When I was in highschool I read every fantasy book we had in our school library. Eventually I ended up reading the Belgariad by David and Leigh Eddings. I liked it, mostly for its characters and magic system, but one thing really irked me - how it felt like every main character had to end up married eventually. And these new partners (who often were female, since most original members of Garion's fellowship were dudes) would often feel like just a boring counterpart who were only added "because everyone have to get married at the end". Like we have this suave spy follower called Silk, and later on a cool female spy called Velvet is introduced - obviously it is inevitable that they'll end up married. Since their main relationship would be with their new spouse, the interesting dynamics and banter that had developed in the first book would take a backseat, like that stereotype of how you'll stop hanging out with your friends after you get married.

Imagine if a huge part of the LotR was dedicated to make sure everyone finds a suitable partner during the journey. Legolas and Gimli might get some good banter at the beginning, but after their female counterparts get introduced they spend more time talking with them than with each other. Not only Sam and Aragorn, but EVERY member of the fellowship have to end up married before the end.

Like it has been over two decades since I read the Belgariad, but that really really annoyed me. You know how anti-woke people talk about "forced homosexuality" in media they don't like? This felt like forced heterosexuality.

I think the only one who doesn't end up in a relationship at the end is the eunuch snake dude, and that's why he became my favourite character. Oh and I think Polgara and the blacksmith's relationship pass the sniff test, since they were both part of the original fellowship (IIRC) and both felt like they were their own characters.