TV Romance
13 TV Pairs With Chemistry So Good They Should Have Gotten Together
Sometimes when you watch a TV show, there are moments where you think: Huh, those two characters could have had something. Whether it was a specific scene or just an electric current between the characters, these TV pairs stick with you long after a show has ended.
Look, we’re not saying that these characters should have been endgame, but the shows could have explored a romantic connection. The vibe was there. Maybe it would have flamed out quickly, or it could have turned into something epic.
The finest love soldiers at Swooon have compiled a list of 13 TV pairs who had such good chemistry at some point throughout their show’s run that we can’t stop thinking about a what-if scenario between them. You’ve probably thought about some of these pairs yourself – ahem, Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Emma (Jennifer Morrison) – but others might catch you by surprise. Scroll down to see our list, and let us know if we missed any in the comments below!
Stephen & Olivia, Scandal
Look, there were moments between Stephen (Henry Ian Cusick) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) in the first season of Scandal that had me genuinely believing Stephen was going to be a real contender for Olivia’s heart in future seasons. (Cusick left after Season 1.). Out of all the Gladiators, Olivia always went to Stephen first. In the crazy world of Scandal’s first season, they were each other’s “person.” The show hinted at Abby (Darby Stanchfield) having feelings for Stephen, but if he had stuck around longer, I genuinely believe he would have eventually been the other side of the love triangle and not Jake (Scott Foley). When Stephen made a surprise appearance in Season 4 to save Olivia, their reunion was so charged that I know Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) would have been extremely jealous. — Avery Thompson
Castiel & Dean, Supernatural
From the moment that Castiel (Misha Collins) saved Dean (Jensen Ackles) from Hell in Season 4, fans picked up on the tension between them. Despite Dean being straight*, Destiel was born, and Supernatural seemed to play a will-they-won’t-they game with viewers up until the end. Heck, the show even poked fun at the whole Destiel phenomenon in Season 10’s “Fan Fiction” episode. But seriously, the subtext was there, and Dean and Castiel’s bond was so transcendent that it hardly seemed platonic to me. In the show’s final season, Cas finally confessed his love for Dean — only to be immediately killed off. They had so much potential that I still think about what could’ve been years later. — Morgan Pryor
*Fans have debated Dean’s sexuality for years. He says on multiple occasions that he doesn’t “swing that way” and has historically been with women, but fans interpreted some moments as Dean getting flustered by men.
Regina & Emma, Once Upon a Time
Looking at Jennifer Morrison and Lana Parrilla’s intense chemistry during their enemies-to-coparent’s arc, it’s clear that SwanQueen was the top Once Upon a Time ship for a reason. While Emma and Regina both found their endgame relationships elsewhere, fans were convinced that the show would end with their biological/adopted son Henry waking up from a dream in which his two happily married moms had been the feuding Savior and Evil Queen in a wacky little town called Storybrooke. Looking back, if that was how their story really ended, you wouldn’t hear me complaining. — Rebecca Perlmutter
Catherine & Warrick, CSI
Help, I’m still at the restaurant. Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) and Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) had that kind of platonic relationship that you wished always been more, and you’ll never get over the fact that it wasn’t. These two had an effortless (and very flirty) chemistry, but their deep emotional bond was what took this will-they-won’t-they dynamic to the next level. They only ever kissed on the cheek, and it will remain a TV crime they never got to explore a romantic relationship on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. — Avery Thompson
Alex & Meredith, Grey's Anatomy
Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) technically did get together once on Grey’s Anatomy, but it was in an alternate universe episode, and it was all wrong. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t have been a good pair, though. After Meredith’s “person,” Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) left, Alex took up the mantle and did a fine job of it, too. There were many moments to follow where he was the only one who truly understood and was loyal to her, and likewise, she was ferociously protective of his secretly sensitive heart. Plus, their chemistry was off the charts — certainly more than some of the characters she’d form a romantic relationship with, cough cough — and they each had tremendous respect for the things that the other valued about themselves. In other words, they would’ve made an endgame couple, and it’s kind of a shame we didn’t get to see that happen. — Amanda Bell
Benson & Barba, Law & Order: SVU
Sorry, Stabler (Christopher Meloni), if Barba (Raúl Esparza) ever reenters the picture on Law & Order: SVU, you’ve got a problem. I’m well aware of the slow burn chemistry between Stabler and Benson (Mariska Hargitay), but have you seen the way Benson and Barba look at each other? Barba is the guy you tell your other work partner not to worry about (but you absolutely should). Honestly, Stabler is still too unpredictable and has a reckless hero complex that doesn’t fit with Olivia’s world now. If Barba ever comes back, SVU needs to investigate a romance between him and Benson. — Avery Thompson
Stiles & Derek, Teen Wolf
Don’t get me wrong: I’m a Stydia shipper (and I choose to ignore that the Teen Wolf movie breaks them up). But I’d be lying if I said I never considered Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) and Derek (Tyler Hoechlin) becoming a thing. Their banter was top-tier, and their interactions had so much tension that it didn’t seem like a stretch for viewers to want Sterek to go from enemies to lovers. It would’ve been a stellar opposites attract situation, too, but alas, it never did and never will happen. Sigh. — Morgan Pryor
Clarke & Bellamy, The 100
As a book fan first, The 100‘s Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and Bellamy (Bob Morley) will always be endgame in my mind. After all, when someone calls their “friend” on a broken radio every day for six years without a response, it’s clear there is a lot more than platonic pal-hood in the water. (At least Taylor and Morley are endgame in real life!) — Rebecca Perlmutter
Sid & Sophie, How I Met Your Father
How I Met Your Father concluded long before any endgame couples could be established, so we don’t entirely know that this couple wouldn’t have hooked up somewhere down the line, but it’s clear that Sid (Suraj Sharma) and Sophie (Hilary Duff) had something going on between them. I don’t know about you, but I’m still holding out hope for some confirmation that Sophie’s bartending friend Sid was the father of her kids all along. —Rebecca Perlmutter
Bonnie & Damon, The Vampire Diaries
Bamon, we still think about you and your potential! When the unlikely duo got trapped together in a prison world in Season 6, was there any Vampire Diaries fan that didn’t see the Bamon vision? The enemies to lovers arc could’ve been perfect, but instead, Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) formed a deep, healthy friendship that would last until the end of the show. Sorry to say it, but they had better chemistry than Damon and Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Bonnie and Enzo (Michael Malarkey). — Morgan Pryor
Mellie & Jake, Scandal
Okay, Jake went off the rails in the final seasons of Scandal, but I saw the potential between him and Mellie (Bellamy Young). In the moments they interacted, there was something between them that went untapped. Jake tried to make a move on Mellie once when they were drunk, but it didn’t feel sincere. If Jake had been given a different trajectory, these two could have had something. But, then again, I wouldn’t have wanted Mellie to have Olivia’s second choice. Mellie always deserved better. However, I would have gladly watched countless seasons of Mellie putting Jake in his place and getting him whipped into shape after his B613 era. He honestly needed that in a romantic partner. Drunk Mellie and Mr. B613? The world wasn’t ready. — Avery Thompson
Devon & Peter, Sirens
Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy) and Peter Kell (Kevin Bacon) only had a few scenes together in Netflix’s Sirens, but their banter was seamless and the sexual tension during their first encounter was off the charts, despite an obvious age gap.
With Devon coming into the Kells’ lives like a wrecking ball, it wouldn’t have been far-fetched for her to blow up Michaela’s (Julianne Moore) life by hooking up with her husband. In the end, it was Devon’s sister, Simone (Milly Alcock), who did just that. — Alyssa Norwin
Katara and Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender
Zutara is by far the most popular ATLA ship. During their enemies-to-friends arc, Katara (Mae Whitman) and Zuko (Dante Basco) developed more chemistry with each other than they ever did with their endgame partners, Aang and Mai, respectively. Once Zuko joined Team Avatar, they formed such a deep bond that a romance didn’t seem like a stretch. Heck, Zuko jumped in front of lightning for her! It’s a real tragedy that they never get together. Maybe Netflix’s live-action show will make it happen? That’s one change we’d definitely approve of. — Morgan Pryor
