Similarly, Killing Eve (Season 1-2) presents a romantic storyline that is purely obsessive. Villanelle and Eve are not trying to build a life together; they are trying to destroy each other. It is a romance of annihilation, not building. This appeals to audiences who find traditional "cottagecore" love boring. It recognizes that sometimes, the thrill of a relationship is the danger of the other person seeing you completely—and not flinching.

"Doing what?" Clara asked, focused intently on the blackened sourdough.

: Many writers treat the relationship itself as a "third character" with its own arc, alongside the individual arcs of the two lovers. Authenticity and Vulnerability