Some of the best romances are between the two most unlikely people. Sometimes, pairing two people who are polar opposites can result in a lot of conflict and fighting. Some couples are far sweeter, and their disparate personality traits bring out the best in each other rather than jockey for domination.
A romance between two entirely different people can result in a lot of surprises and silly miscommunications. "Opposites attract" can mean two people with opposing motivations and loyalties, like a villain who falls in love with the hero, and then sweeter versions revolve around the personality of the couple, like a precocious person who loves someone with a quieter nature. One doesn't dominate the other, but instead, they balance each other out beautifully.
10 Miyo And Kiyoka (My Happy Marriage)
Miyo and her husband operate in entirely different ways in My Happy Marriage. But though it seems incredibly unlikely that they will find solace with each other, they do. Miyo Saimori has spent her life being browbeaten by her family, which makes her a very passive character at first.
Kiyoka, in contrast, is incredibly stern. It takes him a minute to realize that his stern nature would trample hers so soon after leaving her abusive family home. He's moved by Miyo's sweetness and her talents, and he tries to uplift her, moderating his tone and taking extra time to communicate with her.
9 Tohru And Kyo (Fruits Basket)
Kyo Sohma is used to being scrappy in Fruits Basket. After losing his mother, and in light of the Sohmas rejecting him, he feels like he must fight to get by. Tohru Honda is a pacifist; she always wants to help find peace in social situations, which is a vital skill.
Tohru can go a bit too far because of her own trauma and be passive sometimes when she should speak up for herself. Kyo learns how to be gentler just from being around Tohru before they even have a romantic relationship. He also encourages her to take a leaf out of his book and advocate for herself more.
8 Nanami And Tomoe (Kamisama Kiss)
Nanami and Tomoe couldn't be more different, especially at the beginning of Kamisama Kiss. Nanami is naive and hardworking, whereas Tomoe is jaded, worldly, and lazy. He immediately dislikes her and thinks she's useless, while Nanami finds his indolence distasteful.
Nanami also wears her emotions on her sleeves while Tomoe hides his away under many, many layers. Nanami has to learn fast to survive being a Land God around many kinds of spirits, so it comes in handy sometimes that Tomoe is so knowledgeable and vicious. Tomoe turns things around pretty quickly; he goes from having disdain for life in general to turning his disdain toward anyone who would hurt Nanami.
7 Sophie And Howl (Howl's Moving Castle)
Sophie Hatter is a self-contained, steady girl in Howl's Moving Castle. The audience can tell from the beginning that she wishes she was prettier, but she buries her disappointment and self-esteem issues behind a facade. She pretends not to care, but she really does. She wants to be seen as beautiful and special — and Howl sees her as exactly that.
Howl also cares about his looks and impression but in a completely different way. Howl wields his beauty like a weapon. As he becomes closer to Sophie, he realizes that there are more important things in life, and his conduct and his personhood mean far more than his looks.
6 Akane And Yamada (My Love Story With Yamada-kun At Lv999)
Akane is a ball of emotions, whereas Yamada is a cool-headed kuudere in My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999. It's important to process emotions, which Akane does — though not always in the healthiest or safest way. Taking her anger out on NPCs in her video game is fine, but she also makes dangerous mistakes, like over-drinking.
Yamada's steady nature comes in handy when Akane needs a bit of help because she's going through something. Both people have no idea what to make of each other at first. But it's not long before they're totally stuck on each other. It always throws Akane for a loop when Yamada makes a great show of emotion.
5 Aileen And Claude (I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss)
Aileen is naturally a social butterfly in I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss. She's plucky and optimistic, even in the face of disenchantment and rejection. Rather than hiding away, panicking, or wallowing in her feelings, she slaps a smile on her face and soldiers on, determined to find a solution.
Claude has many qualities that make him a good, complementary fiancé to Aileen, but he also deals with his emotions in an entirely different way. He has to repress his emotions partly because they're linked to his magic, and he doesn't want to induce chaos. The couple isn't exactly a grumpy-sunshine pair but more like a sun-and-moon pair. Aileen is bright and optimistic; Claude is subtle and deep.
4 San And Ashitaka (Princess Mononoke)
San is all fire and fury in Princess Mononoke. She is the humans' reckoning, and it's understandable why she's so angry — their mining poisons her forest and its old gods. Ashitaka has similar values, but he's incredibly quiet. The prince moves in silence and listens closely. He's so calm that when he does draw his sword, it's surprising.
San and Ashitaka may have different ways of processing and dealing with problems, but their goals are the same. They want peace and healing for them and the world. San awakens Ashitaka to a resistance, and Ashitaka teaches San that her life has value and shouldn't be used as cannon fodder.
3 Xie Lian And Hua Cheng (Heaven Official's Blessing)
Xie Lian's gentleness is hard-won in Heaven Official's Blessing. His personality underwent several cataclysms with each trial and attempted ascension. Even so, he's unsure of himself at times.
In contrast, Hua Cheng is incredibly charismatic and confident in his abilities. Where Xie Lian worries about his reputation, Hua Cheng embraces his, fully leaning into being the most notorious of the Four Great Calamities. He's so powerful that he's practically untouchable, while Xie Lian is constantly thrust aside. He's also far more comfortable with flirtation than Xie Lian, which makes for some adorable romantic moments.
2 Dongfang Qingcang And Xiao Lanhua (Love Between Fairy And Devil)
It's hard to get more opposite than a cunning demon falling in love with a sweet, benevolent fairy, like the central pairing in Love Between Fairy and Devil. The demon Dongfang Qingcang is jaded and abrasive. His aggression and power have been locked away for a while. The orchid fairy Xiao Lanhua brings out an unlikely, protective side of him.
A curse draws the two different beings together, and Dongfang Qingcang can't help but lose his heart to the orchid fairy. Xiao Lanhua brings out a softer side in the demon as they share feelings, moments, and experiences together. While the anime version is a bit more lighthearted, the drama version goes a bit deeper into their conflicts.
1 Futaba And Harumi (My Senpai Is Annoying)
Futaba and Harumi have a slow-burn romance in My Senpai Is Annoying. On the surface, the two coworkers are complete opposites. Futaba is incredibly petite, whereas Harumi is more of a strong wrestler himbo build. The disparities don't stop there, though.
Harumi is cheerful and loud, while Futaba is more feisty and defensive. It's really hard for Futaba to ask for help because she's used to being dismissed, but Harumi loves being helpful. Harumi isn't afraid to make the first move socially, whereas Futaba is in denial about her feelings.
Post a Comment