The Fated Mates Trope: Good or Nah?

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

The problem with this trope is it usually leads to one or both members of the fated pair putting up with severe mistreatment in the name of 'fated love'. This is really not a good message to send about disordered or abusive relationships

[@mindfighter1]

I feel like having a twist of the main couple not being fates pairs/fated to be with someone else sounds more interesting than the usual fate pairs story. Or having them be fated pairs but the plot/outside forces keeping them from being together to add tension to the plot

[@piscesgrl0]

The song "The Origin of Love" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a lovely retelling of Plato's separated souls myth.

[@carolinecdouglas]

To be fair to ACOTAR, Elain (Feyre's sister) does get mated to someone and as of the last book (ACOSF), she has not accepted the mate bond or even indicated in the slightest that she likes this guy at all. I'm hoping that in the next book they will explore this further as there is another possible love interest. As always, thank you for the video and interesting perspective

[@lakesuperioraquamanproduct1637]

"Why are they doing this?" LOL

[@vividraspberry]

The trope is pretty hit or miss for me. But I really mate the term “mates”. I cringe every time I see it. Soulmates is just fine, but “mates” just weirds me out for some reason.

[@ledafrost]

I like the idea of an outside power trying to bring people together but those two still need to have free will and the freedom to say no. Maas' feels too eugenic and a lot of shifter romances are lust-first.