In young adult (YA) storylines, being "handcuffed" (literally or through magic/situational "curses") serves several narrative functions: Is the FORCED PROXIMITY trope the key to romance?

This "handcuffed" trope is a specific high-intensity variation of the narrative, where two characters—often rivals or polar opposites—are physically bound together and forced to cooperate. In teen media, this serves as an emotional pressure cooker that accelerates intimacy, though it often walks a fine line between romantic tension and the idealization of toxic power dynamics. The Mechanics of the "Handcuffed Together" Trope