So I have been pondering this for a while I know cheating is a stamp of the drama and soap world I don't see the need why everyone has to cheat on everyone nor do I think that every single couple on either genre have to have that aspect to their story to make them viable or rootworthy.
Recently when Chris and I were plotting out Blissful we were brought to this attention when we aired a scene in which Jackson slept with Greer and then in which he was supposed to start an affair with her. Fans were outraged and so we reworked and retooled it to be a one night stand and then will be brought up and dealt with, something else and something bigger will have an impact on Jackson and Dani in the long run. I don't think either of us expected to get he backlash we did and we went to work on correcting it, not everyone likes couples that cheat we learned that the hard way after the scene was written and done. In the long run we have big plans for them that don't involve plot points that lead to infidelity.
Thinking back on it cheating turns me off a storyline most of the time especially if said spouse or significant other is just cheating for the hell of it when said other person has not done anything to deserve said cheating. Most recent example I can think of is John Ross and Pamela Rebecca on TNT's Dallas I will not be watching season 3. I refuse to watch a woman who just miscarried her twins at 20 weeks pregnant be played and manipulated to believe a man stood by her and married her for him to turn around and sleep with someone else for pleasure it is a huge turn off for me. Period.
Another good example I can think of is Meredith and Derek on Grey's I have never been able to root for them because of how they began on the series. Derek still being married to Addison and not saying in anything and then when Meredith found out she was just like a-okay with it to the point of continuing their affair in Addison's face. It could be that still to this day I hate both characters as much as Christina Yang and wish they both would just go away.
Maybe it is because I am married and I love and adore my husband, even when we were dating 5 years mind you neither of us were unfaithful to each other. Sure there is always going to be temptation but part of that is just that a temptation it is not real it is meant test your relationship. Some of my all time favorite couples on TV have been based on their undying devotion to one another without the cheating thrown in. I don't think everyone has to cheat to make a couple viable, they don't period.
My biggest will always be Nathan and Haley on OTH. Yes Haley kissed Chris but she never slept with him and she learned from her mistake. What has always made them beyond special to me is their devotion to each other never once in the 9 years that OTH was on did they ever waver from that with each other. They were married the shows entire run how often does that happen and I enjoyed every second of every season of their romance and marriage! They faced a young marriage, a separation in which they both realized they were not done with each other, high school pregnancy, Nathan's shattering injury in season 5, a stalking nanny, their son being kidnapped, Haley's career coming between them, Nathan's struggle with his dreams coming and going in basketball, Haley's mother dying, a woman claiming Nathan cheated and was pregnant with his child, Dan's death. Just to name a few examples where the couple was tested multiple times and every time they chose each other and will go down in my book as one of if not the greatest supercouples of the last 15 years on television. Never once in those 9 years did they sleep around on each other for the hell of it and it was never needed for them.
Second without a doubt is Coach and Tami on FNL one of the most realistic and down to earth marriages ever represented on television, period. At the heart of their career problems, dealing with a teenage daughter and an unexpected pregnancy late in life they loved and were devoted to each other. Seriously I loved their journey my husband loved their journey we watched every week for them see above with Nathan/Haley it can be done!
Another great example recently on television is Michael/Fiona on Burn Notice never once did they sleep around on each other while they were together. They fought to be together they fought the CIA, FBI, Michael's fears, Fiona's fears and in one of the most beautiful series finales I have ever seen on TV they showed them happy with Michaels' nephew in an unknown location raising him together in front of a fire snuggling on a couch. Seriously swoon worthy for me as a fan of watching the show for years hoping that they would get the pay off they deserved.
I could mention others like Sydney/Vaughn on Alias who overcame a lot of crap without the cheating thrown in. Leo/Piper on Charmed from what I remember she was with Dan for a little bit but broke it off before she and Leo reconciled. Michael/Nikita of Nikita are another good example both the 90's version and in the newest creation of the series. Heck one of the reasons I enjoy Animal Kingdom so much by Ashley Loftin, even if I haven't warmed up to Serena/Leo I know she isn't going to pull a WTF on me and have them jump into bed with other people. So then I have to ask what about cheating draws a reader or a viewers attention to a show?
For me there has to be two things that support said creation of the storyline writing and build up to that moment. Without it it comes off sleazy and a turn off for me aka see above TNT Dallas JR/PR just gross on so many levels, or MerDer on Grey's. I hate character assassination I hate it when a character cheats just for the hell of it, when their ego is bruised and then it is portrayed as some romantic grand gesture later. If you're going to have a character cheat at least define what that cheating is hell I may even root for them I am talking about ABC's Scandal.
Everyone told me to watch it as in like everyone and I refused for a long time due to the cheating aspect. So I gave it a try a few weeks ago and can honestly say it is one of the best written drama's on TV. I don't even care that Fitz is cheating on Mellie mainly cause I know there is no love lost between them, they never loved each other nor is he in love with her. He married her for political gain, she is an ice cold bitch who has her own aspiration of political power. I find myself rooting for Olivia and him even though I know she is sleeping with a married man, the writing supports them the build up and flashbacks supported their storyline.
So I guess my point is if you are going to have a couple cheat do so with build up tell me why they are and why I should root for them to cheat.
