The 13 Best ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’ Couples, Ranked
Honestly, Degrassi: The Next Generation sometimes feels like a fever dream. The beloved teen drama ran from 2001 to 2015, delivering 14 glorious seasons packed with heartbreak, friendship, family drama, and more than a few life-changing lessons. Over the years, we watched characters navigate bullying, mental health struggles, identity journeys, and, of course, an endless parade of breakups. Seriously, there were so many breakups.
With such a massive cast, keeping track of who was dating whom could feel impossible. Everyone seemed to be crushing, cheating, swapping partners, or getting their hearts shattered at one point or another. But among all the romances that came and went, a handful rose above the rest.
Whether it was the longevity of their relationship, their undeniable chemistry, or the impact they had on viewers, these Degrassi: The Next Generation couples left a lasting mark on the series. They gave us unforgettable love stories, meaningful queer representation, and some of the sweetest (and messiest) examples of young love on television.
Without further ado, here’s our ranking of the best Degrassi: The Next Generation couples.
14. Bianca & Drew
What is love without obstacles? And for Bianca (Alicia Josipovic) and Drew (Luke Bilyk), those obstacles included a head injury, gangs, and pretty much everyone else hating them together.
Their first hurdle was that Drew was already in a relationship with Alli (Melinda Shankar), which didn’t stop Bianca from sending him naughty photos, or Drew from meeting her in the boiler room for some shenanigans.
Obviously, Drew and Alli broke up as a result, and he eventually started dating Bianca. The pair always had quick banter and a fiery, tempestuous energy that made their relationship impossible to ignore.
Things got even more complicated when Bianca’s ex, Anson, tried to assault her and Drew intervened, with Bianca ultimately killing him by hitting him with a brick. Anson’s gang leader, Vince, wanted retribution. Drew was then given an ultimatum: Shoot someone and join the gang, or he and Bianca would be killed. Drew took the gun but turned it in the next day. The trauma left him struggling with paranoia, and Bianca eventually began dating Vince in an attempt to keep Drew safe from him.
After they rekindled their relationship in Season 12, Bianca accepted Drew’s marriage proposal. Despite Drew having to repeat his senior year at Degrassi while Bianca had already graduated, the pair promised to stay committed to each other. However, once Bianca started university, she realized she was growing in a different direction and ended their relationship over Thanksgiving break, explaining that she was no longer the same girl who had agreed to marry him. Honestly? A surprisingly mature ending for such a chaotic romance.
They had the highest highs and the lowest lows, but Bianca and Drew perfectly captured the insanity of teenage love — and Degrassi itself. Bianca supported Drew through losing his brother and many other dark moments, and they stood by each other despite everything working against them. Plus, they gave us some truly unhinged storylines.
13. Zane & Riley
Some of the best Degrassi: The Next Generation couples involved a coming-out story, and Riley (Argiris Karras) and Zane’s (Shannon Kook) relationship was an important one. When we first met Riley, he was struggling with his identity, and we eventually learned that much of his anger and frustration came from repressing his sexuality. He even entered into a fake relationship with Anya (Samantha Munro) for a while as he tried to hide who he really was.
Riley and Zane met during yoga, which Riley attended to help manage his anger issues. They instantly connected, but their relationship was complicated by Riley’s difficulty accepting his sexuality. They eventually started dating in secret as Riley tried to figure himself out.
What made Riley and Zane so special was how they challenged the typical stereotypes around queer relationships. These were two sporty guys who didn’t fit the narrow ideas many people had about what a gay couple “looked like,” which was incredibly important for the young audiences watching and learning that love doesn’t have to fit a certain mold.
However, Riley’s place on the football team created even more challenges, as he faced homophobia from his teammates. Eventually, Riley found the courage to come out publicly, though he continued to struggle with coming out to his mom.
When he finally did, it was a little too late for Zane. However, the two shared a sweet moment where they acknowledged that they’ll both be attending the same college and planned to see each other at freshman orientation. Here’s hoping these two crazy kids found their way back to each other.
12. Craig & Ellie
Alright, so this is one of the messier Degrassi: The Next Generation couples, but we’re a sucker for friends-to-lovers and two protagonists sharing their darkness with each other. Ellie (Stacey Farber) and Craig (Jake Epstein) first got to know each other when he was dating her friend Ashley (Melissa McIntyre). He later cheated on Ashley, which put him firmly in Ellie’s bad books for a while. However, the pair eventually bonded when they started attending the same therapy group for teenagers with mental health struggles: Craig had bipolar, while Ellie struggled with self-harm.
When Ashley left for the summer, Craig and Ellie became close friends, and Ellie slowly fell for him. Ashley eventually broke up with Craig, but unfortunately, he only saw Ellie as a “really good friend” and started dating Manny (Cassie Steele) again. Their friendship continued even after Craig moved to Vancouver to pursue his solo music career.
Things got complicated when Craig developed a cocaine addiction. When Ellie found out, he manipulated the situation by kissing her and telling her he loved her so she wouldn’t tell his stepfather. Ellie was devastated when she realized he had been using her to hide his addiction, even though Craig insisted his feelings for her were real.
The pair reunited when Ellie and Marco (Adamo Ruggiero) visited Paige (Lauren Collins) in Los Angeles, where they spent a night together and reconnected. However, Ellie later discovered that Craig had a girlfriend. She left, telling him she would just have to accept that her feelings for him would never be returned. The next day, Craig tried to tell her that he did have feelings for her, but because Ellie was drunk, she misunderstood him and attempted to take her own life. Thankfully, Craig and Marco stopped her, and Craig stayed by her side afterward.
The last we saw of them, the pair shared a passionate kiss at the airport, hinting that they might eventually begin a relationship, but we never found out if they did. We like to think they did. They understood each other in a way no one else could, and maybe they could have walked through the darkness together.
11. Jay & Manny
Now this is a Degrassi: The Next Generation couple that gets people talking. However, we think a lot of the issue with Jay (Mike Lobel) comes from the fact that Manny feels so young to us. We watched her grow up on the show and still remember her from those early episodes. That being said, their relationship definitely wasn’t without its issues.
In fact, Manny initially started the relationship as a way to rebel against her parents, seeing Jay as her ultimate bad boy solution. Instead, her parents ended up really liking him, and Jay was actually eager to impress them. Ironically, one of their biggest issues became Jay being too into her and too clingy. Who would’ve thought?
One of the standout parts of their relationship was how much Jay supported Manny’s acting ambitions, even driving her to her audition for Smithdale Drama School. And yes, he did give her the wrong tape in an attempt to sabotage her, but he then went above and beyond to help her get a second audition.
Somewhere along the way, a fake engagement turned into a real one. It eventually fell apart when Jay stole an engagement ring from a pawn shop, but he never stopped fighting for Manny or believing in their relationship. Their final onscreen appearances show them completely loved up, with Jay officiating Spinner (Shane Kippel) and Emma’s (Miriam McDonald) wedding and Manny serving as maid of honor.
So in our minds? They never ever broke up.
10. Paige & Alex
Enemies to friends to lovers, how delicious! This was a classic case of grumpy and sunshine. On one side, we had popular blonde Paige, and on the other, alternative Alex (Deanna Casaluce). The pair instantly clashed at school and made their dislike for each other very clear. But when Paige got a job at the same movie theater as Alex, the two slowly began to form a friendship.
The pair eventually shared a kiss, leading Paige to question her sexuality. Paige said that being around Alex made her laugh, while Alex said that being around Paige made her want to be a better person. It took Paige some time, but eventually she stopped worrying about what everyone else thought and embraced her feelings for Alex.
The pair eventually broke up because they had different plans for the future, with Alex worried she’d just become Paige’s “lapdog.” However, they hugged at graduation and made it clear they want to move forward without any bad blood.
Their relationship was shorter than some of the other Degrassi: The Next Generation couples on this list, but it was incredibly important. Both characters went through huge changes and grew because of each other, and they ended their story with grace, respect, and genuine care.
9. Imogen & Fiona
Who can resist a slow burn? We sure can’t. Imogen (Cristine Prosperi) and Fiona (Annie Clark) became friends through their mutual friend Eli, and Fiona quickly developed a serious crush on her new bestie. It took her half a season to finally confess her feelings… only to discover that Imogen had secretly been crushing on Fiona, too! We had already witnessed Fiona’s journey with her own sexuality, and now it was Imogen’s turn.
However, things weren’t completely smooth sailing. Imogen initially felt pressured when Fiona started calling her her girlfriend and publicly identifying her as a lesbian. But with time, Imogen became more comfortable with both her identity and their relationship, eventually telling Fiona that she loved her.
Shortly before the end of Season 12, it was revealed that Imogen would not be graduating alongside Fiona and would have to repeat her senior year at Degrassi. After graduation, Fiona was offered a job with a famous fashion designer in Italy and hoped they could maintain their relationship long distance. However, Imogen realized she didn’t want to hold Fiona back from chasing her dreams.
The girls made the heartbreaking but mature decision to end their relationship, parting ways peacefully with one final kiss. Honestly? One of the most wholesome romances in Degrassi: The Next Generation.
8. Emma & Sean
Now this might be one of the more controversial choices on our list of the best Degrassi: The Next Generation couples, especially since Emma ultimately ended up marrying Spinner. But we just loved her and Sean’s (Daniel Clark) relationship, so sue us!
It started as your classic bad boy and good girl dynamic. Sean rescued Emma from a stalker, and the pair instantly hit it off. He helped her loosen up, while she encouraged him to apply himself and focus on school. As they grew up, though, their drastically different lifestyles and family struggles began pulling them apart. Sean eventually dropped out of school and moved back to Wasaga Beach.
Sean returned in Season 6 having matured significantly, and the two rekindled their romance. They even lived together briefly, but their differences continued to create tension. Eventually, Sean decided to enlist in the military, ending their relationship once again. He returned one final time to say goodbye to Emma and her family before being shipped off to Afghanistan, and the pair took one last picture together. So romantic.
Even though they weren’t endgame, Emma and Sean shared a long, meaningful relationship and helped each other grow into better versions of themselves. In another life, they definitely would have made it work.
7. Maya & Campbell
Another Season 12 Degrassi: The Next Generation romance! We have such a soft spot for this short-lived relationship.
Maya (Olivia Scriven) and Campbell’s (Dylan Everett) story actually began with a lie. Tristan (Lyle Lettau) had a crush on Campbell and pretended to be Maya online to get closer to him. Maya knew about the deception, so when Campbell found out, he blamed both of them.
Thankfully, the pair eventually made up and found themselves in a gorgeously messy love triangle with Zig (Ricardo Hoyos). Maya struggled with Campbell’s lack of physical and verbal affection, but the two slowly began learning how to meet each other’s emotional needs.
Sadly, their relationship was cut brutally short when Cam, who had been struggling with severe depression, died by suicide at school. He had convinced himself that Maya would be better off without him. His death had a profound impact on Maya, who later struggled with severe anxiety and panic attacks as a result. Combined with the PTSD she experienced following the bus crash at the end of her junior year, the trauma eventually became overwhelming. Maya was later diagnosed with depression and survived a suicide attempt before finally receiving the mental health support she needed. Even so, Campbell’s death remained one of the defining tragedies of her life.
Perhaps if Cam had received the help and support he needed, this couple could have had a real chance.
6. Eli & Clare
There’s no denying that Eli (Munro Chambers) and Clare (Aislinn Paul) were weirdly perfect for each other. The pair hit it off in Season 10, when nerdy Clare fell for hearse-driving Eli. However, Eli was way too intense and obsessive, so they eventually took a break.
When Clare was diagnosed with cancer, Eli took time off from his internship and life in New York to help care for her. After Clare recovered and college started up, Eli returned to New York, where he later cheated on Clare with his roommate. Yikes. While angry at him, Clare kissed Drew and then broke up with Eli to explore things with him.
Clare later found out she was pregnant, and Eli struggled with the fact that he believed the baby wasn’t his. Or so he thought, because Clare eventually discovered that Eli was actually the father. He apologized and asked to be part of the baby’s life, and Clare eventually agreed that they would raise their child together. They decided to continue their relationship long-distance, and that’s the last we heard of them.
Messy? Absolutely. But they got through cancer, finding Campbell’s body after his death by suicide, and so much more. At this point, they can handle just about anything.
5. Holly J & Declan
These two make us giggle and kick our feet. It’s giving academic rivals in our favorite romance novel. Holly J (Charlotte Arnold), our resident queen bee, started developing a crush on Declan (Landon Liboiron) before discovering he was sleeping with Jane (Paula Brancati) — who was dating Spinner at the time. Once that ended, he set his sights on Holly J. She was reluctant due to his reputation but eventually gave in to his casanova ways.
Before they had sex for the first time, Declan gave Holly J his grandmother’s bracelet. She told him she loved him, and he didn’t say it back. Later, she found out it was because the last time he said those words to a girlfriend, she cheated on him. They spent a summer in New York together, and his sister, Fiona, tried to get between them on multiple occasions.
Ultimately, they split because Declan kept trying to control situations and use money to solve their problems. However, they continued to harbor feelings for each other and reconciled when he returned for a visit. Despite her later relationship with Sav (Raymond Ablack), it’s clear Holly J always carried a torch for Declan. When she found out she was sick, he was the one she wanted to call, and after her kidney transplant, we see flowers and a card from him.
Since Holly J went to Yale near New York, there’s always hope they found their way back to each other one day. We certainly hope so!
4. Sav & Anya
This list wouldn’t be complete without the officially longest-lasting teenage couple in Degrassi: The Next Generation history — a whopping 52 episodes! That means they outlasted both Spinner and Paige, as well as Jimmy (Drake) and Hazel (Andrea Lewis). Their on-and-off-again relationship lasted from Season 7 to Season 10, so let’s get into the details.
Their relationship started slowly, as both of them were incredibly shy about their crushes. Sav supported Anya’s charity work, while she focused on trying to get him to get along with her best friend, Holly J. However, this backfired when Holly J. discovers that Sav’s parents had an arranged marriage planned for him. This became a constant issue for the couple throughout their relationship.
For their six-month anniversary, Sav was ready for them to finally take things to the next level, while Anya was upset that he didn’t invite her to dinner with his entire family. Sav won her back by telling her that he loved her and revealing that he wrote a song for her, and the two got back together.
Unfortunately, this didn’t last long. Sav’s reaction to Alli being alone with a boy was seen as hypocritical by Anya, and she ended their relationship. He worked hard to win her back, but ultimately, their families and their different expectations continued to create problems.
The pair also faced other challenges, including Sav being disrespectful about Anya’s love of LARPing and Anya lying to him about being on birth control. They definitely weren’t perfect, but they were sweet, they cared about each other, and they were two teenagers trying their best to figure things out.
3. Adam & Becky
Let’s talk about Beckdam — also known as Beckam (we see what you did there) and Adecky. This fan-favorite couple got together in Season 12 and quickly earned a place among Degrassi: The Next Generation’s most memorable romances.
Adam (Jordan Todosey) and Becky (Sarah Fisher) were the definition of opposites attract. Adam was transgender, while Becky came from a deeply religious and conservative family. In fact, one of their earliest interactions involved Becky protesting a same-sex production of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Jules. She even tried to “save” Adam from his identity before getting to know him. Thankfully, Becky grew tremendously over the course of their relationship, and despite her parents’ objections, she ultimately chose Adam and embraced her feelings for him.
Their love story wasn’t without drama. Things hit a major rough patch when Adam became convinced Becky was interested in another guy she met while on vacation in Florida. In a terrible lapse of judgment, he hacked into her account to message the guy himself. After a huge fight, Adam confessed that he loved Becky, but she told him she needed space. Heartbroken, Adam briefly hooked up with Imogen before deciding he wanted to make things right with Becky. While driving to see her, he began texting her behind the wheel and tragically crashed. Adam later died from his injuries, making this one of the most devastating storylines in Degrassi history and a major PSA for texting while driving.
The good? Adam and Becky overcame significant differences to be together, and Adam helped Becky become a more accepting, open-minded person. The bad? The texting-and-driving tragedy that cut their story short. And the fact that Becky eventually dated Adam’s brother afterward. Yuck.
2. J.T. & Liberty
Oh, Jiberty! This Degrassi: The Next Generation couple took a while to get together, with three whole seasons of friendship, with Liberty (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer) constantly asking J.T. (Ryan Cooley) out. Once Liberty could finally invite him back to her hot tub, things took a steamy turn.
However, things quickly became complicated when Liberty found out she was pregnant, and J.T. crashed his car after discovering the news. Tension continued to rise as Liberty became increasingly condescending toward J.T. and dismissed his attempts to get her to see a doctor. Eventually, J.T. reached his breaking point and ended their relationship.
Despite that, J.T. got a job at a pharmacy and vowed he wouldn’t abandon their unborn child. The pair continued to clash over whether they should put the baby up for adoption, but after J.T. saw their healthy baby during a scan, he agreed they should try to raise the child together.
Then things got dark, very quickly. J.T. was convinced by Jay to steal oxycodone from his job and sell it to help fund the baby. Jay took a percentage of the earnings, but J.T. still managed to make enough money to finance the apartment he wanted. Unfortunately, he became trapped in dangerous dealings and eventually attempted to take his own life using the drugs. He survived, but the experience led Liberty to decide that adoption was the best choice for their baby. The pair remained apart despite still having feelings for each other, and J.T. later began dating teen mom Mia (Nina Dobrev).
At Liberty’s birthday party, which J.T. suggested her friends throw, the two reminisced about their history, and Liberty admitted she was still in love with him. J.T. realized he still had feelings for Liberty and went to tell her… only to be tragically stabbed by Drake. Liberty found him, but it was too late to save him.
It was a brutal ending for a couple who shared something far deeper and more complicated than just teenage love.
1. Spinner & Jane
We know, we know! Spinner ends up with Emma blah blah… we don’t care! Spinner and Jane forever.
This couple was just so refreshing in the way they broke down stereotypes. Jane was unapologetically herself and proved that women can be sporty, confident, and not care about fitting into a traditional idea of femininity — a lesson we definitely needed at that age. Jane was even described by Spinner’s friend as being “him with breasts,” and honestly? We couldn’t agree more.
The pair developed a crush on each other and eventually went on a date to play pool. When Spinner was going through chemotherapy, Jane was there to support him through it all. Afterward, he told her that she met him at the worst time of his life, and from there, things could only get better.
Spinner then supported Jane when she joined the football team, despite the hate and abuse she faced from others. However, new guy Declan eventually got in the way, and Jane had an affair with him. Spinner didn’t find out until much later, and once he did, he ended their relationship.
Then came the Emma situation. After a drunken decision, Spinner ended up marrying Emma, and Jane rushed back to stop the wedding. She found Spinner before the ceremony and, after seeing how much he loved Emma, decided to let the wedding go ahead. She apologized for breaking Spinner’s heart, and he forgave her.
That was the last we saw of Spinner and Jane — and Jane herself. It didn’t have to end this way! But at least they got closure, forgiveness, and the chance to leave things on good terms.
