10 Greatest Love Stories In TV History

MovieStillsDB Published Sep 8, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT Shealyn Scott is a Senior Writer at Screen Rant. She has been writing for the site since 2024, focused on network, reality, streaming, and classic television. A creative writer, journalist, and lover of the written word in all its forms, Shealyn enjoys deconstructing scenes from her favorite shows, using context clues and historical precedent to predict major plot points (which, due to her successful track record, has sparked rumors of clairvoyance). As an award-winning student journalist, Shealyn spent her college years advocating for the humanities while studying English Literature. Her love of storytelling propelled her to expand her degree with minors in Writing and History, believing life to be a mere collection of stories that can be framed in as many ways as a movie scene. As a Senior member of the TV Team, Shealyn treats the series she covers like books, analyzing every line, camera angle, and lighting choice. Thankfully, her personal mission statement lines up perfectly with Screen Rant: every creative work deserves just as much thought from the viewer as it received from its creator. Sign in to your ScreenRant account WARNING: This article contains discussion of terminal illness, suicide, murder, homophobia, and death. Whether they end in tears or triplets, the best romances in television history are timeless. From supernatural horror stories to confounding puzzle boxes to good old-fashioned teen dramas, love is at the root of any strong narrative, regardless of typical genre conventions. While it's common for major titles to craft their romance around an established relationship, however, the most memorable pairings are often characters whom the viewer gets to watch fall in love throughout the course of the series. Of course, there are plenty of TV couples who are painful to watch, be it a palpable lack of chemistry or an anticlimactic breakup. Nevertheless, each era has its fair share of iconic ships, ranging from classic sitcom favorites to spotlight-stealing side pairings in prestige dramas. Furthermore, with how popular modern romance shows have become, romance is as ubiquitous as ever— but a truly great love story is hard to find. Luckily, watching certain couples fall in love never gets old. Joey Potter & Pacey Witter Dawson’s Creek MovieStillsDB Without question, Dawson's Creek is a quintessential teen drama, and the love triangle between titular Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) remains one of its defining storylines. Initially, it seemed as if Dawson and Joey were destined to end up together, but the chemistry the latter had with her frenemy was too strong to ignore. Throughout the show's six seasons, Joey and Pacey struggle to get on the same page, but they always find their way back to one another, be it in a dreamy kiss with a ten-second countdown or a dramatic last-second love confession. Though their ending is somewhat ambiguous, Dawson's Creek leaves just enough clues to hint at Pacey and Joey's relationship holding strong. Derek Shepherd & Meredith Grey Grey’s Anatomy MovieStillsDB Whether you tune in for every episode or think the show should have ended years ago, Grey's Anatomy is undeniably a seminal classic for the medical drama genre. As such, the ongoing romance between Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and series namesake Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) was the heart of the drama for years. The two grew from a torrid affair between intern and attending to a proper courtship, with wedding bells and adoption papers following soon after. Unfortunately, Meredith and Derek's relationship in Grey's Anatomy was never sacred, and the ABC staple has never been afraid to kill its darlings. In a cruel twist of irony, Derek is fatally wounded after pulling over to run emergency triage on car crash victims. To this day, Derek's death is a sore subject for Grey's Anatomy fans, but the couple's tragic end doesn't erase the many romantic gestures and iconic speeches they shared throughout the first 11 seasons.​​​​​​ Bill & Frank The Last of Us Credit: MovieStillsDB Unlike most television couples, Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank's love story (Murray Bartlett) is confined to merely one episode. "Long, Long Time" (season 1, episode 3) follows brusque survivalist Bill, whose life turns upside down when a friendly stranger named Frank asks for help. As the zombie apocalypse rages on outside, Bill and Frank fall in love and build an unconventional life together. After 13 years, sadly, Frank realizes he has a terminal degenerative disease and begs Bill to aid him in dying. Consequently, the pair hold a makeshift wedding in their living room before sitting down for a final dinner date. Unbeknownst to Frank, Bill poisons both of their drinks, insisting he had no interest in living without his better half. The Last of Us was revolutionary for many reasons, but being able to tell such a devastating and comprehensive love story in only 75 minutes is an unforgettable feat.​​​​​​ Christopher Turk & Carla Espinosa Scrubs Thankfully, not every great love story ends in a tear-jerking twist, nor do they drag on with no sense of direction. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) and Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes) meet in Scrubs' pilot episode, and they quickly strike up a workplace romance. By the end of season 3, the two are married, and they remain unwaveringly in love until the original series finale. Furthermore, the Scrubs revival wisely safeguards Carla and Turk's happy ending. Far too often, reboots break up couples just for the sake of conflict, but the rock-steady relationship at the center of the sitcom only grew stronger, with the pair welcoming four children into their family. Some may dislike the fact that Carla and Turk don't have melodramatic fight scenes and breakup arcs, but the beauty of their love story lies in its serenity. Amidst the chaos and comedy of Scrubs' running gags, Carla and Turk remain deeply in love— something TV couples are rarely allowed to do.​​​​​​ Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay Buffy the Vampire Slayer When Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduced Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) in season 4, nobody could have predicted the impact she'd have on Willow Rosenberg's (Alyson Hannigan) life— or the television landscape at large. A fellow witch, Tara begins as a shy member of UC Sunnydale's Wicca club, but there is an instant spark between her and Willow. At the time, LGBTQ+ representation on major series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer was rare and fleeting, but the couple's potential was obvious. Soon enough, Tara and Willow's relationship is sealed with a history-making kiss, and the pair become a fixture of the show's later seasons. Despite a short breakup, Willow and Tara happily reconcile in season 6 and seem poised for a bright future. Unfortunately, in arguably Buffy the Vampire Slayer's most controversial episode, Tara is killed by a stray bullet, dying in Willow's arms in a particularly egregious example of the infamous "bury your gays" trope.​​​​​​ Eleanor Shellstrop & Chidi Anagonye The Good Place In stark contrast, The Good Place starts off by claiming Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) and Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper) are eternal soulmates. Of course, the first episode of the series then pulls the rug out from under the audience, revealing that Eleanor is not meant to be in the "good" side of the afterlife at all. In turn, her relationship with Chidi is nothing more than a clerical error. Nevertheless, Eleanor and Chidi have a heartwarming bond throughout the acclaimed 2010s sitcom that gradually grows more and more romantic. Initially, Chidi is simply Eleanor's nervous ethics professor, but as the truth behind their seemingly idyllic neighborhood is revealed, so too are the pair's feelings for one another. Hundreds of times over, Chidi and Eleanor choose each other against all odds, culminating in a bittersweet but fitting ending that reminds viewers that love is always worth the cost. ​​​​​​ Ian Gallagher & Mickey Milkovich Shameless Shameless is one of the most unhinged shows of the century, and the same goes for its best couple: Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey Milkovich (Noel Fisher). When the two first cross paths, Mickey seems like a wildly homophobic bully who is prone to violence, but the dramedy quickly reveals the truth: he himself is gay and forced to hide who he is to survive his father's torment. Unsurprisingly, Ian and Mickey have their ups and downs throughout the 11 seasons of Shameless, but they have a shockingly tender relationship that stands the test of Mickey's forced marriage, Ian's bipolar disorder diagnosis, and the Milkovich clan's increasingly violent attempts to keep them apart. Though they face their fair share of trials and tribulations, Ian and Mickey eventually marry and have by far the most optimistic fate in the Shameless finale, a deservedly happy ending for the fan-favorite pairing. ​​​​​​ Sun-Hwa Kwon & Jin-Soo Kwon Lost Lost isn't the first show that comes to mind for romance fans, but the relationship between Jin-soo (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sun-hwa Kwon (Yunjin Kim) is a generational tale of love, loss, and life-changing decisions. In the mystery's first season, Jin and Sun seem trapped in a loveless marriage, but the viewers watch in flashbacks as Sun's disapproving father, Jin's demanding job, and their struggle with infertility jointly cause the pair to drift. As a result, the versions of Jin and Sun we meet after the plane crash are them at their worst and most estranged. As early as season 2, however, Lost begins to turn their story around. With the inexplicable powers of the island and the frequent deaths of their companions constantly raising the stakes, Jin and Sun are forced to confront their marital problems and quickly embrace a radical overhaul of their original dynamic. In fact, their love returns with such force, Sun gives up her chance at normalcy to return to the island in search of her husband. Subsequently, the pair remain devoted to each other until a submarine accident jeopardizes their chance at escape. Once Jin realizes Sun is trapped, he repays her romantic gesture in kind by sacrificing his chance to safely return to shore. In their final moments, the couple exchange a harrowing love confession that haunts the Lost fandom to this day. Admittedly, Jin and Sun are far from perfect, but the journey of self-discovery and self-development they go on is what makes their love story so indelible. ​​​​​​ Danielle "Dani" Clayton & Jamie Taylor The Haunting of Bly Manor Similarly, most wouldn't expect a terrifying miniseries to house one of the greatest love stories of all time, but The Haunting of Bly Manor is all about exceeding expectations. The Gothic romance follows Danielle "Dani" Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) as she relocates to London to take a job at the eponymous haunted manor. Along with the two children she au pairs for, Dani grows close to others on the grounds, including gardener Jamie Taylor (Amelia Eve). Sadly, the Lady of the Lake at Bly Manor takes no prisoners, so when Dani saves the young girl she cares for, the spirit possesses her instead. Regardless, Jamie vows to love her as long as she possibly could— which proves to be over a decade. Rather than listen to the killer demon inhabiting her, Dani returns to the manor's lake by herself to save her wife's life. With such a tragic romance as its centerpiece, The Haunting of Bly Manor deserves more than to live in the shadow of Mike Flanagan's other projects.​​​​​​ Claire Randall & Jamie Fraser Outlander The moment Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) travels back in time and meets Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser, it's clear that Outlander will be an epic love story for the ages. Set against a backdrop of real-life historical events and a sprinkling of convenient fantasy elements, Claire and Jamie's love story withstands time, space, and everything in between in each of the show's eight seasons. Although the Outlander timeline can be difficult to follow at times, one thing never changes: Claire and Jamie always fall back together, whether they have to cross an ocean, a continent, or a few hundred years in order to do so. Plus, the divisive series finale proved that even death isn't a formidable foe for their bond, as Jamie seemingly comes back to life to live out the rest of his days with Claire. Despite the near constant adversity the pair faced, Claire and Jamie are irrefutably one of the most iconic TV couples of all time— and their love story will not soon be forgotten.​​​​​​ Release Date 2014 - 2026-00-00 Network Starz Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts Cast Jack Tarlton Kenny Lindsay John Sessions Arthur Duncan Directors John Dahl, Metin Hüseyin, Jamie Payne, Stephen Woolfenden, Anna Foerster, Brendan Maher, Brian Kelly, David Moore, Jennifer Getzinger, Mike Barker, Philip John, Joss Agnew, Lisa Clarke, Jan Matthys, Ben Bolt, Charlotte Brändström, Christiana Ebohon-Green, Denise Di Novi, Douglas Mackinnon, Julian Holmes, Norma Bailey, Richard Clark, Justin Molotnikov, Stewart Svaasand Writers Toni Graphia, Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Luke Schelhaas, Anne Kenney, Karen Campbell, Shannon Goss, Joy Blake, Richard Kahan, Jennifer Yale, Megan Ferrell Burke, Ira Steven Behr, Diana Gabaldon Creator(s) Ronald D. Moore