For years, "insta-love" (love at first sight) was the gold standard. Now, the "Slow Burn" reigns supreme. We want to see the friendship form first. We want the accidental hand-touches and the longing glances across the library. The delay of gratification is the source of the tension. Shows like Outlander or Lovely Runner master this by forcing the couple to wait through entire seasons before consummation, making the payoff explosive.
However, the WT/WT has a famous fatal flaw: . Once the couple finally gets together, the tension evaporates. The show collapses because the engine of the plot (the chase) is gone.
: A classic plot where characters pretend to be in a relationship for external reasons (e.g., a wedding, making an ex jealous), only to find their feelings becoming real. The Romantic Core