One of the most engaging aspects of any TV series is the relationships, and while some shows pay these off in incredibly satisfying ways, others miss their chance to pair up the most shipped couples from their run. Fans shipping couples on screen has been a practice for some time, but in modern times of fan-fiction and the ability to telll love stories that never fully played out on-screen, shipping is at an all-time high. From newer ships of Wednesday‘s Wednesday and Enid to desires for Nancy and Steve to reunite on Stranger Things, undeniable chemistry between two TV characters inspires hope that they’ll end up together – but that isn’t always the case.
There are dozens of couples who have a will they/won’t they connection that teases the audience. Many shows will pick up on this cue and by the finale, the couple is finally actively in a relationship. On the other hand, even some of the greatest TV shows decide to still keep the audience on the hook when the series officially wraps. Whether the characters got a moment to date and then spoiled it or their on-screen chemistry was intense but never became canon on the show, some TV relationships deserved to have the happily ever after that they never got.
10 Lena And Kara – Supergirl
Lena Luthor may have a pretty chaotic family, but as an individual, she grew tremendously throughout the Supergirl series. Unlike the rest of her family, Lena used her brilliance to aid supers like Kara and became a close and trusted friend. Lena and Kara had a strong connection, and although there were never any overt references that appeared to be romantic, fans still created the ‘Supercorp’ moniker as a coupled name for Supergirl and Luthor Corp to represent the pair. As two powerful and strong women, they could certainly have made an extreme power couple, and it’s a shame this was never played out on screen before Supergirl‘s ending.
9 Clarke And Bellamy – The 100
Clarke and Bellamy have the ultimate enemies to friends enemies to best friends to fatal foes arc. During their early encounters, there is no trust and the pair are at odds, but over many years and encounters, they become extremely close. The show took their relationship in a strange and unexpected direction when Bellamy joined the Disciples. As a result, the relationship again broke down and Clarke actually killed Bellamy. The reasons and thoughts were complex as Clarke believed the real Bellamy to be dead, but what a tragic ending to what could have been a beautiful long-term relationship.
8 Castiel And Dean – Supernatural
Dean is a bit of a ladies man, and through the years of hunting demons and monsters in Supernatural, he never got to a place where he could happily and peacefully settle down. Perhaps he was looking in the wrong place the whole time. Castiel, the angel who joined the Winchesters on many of their adventures from season 4 onward, is considered Dean’s perfect match. Again, the deep desire for Destiel to be a thing was made very evident through fan fiction, and in the finale, Castiel reveals his true feelings for Dean. The relationship doesn’t go beyond friendship, but Destiel may have been exactly what Dean needed in a long-term relationship.
7 Robin And Barney – How I Met Your Mother
Another ladies man, Barney was chronically single throughout HIMYM, but he did find a perfect match in Robin. Barney gave up his bachelor way of life and committed to a relationship with his long-term friend, and they made a perfect match. In fact, their relationship seemed fated to last as the final two-part episode focuses on the wedding of Robin and Barney. But then, in the final sequence, the story completely reverses and shows the breakdown of the relationship and Ted’s wife sadly passing away, just to have Ted pair up with Robin.
This proved highly unpopular with fans, making How I Met Your Mother’s finale among the most divisive of any shows. HIMYM creators also realized this and created an alternate ending that showed Ted finally getting his happily ever after instead of opting for a cheap twist. Officially, however, Robin and Barney should have been together despite the show’s last-minute twist.
6 Sawyer And Kate – Lost
Lost featured one of the most complex love quadrangles on TV between Sawyer, Kate, Jack, and Juliet. The series sees complicated ups and downs for each and at times, Kate uses Sawyer unfairly in order to make Jack jealous. Despite Jack and Kate and Sawyer and Juliet pairing off eventually, Sawyer and Kate would have been a better couple. Both coming from a criminal background, they could have had a Bonnie and Clyde connection, and they clearly have passion for one another, but the pair couldn’t keep things together. Skate could have been endgame if it wasn’t for the other two getting in the way.
5 Michaela And Jared – Manifest
Michaela and Zeke may have had an epic love story throughout Manifest with many ups and downs before finally getting a chance at a happy ending, but Michaela and Jared made more sense. For one, the two couldn’t stop falling for each other. They always came back to one another in spite of both finding other relationships. Michaela was due to accept Jared’s proposal before the first time leap and when that didn’t happen and other relationships developed, the two continued to hold onto feelings for one another that they couldn’t resist. They probably should have stayed together to avoid hurting others in relationships that wouldn’t last.
4 Blair And Dan – Gossip Girl
Blair and Dan, or Dair have a genuine connection that deserved to be developed further. The two genuinely connected on emotional and intellectual levels with shared interests and similar values, but too many complicated relationships kept getting in their way. Through Blair’s relationships with Louis and Chuck, Dan stood by her to support and offered kindness and love even when things were painful for them both. Despite a brief exploration of their relationship, the two parted ways, but their relationship should have gone further and could have shined without so much interference.
3 Klaus And Caroline – The Vampire Diaries
Klaus and Caroline have one of the most beautiful and enduring relationships that goes unanswered. The pair connect deeply on an emotional level and Klaus promises to be Caroline’s last love. They have one intimate moment upon confessing their true feelings, and then they part awaiting a time when the two can finally be together. Unfortunately, when it comes time for Caroline to go after him and connect, she ends up being his last love instead as they enjoy his last day alive together before his untimely death.
2 Zuko And Katara – Avatar: The Last Airbender
Two young people on opposite sides of a war between nations, Zuko and Katara didn’t appear to have much in common and certainly seemed unlikely to be hurtling towards each other. Zuko and Katara develop a bond and connection while they are both imprisoned in Ba Sing Se. Zuko is changed by his encounter with Katara and turns his back on the nation that raised him and decides to join his former enemies in their mission to overthrow the tyrannical rule. Zuko also jumps in the way of lightning which could have killed Katara during the final season of Avatar.
However, despite the connection and Zuko clearly valuing Katara’s opinion and life above his own, she ends up with Aang as seen in The Legend of Korra. Both relationships had foundations throughout the series but Katara and Aang were often shown to have a close sibling-like relationship, where the more mature Zuko clearly appeared to have feelings for her. It’s a shame the pair never paired up, but they could have been an incredible couple representing water and fire to bring two opposing forces completely in harmony together. Of course, it’s still possible for Katara and Zuko’s romance to finally come to fruition in Avatar‘s upcoming live-action series.
1 Buffy And Spike – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy and Spike are the definition of it’s complicated. The pair start out as mortal enemies as Spike is a Slayer killing vampire and Buffy is the literal Vampire Slayer of her generation. The two fought on many occasions and over time, Spike started to develop feelings that he desperately tried to suppress by trying to kill Buffy. They possessed genuine hatred towards each other, but through a long and challenging road that involved more fighting, a buffy bot, deception, death, and much more, they eventually developed mutual feelings.
They attempted a relationship and became a necessity to one another, but even with this, things remained complicated. Finally, the two decided to really give their relationship a try and became a couple. And then in a time jump, they end up split because they didn’t get on without a crisis. This seems ridiculous after their magnetic pull towards each other and the deep feelings that were then developed, but Buffy and Spike’s romance was sadly never given a future.
