History Main / WorkingWithTheEx

* In ''Series/LosHombresDePaco'', almost all of the cops in the San Antonio Predicate have had prior relationships with each other. Everyone in that series {{really gets around}} with each other.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Will Riker & Deanna Troi are ex-lovers.

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Will Riker & Deanna Troi are ex-lovers.

** All three ME1 LoveInterests treat working with Shepard in ''MassEffect3'' this way. The awkwardness of the situation manages to make a second RomanceSidequest with the same character work remarkably well.

* Happens quite a bit in ''[[TwentyFour 24]]''. Tony and Michelle find themselves working together at CTU in the 4th season. Also, David Palmer ends up having to work with Sherry quite a bit, even asking for her help one time.

* ''{{Castle}}'': Richard Castle's second ex-wife is also his publisher and editor.

* In ''{{Babylon 5}}'', Sheridan deliberately hires his ex-wife to command the station when he has to resign by reason of [[AwesomeMomentOfCrowning becoming a president]]; they didn't work out romantically, but he still trusts her. Of course, this causes some minor drama when he fails to mention this previous relationship to his paranoid chief of intelligence or his ''current'' wife.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': Seasons three through five had Director Jenny Shepard and Special Agent Gibbs, who had formerly been lovers.

* ''TheXFiles'': Mulder winds up having to do this at times during season 5 with Diana Fowley. Things really get awkward, though, when [[OfficialCouple Scully]] [[CatFight has to work with her too]].

* On ''NewsRadio'' co-anchors Bill [=McNeal=] and Catherine Duke have a sometimes tense relationship because of a fling they had in the past. Dave and Lisa also have to continue working together after they break up.
* Used repeatedly in ''{{Scrubs}}'' between JD and Elliot in the first three seasons, which included them sharing an office too small for separate desks. Dr Cox and Jordan also had this set up for the first two seasons before reuniting.

* The first season of ''TheWestWing'' had PR specialist Mandy Hampton, who had apparently had an ''extremely'' non-amicable breakup with Josh. Their work relationship was not exactly smooth.

* ''AllyMcbeal'' starts a new job in the first episode only to find her college sweetheart Billy is already working there.

* After the TimeSkip in ''[[Series/YoungJustice Young Justice]]'', [[spoiler: Miss Martian and Lagoon Boy]] are now dating but [[spoiler: Conner]] decided to stay on the same team as [[spoiler: M'Gann]] even though they had the option of joining the Justice League, but he is visibly uncomfortable with their relationship.

* Simone Simons was Mark Jansen's girlfriend when she joined {{Epica}} and remains in the band despite the two of them breaking up not long afterwards.

An easy way to introduce tension in the day-to-day life of a fictional character is to have them work with someone they were previously in a relationship with. While dealing with an ex-boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse can often be awkward enough as it is, such encounters are normally uncommon and short-lived. When two characters with a romantic history end up working together, however, the tension is magnified by the fact that they have to see each other on a daily basis, with no easy means of escape.

If the relationship ended badly, this situation can lead to endless [[VolleyingInsults arguments and insults]] between the co-workers as barely repressed resentment bubbles to the surface. Their constant squabbling can lead onlookers to jokingly question whether or not [[BelligerentSexualTension they're still together]], which will elicit [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend horrified denials]] from the former lovers. When one of the characters reaches their emotional breaking point a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech is not uncommon... and both sides have plenty of ammunition to use against the other. Things can be made [[ItGotWorse even worse]] when one character receives a promotion and becomes the other's boss, putting them in a position where they can [[TyrantTakesTheHelm torment their Ex with impunity]].

If instead there are still romantic feelings between the characters, their history can be a prime source of [[{{UST}} unresolved sexual tension]]. After all, they did have chemistry at some point in the past, and being forced to work in close proximity together can cause [[LoveEpiphany old feelings to be re-ignited]]... leading to the inevitable question of [[WillTheyOrWontThey whether they'll get back together]]. This situation can be especially troublesome if one or both of the ex-lovers are [[YourCheatingHeart currently in another relationship]]. If the current significant other finds out a character is WorkingWithTheEx, jealousy and suspicion are almost certain to follow.

In some cases, a character is shown to work alongside their Ex with little or no issues, possibly even using their familiarity to perform better together than they would otherwise. This is often the result of their previous relationship ending with a realization that they were BetterAsFriends, and a common trait of AmicablyDivorced characters. In situations like this, light-hearted teasing about their past from the Ex is to be expected.
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!! Examples:

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]
* This applies to Kaji and Misato in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion''. Misato was none-too-pleased when she found out that Kaji would be staying with Nerv after delivering Asuka and Unit 02, and lashed out at him at nearly every chance she got afterwards. The bickering led Ritsuko to comment that they sounded like an old married couple.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* ''{{Nightwing}}'': Dick Grayson and either [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Starfire]] or [[{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]].

* ''NewWarriors'': Justice and Firestar previously had a relationship.

[[folder: Film]]
* In ''Film/TheAlphabetKiller'', when former detective Megan Paige is allowed back into the force on desk duty after receiving treatment for the mental breakdown she had during a SerialKiller investigation years ago, she finds that her ex-boyfriend/ex-partner is now Chief of Police, and thus her boss. This puts him in an extremely awkward position when the killer resurfaces, as no one knew more about the case than Paige did.
* ''[[Film/DeadAir2009 Dead Air]]'': Radio talk show host Logan Burnhardt works with his ex-wife, who is his producer. Very little romantic tension is shown between the two of them, as their relationship seems to have evolved to JustFriends status.

* In ''Film/RunawayBride'', Richard Gere's character (columnist) works for his ex-wife (editor). She has to fire him for not checking facts, and producing a totally overblown, inaccurate column about the titular character.
* In the film ''{{Outbreak}}'', the protagonist Colonel Sam Daniels works with his ex-wife Robby in an immunology department. [[spoiler: Naturally, they get back together at the end of the movie.]]

* ''Film/ChangingLanes'': Lawyers Gavin and Michelle are shown to have had a fling in the past, despite the fact that Gavin is married to their senior partner's daughter.

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''Bitten'', the first book in Kelley Armstrong's ''TheOtherworld'' series, when Elena has to work with the werewolf pack she used to be part of, this happens with her and Clay. [[spoiler: After a lot of BelligerentSexualTension they get back together.]]
* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect: Retribution'', David Anderson is called upon by Kahlee Sanders to help her against the terrorist cell Cerberus. The two have barely seen or spoken to each other in more than twenty years, although it's obvious that some mutual feelings remain, despite not officially ever becoming a couple. The book ends with [[spoiler:them rekindling their old relationship.]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* ''The New WKRPInCincinnati'': Morning drive time [=DJs=] Burns & Allen are exes who still work together professionally.
* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Will Riker & Deanna Troi are ex-lovers.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is not shy about using this trope.
** Series/{{Angel}} and Buffy during season 3 of her show, although how 'ex' they were varied from episode to episode. Angel eventually decided to leave town so she could move on (and he could get his own show).

** Buffy ended up working briefly with Riley and [[spoiler: his wife]] in the sixth season in the episode "As You Were".

* In the first season of ''Series/LieToMe'', Cal Lightman has to work with his ex-wife on several occasions, and ends up in bed with her a couple of times.
* This is a primary source of drama and romantic tension on ''Series/FairlyLegal''. The main character is a mediator and her ex-husband works for the DA, so naturally they butt heads.
* The short lived WorkCom ''{{FM}}'' was about an {{NPR}} station in Washington DC where program director Ted had to work with his ex-wife Lee-Ann when she was hired (not by him) to be a political commentator.
* Happens quite a bit in ''[[TwentyFour 24]]''. Tony and Michelle find themselves working together at CTU in the 4th season. Also, David Palmer ends up having to work with Sherry quite a bit, even asking for her help one time.
* ''HumanTarget'' has an episode where Chance had to work with his ex girlfriend.

** In the second season the eponymous character is forced to work with his ex-girlfriend Jill.

* ''{{Castle}}'': Richard Castle's second ex-wife is also his publisher and editor.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': Seasons three through five had Director Jenny Shepard and Special Agent Gibbs, who had formerly been lovers.

* ''TheXFiles'': Mulder winds up having to do this at times during season 5 with Diana Fowley. Things really get awkward, though, when [[OfficialCouple Scully]] [[CatFight has to work with her too]].
** In the season 7 episode ''all things'', Scully runs into an ex-lover, dying at a hospital. She seems to still have feelings for him, but ultimately rejects his feelings for her, seeing as this episode works as a big reveal of [[spoiler: Mulder and Scully's relationship]].

[[folder: Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Namco x Capcom}}'', Taizo Hori of ''DigDug'' fame fights alongside the heroes, and his ex-wife [[GenderBlenderName Toby]] [[DubNameChange "Kissy"]] [[SamusIsAGirl Masuyo]] (from ''Baraduke'') also joins their ranks. Although they divorced long ago, Toby still holds a grudge against Taizo. Toby also makes a few cameos alongside her ex-hubby and son in the ''MrDriller'' series, with her personality more or less intact.

[[folder: Webcomics]]
* In the webcomic ''Webcomic/WaywardSons'' the captain's ex-wife is also the head medical officer.

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* Occasionally on ''TimeSquad'', other [[TimePolice Time Squad units]] join in to help the trio. [[TheChosenMany One of these squads]] consists of [[TheBigGuy Buck Tuddrussel']]s ex-wife Sheila Sternwell. While Buck is good-natured towards his ex, Sheila seems to hold nothing but enmity for him (then again, [[ManChild he]] ''[[IdiotHero is]]'' [[DumbMuscle an]] [[WhatAnIdiot idiot]]).

* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', Macbeth's two mooks [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Banquo and Fleance]] are said to be exes by Greg Weisman.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* AlternativeRock duo TheWhiteStripes consist of Jack and Meg White, who divorced shortly after hitting it big, but remained together musically. The divorce was actually [[SlaveToPR for image reasons]], and they have [[LikeBrotherAndSister pretended to be siblings]], so this is a slightly skewed example.
* FleetwoodMac, around the time of the ''Rumours'' album, consisted of two broken relationships and a drummer (who had a fling with the singer).
* Sonny and Cher during the 2nd version of their VarietyShow.
* George Hamilton and his ex-wife Alana had a daytime TalkShow in TheNineties.
* Michael C. Hall and JenniferCarpenter, who play [[CastIncest brother and sister]] on the TV series ''{{Dexter}}'', recently divorced and have a sixth season in the planning.
* JohnCleese and Connie Booth created ''FawltyTowers'' and they wrote every episode together. They were married when the first series was made, but divorced before the second one started.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', it's pretty much the entirety of Tenzin's relationship with [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Lin Bei Fong]]. Especially in episode 6 "And the Winner Is..."

* ''TheYiddishPolicemensUnion''. The CowboyCop protagnist's ex-wife is DaChief! It doesn't help that he's still in love with her.

* A hefty portion of the issues between Lana and {{Archer}} stem from the fact that they used to date. There's...[[{{Understatement}} a lot of antagonism]] between them.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', it's pretty much the entirety of Tenzin's relationship with [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Lin Bei Fong]]. Especially in episode 6 "And the Winner Is"

* In Avatar - TheLegendOfKorra, it's pretty much the entirety of Tenzin's relationship with [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Lin Bei Fong]]. Especially in episode 6 "And the Winner Is"

* In Avatar - TheLegendOfKorra, it's pretty much the entirety of Tenzin's relationship with [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Lin Bei Fong]]. Especially in episode 6 "And the Winner Is"

* Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz in BadTeacher. The two had previously dated for several years. There is even a fake sex scene between the two. The share a clothed dry hump.

* A hefty portion of the issues between Lana and {{Archer}} stem from the fact that they used to date. There's...[[{{Understatement a lot of antagonism]] between them.

* Implied between Jacob and Miranda, two of the squad-members in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. In Jacob's words, their previous work together "got a little close - then it got real far apart." In spite of this, they seem to still be on good terms. This is also a possibility for ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' if you've previously romanced two different characters.

* ''{{Ant-Man}}'': Hank Pym and [[Comicbook/TheAvengers The Wasp]], to the point where this is almost what the two are most famous for.

* Simone Simons was Mark Janen's girlfriend when she joined {{Epica}} and remains in the band despite the two of them breaking up not long afterwards.