While rewatching Dawson’s Creek recently, I’ve given a lot of thought to the love triangle between Dawson, Joey, and Pacey. Specifically, what the dynamic between Joey and Pacey meant for Joey’s character and emotional development, and while the storyline may have been crafted for drama, it became much more than that.
Love triangles are one of the most polarizing tropes in fiction—especially in young adult and fantasy genres. But when done well, love triangles offer more than just romantic tension. They function as a mirror for character development, and a way to explore identity, desire, moral conflict, and emotional growth. Love triangles aren’t just about choosing between two people—I believe they’re about choosing between two versions of oneself. One love interest might represent safety, home, and stability, while the other could symbolize freedom, risk, and passion. One might reflect who the protagonist is now, and the other who they could become.
Love triangles externalize an internal struggle that is brought about by growth and character development. They also force the characters and readers to think critically about questions of loyalty and timing, as well as the meaning and nature of love. It forces us to question if love is more about comfort or passion, and if both can coexist. We question whether love is about having a shared history or a potential future. And, if it’s possible to love more than one person at once. In a world that often likes simple and easy resolutions, love triangles are a messy, humanizing reminder that growth comes from complexity.
The TV show has gained an immense amount of popularity, especially now with the continual release of season three. But not every viewer has read this trilogy. The love triangle between Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly is a lens through which to view Belly’s changing identity as she grows up. Conrad and Jeremiah aren’t just brothers; they are a reflection of two different emotional paths for Belly. Conrad is intense, quiet, brooding, and complex—his love is steady but often buried beneath grief, fear, and emotional unavailability. On the other hand, Jeremiah is light, playful, and simple, but he lacks the deeper connection that Belly craves. Through this trilogy, she learns her own meaning of love, and that she desires someone who truly sees her and challenges her to grow. Her indecisiveness between the two isn’t just for the sake of drama, but a representation of Belly’s confusion with herself and her experience navigating what kind of relationship she deserves and what future she wants. The triangle forces Belly to move beyond romantic fantasy and into emotional maturity.
The popular dystopian book and movie trilogy, The Hunger Games, showcases a love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. The triangle isn’t just a subplot—it’s a reflection of Katniss’s internal conflict, trauma, and her evolving worldview. Gale represents her past: a life rooted in survival, shared hardship, and hatred towards the Capitol. On the other hand, Peeta represents a future filled with compassion, softness, peace, and hope. While Gale sees the warrior in Katniss, Peeta sees her human side, filled with compassion and empathy. Gale, though brave and loyal, is deeply complex and a product of a violent and oppressive environment. Peeta represents kindness, peace, and emotional intelligence—qualities often overlooked in male characters, especially in dystopian genres. As the rebellion begins, Katniss is forced to think about what kind of life she wants after the war, and as violence further ensues, Peeta and Gale demonstrate traits that help Katniss realize the importance of being human and fighting with hope instead of vengeance.
Last but certainly not least, The Infernal Devices trilogy offers one of the most complex love triangles in YA literature. The love triangle between Jem, Will, and Tessa isn’t about rivalry—it’s about friendship, deep connection, and the beautiful tragedy of loving two people differently, but equally. Will is chaotic, passionate, and self-destructive, hiding his vulnerability behind sharp wit and emotional walls. Jem is gentle, wise, and brings Tessa peace in their violent supernatural world. What makes this triangle so memorable and powerful is that it doesn’t force Tessa to choose between love and duty, or safety and risk; instead, it offers a different perspective of love. Tessa’s love for both Jem and Will isn’t a betrayal of either of them, as the two want nothing more than for the other to be happy. The story explores love in all different forms: romantic, platonic, and spiritual.
While love triangles can be frustrating at times, they offer far more than just manufactured drama. The greatest stories are those that reflect personal growth, emotional complexity, and the raw truths of human nature and love. Hopefully, this perspective has given you some food for thought—or at least a more nuanced philosophical outlook on an overly hated trope that continues to shape some of our favorite stories.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer