32 TV Couples That Ruined Their Shows After Finally Getting Together

For numerous years, countless television programs have frequently employed a narrative device called the “will-they-won’t-they?” dynamic, where the storyline hints at the romantic possibilities between two main characters with strong chemistry. This plot twist often captivates audiences eager to see if the duo moves one step closer to transcending their platonic bond. However, when that anticipated moment arrives, a happy ending is not always guaranteed, especially for the show in question. By examining various iconic sitcoms and successful shows from other genres, we found instances of couples who, arguably, should have remained friends to preserve the series’ longevity.

Rachel And Joey On Friends

In my humble opinion as a movie reviewer, the early seasons of “Friends” predominantly revolved around the budding romance between Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), a relationship that had us fans rooting for them through their ups and downs. Yet, the short-lived flirtation between Rachel and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), sparked by mutual feelings, was so cringeworthy it earned a self-aware nod from the characters themselves before they chose to remain just friends.

J.D. And Elliot On Scrubs

As a film enthusiast, I must say that when J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke) first joined forces on Scrubs, it was one of the most entertaining and rewarding plot progressions from the medical comedy’s initial phase. Yet, their reunion in Season 8 lacked some of that initial charm, which could be a reflection of its less admired later years.

Troy And Britta On Community

In Season 4, it was confirmed that Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) had romantic feelings for each other as hinted earlier by the study group members. This season, often referred to as “The Gas Leak Year,” saw some unusual behavior from everyone at Greendale, which was attributed to a gas leak. The awkward and unfunny relationship between Troy and Britta is considered a prime example of this period’s lackluster performance.

Mulder And Scully On The X-Files

Chris Carter’s “The X-Files,” starring David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully, is often hailed as one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows ever made. Yet, it can also be classified under another genre – romance. However, the series shone brightest when it hinted at a special connection between the FBI agents, but faltered whenever it ventured into overt romantic expressions.

Barney And Robin On How I Met Your Mother

In the first season of “How I Met Your Mother”, Ted Mosby (Josh Radner) grappled with his emotions towards Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders), eventually developing their relationship in a fulfilling manner, compared to her less convincing partnership with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris). However, the pairing never seemed entirely suitable, and the fact that much of Season 9 unfolds over a weekend, culminating in divorce in the finale, gives the impression that their time together was not optimally utilized.

Dawson And Joey On Dawson’s Creek

The romantic possibility between James Van Der Beek’s character in Dawson’s Creek and his childhood friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) seemed overly obvious from the start. Their prolonged “will they, won’t they” relationship was annoying in its drawn-out nature, and their eventual coupling failed to create a strong chemistry. This led many to realize that they were not suitable as a couple.

Steve And Laura On Family Matters

It’s plausible to say that elevating Jaleel White, who played Steve Urkel, to the main role in Family Matters could have marked a decline in the show’s quality, given its initial focus on the Winslow family. The transformation of Steve Urkel’s one-sided crush on Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams) into a romantic relationship might be the point at which the series jumped farthest over the proverbial shark.

Sam And Rebecca On Cheers

The romantic dynamic between Sam Malone (played by Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) on the TV show Cheers, often characterized as a “will they, won’t they” relationship, provided great entertainment value. Their love story, though it ended sadly, was enjoyable to watch. However, the subsequent romantic development between Sam and his manager Rebecca Howe (played by Kirstie Alley), who replaced Shelley Long, did not match up to the original dynamic but continued the series in a way that wasn’t entirely detrimental.

Luke And Lorelai On Gilmore Girls

A captivating instance where the “will they, won’t they?” tension proves more engaging than the actual romance can be seen in the characters Lorelai Gilmore (played by Lauren Graham) and Luke Danes (portrayed by Scott Patterson) from the Gilmore Girls series. The intrigue surrounding their friendship, particularly their sharp exchanges of wit, was most enticing during the period when they were merely friends who occasionally flirted without being romantically involved.

Maddie And David On Moonlighting

When the subject of “will they, won’t they” storylines that often fall flat is discussed, one pair that frequently comes to mind is David Addison (played by Bruce Willis) and Maddie Hayes (portrayed by Cybill Shepherd) from the Emmy-winning sitcom, Moonlighting. This duo, consisting of a smart-aleck detective and a former model who runs a private investigation agency, frequently annoyed each other and hinted at a possible romance over multiple seasons, only to disappoint both critics and viewers when they eventually acted on it.

Erin And Andy On The Office

One point of agreement about Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) and Erin Haynes (Ellie Kemper) is that they form a more harmonious couple than Andy and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey). Nevertheless, the unequal dynamics between Andy and Angela, especially given her hidden feelings for Dwight, often resulted in amusing plots and jokes that were more captivating.

Damon And Elena On The Vampire Diaries

In a unique twist on the classic love triangle trope, the popular supernatural TV series “The Vampire Diaries” on The CW featured a romantic tension between Elena Gilbert (played by Nina Dobrev) and the undead brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), known collectively as “Delena”. Despite their eventual success, this relationship was fraught with trials such as memory-erasing narratives and Dobrev’s departure from the show, making for a dramatic and exhausting viewing experience that culminated in a satisfying resolution during the series finale.

Daenerys And Jon On Game Of Thrones

Many supporters of “Game of Thrones” often feel that the show started to lose its luster when the writers deviated from George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels as a source. One aspect of the fantasy series on HBO that left fans displeased was the romantic connection between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). This relationship, which took these beloved characters in unexpected directions, felt forced and uncharacteristic given their previous development.

Nick And Jess On New Girl

Despite maintaining a friendly and non-romantic bond initially, viewers of sitcoms might have guessed that Jessica “Jess” Day (played by Zooey Deschanel) and Nick Miller (portrayed by Jake Johnson) from the New Girl series were headed for romance right from the start. While it was enjoyable to see them develop into a couple, many would concur that the show shone brightest when they remained friends.

Booth And Brennan On Bones

Supporters of the TV show “Bones” might contend that the long-awaited coupling of forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) didn’t detract from the crime drama in any way. On the contrary, some viewers felt let down when the show skipped over the gradual development of their relationship and jumped straight to them being settled with a baby on the way, rather than allowing their romance to unfold organically.

House And Cuddy On House

To be honest, it was entertaining to see Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie) and Dr. Lisa Cuddy (portrayed by Lisa Edelstein) exchange flirtatious banter, but few would have anticipated that a character as self-centered, manipulative, and emotionally distant as him could sustain a loving relationship with her. However, it was precisely these characteristics that ultimately led to the demise of their romance. Sadly, their relationship came to an end for good when Edelstein decided to depart from the popular medical series.

Rory And Jess On Gilmore Girls

The heartwarming story of Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) and Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) in the early seasons of Gilmore Girls was a delightful portrayal of young love, contributing significantly to its successful first run. However, things took an unfortunate turn when Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia), Luke’s troubled nephew, arrived in Stars Hollow and sparked Rory’s interest. This change ultimately disrupted their relationship, and following her formal involvement with Jess, her appeal started to decline.

Buffy and Spike On Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Angel (David Boreanaz) had a brief romantic fling that many fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” found thrilling and enjoyable. In fact, there are multiple arguments to be made for why Buffy might have been better off with Angel instead of Spike (James Marsters), who was originally just meant to be a recurring character in the series.

Josh And Donna On The West Wing

It can’t be argued that among the characters from the West Wing series, the dynamic between Josh Lyman, portrayed by Bradley Whitford, and his assistant Donna Moss (played by Janel Moloney) was particularly captivating. Yet, when their relationship evolved beyond a professional one, many viewers felt it arrived too late in the political drama, making the resolution less fulfilling.

Jane the Virgin

The show “Jane the Virgin,” which was generally charming and uplifting, struggled to manage the developing romance at its core. As a result of numerous forced events and indications of unsuitability, the main character Jane (portrayed by Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (played by Justin Baldoni) are often criticized as one of the most underwhelming TV couples in contemporary television.

Max And Helen On New Amsterdam

As a dedicated fan, I strongly believe that one crucial blunder a TV show can commit when developing a “will they, won’t they?” couple is altering the core essence of each character. This was a common sentiment among fans when Dr. Max Goodwin, previously of The Blacklist, portrayed by Ryan Eggold, and Dr. Helen Sharpe, played by Freema Agyeman, began their relationship on the NBC medical drama, New Amsterdam.

Clark And Lana On Smallville

From the start, Smallville made it clear that Clark Kent (Tom Welling) harbored feelings for fellow student Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), which eventually developed into a relationship. However, their bond was fraught with instability and they parted ways in Season 8. Fortunately, not long after, Clark found himself in a romance with his destined partner, Lois Lane (Erica Durance).

Jackie And Fez On That ’70s Show

It’s generally accepted by fans and critics that the quality of “That ’70s Show” was starting to dwindle significantly when Jackie Burkhart, portrayed by Mila Kunis, unexpectedly fell for Fez, played by Wilmer Valderrama, in the seventh and last season. However, their eventual union in the finale, after years of Jackie turning down his advances, felt odd and it seems the creators acknowledged this, as they separated them and reunited Jackie with Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) for “That ’90s Show”.

Zack And Kelly On Saved By The Bell

Enjoying how Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) persistently courted Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) in Saved by the Bell, despite his failure, was always one of its most entertaining aspects. However, it seemed out of character when this troublesome sitcom kid transformed into a genuine romantic and won over Kelly’s heart. The absurdity only escalated as their engagement unfolded during the series Saved By the Bell: The College Years.

Coulson And May On Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Supporters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe often speculate about romantic pairings among characters, but few potential couples within the series garnered as much enthusiasm as Phil Coulson (played by Clark Gregg) and his coworker Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen). Unfortunately, it wasn’t until Coulson was facing death that their relationship finally developed, leaving just a short period of time before he passed away to explore the possibility.

Shawn And Juliet On Psych

Fans of the TV show “Psych” may find consensus in their preference for the friendship between Shawn Spencer, played by James Roday Rodriguez, and Burton “Gus” Guster, portrayed by Dulé Hill. However, it could be a controversial viewpoint to argue that Shawn’s developing relationship with Det. Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson) was merely an unnecessary addition of romance, without giving the relationship enough time to develop into something meaningful and worth supporting.

Lane And Zack On Gilmore Girls

Among the controversial romantic storylines in Gilmore Girls, it’s often noted that fans find Lane Kim’s relationship with Zack Van Gerbig to be the least favorable. In essence, many viewers believe that Zack negatively impacts Lane due to his questionable influence.

Oliver And Felicity On Arrow

When it came to the romantic connection between Oliver Queen, portrayed by Stephen Amell, and Felicity Smoak, played by Emily Bett Rickards, on a comic book TV series, many viewers found it challenging to accept due to several inconsistencies in their relationship. The wealthy vigilante and his employee-turned-lower just didn’t seem to fit together smoothly.

Pete And Myka On Warehouse 13

The lack of a gradual, suspenseful “will they, won’t they” dynamic between Secret Service agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) on SyFy’s Warehouse 13 was disappointing. Instead, their relationship was a strictly platonic duo throughout most of the series, until suddenly Pete discovered he had feelings for Myka without any prior hint or indication.

Michael And Holly On The Office

As a movie connoisseur, allow me to express my thoughts on the beautiful evolution of Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell) love story with Holly Flax (Amy Ryan). The tender moments they shared were nothing short of heart-melting. However, their relationship holds significant importance not just for its emotional impact but also because it marked Steve Carell’s departure from NBC’s The Office cast, an event that seemed to initiate a decline in the series’ creative brilliance.

Maeve And Otis On Sex Education

Over the span of four seasons, Netflix’s “Sex Education” appeared to be working towards a much-anticipated fairy tale ending for Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey). Regrettably, the show undermined its key romantic pair by introducing a long-distance scenario, ultimately leading to their downfall.

Lucifer And Chloe On Lucifer

Regardless of its central figure being the Devil himself, the series Lucifer offers a lively, peculiar twist on the crime thriller genre. However, some viewers found it overly melodramatic when the lead character played by Tom Ellis and Detective Chloe Decker, portrayed by Lauren German, developed a romantic relationship.

2025-01-26 17:39