For the most part, plenty of shows and movies introduce potential couples and then go through with it, even if those pairings do not end up together. However, there are also plenty of times when a potential pairing is placed in front of the audience, becomes a fan favorite, and then is never actually given the chance to show what they could be capable of as a romantic couple. While not every set of characters would make sense together in a romantic relationship, there are several whose romance in the novels never made it to the screen in the television adaptation.
Sometimes, the most obvious pairings never get the chance to shine, even though it would have worked perfectly as a slow-burn relationship. In other scenarios, the show just never lasted long enough to give the couples in question the opportunity to actually attempt that type of dynamic. While strong and emotional platonic friendships are more than welcome in the media, and arguably there may not be enough of them around, there are some that feel so suggested as being a potentially romantic relationship that fans could not help but feel devastated when the show never actually took the steps to go there and offer a completely organically grown romance.
The Vampire Diaries - Bonnie and Damon
Bonnie and Damon have one of the most complicated relationships in Mystic Falls. They spend most of the series as forced allies but clearly on opposite sides of the moral line. Damon nearly kills Bonnie multiple times, and Bonnie has no issues using magic against Damon. But everything changeswhen they are stuck in the 1994 Prison Worldtogether and are forced to bond.
Why They Could Have Been
In theVampire Diariesnovels, Bonnie and Damon embark on a romantic relationship. Allowing their on-screen counterparts to go on the same journey would have allowed for a close connection to the books. However, it also would have opened the door to give the constant love triangle between Damon, Stefan, and Elena some air. In the show, Damon always had an unhealthy obsession with Elena. Meanwhile, Bonnie rarely got the opportunity to have a strong romantic relationship, as she faced constant issues with Jeremy, and her romance with Enzo was tragically cut short.
Stream on MAX.
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger - Tandy and Tyrone
Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson had a strong friendship by the timeMarvel’s Cloak and Daggerwas canceled after season two. They had become a powerful team, going on individual and connected journeys throughout the first two seasons and relying on each other more than anyone.
Even if the comics had always dubbed them as a “divine friendship,” teen dramas have a way of transforming that into a romance anyway. Their relationship was so potent, and they had been through so much together, that it almost seemed impossible to think that anyone else could hold up in being as important to either of them as they were to each other. HadMarvel’s Cloak and Daggergotten the chance to continue, the potential for their relationship moving forward could have led in a romantic direction.
Stream on Hulu.
The 100 - Clarke and Bellamy
It almost seemed inevitable that Clarke and Bellamy would end up together romantically inThe 100. They start out as clear enemies before transitioning into unlikely allies and friends. They become co-leaders, entirely dependent on each other. They make their best decisions together and fall apart when left alone.
Between so many emotional moments and claims of needing each other and being in it together, along with bringing out the best in each other, Clarke and Bellamy’s relationship seemed like it had the potential to be one of the best slow-burn romances ever created.
Stream on Netflix.
The 100: Every Season Finale, Ranked
With The 100 coming to a conclusion in 2020, we take a look at every season finale of the hit series, ranked.
Friends - Phoebe and Joey
Since everyone else in their friend groupended up romantically together, it would not have been a huge surprise hadFriendsgiven the same treatment to Joey and Phoebe. Phoebe and Joey had plenty of moments that teased the strength of their friendship and how they tended to flirt.
Even if Joey and Phoebe were not a couple to end the show together, they still had the potential to be an interesting pairing to watch.Friendswould inevitably have given the duo an entertaining arc, even if it did not last long.
Legacies - Josie and Hope
When Hope needs help, she turns to Josie, and it triggers the beginning of a relationship that becomes one of the biggest emotional cores inThe Vampire DiariesUniverse.Josie and Hope are each responsible for bringing each other backfrom the brink of darkness, protecting each other, and seeing the best in each other.
Hope and Josie had more than enough emotional moments to acknowledge a deep connection between them. They nearly always choose each other. When it came down to it, Hope knew that Josie was one of the people she could trust entirely, perhaps the biggest person she could trust, as Hope sent Josie the only weapon that could kill her. The pendant that makes quiet things heard connects them together, as they each gift it to the other when they need it most.
How I Met Your Father - Sophie and Sid
From the beginning, Sid was always a potential candidate to be Sophie’s son’s father. But, the show was just as interested in suggesting that Jesse was the central potential love interest in Sophie’s life. Drew never felt like a convincing endgame presence for Sophie, and the timing with Ian just never worked.
Only in the season two finale does Sophie and Sid’s connection get called out by Sid’s wife, Hannah. Sid and Sophie showed plenty of times that they had chemistry in their friendship, and the suggestion that Sid and Hannah’s marriage was over could have eventually opened the door for Sophie and Sid to explore a romantic relationship.
Riverdale - Archie and Jughead
For most of the series, Archie and Jughead getting together would not have made any sense.Riverdalenever suggested that Jughead and Archie had any romantic interest in each other, as they spend most of the series with Betty and Veronica, respectively, before eventually entering different romantic relationships.
The memory-wiped 1950s reboot introduced various new romances as the show headed toward the end, with the final big romancebeing a quad between Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica. However, each romance in this group is portrayed except for Archie and Jughead, and it was unclear if they were also together.Riverdalecould have allowed Jughead and Archie to be together as well and shown the dynamics of how the four came together.
RELATED:Riverdale Season 7: Best Moments in the Final Season, Ranked
Grey’s Anatomy - Meredith and Alex
Meredith and Alex are a fantastic example of a platonic friendship filled with love and respect. They had been through so much together, and after Cristina left, Meredith had declared Alex to be her person. Other than in one “What If” episode, the duo remain firmly as friends.
Following Derek’s death, Alex remained one of the most constant people reaching out to Meredith. They supported each other and cared for each other. Alex was Meredith’s biggest constant after she was hurt by a patient, which led to a long recovery process. Meredith was always there to help Alex when he needed it, even when he messed up.
Stream on Netflix and Hulu.
Once Upon a Time - Regina and Emma
Emma and Regina became a fan-favorite couple inOnce Upon a Time.While never romantically involved, the duo shared their son, Henry. Although based on a uniquely large family tree, Regina is technically Emma’s step-grandmother. Emma and Regina only look at each other as friends, never addressing the familial connection.
Once they moved past the enemies phase of their relationship, Emma and Regina’s friendship became one of the strongest relationships in the series. They trusted each other unflinchingly, to the point that Emma trusted Regina above all others with the Dark One dagger.
Stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
Harry Potter - Harry and Hermione
Harry and Hermione’s friendship was one of the best in the series, and the idea that they remained strictly platonic throughout the franchise and never lean into the fairly predictable suggestion that they could form a romance or love triangle is one of the best things about it. However, they are also far more romantically compatible than they are with their actual love interests.
As a unit, Harry and Hermione work together better than anyone. They understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and have the strongest loyalty towards each other above anyone else.
