Helen Fielding's innovation was to fuse a fond, satirical take on the contemporary cult of feminine self-improvement to an old-fashioned romance plot.

At the same time, women were writing novels and moving away from the old romance plots that had dominated before the Restoration.

In 1987 she published a second futuristic romance, Crystal Flame, which again allowed for a "traditional romance plot unfold[ing] in an extraordinary world."

Mary rewrites the traditional romance plot through its reimagination of gender relations and female sexuality.

At times, she challenged the typical romance plot by including "narratives of female desire" or "tales of females suffering despotism".

Many critics noted that the film would've been better if the romance plot was left out, since it appeared forced and contrived.

She felt that despite the flaws of the romance plot, the episode provided some "powerful stuff" and that Tommy's plight was a strong concept if poorly resolved.

A minor romance plot develops between Dasan and Radha.

The romance plots in the novel have been perceived as assimilationist as if the Anglo men are conquering the Mexican women.

The musical is a backstage comedy that parodies Novello's own swashbuckling Ruritanian romance plots.