane, IronMan/Pepper Potts, Prince T’challa/Nakia, Batman/James Bond/rando girl/Robin — type stuff (see nos. 4 + 6)

Christian romances where the guy doesn’t get it till the wedding night but somehow ‘knows’ this is the only girl for him that ‘God’ (aka the Author) created

Most Westerns and the ‘buy-a-wife’ stories

Various shifter and werewolf ‘pack’ fiction (see also nos. 4 + 6/7)

Any reality TV-related media in which the romantic premise becomes ‘unexpectedly real’ after the novel’s midway point

(One of my and Netflix’s favorites) The perky small business owner lady who never stops working but somehow has perfect hair and physique and who first hates but then loves and, we presume if it is not made explicit in the final scene of the movie, marries the good-natured son of the capitalist monopoly owner who planned to buy up her business and turn it into another profit-generating outlet of his AI-infused monstrosity. What economical and narrative efficiency! Now the inherited mogul-son doesn’t even have to buy the annoying little enterprise that was somehow holding back his oligarchic vision. With the (assumed) marriage, he possesses both the business and the trophy wife/former owner. Kismet. Darcy never had it so good with Miss Eliza Bennet (she lacked a dowry, remember?)

Review the list.

These are ALL the same story, just with slightly altered details: one lucrative and lusty lover mates for life with our pretty protagonist.

Roles and responsibilities according to Bridgerton et. al....

Just to review for those overwhelmed by lack of influence and submerged in individual obligation to their imagined community, aka a lot of caretakers who happen to identify as women these days, a group that often finds these narratives addictive:

She is not responsible for his participation in the terrible inequality that permeates society; she is merely the beneficiary of his affluent adoration and she ‘trickles down’ what she can to the kind souls who are financially contracted to support her luxurious lifestyle. She can only choose between 'stepmother' and 'Cinderella,' right? So at least be a nice stepmother.

He is also independent of societal blame because (it is implied that) if he absconded from his elite rank a la Prince Siddhartha, then the wobbly ranks of socioeconomic stability that rest upon his broad, well-built frame would descend into violent chaos. Again, what about the children?

The social tableau is fixed.

Accept your birthright and be grateful.

I need a drink...