The beginning must contain friction or fascination. Psychologists call this the "dual-factor theory" of attraction: we are drawn to people who exist in the sweet spot between familiar and mysterious.

We are living through a golden age of . From the nuanced indie film to the blockbuster franchise, we are finally telling stories that acknowledge that love is political, psychological, and wildly imperfect.

Conflict is the engine of narrative. But the best romantic storylines differentiate between two types of obstacles: