8 Controversial TV Show Couples That Almost Ruined Their Shows

July 31, 2024, 11:40 a.m.

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8 Controversial TV Show Couples That Almost Ruined Their Shows

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Summary Unpopular romances can ruin a series, like Britta & Troy in Community.

Mistakes in TV relationships can undo years of character development.

Unexpected pairings, like Monica & Chandler in Friends, can be popular and redeeming.

Romantic relationships on TV shows can be some of the most compelling and controversial aspects of a series. Rooting for a couple with explosive chemistry can make even the most lackluster episodes of a show dramatic and intriguing. However, this means that when a pairing is bad, it can come close to ruining a series altogether. The worst examples of these unfortunate partnerships are between actors who don't have a strong dynamic and characters who suffer a setback because of the relationship they enter into. A mistake in the romantic department can undo years of character development and careful plotting.

It's always disappointing to see a character's story sacrificed for the sake of an unpopular romance.

Occasionally, an unexpected pairing can work wonders for a TV show and end up being the most popular ship of the series. This was the case with Monica and Chandler's relationship in Friends. However, these happy accidents are few and far between on television. With any luck, these bad relationships are short-lived and last a few episodes at most, but sometimes writers and showrunners will string along this doomed couple across multiple seasons. In these cases, it's always disappointing to see a character's story sacrificed for the sake of an unpopular romance.

Related 10 Worst TV Couples That Should Never Have Happened These TV couples range from having no chemistry or being outright toxic. Whatever the reason, these characters should not have been together.

8 Britta & Troy - Community (2009–2015)

Their relationship was part of the most poorly received season of the series.

This undermined the much more compelling and emotionally resonant friendship between Troy and Abed.

Community season 4 is not well remembered and is regarded as the weakest season of a show with a devoted fan base. The romantic relationships between characters were never the most important part of Community, as the series was more concerned with morals about friendship and growing up. However, one of the Community moments that made viewers quit the show was when the flirtation between Troy and Britta became an established relationship in season 4. This undermined the much more compelling and emotionally resonant friendship between Troy and Abed.

The hints of a romance between Troy and Britta were sprinkled throughout season 3, but it's likely that if Dan Harmon had remained on the show for season 4, their courtship would've been quite different. Community was good about leaving the budding relationships between their characters open-ended, as was the case in the will-they-won't-they dynamic of Annie and Jeff. However, it didn't take long for the series to realize that having a committed relationship between two of the core group members altered the show's rhythm.

Community Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Created by Dan Harmon, Community is a comedy series that follows a study group at an unorthodox community college where zany antics occur daily. When disgraced lawyer Jeff Winger is forced to enroll in a local college to get a degree and reinstate himself, he gets roped in with fellow students from different backgrounds, races, religions, and ages and reluctantly forms a study group. Together, these lovable misfits will navigate their school lives in some nigh unbelievable situations as they all try to figure out where their futures lie. Cast Yvette Nicole Brown , Ken Jeong , Chevy Chase , Joel McHale , Jim Rash , Gillian Jacobs , Alison Brie Donald Glover , Danny Pudi Release Date September 17, 2009 Seasons 6 Network NBC Showrunner Dan Harmon

7 Deb & Dexter - Dexter (2006–2013)

Though Dexter did have some interesting relationships, Deb's attraction to him was just wrong.

Dexter is the ultimate anti-hero in many ways, but his serial killer tendencies didn't stop him from engaging in some poignant and strong romantic relationships. His most important love interest was Rita, who was one of the most significant characters in the show through season 4. Though they get married and have a child together, Rita is tragically killed by one of Dexter's rivals, leaving the door open for new love interests in the future. Unfortunately, the creators of Dexter included an uncomfortable and confusing plotline because of this.

Deb is Dexter's adoptive sister, and though the two don't share any DNA, they're siblings and treat each other as such throughout most of the series. Things change in season 6 when Deb realizes she's in love with Dexter and later confesses her feelings for him. Although they never acted on this potential relationship, it was a shocking addition to the show and was too unbelievable within the context of the story. Luckily, it's mostly forgotten about after Deb finds out Dexter's secret, but it's still a big part of the show viewers might wish to forget.

Dexter Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Based on the character created by author Jeff Lindsay, Showtime's Dexter follows Miami Metro Police Department's most skilled blood spatter analyst, Dexter Morgan, as he attempts to satisfy his Dark Passenger's need to kill by hunting down criminals who have escaped justice. However, using the rules his adoptive father taught him to remain undiscovered, Dexter must walk the fine line of seemingly blending into society while continuously feeding his dark urges. Dexter faces several serial killers as his facade slowly crumbles around him; with every problem solved by his Dark Passenger, another one arises for his suburban fatherly life. When Dexter takes things personally or feels that the law is failing, he takes matters into his own hands and even compromises the investigations of his co-workers. Dexter aired on Showtime for eight seasons before receiving a mini-sequel series called Dexter: New Blood, which picked up ten years after the show's events. You can buy each season for just $9.99 for Prime Day. Cast David Zayas , Michael C. Hall , Lauren Velez , C. S. Lee , James Remar , Jennifer Carpenter , Desmond Harrington , Julie Benz Release Date October 31, 2010 Seasons 8 Network Showtime , CBS Directors Clyde Phillips Showrunner Clyde Phillips Expand

6 Randy & Donna - That ‘70s Show (1998–2006)

There was no way that Donna would end up with someone besides Eric.

Eric leaving That '70s Show before the final series was a crushing blow for the story and the arcs of the characters. One of the most engaging parts of That '70s Show was the central relationship between Donna and Eric and the fact that even though they had their ups and downs, they were destined to be together. However, Eric's leaving threw a wrench in this plan and led to the introduction of Randy, a poor stand-in for Eric. He went on to be Donna's love interest but couldn't fill the void.

Many unexpected couples developed that season, including Jackie and Fez, but in some ways, Randy and Donna were worse.

The mishandled romance between Donna and Randy is representative of the central problems with That '70s Show season 8. Many unexpected couples developed that season, including Jackie and Fez, but in some ways, Randy and Donna were worse. It was obvious that Donna's heart wasn't in the relationship and the writers were biding their time until Eric could return for the series finale. When they finally broke up, it was a relief for the characters, who made much more sense as friends.

5 Izzie & George - Grey’s Anatomy (2005–Present)

What started as one of the show's best friendships ended in disaster.

George and Izzie are two of the best early characters on Grey's Anatomy, and neither of them got the endings they deserved. This was foreshadowed by their unsettling attempts at a romantic relationship in seasons 3 and 4 when the pair try and fail to rekindle the spark of a one-night stand. However, in the harsh light of day, it becomes clear that the explosive chemistry they felt when they first slept together was a fluke, and they have almost zero sexual chemistry in reality.

This was a frustrating, if ultimately good, turn of events, as the pair had both thrown away perfectly good relationships for each other. However, at least Grey's Anatomy had the sense to split them up almost as soon as their relationship could be out in the open. Unfortunately, it's likely that George and Izzie got together for the sole purpose of creating drama and adding a level of intrigue to these episodes outside the relationship between Meredith and Derek.

Grey's Anatomy Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US

A high-intensity medical drama which follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Cast Ellen Pompeo , Chandra Wilson , James Pickens Jr. , Justin Chambers , Kevin McKidd , Jesse Williams , camilla luddington , Patrick Dempsey , Sara Ramirez , Jessica Capshaw , Sandra Oh Release Date March 27, 2005 Seasons 19 Network ABC Directors Rob Corn , Kevin McKidd , Debbie Allen , Chandra Wilson , Allison Liddi-Brown , Jeannot Szwarc , Tony Phelan Creator(s) Shonda Rhimes , Michelle Lirtzman Expand

4 Blaine & Karofsky - Glee (2009–2015)

It was shocking when Blaine betrayed Kurt by dating his biggest bully.

Karofsky was the bully who was so awful to Kurt in high school that Kurt had to transfer schools.

Glee was a series that was never afraid to be messy and start drama between its characters. However, Blaine and Kurt had far from a perfect relationship, and they probably shouldn't have ended up together. This was made clear by the fact that Blaine began dating Dave Karofsky in season 6 while Kurt was in New York. Karofsky was the bully who was so awful to Kurt in high school that Kurt had to transfer schools. It was Karofsky's bullying that led to Blaine and Kurt meeting in the first place, and Blaine knew just how bad it was.

Karofsky was a nuanced character, and he did grow and change a lot in the seasons after his initial bullying of Kurt. Though the trope of a homophobic bully being secretly closeted is tired and has come under fire from critics, Karofsky did go on to accept himself and change. Despite this, there's no excuse for Blaine hurting Kurt in this way, even if Kurt was the one who ended their relationship earlier in the show. The audience lost a lot of sympathy and respect for Blaine after this relationship.

Glee Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US In order to escape the stressful reality of high school, a group of misfits decides to join William McKinley’s glee club. Fox’s Glee was created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy, with Leah Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison leading the cast. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015 and won six Primetime Emmys. Cast Dianna Agron , Chris Colfer , Jessalyn Gilsig , Jane Lynch , Jayma Mays , Kevin McHale , Lea Michele , Cory Monteith , Matthew Morrison , Amber Riley Release Date May 19, 2009 Seasons 6 Network FOX Showrunner Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk

3 Cordelia & Connor - Angel (1999–2004)

Cordelia's character development was ruined by the last few seasons of Angel.

In both Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Cordelia is the most interesting and well-developed character. Seeing her grow and become a vital part of Angel's team in the spinoff show is beautiful, and it only makes what happened to her character towards the show's end all the more tragic. There was no narrative purpose for Cordelia to sleep with Connor and then die, leaving the show forever. When Connor and Cordelia get together, Cordelia is possessed by an evil spirit, but this only makes their brief union worse.

There's no question that Cordelia's character deserved much better than this ending and that it would have been much more satisfying to see her act on her feelings for Angel. Thankfully, Angel season 5 featured the best story arc on the show and redeemed itself in many ways, but it's a shame that Cordelia wasn't a part of it. If she had gotten a redemption arc and been able to get back to herself, it might have made up for the fling with Connor.

Angel Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is a drama series with supernatural elements that stars David Boreanaz, reprising his role as the titular vampire. An immortal cursed with his human soul returning to his body, which makes him susceptible to human emotions such as remorse. Angel lives in Los Angeles as a private detective, seeking redemption for his murderous past as a vicious warlord. Angel will face threats such as humans and demons that rival his own cruel potential as he ventures to help those in need. Cast Joss Whedon , Charisma Carpenter , David Boreanaz Release Date October 5, 1999 Seasons 5 Network The WB Directors Joss Whedon Showrunner David Greenwalt Expand

2 Jon & Daenerys - Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)

Not only did Jon and Dany lack chemistry, but they were also too closely related.

It's no secret that the ending of Game of Thrones was disappointing to viewers and critics alike for many reasons. Two of the most compelling characters of the series, Jon and Daenerys, finally joined forces towards the end of the show, which was an exciting development. However, after learning that Jon was a Targaryen and related to Daenerys, it was difficult to ship the couple. While Game of Thrones never shied away from relationships between family members, it doesn't make it any less uncomfortable to watch.

Their relationship tragically ended with Daenerys' character being ruined and Jon killing her to save Westeros.

Though there were still amazing moments in Game of Thrones seasons 7 and 8, they didn't justify the disappointing ending and the rushed relationship between Jon and Dany. Not only were they family, but they also didn't make sense as a pair. They had different wants and experiences, and neither one of them needed a romantic partner at all. Their relationship tragically ended with Daenerys' character being ruined and Jon killing her to save Westeros.

Game Of Thrones Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros - as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, led by House Stark's Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the "Golden Age" of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base. Cast Emilia Clarke , Lena Headey , Richard Madden , Michelle Fairley , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Alfie Allen , Peter Dinklage Release Date April 11, 2011 Seasons 8 Franchise(s) Game of Thrones Directors David Nutter , Alan Taylor , D.B. Weiss , David Benioff Showrunner David Benioff , D.B. Weiss Expand

Related 10 TV Couples That Only Got Together Because Fans Demanded It Sometimes, when it isn't in the original plan for a series, two characters will get together because fans are so outspoken about their chemistry.

1 Jess & Robby - New Girl (2011–2018)

From the start, New Girl positioned Jess and Nick as the show's central relationship. However, after letting the couple succumb to their chemistry in season 2, the series had them break up in season 3. It was an inevitable split, as there was already a decrease in tension and stakes since the pair got together. Unfortunately, this meant that for the next several seasons, New Girl would have Jess date almost anyone else in the cast besides Nick. The worst example of this came when she tried to be with Robby.

Robby appeared in the early seasons of the show as a casual boyfriend of Cece, and he was a funny and likable character who would pop up occasionally throughout the show. It was immediately obvious that Jess and Robby were a little too similar, and the chemistry between them was off. The reason for this became clear when the pair realized they were third cousins and immediately called off their relationship. Though Jess and Robby were never going to be together for long,