The fate of some of the most popular TV show couples is a source of intense discussion and controversy among fans, but there are some couples that are too good together to be denied. However, just because two characters have great chemistry and it makes sense for them to be endgame, this doesn’t mean the writers and showrunners will allow this.It’s always tragic when a couple that seemed perfect breaks up and then never gets back together,even though they were one of the best pairings in the entire TV series.
When it comes to theworst TV couples that shouldn’t have happened, their breakups can’t come soon enough. This couldn’t be further from the case with these iconic relationships that might have been endgame. Often, the breakup of two characters who could easily have been meant to be is a healthy and mature parting of ways where they each acknowledge how much love and respect they share. While this is beautiful, it only makes it harder to accept thatthese characters will remain apart thanks to timing and other circumstances out of their control.
10Jess & Rory - Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
The ongoing debates about who Rory and Lorelai’s best boyfriends are inGilmore Girlswill likely never end. However, even if Jess and Rory didn’t end up together forever,it would have made narrative sense for them to give it another try in the later seasons ofGilmore Girls.Though they always had great chemistry and shared many interests, Jess was going through a lot when he and Rory dated in high school, and he wasn’t ready to offer the kind of support and love she needed at the time.
Gilmore Girls: Rory And Jess' Relationship Timeline, Season By Season
When it comes to Rory’s boyfriends, many Gilmore Girls fans are Team Jess. But they had a tumultuous relationship when they first met in Stars Hollow.
However,when they reconnect in season 6, it’s clear that Jess has done a lot of work on himself,and he immediately reminds Rory of the person she used to be. This comes at a vital time, as Rory has dropped out of Yale and needs a wake-up call about what she wants out of life. Jess proves that not only does he know Rory, but he also never stops believing in her, which is reinforced again inA Year in the Life. IfGilmore Girlsever comes back for another outing, Jess and Rory’s story should doubtlessly be revisited.
Gilmore Girls
Cast
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
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9Alex & Marissa - The O.C. (2003–2007)
Though Ryan is Marissa’s most iconic love interest, Alex is her best
Marissa Cooper is one of the most complex and tragic characters inThe O.C., one of thebest teen romance TV shows ever made. Marissa and Ryan Atwood, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, have the iconic will-they-won’t-they dynamic of the series. However, he’s far from the only person who catches Marissa’s eye.When Alex enters the picture, she and Marissa have a short but happy affair,even if it’s undercut by the homophobia of Marissa’s family and community. Marissa and Alex have an amazing connection, and their relationship is one of Marissa’s healthiest.
It’s not entirelyThe O.C.’s fault that the relationship was so brief and ill-fated, ashaving definitive LGBTQ+ representation on network television in the early 2000s was a feat in and of itself.Marissa’s entire character arc inThe O.C.was defined by her instability, but her relationship with Alex cannot be chalked up to acting out or experimentation. Had they found their way back to each other, Marissa might have had a very different and happier ending.
The O.C.
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
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8Alexis & Ted - Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)
After growing so much together, Alexis and Ted could have made it work
The entire Rose family goes through incredible character development throughoutSchitt’s Creek,and much of this is seen through Alexis and David, the spoiled siblings. The siblings ultimately find their path in life and meet supportive romantic partners, though Alexis ultimately ends the series alone. On one hand, this is positive, as Alexis always defined herself by the men in her life. However, Ted let her shine and be herself while also being the perfect person for her. After breaking up once and getting back together, it would have been nice to see their relationship stick.
Ultimately, because they had so much respect for each other, Alexis and Ted had to make the decision to move on since long distance wasn’t working for them anymore.
Ultimately, because they had so much respect for each other, Alexis and Ted had to make the decision to move on since long distance wasn’t working for them anymore. Thoughtheir break-up is almost as iconic and moving as all their most romantic scenes together,this doesn’t change the fact that it seemed like Alexis and Ted deserved to be together. However, Alexis does end the show happy and sure of herself, which is all the audience could want.
Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek is a sitcom series created by and starring Dan and Eugene Levy. When the Rose family’s business manager embezzles funds from their fortune, they discover that all of their money is gone except for one last piece of property - a small town called Schitt’s Creek that they purchased for fun years ago. Now forced to acclimate to an average, borderline impoverished life, the Rose family will attempt to make due with what they have while trying to revitalize the town.
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7Haley & Andy - Modern Family (2009–2020)
One of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st century,Modern Familysees the protagonists engaging in plenty of unhealthy relationships, especially Haley. However, this isn’t the case with Andy, one of her most unexpected but best matches throughout the story.When Andy appears in season 5, Haley has mostly had bad relationships with the men in her life,and the strict and straight-edge Andy couldn’t be more different from her. However, this is what draws her to him, as well as the fact that he genuinely cares for her.
Out of all ofHaley’s love interests inModern Family,Andy is by far the best, as he encourages Haley to follow her dreams and is seriously committed to her, making her feel safe enough to fall in love. Unfortunately,Andy goes back to Utah to pursue his career while Haley stays behind,and they have a mature break-up. It would have made sense for them to reconnect eventually. Instead, Haley gets back together with her high school boyfriend, Dylan, and she regresses by the end of the show.
Modern Family
Modern Family is a comedy series that follows the unconventional Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family as they redefine what makes a family in their modern age. Broken into sub-families, the three diverse groups shake up the nuclear formula with empty nesters, adopted children, gender neutrality, and more as they attempt to navigate the various pitfalls and comedic misadventures of their dysfunctional but warm-hearted family dynamic.
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6Shane & Carmen - The L Word (2004–2009)
The tragic ending of their relationship doesn’t negate the great parts of it
Though far from perfect,The L Wordwas a revolutionary show for pushing the boundaries of representation of queer womenon television, and Shane and Carmen were one of the best couples. Throughout the show’s run, Shane is known as something of a player who isn’t interested in committing to one person or settling down. However, this changes when Carmen makes it clear that she wants more and isn’t going to settle for anything less than a serious relationship.
After struggling to fulfill this and seeing Carmen date other people, Shane eventually realizes she only wants Carmen, and the pair even get engaged.
After struggling to fulfill this and seeing Carmen date other people, Shane eventually realizes she only wants Carmen, and the pair even get engaged. However, in a horrible twist of fate, Shane leaves Carmen at the altar, and the two never see each other again. While, of course, it would take a lot for Carmen to forgive Shane,it would have been more satisfying to see Shane redeem herself and end up with Carmen.Instead, Shane makes many more romantic mistakes, even dating Jenny in the final season, with terrible results.
The L Word
Created by Kathy Greenberg, Ilene Chaiken, and Michele Abbot, The L Word is a Drama created for the Showtime Network and ran for six seasons between 2004 to 2009. It’s considered the pioneer show for shining a light on lesbianism in television.
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5Maeve & Otis - Sex Education (2019–2023)
Not having the central couple end up together was a misstep for Sex Education
Otis and Maeve are a rare example of a slow-burn TV couple that doesn’t get together soon enough. After several seasons of rising tensions and dating other people,Otis and Maeve finally admit their feelings for each other in season 3, only for Maeve to leavefor new opportunities in the U.S. and for the couple to ultimately break up in an anti-climatic moment. AfterSex Educationspent so long telling the audience Otis and Maeve were made for each other, it was a surprising development.
Seeing the two of them end up together made sense forSex Education,as it was a romantic show, and much of the early seasons hinged on the dynamic between Otis and Maeve. The fact that they simply decided it wasn’t going to work and phased out the relationship didn’t provide a good payoff for the chemistry and setup of their future as a couple. While both of them grew and changed a lot since season 1, this doesn’t mean they couldn’t have grown together.
Sex Education
Sex Education is a comedic-drama series that follows various students, parents, and staff of Moordale Secondary School and their awkward sexual dilemmas. The series primarily focuses on student Otis Milburn with a dour outlook on sex due to his mother’s occupation as a sex therapist who has several affairs with zero attachments. Seeing an opportunity to capitalize on his second-hand knowledge and ambivalence to sex, Otis and his friend Eric set up an in-school clinic to advise other students with sexual issues. This clinic becomes compromised when Otis begins to have feelings for one of his clients.
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4Kate & Sawyer - Lost (2004–2010)
Their similar pasts and mutual understanding made for great chemistry
Throughout the many twists and turns ofLost,the love triangle between Kate, Sawyer, and Jack was a constant and fun source of drama.Though Jack was the sensible and secure choice, at least at first, it was undeniable that Sawyer understood Kate in a way Jack never could. Kate craved danger and intrigue in her life and wanted a passionate love, not a destructive one. The many intersecting storylines make it difficult to keep track of who was with who, but by the end of the series, the audience sees Kate reuniting with Jack, not Sawyer.
It’s a shame that Kate and Sawyer never got a proper chance to be together and give their relationship the committed try it deserved.
It’s a shame that Kate and Sawyer never got a proper chance to be together and give their relationship the committed try it deserved. Instead, timing and circumstance always got in the way, as well as Kate’s nagging feeling that Jack wouldn’t hurt her, but Sawyer might. While romance wasn’t the most important part ofLost, the characters were, andthis dynamic was key to the development of all three characters, especially Sawyer and Kate.
Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
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3Neal & Sara - White Collar (2009–2014)
Though not his first love, Sara is Neal’s most compatible and enduring
While it’s undeniable that Neal and Peter have the best relationship inWhite Collar, Neal does have some romantic interests that provide some good competition. Sara Ellis is well aware of Neal’s criminal past and everything he’s capable of, but she ends up being charmed by him and embarking upon an ill-fated relationship regardless. Being with Sara, Neal has met his match and someone who shares his interests, but he can’t stop himself from loving the thrill of the chase and ends up running away with a fortune, breaking Sara’s heart.
All 5 White Collar Romantic Couples, Ranked Worst To Best
White Collar spends a fair amount of the show exploring relationships as Neal Caffrey has his heart broken, but some relationships go the distance.
Though they reconcile and come to an understanding when he returns,Sara can never fully forgive him for abandoning her and leaving her behind for a life of crime.This is Neal’s biggest flaw throughoutWhite Collarand one that he works hard to combat. However, the allure of a life filled with freedom and luxury appeals to him more than anything. Despite this, there’s also a part of Sara that craves this, too. In another life, there might have been a path for the couple to find a middle ground and make things work.
White Collar
White Collar is a crime drama television series featuring Neal Caffrey, a skilled con artist and art thief, portrayed by Matt Bomer. After being captured by FBI agent Peter Burke, Neal agrees to help the FBI catch elusive white-collar criminals as a consultant, leveraging his unique skills. The series explores the evolving partnership and mutual trust between Neal and Peter, blending elements of crime-solving and personal redemption.
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2Lyla & Tim - Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)
Lyla and Tim were a classic case of opposites attract, but their connection went deeper
There were plenty of couples to root for onFriday Night Lights, andinitially, Lyla and Tim seemed like two people who were better off without each other.In the fallout of Jason’s accident, Lyla’s boyfriend and Tim’s best friend, the two seek comfort in each other. However, the guilt and shame of this drive them apart for a long time until they can’t deny their feelings for each other anymore. Though their different ambitions and backgrounds clash, Lyla and Tim encourage each other to be better and follow their dreams.
It’s this love and sacrifice that makes it so clear they belong together.
Filled with passion and teen angst, it’s true that their relationship did make Tim and Lyla miserable at times, but it also was an important stepping stone for both of them to come into their own as adults. Unfortunately, since they were such key players in the first three seasons, Tom and Lyla didn’t fit into the soft reboot ofFriday Night Lightsin season 4, asLyla had moved on to college, and Tim couldn’t ask her to stay.However, it’s this love and sacrifice that makes it so clear they belong together.
Friday Night Lights
Based on the book of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a sports drama series that centers around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas. The show focuses on the small town and the community they share, tackling major social and political issues and the players' challenges as they go through an increasingly difficult season.
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1Quentin & Eliot - The Magicians (2015–2020)
Making their relationship canon was the best thing The Magicians did
Thehighest-rated episode ofThe Magiciansconfirms the best partof the series, which was its emotional heart. Few dynamics in the series better represented this than the one between Eliot and Quentin. While Quentin spends most of the series in an on-and-off-again relationship with Alice, his friendship that blossoms into mutual love and affection with Eliot is much healthier and is a fan-favorite ship of the series. Thoughthey live out a full relationship in the episode “A Life in the Day,“Eliot rejects Quentin’s attempts to be together in the other timeline out of fear.
The end of their relationship is cut short due to Quentin’s death, which happens before Eliot has the chance to be with him without being possessed. However,Eliot spends the rest of the series mourning the loss of what could have been between themif he had taken the risk and tried their relationship out in the real world. Though Eliot finds some happiness and Quentin finds peace, seeing them together would have been the best part ofThe Magicians.
The Magicians
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
