It is refreshing to experience the chemistry between a couple onscreen, and what adds to the spice is a Third Wheel. It's like a bonus. Whether it's hidden love or pure loyalty and concern for a friend, these characters undoubtedly have their own aura. Through sass, goofiness, or maybe judgemental comments, these characters sometimes are really good at stealing the thunder from an audience's point of view. In many movies and shows, we come across a third member who complements the connection between a couple, mostly voluntarily and hardly otherwise. On that note, here is the list of 15 Third Wheels that are most loveable.
15. Karen Smith - Mean Girls
Karen, a happy and goofy member of “the plastics,” was a third wheel for Cady, who was indulging in a crush on Aaron. Being a transfer student from Nigeria who had never attended a real school, it was hard for Cady to not realize the boundaries you need to be aware of when you have a thing for the queen bee’s ex. Karen’s cluelessness made her a person who is always laughed at but never short of friends. All in all, Karen was a bit of an oddball in the group of high school divas and a cute third wheel that you can’t ignore.
14. Abu - Aladdin
Abu stayed a happy and loyal partner in crime for Aladdin during the time they survived each day by stealing. Aladdin often dreamed about getting rich someday, and Abu would listen. But things changed owing to the arrival of Jasmine. Seeing his cunning master losing his edge for a woman way out of his league, Abu lost his cool. Through his expressions, he makes it crystal clear that he doesn’t approve of how Aladdin was forgetting their life’s mission to live in a castle and dreamily thinks about his chances with Jasmine. Jasmine accepted Abu as an adorable pet, but the former maintained a cold facade for a while. Aladdin kind of got himself a jealous third wheel.
13. Donkey - Shrek
Donkey and his knack for ruining the moment is absolutely unmatched. Donkey never seemed to cease being a third wheel between Shrek and Fiona. Loyalty is a quality we all desire from close ones, but Donkey kind of overdid the entire thing and made a furious Shrek come back from his honeymoon. Well, when you have a friend like Donkey before finding love, some unintended third-wheeling moments are always going to be around the corner.
12. Danny Walker - Pearl Harbor
Danny was absolutely torn between loyalty and love in this romantic war drama. After receiving the heartbreaking news of his best friend Rafe being shot down during a mission, he mourned with Rafe’s fiance, Evelyn, and they fell in love. Rafe, who actually survived the crash, came back to find out about his friend and fiance. Danny remained a third wheel in the romantic journey of Rafe and Evelyn in spite of the fact that Evelyn chose to stay with him, owing to her pregnancy, even after Rafe’s return. This beautiful triangle tragically ends with Danny’s sacrifice to save Rafe from getting shot by Japanese soldiers.
11. Charles Boyle - Brooklyn 99
Charles stepped in as a happy third wheel in the most anticipated love story brewing within the 99th precinct. It would be unfair to say that Charles would tag along with Jake and Amy all the time. But his obsession with Jake and uncanny concern about his questionable life decisions turned him into an adorable third wheel. Charles was only concerned about Jake and his friendship with him. Obviously, being the less cool one in a cop duo never bothered him, so we don’t get to see any tension between Charles and Amy.
10. Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Yes, our beloved Captain Sparrow. Although not the kind of person to indulge in romance, Jack somehow managed to have a moment with Elizabeth. Elizabeth was spoken for by Will, and Jack was not even a friend of either, but their aligned interest led them to their adventure. Maybe being stuck on an island with Jack or seeing him making decisions that were unbecoming of a pirate triggered something in Elizabeth. But anyway, Jack remains a very reluctant third wheel throughout their journey together.
9. Rajesh Koothrappali – The Big Bang Theory
Being the last one to find love in his friend’s group, Raj, unlike Sheldon, was voluntarily a third wheel. Howard and Raj’s friendship sometimes made Bernadette question herself if she was the third wheel herself. But Raj, again unlike Sheldon, didn’t shy away from trying his luck with his best friend’s wife at one point. Although that never drove a wedge between him and Howard. After all, a nerd’s desperation for affection can only be empathized with by another.
8. Mark - Love Actually
Mark’s way of confessing his feelings towards Juliet is probably one of the most romantic scenes we get to see. He had large cue cards, a boombox playing Christmas carols, and no intention of trying to steal his friend’s happiness. Both Peter and Juliet are convinced of Mark’s frosty attitude towards Juliet. But Mark kept his feelings to himself, and the close-up videos of Juliet he shot at her wedding completely leaving out Peter stamps him as a third wheel in the romantic movies universe.
7. Ted Mosby - How I Met Your Mother
To be honest, Ted was the last piece that Marshall and Lily needed for their perfect family. Ted was searching for love. Marshall and Lily found that long back. Lily would find a way to break Ted up with his girlfriends in case she wasn’t fit for the perfect retirement Lily had planned for the three of them. Ted Mosby was more of a loveable free gift for Lily, who came along with Marshall, and they never had a conventional love triangle.
6. Tuck Hansen - This Means War
Tuck wasn’t actually ready to give up on Lauren when his best friend Franklin finally wins the girl. Two CIA agents and best friends apparently fall in love with Lauren to figure out that they are seeing the same woman. Tuck and Franklin both went on spying on Lauren to find out if she is on a date with the other one. Despite Lauren’s initial dislike for Franklin, she finally chooses him over Tuck leaving him as a third wheel and also Franklin’s best man in their wedding.
5. Joey Tribbiani – F.R.I.E.N.D.S
There were very few instances in F.R.I.E.N.D.S where Joey was mad at Chandler. One such event occurred due to Kathy’s arrival in the group as Joey’s date. Chandler went out of his way for the first time to explore the instant mutual connection he shared with Kathy. Although Joey lost it at the beginning, later, out of immense love for his best friend, he accepted their relationship and went on being a third wheel for them for a short while.
4. Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory
When it comes to understanding romance, Sheldon is not the genius he is. But that doesn’t stop him from being the most annoying third wheel. Leonard and Penny, because of their different understanding of the universe, had ups and downs in their relationship. The only constant they had was the third wheel they never asked for but couldn’t abandon. The reason might have been Sheldon’s inability to grasp the concept of being a third wheel while also struggling to recognize sarcasm.
3. Stefan Salvatore - The Vampire Diaries
It is really rare to see a third wheel when siblings are involved. But Stefan, despite his epic love with Elena, loses her to his elder brother Damon. Being the nicer and more moral one of the Salvatore brothers, he was the one Elena wanted to have a life with. But as the story progressed and Elena turned into a vampire, her heightened emotions led her towards the dark and diabolical Damon. Stefan, although deeply hurt by both Elena and Damon, never abandoned them during their crisis and remains a very caring third wheel in their romantic journey.
2. Jacob - The Twilight Saga
A mortal, a vampire, a werewolf, and all in love at the same time. Jacob’s love for Bella was strong enough to keep him motivated in his pursuit till Bella turned into a vampire. But sadly, his contender was Edward. Starting with their natural hostility toward each other, all with vampires vs werewolves, Edward and Jacob finally come to a good term as none of them could do anything that would hurt Bella. However, Jacob, although he later moved on, became a surprisingly considerate third wheel as it is not a werewolf’s nature to spare a vampire.
1. Harry Potter – Harry Potter Series
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If there is a trio, one is probably a third wheel, intentionally or not. Harry never asked for this, but Ron and Hermoine included him as a third wheel as their friendship always came first. Harry wanted to go alone on the journey to find the Horcruxes and didn’t want his best friends to get involved or hurt on his account. But Ron and Hermoine were not ready to take no for an answer. One erased her parents' memory, and the other camouflaged a family ghoul as a sick version of himself to elope with Harry. It seems like the title "The Chosen One" is not only restricted to vanquishing Lord Voldemort.
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