Here lies the crux of the modern crisis:
A dog, cat, or other pet brings them together (leash tangles, lost animal, vet visit). Meet Cute
To navigate these restrictions, screenwriters had to delay physical intimacy. They needed a narrative reason to keep the couple talking and interacting without immediately jumping into a relationship. The Meet Cute provided the perfect solution. By forcing two people together through a contrived or comedic situation—a shared taxi, a dropped package, a case of mistaken identity—the writers created a "cage" in which the characters were forced to get to know one another. Here lies the crux of the modern crisis: