Why we love Michael Schur romances

Michael Schur is the producer, director, and writer of many amazing sitcoms of the 21st century, namely The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Office, and Parks and Recreation. There are many things all of these sitcoms have in common, and one of them is their heart-warming, wholesome romances. For example, Jake and Amy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Eleanor and Chidi from The Good Place, Ben and Leslie from Parks and Recreation, and Jim and Pam from The Office easily make it into some of the most beloved couples among viewers. Fan edits, clips, and screencaps of their special moments are all over social media and countless people consider them to be the pinnacle of romance.

But what is it about the way Michael Schur creates romances that have the viewers in such a chokehold?

Well, it's hard to pinpoint. Especially because the protagonist pairs are not the only couples in the show. We have duos like Andy and April, Ann and Chris, Dwight and Angela, Michael and Holly, Charles and Genevieve, and Jason and Janet who are similarly quirky and lovable together.

For starters, there's something compelling about the idea that no matter how complex a character may be, it's never impossible for them to find their match. The secondary couples in these shows seem hell-bent on proving that.

Dwight is an eccentric beet farmer with a one-track mind who can be a bit too intense at times about his way of life, and Angela is regarded as an unlikeable character from the get-go. Together, however, they somehow work. Michael, with his sometimes lovable mostly cringeworthy childishness finds Holly, someone with similar disposition who just fits into his life. Jason from The Good Place is the stereotypical dumb character, but finds his mate in Janet, an all-knowing and capable being.

Another selling point about these romances is the slow, believable development. Jake and Amy share a long friend/rival bond which slowly develops into romance, similar to Ben and Leslie. Pam and Jim are friends who understand each other, whereas Eleanor and Chidi are two contrasting characters brought together by circumstance (said circumstance being death). Romantic development doesn't happen overnight, there's usually a period of unrequited feelings or mutual pining thanks to the involvement of third parties.

The mutual understanding and respect are other common traits in all Michael Schur romances, showing that healthy romances where neither party loses their admiration for one another can also be interesting. Ben and Leslie are both immensely supportive of one another, to the point either is willing to make great sacrifices for the sake of the other. Having someone believing in your capabilities and supporting you through your life is a dream come true.

The shows also focus on the characters' individual development alongside the romantic ones. Ann struggles with finding her own person and Chris is obsessed with perfection, which gets in the way of their relationship at first. Their romance rekindles after they each get to work on their issues.

As for Eleanor and Chidi, imagine having the entire universe being against you, and a (after)life spent pursuing the fundamental truth to realise, "There is no answer, but 'Eleanor' is the answer." Need I really say more?

Find Zabin Tazrin Nashita at zabintazrinnashita@gmail.com