Basic Trope: A broken up or divorced couple don't hate each other and are still friends or otherwise.
- Straight: Alice and Bob split up or are divorced, but still remain on good terms with each other.
- Exaggerated:
- Alice and Bob are even closer to each other after they broke up/divorced than when they were together.
- Alice and Bob remain beneficial friends after they break up, or even lovers.
- Downplayed:
- The two don't hate each other, but they more or less just say "Hi" to one another whenever they come across one another.
- Alice and Bob went on a few casual dates before breaking up.
- Justified:
- Alice and Bob have no reason for hating each other, and they know this.
- Alice and Bob broke up or divorced on good terms, probably due to something such as work or they did it because they knew they would eventually start fighting.
- Alice and Bob don't dislike each other personally, but the relationship the marriage imposes on them is too much for them to work out well.
- Alice and Bob split up for some external factor, like a Parental Marriage Veto or It's Not You, It's My Enemies. When they can see each other again, they have every reason to get along.
- Alice and Bob were forced into an Arranged Marriage, which they somehow managed to call off. They weren't romantically interested in each other, but they were good friends.
- The relationship was a case of The Beard.
- Alice and Bob did have a good reason for breaking up, but they were in a relationship long ago and have since changed and forgiven each other.
- Inverted:
- A couple that has been together for decades that hate each other and are at each-other's throats every single day; extra points if they have children, and bonus points if they managed to raise said children to adulthood together.
- Alice and Bob were always good friends, but the moment they become a couple they begin bickering and fighting.
- Alice and Bob have a nasty divorce. Twenty years later they still haven't gotten over the custody battle mentality, even though their adult children can't stand either of them.
- Subverted:
- Bob always tells everyone he's on good terms with his ex-wife Alice, but when she finally appears on screen, they immediately start fighting.
- Alice and Bob realize where their relationship is going, and they break up hoping they can stay friends. This does not solve the problems between the two and they continue down the same path up until the "real break up".
- Alice and Bob are friendly to each other whenever they're around their children Charlie and Diane. However, they only do this just for the sake of Charlie and Diane and whenever they're not around, show that they truly hate each other.
- Alice and Bob decide to part ways while the relationship is still good enough and they try to prevent a Divorce Assets Conflict, but when they enter the courtroom, the knives come out.
- Double Subverted:
- Bob always tells everyone he's on good terms with his ex-wife Alice. When she finally appears on screen, they immediately start fighting, but eventually it turns out they really are good friends after all.
- It turns out that Alice and Bob's apparent desire to tear each other apart over their Roy Rogers figurine was because they hired rival Amoral Attorneys who fanned the flames of conflict in an attempt to prevent the other guy from winning. Once said attorneys are booted out, Alice and Bob decide it's stupid and settle things properly.
- Parodied: Alice still comes over to Bob's house sometimes for sex. They continue claiming they're not in a relationship.
- Zig Zagged: Alice and Bob have split up or divorced because of a big fight. They still remain friends, but have fights every now and then.
- Averted: Alice and Bob had a nasty fallout with each other and cannot stand each other.
- Enforced: The writers of a kids' show want a Very Special Episode about divorce, but want to avoid subjects like infidelity or abuse, or keep both of the kid's parents in a good light. So they come up with a reason as to why they can remain on good terms,
- Lampshaded:
- Alice and Bob point out that just because they're exes or divorced doesn't mean they have to hate each other.
- "…why did those two even break up in the first place?"
- Invoked: Alice and Bob's divorce starts with them fighting all the time. They recognize this, and make an effort to stay on better terms.
- Exploited: ????
- Defied:
- Bob doesn't hate Alice, but Alice hates Bob. She distances herself as far away from him as possible to avoid him.
- Alice and Bob's society looks down upon divorced people, so they won't divorce unless they hate each other.
- Discussed: "Just because Alice and I are broken up doesn't mean that we can't still be friends, you know."
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed:
- Alice and Bob are friendly to each other but the problems (whatever they are) that led to the divorce regularly flare up. They're making an effort to be civil but it's not perfect.
- Everyone else seems to think Alice and Bob just need a little nudge to get back together, even though they're perfectly content as friends and would really rather stay that way.
- Bob's new girlfriend Carol incorrectly suspects that he still has romantic feelings for Alice and that causes tension in their relationship.
- Reconstructed: Alice and Bob can get over their problems so they do start to become on good terms with one another again, just not enough to get back together.
- Played For Drama: Bob was abusive to Alice in their marriage, and still continues to control and demean her in their "friendship".
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