When Writers Destroyed Perfect Couples, And Fans Never Forgave Them
We’ve all watched a TV couple endure longing stares, tearful confessions, and at least one dramatic airport scene, only to have the relationship abruptly end. Sometimes it’s fate. Sometimes it’s the writers pressing the big red “Plot twist!” button because someone said good shows absolutely need to subvert expectations (they don’t).
Here are ten romances that we all believed were headed towards success, but the plot unexpectedly diverted them into conflict.
Barney & Robin — How I Met Your Mother
The finale speeds up the divorce of Barney and Robin, following an entire season built around their wedding, character growth for two commitment-phobes, and some wonderful vows. Watching them choose each other felt like the whole point. Hitting “reset” so the show could revisit its French horn gag made the grand gestures feel like practice drills for a game no one asked to replay.
Hanna & Caleb — Pretty Little Liars
Early Haleb had sparks, hacker dates, and warm, messy humanity. Then came Spencer/Caleb, which felt like a writers’ room dare where they picked two names out of a hat and were forced to make the relationship work. The final season hustles Hanna and Caleb back together, but the easy chemistry is not there anymore. It’s like microwaving old fries: technically, they’re hot, but the crunch is gone, so who even cares?
Serena & Dan — Gossip Girl
He is Gossip Girl. She marries him anyway. That’s not ridiculous at all, right? So what that he basically was your own personal cyberbully? It’s fine, they’re in love! Honestly, the reveal strains logic, but the forgiveness stretches it to the point of no return. Serena deserved romance without a lifetime subscription to her spouse’s surveillance blog. If love is blind, this was love with noise-canceling headphones and airplane mode.
Scully & Mulder — The X-Files
The slow burn lasted longer than most mortgages: meaningful looks, near-miss kisses, and conspiracies with better skincare than either of them. Following movies, revivals, and offscreen status changes, the will-they/won’t-they dynamic evolved into a state of uncertainty. The William paternity chaos didn’t help. We adore this pair as unwavering partners, but we didn’t require their romance to transform into Schrödinger’s relationship. Is it canon? Do people care? Does it even matter?
Clarke & Finn — The 100
On paper, Clarke and Finn were co-leaders with mutual respect. On screen, their chemistry was set to “airplane mode.” The triangle mess, the off-the-rails behavior, and the increasingly erratic choices turned their pairing into a slogfest. Clarke has had compelling romances, but this one felt like someone checked all the boxes the network told the writers to fill in. Sometimes a ship doesn’t sink because it never left the dock in the first place.
Jon Snow & Daenerys — Game of Thrones
Seasons of prophecies, massive buildup, countless fan theories, and it all ended in ash, trauma, and a stupid dagger to the heart. The power duo of Jon and Daenerys had immense potential, and for a time, their bond felt genuine. They literally saved the world together and then got separated by “destiny via arson.” Rather than healing and rebuilding, the outcome was “How about I stab you?” They deserved something more nuanced than that, and the fans will never forgive the writers.
Jaime & Brienne — Game of Thrones
A classic trope of “enemies to allies” with a touching knighting scene that made the internet cry, and a big smooch at the end. That’s just two adults choosing growth. Until Jamie-boy’s development got tossed in a Lannister blender so he could die with Cersei because “family,” I guess. This ship wasn’t just heartbreaking, it ruined seasons of carefully stacked character beats.
Stiles & Lydia — Teen Wolf
From a one-sided crush to best friends to an endgame kiss, this couple was on the right track. Then Season 6 keeps them apart, and the follow-up movie casually announces they broke up offscreen. Hello? Writers? Imagine spending years cooking a perfect dish, only to serve this charred mess. We didn’t need fireworks, just a few scenes that let the relationship develop.
Nick & Jess — New Girl
Nick and Jess had the best oddball chemistry the TV has seen. Then a rushed final season came along. The season 6 elevator kiss was a perfect series ending, to be frank. It was earnest, imperfect, and a bit goofy—exactly like them. More episodes aren’t always more story; sometimes they’re just extra packaging. They still get married at least, but it felt dry and contractual in nature.
Eve & Villanelle — Killing Eve
Four seasons of electric, queer cat-and-mouse, and then the finale swan-dives into “you don’t deserve love.” The takedown of The Twelve is extremely rushed, the reunion feels like a sidenote, and Villanelle ends up in the water while credits roll. It’s a representation that the intensity of the thrills shouldn’t vanish as soon as they become tender. Was it all for the sake of shocking the fans? Maybe, but shock doesn’t always make for a good story. Fans didn’t need a fairytale ending, just some sort of a conclusion that respected the delicious, complicated thing the show built.