Unresolved sexual tension

Unresolved sexual tension is a common mechanism in fiction, which enables the relationship between characters to build up a powerful erotic charge without actually becoming sexual.

Unresolved sexual tension is a common scriptwriter's technique, and was used to provide the main character drive in TV series such as Moonlighting. When the sexual tension was resolved, the tension that made the relationship interesting to the audience disappeared.

See also

• subtext