I immediately counter the scene with another scene of gratuitous slapstick violence with a character’s former mistress slapping him repeatedly for not telling her that their bastard son (one of the lovers in said previous scene) is alive and has been alive for the past nineteen years outside of her knowledge.

I really enjoy good sentiment and tenderness when done well, and applaud writers who stir emotional reactions with non-contrived sweet romantic scenes when they are done well, but my god romance… get it away…