Like any good teen drama, ‘Sterling Point’ also has a love triangle that’s got the entire internet talking. As overused as the trope is, we will never really get sick of it.
But ‘Sterling Point’ gets a few interesting things right that make Annie, Ellis, and Rory’s love triangle feel much more refreshing and different from the usual we always see.
‘Sterling Point’ Breaks Away From A Toxic Teen Drama Trope
The biggest reason the love triangle in ‘Sterling Point’ works is simple: there is no clear bad guy. Both Ellis and Rory are fully fleshed-out individuals who genuinely care about Annie. That matters because, for once, we can root for both guys.
Teen dramas have a long history of character assassinating the secondary love interest just for the plot. Once the writer decides who the endgame couple is, the other option becomes significantly more toxic, selfish or completely useless. This just feels like a cheap trick where there’s not much of a choice in the love triangle. There is a default win since the alternative is just straight-up awful.
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‘Sterling Point’ refused to do that with Rory. He is a genuinely good choice for Annie. We keep waiting for him to turn into a bad guy or sabotage Ellis, but that never really happens. In fact, as jealous as both guys are, they seem to respect Annie’s decision above all else.
Even when Ellis sees Annie getting closer and closer with Rory, he is jealous but still respects her boundary. He is there for Annie when she needs him instead of constantly trying to undermine Rory. Their rivalry is surprisingly mature, especially by teen-drama standards.
It is so refreshing to see these healthy standards being reflected in media, particularly for the young audience. ‘Sterling Point’ reinforces the idea that a relationship doesn’t need to end in betrayal, screaming matches or toxicity just to justify choosing someone else.
However, there is one aspect that the show seems to lack. While Rory’s character feels much more developed, we don’t get quite the same depth from Ellis. There are still plenty of unanswered questions about him, especially considering that Annie ultimately chooses him over Rory. Hopefully the show will give us more about him in season 2.
Annie Needed Both Rory And Ellis As Her Romantic Interest
Perhaps the best thing about this love triangle is that both relationships actually feel worthy of Annie. She has admitted that she doesn’t have much romantic experience since her only boyfriend was closeted gay.
So, it makes sense that she would be somewhat inexperienced when it comes to navigating genuine romantic feelings. And it makes us respect her choices much more. Her slow-burn relationship with Ellis is actually believable. Both of them are shy, and neither seems entirely sure about what to do with their feelings.
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On the other hand, Rory is the complete opposite. He is much more upfront, and his relationship with Annie quickly escalates. He brings out a more adventurous side of her, and we see her having genuine fun with him. Whether they are going to a club or simply getting caught up in the excitement of their time together, Rory allows Annie to experience a side of herself that she perhaps wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
And that is what makes her eventual choice between them so interesting. The choice between Rory and Ellis represents the larger choice Annie is facing throughout the series. Ellis is the Sterling Point local, friendly and affectionate through his acts of service. Meanwhile, Rory is connected to the life Annie had back in New York City.
The two boys therefore represent two different paths for Annie — the comfortable New York City life she is used to and the new world she is discovering in Sterling Point. It mirrors the same decision Annie’s own mother once had to make.
And because neither Rory nor Ellis is reduced to a villain, Annie’s decision actually feels like a decision. She isn’t choosing the “good” boy over the “bad” boy. She is choosing between two people who offer her very different things.
There’s Already A Bond In ‘Sterling Point’ That Has Kept Everyone Hooked
Perhaps the biggest reason the romance in ‘Sterling Point’ feels so refreshing is that it isn’t even the main theme of the show. Annie’s trip is ultimately about finding her secret sister, Ramona. Their relationship is the heart of the story.
In fact, one of the things we liked so much about the show is its emphasis on female friendships. The bond between the female characters of the show and their coming-of-age story is ultimately the emotional storyline we were rooting for.
This makes a huge difference since it isn’t the love triangle that is carrying the entire show. It means that Annie’s romantic life is just one part of her coming-of-age journey. She is discovering her family, navigating a new environment and figuring out who she wants to be. Her relationship with Rory and Ellis is naturally just a part of that process.
Also, we can’t deny that the main reason we were hooked on the show was Ramona and Oona’s budding romance. Their relationship had it all: the pining, the tension, and not to forget, the amazing chemistry. Though it ends on a disappointing note, we can’t wait to see where the plot goes in ‘Sterling Point’ season 2.
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