Valentine’s Day is upon us, which is good news for makers of giant heart-shaped balloons and startled-looking teddy bears. But while it’s easy to be cynical about the commodification of love, the cheery truth is that your television has enough heartwarming stories to restore your belief in romance, reports BritPanorama.
Log out of Tinder, put that Romantasy novel down and look deep into our eyes as we bring you the definitive countdown of on-screen couples – 14 pairings especially for 14 February.
Ross and Rachel – Friends
Not content with introducing the concept of “we were on a break!” to at least two generations, the 1990s’ ultimate on/off couple gave Friends its emotional core while delivering a relatively realistic portrait of the ups-and-downs of 20-something love. It helped that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer had the perfect “couple not getting along” chemistry – they were fully convincing as people who were meant to be together if only they could get out of each other’s way.
Tim and Dawn – The Office
If Shakespeare was from Slough and had spent his formative years working in accounts, Romeo and Juliet might have ended a lot like Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis) from The Office. Here was the heartwarming tale of a couple whose gazes lock across the kitchenette microwave and who know they are meant to be together despite daunting obstacles. Their slow-burn romance rose above the show’s cynicism, culminating in an epoch-defining Christmas party snog that encouraged a generation to believe in true love.
Tara and Willow – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Same-sex couples were not a thing in late 1990s/early 2000s television, and so the love affair between dorky Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and cool Tara (Amber Benson) was genuinely groundbreaking. There has since been criticism that this lesbian relationship catered to the male gaze, but Tara and Willow showed that television had moved beyond mere shock value.
Tami and Eric – Friday Night Lights
On-screen romance tends to focus on the thrill of young love, but Friday Night Lights delivered a moving portrayal of married romance through Eric (Kyle Chandler) and Tami (Connie Britton), a couple who stay together through thick and thin and genuinely respect one another. Their relationship shared encouraging truths about the quiet joy of a long-term partnership.
Keith and David – Six Feet Under
As a mixed-race same-sex couple, David (Michael C. Hall) and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) provided a compelling representation of domestic bliss while contrasting starkly with the chaos of David’s family. Their relationship was a natural depiction of opposites attracting and reflected the complexities modern couples often face.
Mindy and Danny – The Mindy Project
Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and Danny (Chris Messina) went from enemies to a couple in an unsentimental depiction of how people can get together despite their rocky beginnings. Their relationship showcased the charm of real-life connections that might not conform to the classic romantic tropes.
Fleabag and Hot Priest – Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s portrayal of her character’s obsession with Andrew Scott’s cleric highlighted the complexities of forbidden love. The intense chemistry portrayed made this relationship both heart-wrenching and captivating.
Pam and Mick – Gavin and Stacey
James Corden and Ruth Jones’s charming sitcom featured Pam (Alison Steadman) and Mick (Larry Lamb), whose eccentricities provided both warmth and humour without derision. Their relationship beautifully illustrated the reality of growing old together.
Yorkie and Kelly – Black Mirror: San Junipero
Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror: San Junipero presented a heartfelt tale of two women from vastly different backgrounds enjoying a love affair in a seemingly perfect world. The twist of their narrative added an emotional depth to the portrayal of their connection.
Bill and Frank – The Last of Us
