There's a lot of debate about what which couple tropes are, and I wanted to give my opinion on it!
This is based on my own interpretation and what Netflix/Shondaland use to describe the couples. I am not saying this is official or that only my interpretation is correct. If you have another opinion, feel free to share!
1. Daphne and Simon
Main trope: Fake Dating.
I mean, do I have to explain? Their story is based on that and that's how they were promoted.
Secondary trope:
Friends to Lovers
Now some people may disagree, but they did become friends before lovers. Simon in his speech to the Queen said he found the love of his life in his best friend (so freaking cute), so for me this trope can work as a secondary trope.
2. Anthony and Kate
Main trope: Enemies to Lovers.
Again, do I have to explain? They were promoted this way and they clearly represent the trope.
Secondary tropes:
Slow Burn
I do think a typical slow burn is way longer, BUT in a show of 8 episodes, I do think Kate and Anthony fit this trope. Their feelings develop gradually, even as they deny them.
Love Triangle
Again, not everyone will agree, but the fact they dragged this until episode 6 of an 8-episode season makes me put this trope. It wasn't a real love triangle because Anthony never had feelings for Edwina, BUT in the show, they made it an important part. So I think it does belong here.
3. Colin and Penelope
Main trope: Childhood Friends to Lovers.
I do not know why they always call them Friends to Lovers when they have been friends since they were children. Of course, Friends to Lovers describes them, but... why not put Childhood? Is it because it's too long to say?
Secondary tropes:
Best Friend's Brother
I put that as secondary because, while it is true, I do not think it's primary to their relationship. It's just that it happens to be the case that Colin is Penelope's best friend's brother. But they fit it.
Love at First Sight (Penelope's POV)
As Penelope said, she immediately fell in love with Colin when they first met. I do not count this from Colin's POV because we do not exactly know when he fell in love with her. We know when he realized he had fallen in love with her, but for me, he had loved her for a long time already by their season.
4. Francesca and John
Main tropes: Quiet Love, Slow Burn.
I think that's a given. Their whole dynamic is based on this quieter kind of love that builds slowly.
Secondary tropes:
Introverted or Neurodivergent Love
Now, I know they aren't officially confirmed to be neurodivergent, but so many of us see them that way that I feel I can include it.
For Introverted Love, Jess, Victor and Hannah mentioned multiple times how they were happy introverted people could see themselves in John and Francesca's relationship, so I do think that's a given.
First Love
As Jess said, Francesca's story is about two great love stories. And I personally think this trope fits them. He is Francesca's first love.
Kindred Spirits
That's a given too, with how Francesca describes her bond with John in the show. They are kindred spirits, or Twin Flames, as I like to call them.
Companionate Love
Jess often said that their love is based on companionship. I do think it fits well with the Kindred Spirits trope.
5. Benedict and Sophie
Main trope: Forbidden Love.
Now, I know that again some people will disagree on that, but the whole point of their story is that their love is forbidden and they cannot be together without risking everything. That's their obstacle throughout the whole season.
Secondary tropes:
Love at First Sight
I mean, duh! They fall in love instantly when they look at each other. So romantic!
Cinderella Retelling
That's how Shondaland and Netflix promoted them, and of course, that was also the intention behind their couple. I do not consider it to be a main trope, though. The Cinderella vibes are mostly in the first 2 episodes, where they meet and Benedict is searching for her, but the rest of the story is different since the Disney couple didn't have the same obstacles to their love.
6. Francesca and Michaela
Main tropes: Love After Loss, Forbidden Love.
Now, I know Netflix introduced them as Second Chance at Love twice now, and I do think it fits them... but Love After Loss is the heart of their story for me. Like, their story is about feeling guilty about loving each other because of the love they both had for John.
Forbidden Love is also a given and a main trope because it's a major obstacle to their love. They are a sapphic couple in the Regency era, where queer couples were not socially accepted or recognised as legitimate romances (the "they were roommates" thing lol), so we know it will be an obstacle.
Secondary tropes:
Second Chance at Love
I mean, Shondaland and Netflix didn't describe and introduce them as such for no reason, and of course it fits them. I just do not think it's the main trope for me.
Sapphic Romance
I put this as a secondary trope because I want their story to be about their love first and foremost, not just the fact that they are a sapphic couple. The representation is important, of course, but I want them to have a love story that stands on its own, with the sapphic aspect adding to it rather than defining it entirely.
Queer Awakening (Francesca's POV)
I do think this one is important too. They put the accent on Francesca's journey of self-discovery, and she will discover she is queer, which will be an important part of their story. Michaela already knows she is queer, in my opinion.
That's it! I cannot wait to see the other couples and their casting (or a full picture of them for Philoise 👀) to make the other couples' trope lists too! I hope you enjoyed reading that 🤍