Authenticity: ★★★★☆ Emotional depth: ★★★★☆ Risk of harmful tropes: ★★★☆☆ Suitability for under 16s: ★★☆☆☆ (depends heavily on execution)

For educators and parents: don’t dismiss these storylines as “too dark.” Instead, use them as discussion starters about boundaries, resource inequality, and the difference between love and dependence.