Love triangles are a prevalent trope that has been rising for some time. In the past two years especially we have seen directors play with this idea of falling in love with two brothers. But where did this trope come from and has it always been this popular?
What Is Up With This Trope?
Two main questions arise from this particular genre and that is:
- How does it not get repetitive?
- Why are viewers and readers so invested in these love triangles?
This trope began gaining popularity in the 2000s with shows like “The Vampire Diaries” (2009) and “Reign” (2013). In these shows, the love triangle did not play a major role in the development of the storyline. However, since the release of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (2022) and continuing with “My Life with the Walter Boys” (2023) the trope has now overtaken the plot.

There are minor differences between each show and their storyline to make the plot interesting and seem less repetitive. Our generation is addicted to the drama these shows stir up! It creates a controversy and sides that ultimately determine the kind of person you are.
Team Characterizations
With so many brothers to choose from you have to pick one from each show. It is said, by many TikTok users that the brother you choose reflects the kind of partner you are attracted to.
Many people group the brothers from different shows into categories. For example, if you are team Damon, you are automatically teams Bash, Conrad, and Cole. Team Stefan is often placed with teams Francis, Jeremiah, and Alex. Team Damon represents the bad boys with a soft spot whereas Stefan’s group represents the sweethearts.

Who’s Team Are You On?
Here is a rapid-fire quiz for you to determine which team you belong to:
- Do you prefer
- Sweet
- Salty
- Are you usually
- In committed relationships
- Not ready for committed relationships
- Are you interested in
- Hyper and kind
- Broody and mysterious
- Are you an
- Extroverted person
- Introverted person
- Which is more important to you
- Selflessness
- Confidence
What Does This All Mean?
If your answers were mostly A, you are team sweethearts!
This means you like a partner you can rely on and someone a little goofy. This partner will have your best interest at heart always and is the golden retriever brother.
If your answers were mostly B, you are team bad boys!
This means you like an adventurous partner, you like the thrill and mystery of the whole relationship. Once your partner is committed to you, he has claimed you. He is the black cat of the two.
The Relatedness Of It All
Regardless of the side you choose, this trope is ever so complicated. Our hearts and minds get sucked into falling for the same types of boys over and over again. The drama and intensity of this love triangle fuels us to want to keep watching.
Viewers enjoy the messiness and drama this trope has to offer more than the very niche two-brothers aspect. Many romantic movies play into the one soulmate rule. Love triangles dip their toes into the reality of a complicated but more realistic human love life.
What team are you on? Let VALLEY know by tweeting @VALLEYmag on X!

I have to show some appreciation to you just for rescuing me from this type of issue. As a result of surfing throughout the world wide web and obtaining views which are not helpful, I assumed my entire life was well over. Living devoid of the strategies to the issues you have sorted out all through your entire article content is a critical case, and those that could have adversely affected my career if I hadn’t noticed the website. Your primary training and kindness in handling almost everything was precious. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a point like this. I’m able to at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks for your time very much for your skilled and sensible help. I will not think twice to refer your web page to anybody who desires recommendations about this topic.
F*ckin’ tremendous things here. I am very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Hello! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
I think other web-site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
It is really a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
I have read several excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to create this type of great informative web site.
After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good site!
I like this weblog so much, saved to favorites. “American soldiers must be turned into lambs and eating them is tolerated.” by Muammar Qaddafi.