The small screen has given us many unforgettable and iconic TV show couples who have made us laugh, cry, and believe in love. It has given us slow-burn romances, ultra-hot affairs, and paved the way for these couples to make their way into our hearts.
Whether a lifetime of marriage or a passionate love affair, every couple created a legacy that inspires the audience to "ship" them long after the curtain call.
Here is our tribute to 20 of television's most beloved couples that continue to have us root for them even today.
1) Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly (The Office)
Jim and Pam are the embodiment of what we'd like to call, 'slow burn'. One of Jim's most attractive traits is his patience. He waits for years for the love of his life. It explains why we watch in awe as Pam slowly opens her heart. Together, they warmed The Office, but what differentiated them was the real life in the little moments—the unimportant yet magical exchanges that make love feel true. Their wedding, an epic exercise in spontaneous dancing down the aisle, is still a famous TV moment. Fans continue to visit their story for the humor, honesty, and simplicity that make them unforgettable, even today.
2) Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd (Grey's Anatomy)
Meredith and Derek, known as "MerDer," survived tragedy, passion, and growth over many seasons of Grey's Anatomy. Their bond balanced Meredith's complexity with Derek's dashing steadiness, so their romance was both, aspirational and earthed. Their now-famous "pick me, choose me, love me" moment is still being whispered by fans who felt the intensity of their connection. While Derek's death was a tragic event, their relationship gave Meredith the strength to be more resilient, showing viewers the power of love and loss.
3) Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)
Leslie and Ben proved that soulmates do not necessarily have to be perfect in order to be ideal for each other. Quirky and the most driven and supportive of all, they both brought out the best in each other on Parks and Recreation. Their relationship was also marked by mutual respect - from his support of Leslie's political career and her embracing his geeky obsessions. Their spontaneous, lovely city hall wedding thus told the world that their love had no bounds. Fans rally around them to make the impossible possible - to be simultaneously ambitious and absurd in their relationships.
4) Ross Geller and Rachel Green (Friends)
The "will-they-won't-they" romance of Ross and Rachel defined an era of TV. From Ross's high school crush to the surprise daughter, their on-again, off-again love story was the heartbeat of Friends. That famous "we were on a break" argument and the reunion at the airport prompted all to applaud the couple's love despite the never-ending twists. The Ross and Rachel relationship is highly iconic because it embodies genuine relationships: messy, complicated, yet worth struggling for. To this day, fans are still debating and celebrating the relationship.
5) Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset (Bridgerton)
Daphne and Simon brought fiery chemistry and period drama romance to new and exciting levels in Bridgerton. Their relationship would be that of staged courtship turned passionate love affair, with the subtext of simmering tension that would wow the audience. The struggles Simon experienced about his past only complicated Daphne's yearning for actual love amidst that whirlwind of a romance. Known for ballroom dance scenes and undeniable attraction, they became a Netflix sensation and an example of the enemies-to-lovers trope with a Regency twist.
6) Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)
Chuck and Blair are essentially Gossip Girl's power couple. Their love was all turbulent, magnetic, passionate, power plays, and drama. From Blair's headbands to Chuck's evil charm, they made the perfect mismatched pair who couldn't stay away from each other. Their drenched mantra of "Three words, eight letters" has stood as one of the fan-favorite moments depicting their reluctant vulnerability. Loyalty to each other had kept them together, even amidst all the chaos, and hence, it was easy to believe in the "happily ever after" that had to be coming their way.
7) Lucy Ricardo and Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
Lucy and Ricky were TV romance pioneers who brought comedy and marriage to life in I Love Lucy. Lucy's dizzy antics, combined with Ricky's sternest attempts to keep things right, played out as funny and endearing at the same time. Their real-life marriage brought authenticity to them and endeared them to viewers everywhere. The show was groundbreaking for its comedy and because it portrayed a Latino man with a positive attitude. They are one of TV's iconic couples to this day.
8) Monica Geller and Chandler Bing (Friends)
While drama continued between Ross and Rachel, Monica and Chandler brought much-needed comedy as a balancing force to the ongoing relationships in the show. They were a beautiful surprise as they emerged from a one-night stand in London and blossomed their relationship into a deep, supportive love that ultimately led to their marriage. They battled infertility and went on to adopt twins, all while showcasing real life at its funny best. Their friendship and love are what fans can hold onto in their attachment to Monica and Chandler as the centering force within the craziness of Friends.
9) Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
There was something revolutionary about Willow and Tara's relationship, which is better seen in having those LGBTQ+ characters and relationships on television. Their tender and true love story portrayed this magic of love and transformation as Willow moved from a shy, insecure girl, to a mighty witch. These two paved the way for same-sex couples and showed one of the first kisses between two women on television. Although Tara's death was tragic, their love has left an indelible mark on the fan's heart and paved the way for more LGBTQ+ representation.
10) Homer Simpson and Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)
Homer and Marge are the longest-standing couple on television, with well over three decades of marriage on The Simpsons. While Homer makes numerous blunders and has various shortcomings, Marge never betrays him, and her loyalty and devotion keep the couple together. The couple shows that true love indeed lasts through many trials and tests of time to eventually be able to thrive, with their relationship infecting viewers with humor and heart as it fulfills and embodies the strength of forgiveness and compromise.
11) Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the storyline of Jake and Amy brought an innovative touch to the cliché office romance. They gradually developed feelings of mutual respect, admiration, and deep love from a friendly rivalry to show that opposites attract. Her overachieving perfectionism is perfectly well balanced with his goofy charm. It was both adorable and hilarious when I saw them together. The wedding moment where Jake proposes to Amy with a puzzle is one of the fan favorite scenes. They proved that relations might also be playful and earthly, turning them into one of the most popular modern couples, for sure.
12) Lily Aldrin and Marshall Eriksen (How I Met Your Mother)
Lily and Marshall are the perfect example of love. They symbolized how high school sweethearts may remain faithful, funny, and profoundly wise. From friendly "pauses" fights to the "front porch test," they showed how friendship matters in a marriage. Whatever may happen, like Lily's art dreams taking her to San Francisco, true love will conquer all. Their weird yet stable relationship made them fan favorites from start to finish.
13) Pacey Witter and Joey Potter (Dawson's Creek)
Many viewers were surprised to see Pacey and Joey stealing the love triangle show, bringing warmth and vulnerability into an otherwise unromantic set of characters in Dawson's Creek. They were a relatable and down-to-earth couple: Pacey's unwavering support of Joey's ambitions and charming humor kept them going throughout their story. Many fans felt they were more authentic than Joey and Dawson. The pairing gave the classic love triangle an unexpected dimension; Pacey and Joey's love story became unforgettable.
14) Coach Taylor and Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
Coach Eric Taylor and Tami Taylor embodied the ideal balanced, supportive relationship on television. Friday Night Lights depicted the successful handling of small-town pressures, work-life balance, and family disagreements with ease and unyielding respect. Candid communication and mutual admiration from this couple were refreshing. Like most TV couples, they were so real, believable, and, as if it could be rare to see on TV, a very robust and healthy example of a relationship. Their iconic partnership became an embellishment of the show, inspired by its authenticity.
15) Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big (Sex and the City)
Carrie and Mr. Big's love history in Sex and the City was an angst-ridden story of hardships that characterize contemporary relationships. This couple went through seasons like Carrie experienced, questioning love, self-respect, and freedom. Despite the highs and lows this relationship experienced, the couple brought undeniable chemistry, thus perfectly ending their story with an emotional conclusion in the series finale. Big's romantic gestures hook viewers, one of them being him traveling to Paris to win her back. Their complex love story became a cultural touchstone, exploring how imperfect relationships can still hold deep meaning.
16) Bette Porter and Tina Kennard (The L Word)
As one of TV's most memorable LGBTQ+ couples, Bette and Tina's story in The L Word was groundbreaking and heartfelt. Their romance was hot and cold, full of betrayal and reconciliation, all like real life in long-term commitment. Issues such as parenthood, infidelity, and finding identity added layers to the representation of LGBTQ+—their dynamic established love and self-improvement as a couple with problems that confronted them for others' entertainment.
17) Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski (Saved by the Bell)
Zack and Kelly were Saved by the Bell's quintessential high school sweethearts, representing young love in the '90s. Of course, their relationship did have its share of teenage drama: love triangles with Jessie, prom mishaps, and so on, but somehow they always ended up back together. Of course, one of the most iconic moments with them was their on-screen wedding in Saved by the Bell. Zack and Kelly embody the purity and vitality of that first love, which is impossible to forget.
18) David Rose and Patrick Brewer (Schitt's Creek)
In Schitt's Creek, the relationship between David and Patrick set the new standard for wholesome, supportive love. In the coming-of-age story where Patrick has helped David come to stability and confidence, nothing could be remembered as vividly as the moment he serenaded David with "Simply the Best." Depicting a relationship between business partners, who later became life partners, the show gave a beautiful, heartwarming romance about the beautiful love of an LGBTQ+ couple supported by mutual respect and understanding that was refreshingly ordinary yet profoundly so.
19) Eleanor Shellstrop and Chidi Anagonye (The Good Place)
The odd relationship between Eleanor and Chidi in The Good Place is unpredictable, but endearing. Their romance didn't stick to set patterns of a love tale, taking shape as they went along with moral dilemmas in the afterlife. Chidi's genuineness smoothed out Eleanor's sharpness of sarcasm and rebellious stride, making their love story sweet and enjoyable. This story's primary themes are self-improvement, forgiveness, and finding one's soulmate.
20) George Jefferson and Louise Jefferson (The Jeffersons)
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George and Louise, or "Weezy," were innovators as one of the first African-American couples to anchor a prime-time TV series. The Jeffersons showcased their passionate, but explosive relationship, represented by George's obstinacy and Louise's endurance. Their enduring relationship highlighted the strength and humor required to persevere through life's triumphs and failures. With George and Louise, the relationship was different in visibility and authenticity: it showed audiences that a successful Black couple could walk through life together, navigating love and ambition in a changing world.
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