Romeo, meet Juliet's husband

What is it that makes a good love story? Ask 50 people this question and you’ll probably get at least that many answers. I think many people would point to the likeability of the characters or even the actors, but not me. I think this can add to or be a deterrent to liking the story, but doesn’t in and of itself make a good love story. I can think of many movies that had entirely likeable characters that were not at all excellent, and vice versa.

One of my favorite movies is the British film Love Actually. In many ways, this is just a feel good movie. Several couples are followed and love is portrayed from many different perspectives: young love, forbidden love, lost love, interracial love and even lust are shown as some of the many forms that love takes. Yet, despite all of these interesting subplots, my favorite storyline might just be one of the saddest; that of a man who is in love with his best friend’s wife. He realizes that this love will never provide the storybook ending he has hoped for, but his love isn’t diminished and he continues to love her despite her permanent unavailability.

To me, the most interesting love story that can ever be told is one of unrequited love. I think too many times we equate happy with good when it comes to movies and books. There is so much beauty to be found in falling short of perfection, and heaven forbid, not having a happy ending. Not only is unrequited love the most interesting, but I also believe it embodies love in its truest form. There are no ulterior motives when it comes to a love that is not returned. Why would anyone subject themselves to that agonizing experience if their love was anything but pure? The guaranteed torment that accompanies such a love authenticates it beyond reproof.

There are two examples of such a love that I’ve been thinking about lately. The first is Severus Snape’s love for Lilly Potter which is revealed in the seventh and final edition of Harry Potter. My heart went out to Harry’s nemesis/reluctant ally. Should he have stopped loving her just because she didn’t pick him? Even if that is the wise thing to do, anyone who has been in a similar situation realizes that option isn’t available. He was devoted to his beloved Lilly even when she married his tormentor, and he continued to love her wholeheartedly when she passed from this life to the next. That, my friends, is true love. Undeterred, constant, and never-ending. Pure and tragically beautiful, this is a great love story.

The second is Eponine’s undying love for Marius in Les Miserables. Victor Hugo writes Eponine’s feelings and emotions with the description and empathy of someone who knows what it means to hurt, and it provides some of the most beautiful interactions of the entire story. In the musical version, her song “On My Own” provides a most heart wrenching look into the human soul, and this in a story already filled with tragedy, loss, and redemption. Eponine’s love for Marius transcends the normal parameters of love and brings it into the realm of the truly exquisite. “Without me, his world will go on turning, a world that’s full of happiness that I have never known.” She even makes that ultimate sacrifice, giving her life not with the promise of eventually being with her love, but in spite of the fact that she realizes it will never happen. True love must be selfless, and this is as selfless as it gets.

Admit it. This is so much more interesting than the classic guy gets girl story that has saturated the entertainment industry. I’m not saying there isn’t a place for that, but it lacks the drama and intrigue that exists when you know the guy/girl will never get what they ultimately want. Instead of a character just muttering sappy lines that are accepted by the love interest faster than I would accept a sleepover invite from Kate Beckinsale, I would like to see a character’s promises of love and devotion put to the test. You say you can’t live without someone? I say prove it. Some people actually have to.

Now that’s must see TV.