One fo the most enjoyable aspects of television is the opportunity to get a closer look at the various relationship dynamics within a particular show. While romances and friendships are interesting to engage with on their own, it is equally satisfying to see both forms of relationships occur between the same two characters over the span of multiple seasons.
While the end of a relationship can leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the respective partners, others may blossom into a stronger friendship. As in television, these dynamics mirror many relationships in the real world. In spite of both having varying degrees of dramatization for the sake of entertainment, the lovers-to-friends trope offers a balance between the entertaining yet hysterical breakups and the mutual separations. Mending together a broken bond does not suddenly erase any of the awkwardness or the difficulty in getting to that point, in fact both feelings are crucial in regaining trust and affirming one another post breakup. However, once former flames rekindle their relationship and use their past passion and mutual respect to fuel stronger friendships, the pairing makes for a healthy and entertaining dynamic, both fictional or otherwise.
With the increased investment in shipping, fans have explored the various dynamics of their favorite character’s relationships down to the smallest detail. It would be anything but unreasonable to rely on their expertise, the show runner’s input, as well as the series itself to examine of television’s favorite couples whose relationships evolved into worthwhile friendships.
10Elena and Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)
The Vampire Diarieshad one of the most iconic love triangles of the 2010s. Fans tuned in each episode to see if Elena would end up with the brooding Stefan Salvatore or his older, devious brother Damon. While each brother had their fair share of promising characteristics as well as their pitfalls, Elena’s relationship with Stefan was akin to the high school love story many audiences have been familiarized with over the years.
The first season found them meeting shortly after Elena chronicles the recent passing of her parents. The scene is juxtaposed with Stefan’s own musing about his mysterious past. After visiting their gravestones, Elena is suddenly shrouded by mist and sounds of crows and leaves the cemetery, running into Stefan. A mutual attraction instantly sparks between the two and only intensifies when Stefan enrolls in Mystic Falls High School.
Throughout the series' eight seasons, the pair were enveloped in a tumultuous yet tender relationship that begins to crack following Elena’s transformation into a vampire at the top of season four. Despite the tug-of-war between Stefan and Damon for her affection, Elena remained cordial with Stefan and vice versa for better or for worse. As Elena grew closer to Damon, Stefan feels disillusioned by the relationship whileElena believes that Stefan infantilizes her, perceives her to be a “broken toy”.
Season Four marks a pivotal moment in their relationship, finding them devolve from lovers to bitter rivals until graduation. The season four finale finds both Stefan and Elena share a sentimental moment, both coming to terms with their relationship while professing their genuine love for one another. While it may not be romantic, the two share a great friendship for the duration of the series. Offering fans a mature resolution was one of the strongest creative decisions on the show runner’s behalf.
9Dan and Chloe (Lucifer)
From the beginning ofLucifer, Chloe (Lauren German) and Dan (Kevin Alejandro) are introduced while in the middle of their divorce, with Chloe revealing that it was due to Dan’s prioritizing of his work over his marriage and family. Unlike most divorced couples on television, the two seem to be a lot more amicable, especially with the both of them having a shared investment in the safety and nurturing of their daughter Trixie (Scarlet Estevez). However, said bond does not come without its bumps in the road. After Lucifer (Tom Ellis)appears and intervenes in a series of LAPD cases, Dan grows envious and the revelation of a troubling secret further complicates his already fragile relationship with Chloe.
Nevertheless, the legal finalization of their divorce marks a point of growth for the both of them. Taking place in the second season, the two come to realize that their relationship is not mutually beneficial and thus, jeopardizes Trixie health and well-being in the process. Following their divorce, the two walk different paths but remain close. Dan begins a relationship with a woman named Charlotte (Tricia Helfer), unbeknownst to him that she is the host of Lucifer’s mother.
Teased throughout the series, Chloe finally comes to peace with her attraction towards Lucifer and the two become romantically involved. Even at their worst, both Dan and Chloe help each other make sense of their new relationships while continuing to be reliable parents to Trixie.
8Jess and Rory (Gilmore Girls)
Gilmore Girlssaw audiences at the edge of their seats anticipating who would be the lucky love interest to win over Rory’s heart. Fans found comfort and amusement in Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) relationships with Dean Forrester (Jared Padalecki) and Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) but fans are particularly intrigued by her relationship with the latter. Jess is introduced as one of the few people that Rory talks to with genuine interest. The two bond over reading and continuously flirt, at the dismay of Rory’s then boyfriend Dean as well as Lorelai (Lauren Graham), Rory’s mother.
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The two do not become an official couple until season three, when Jess and Rory decide to go out with one another, the day after she breaks up with Dean. Their initial run is plagued with mistrust, drama, and soon crumbles after Jess leaves town without alerting Rory. Although this comes as a result of his tumultuous home life, his disappearance follows after Rory makes consistent attempts to help alleviate Jess of his stress.
Jess frequently returns to Star Hollows and attempts to rekindle a romance with Rory however Rory refuses to run away with him, due to the various affects on Rory’s stability and life goals. Their final rendezvous is more of a favor rather than a genuine reconnection. Rory, in an attempt to make her partner Logan (Matt Czuchry) envious, kisses Jess. Rory ends up going back to Logan, coming to the conclusion that she truly loves him, and the two finally wed. She and Jess however, remain very close friends.
7Petra and Rafael (Jane the Virgin)
Jane the Virginis a show seemingly defined by its rich romances. While audiences follow Jane and her love-fueled endeavors, another popular couple fans tuned into was the ill-fated Petra and Rafael, portrayed by Yael Grobglas and Justin Baldoni respectively. Their relationship was formed out of malice, with Rafael pursuing Petra due to his plan to humiliate Lachlan, her then-new fiancé. As swift as they married is as swift as their union dissolved, initially due to Rafael realizing he has fallen out of love with Petra. Despite them reuniting twice, Petra and Rafael’s romance was laid to rest one last time due to Pera’s dissatisfaction of Rafael’s treatment towards her and her comfort in the fact that she could end the relationship on her own terms.
Despite their tumultuous relationship, the series concludes with Petra and Rafael co-parenting their two children while maintaining a close relationship. As Rafael prepared for his and Jane’s wedding, he asks Petra to be his “best man” and Petra is anything but hesitant in accepting his offer.
6Spencer and Caleb (Pretty Little Liars)
In one of the more confusing pairings between two protagonists, Spencer (Troian Bellasario) and Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) were introduced as friends for the majority of the season. Due to Spencer’s relationship with Toby and Caleb’s relationship with Hanna, a romantic spark between the two was almost non-existent untilPretty Little Liar’s sixth season.
Spencer and Caleb hook up in the episode “The Gloves Are On” after Spencer gets Hanna’s approval, a decision that many couldn’t help but wince at. The episode after finds them officially dating and the two share some very tender and convincing moments such as Caleb being receptive to Spencer’s insecurities about her personality traits. The two decide to split in Season 7 due to Caleb’s less-than-secret love for Hanna, a romance that both Spencer and the viewers understand as a concrete, genuine love.
5Nate and Serena (Gossip Girl)
Gossip Girlcontinues to be cherished as the pinnacle of television dramas aimed at a young audience. With storylines baked in betrayal, romance, and high-stake secrets, the show was a savory delight for audiences at home.
Nate (Chance Crawford) and Serena (Blake Lively) were introduced as childhood friends with an undeniable attraction. With Nate being the Golden Boy of Constance Billard St. Jude’s School and Serena being one-half of the iconic Serena and Blair duo, the pair seemed like the perfect fit at the time given the history between the three aforementioned characters.
Due to Nate’s relationships with Blair and Catherine as well as Serena’s relationships with Dan and Tripp, the two are not a formal couple until the thirteenth episode of Season 3, “The Hurt Locket.”
Serena and Nate enjoy a months-long relationship until the end of the season after Gossip Girl reveals that Serena and Dan shared a kiss and spent the night together. Compounded by Nate’s decision to call the authorities on her father, the two mutually break up and spend the rest of the series as close friends, which means a lot, consideringthe stress-inducing drama that follows these particular teenagers.
4Korra and Mako (The Legend of Korra)
The Legend of Korraintroduces audiences to the seventeen-year-old Avatar and her journey through Republic City while attempting to master air bending. While getting herself acclimated to the new world, Korra attends a pro-bending match, a sports event akin to wrestling matches. To Tenzin’s dismay, she becomes enamored by the sport and soon meets Mako and Bolin, brothers and members of the “Fire Ferrets”, one of the teams competing.
Since then, romantic tension defines Korra and Mako’s relationships, which intensifies after the introduction of Asami and her relationship with Mako turning romantic. The episode “The Spirit of Competition” marks a pivotal moment in Korra and Mako’s relationship seeing as they share a kiss. The season one finale finds them formally dating after Mako and Asami break up just episodes prior.
Whereas the first season chronicled their budding romance, season two saw their messy fallout. A combination of factors including Mako’s new job as an officer and Korra’s attempts to delay war between the two Water Tribes left both characters frustrated, culminating into a fiery outburst and breakup. After defending Republic City and the world at large once more, Korra and Mako amicably move on from their relationship. Beyond Mako’s awkwardness in the early episodes of Season 3, the two share a stronger friendshipand a familial love, with both professing just how much they care for and about one another.
3Andy and Erin (The Office)
The Officehas entertained audiences with various different relationships, however the rollercoaster relationship between Andy (Ed Helms) and Erin (Ellie Kemper) remains one of the more appreciated dynamics by fans.
Andy and Erin appear on the show in season three and season five respectively and at first, Andy competes with both Dwight () and Ryan () for Erin’s attention. After Dwight decides to prioritize his friendship with Andy over his attraction to Erin, Andy and Erin begin flirting up until season six. The episode “St. Patrick’s Day” finds the two of them on their first date, enjoying the day despite Erin being sick.
By the end of the sixth season, the two break up after Erin learns of Andy’s engagement with Angela, culminating in a humiliating yet humorous cake-throwing scene. Since then, the two attempt to move on but navigate the workspace with unease due to their new relationships. The two do not rekindle their romance until the end of the eighth season where Andy realizes he loves Erin during a project they both work on in Florida. A combination of Erin’s interest in Pete as well as Andy’s regressing character leads to them breaking up for a second and final time, with Erin choosing her happiness over Andy.
2Jake and Olivia (Scandal)
While the relationship between Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and President Fitz Grant (Tony Goldwyn) was the preeminent relationship onScandal, filled with its own series of drama, it is far from the only one. Olivia’s on-and-off relationship with Jake Ballard (Scott Foley). The two infamously meet in a pastry shop and soon forms a bond. Unlike Fitz, Jake is aware of Olivia’s more nefarious decisions and accepts them, a trait that Olivia finds solace in. The two don’t officially share a romantic connection until the end of the second season where the two share a kiss.
The fourth season finds the two on a secluded island, with Olivia leaving behind her life in D.C. and seemingly enjoys a pleasant love life with Jake. However, after Olivia’s kidnapping and Jake suffering from an attempted assassination, the two decide to break up. In the season four finale, Jake confesses that while he is in love with Olivia, the both of them know that Olivia will always be in love with Fitz.
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The two remain cordial, even sharing a few sexual encounters until Jake becomes romantically linked with Vanessa. Despite the enticing nature of their relationship, both Olivia and Jake remain platonic with them collaborating in order to find a missing Huck and resolve a series of troubling revelations regarding the vice president, Luna Vargas (Tessie Santiago).
1Paxton and Devi (Never Have I Ever)
Never Have I Everis undoubtedly one of Netflix’s best series. Enjoyed by fans and critics alike, the Mindy Kaling-penned series follows the romantic exploits, personal growth, and cultural background of Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an Indian-American teenager with high hopes in all areas of her life.
The first season follows her various schemes to catch the attention of Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barrett), the most popular student at Sherman Oaks High School. Eager to succumb to societal pressures of “losing her virginity” as well as fulfill her childhood dreams of being with her longtime crush, Devi makes an effort to appeal to Paxton and his interests until she truly understands where his insecurities lies. While they are not an official couple until the third season, the second season follows their secret hookups and how that dynamic impacts their self perception. In the season three episode “…had a valentine”, the pair split up due to Paxton’s annoyance with Devi and her insecurities getting the best of her.
Devi and Paxton’s reunion in season four was a pleasant sight for many fans who enjoyed their continued support of one another despite the events of the finale. Considered one of the strengths of the series, everything from the interpersonal relationships to the personal epiphanies sit in the perfect balance betweenthe absurd and the authentic, being one of only shows in the streaming age to accomplish that balance for a younger audience. Devi and Paxton’s close friendship is great example of how the series handles both character’s developments, no matter how chaotic their respective journeys have gotten, while also concluding with a realistic and heartfelt resolution for the both of them.
