@Ak_tales Dark theme means the story shows painful emotions, hard choices, and situations that feel wrong or scary—but still real. It’s not just about bad things happening. It’s about how people feel, change, or break because of those things.
It’s not about cheating or drama—it’s about:
- Feeling trapped
- Losing control
- Loving someone who hurts you
- Doing something bad and living with it
Examples of True Dark Theme Tropes (No Cheating Needed)
| Trope | Why It’s Dark Theme |
|------|----------------------|
| Trauma Bond | Two people love each other because of shared pain, not because they’re good together. |
| ️ Obsession | One person watches, controls, or follows the other—not because of love, but fear or need. |
| Conditional Love | “I love you, but only if you stay weak.” Love becomes a trap. |
| Revenge That Backfires | A character hurts someone and ends up hurting themselves more. |
| ️ Parent Who Protects by Lying | A mother hides the truth to protect her child—but the lie destroys their bond. |
| Self-Destruction | A character ruins their own life to save someone else, and no one thanks them. |
What Is Not Dark Theme
- Cheating for drama
- Villains who fall in love and become soft
- Power couples who fight the world together
- “Enemies to lovers” with no emotional damage
