The danger of the trope arises when it romanticizes abuse. Not every con-artist relationship is a playful heist. Storylines that frame emotional manipulation, gaslighting, or economic exploitation as “passion” can be harmful. The useful distinction is consent to the game . In successful iterations, both characters eventually recognize the power dynamics at play. The mark is not a passive victim but someone who, by the end, sees through the con and chooses the flawed, real person behind it. Without this mutual awakening, the storyline glorifies control rather than connection.
In the "Dark Romance" genre, reviewers often discuss the nature of "non-consensual" (non-con) or "dubious consent" (dub-con) tropes. Wwwsex con anial
A standard breakup hurts because you lose a future. A romantic con hurts because you lose the past. You are forced to re-contextualize every kiss, every whispered promise, every intimate night, as a scene in a play. The victim becomes a supporting character in their own tragedy. The danger of the trope arises when it romanticizes abuse