Romance

If you're looking for a sympathetic ear, or worse, sage relationship advice from romantic comedies, well, they're just not that into you. It seems that the ideas commonly put forth by such movies -- a singular soul mate; deception in the name of desire; flashy, eloquent declarations of love -- can lead many to unrealistic expectations for their own love lives, say researchers in Scotland.

It was the height of the Harlem Renaissance, the 1920s in New York City. The couple had found a beautiful apartment, filled with Art Deco trappings, right down to the frosted swans etched into the shower door. You've worked so hard all day, Roy told Maddie: Why don't you just take a shower and I'll make us some dinner? Then, as she stood beneath the pulsing spray, Maddie saw him in his bathrobe, through the frosted swans.

True love is difficult even under the best of circumstances. But what if your soul mate has come into your life via a time machine? Even EHarmony can't help you with that dilemma. These out-of-time romances, though, are a perennial hit in popular culture. And for good reason: They're an emotional thrill ride. If true love finds a way against these tremendous odds, then it gives audiences hope that they too will find their one and only. If the couples' love is thwarted, these stories are cathartic weepfests.

For Hollywood couple Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig, life began at "thirtysomething." Now at fiftysomething, they are still figuratively joined at the hip -- professionally and personally. On the groundbreaking '80s drama, Olin and Wettig, who have been married for 27 years, played characters who were spouses of other people. One of the secret pleasures for "thirtysomething" fans aware of their real relationship was trying to detect any added spark or chemistry between Olin's Michael Steadman or Wettig's Nancy Weston.

You may already know Alana Semuels from her holiday advice column on The Times' website. With Valentine's Day coming up, she debuts in print as etiquette maven Ask Alana, answering questions about romance and finance. Relationships are hard enough without the economy being in the crapper. Now that money is tight, annoying financial issues in your relationship or dating life have the potential to become huge craters that could run you off-road.