Ah, love on TV. It’s the ultimate rollercoaster. Some small-screen relationships sweep us off our feet, giving us something to root for while warming (or breaking) our hearts. And then, there are the others. You know the kind. The couples so cringeworthy, so mismatched, you can’t help but scream “break up already!” at your screen.

Today, we’re celebrating five TV pairings that nailed the art of romance and roasting five that made us want to hurl our remotes in disgust. Grab your popcorn (and your strong opinions).

The Best TV Couples of All Time

These pairs made us believe in true love, one episode at a time.

1. Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly (The Office)

When it comes to love stories that start with longing glances and secret smiles, Jim and Pam are the crowned royalty of TV couples. From Jim’s adorable pranks and heartfelt confessions to Pam finally realizing what we, the fans, knew from day one, their romance was slow-burn perfection.

Their chemistry felt so real that even their smallest moments, like talking on the phone about grilled cheese, hit us right in the heart. Sure, they had their ups and downs (hello, season 9 tension), but they loved and supported each other through it all.

Why they work: They’re funny, sweet, and genuinely rootable. Plus, Jim’s “It’s always been you” confession? Swoon.

2. Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)

If “power couple” could be personified, it’d look a lot like Leslie and Ben. Their relationship thrives on mutual respect and unconditional support (and waffles). Leslie dreams big, and Ben is always there to help her achieve her wildest ambitions—with no ego attached.

Their banter is sharp, their compatibility undeniable, and their shared love of nerdy things like Game of Thrones makes them relatable to geeks everywhere.

Why they work: They balance humor, heart, and partnership while being unapologetically weird together.

3. David Rose and Patrick Brewer (Schitt’s Creek)

Few TV romances have been as pure as David and Patrick’s. David’s over-the-top personality and Patrick’s calm, grounded demeanor made them the perfect Yin and Yang. From Patrick’s heart-melting “Simply the Best” serenade to their dreamy countryside wedding, every step of their relationship felt genuine and uplifting.

They showed us that love is about accepting someone for exactly who they are—even if that someone emotionally hoards expensive skincare.

Why they work: They’re supportive and authentic, proving opposites not only attract but thrive.

4. Buffy Summers and Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Sure, their love was inherently tragic because he’s an immortal vampire and she’s a mortal Slayer, but that’s what made it so compelling. Their star-crossed romance was packed with chemistry, heartbreak, and supernatural drama that left fans glued to the screen.

Buffy and Angel’s love story wasn’t perfect (and, uh, things got weird when he lost his soul), but their passionate connection made us wish things could somehow work out for them.

Why they work: They embodied the tragic, all-consuming love that defined many of our angsty high school years.

5. Monica Geller and Chandler Bing (Friends)

Monica and Chandler started out as a surprise, but they quickly became one of the healthiest couples on TV. Their relationship was built on friendship, mutual respect, and shared humor, which made their love story feel believable and comforting.

From their hidden romance to their tear-jerking struggles with infertility, these two brought emotional depth and genuine laughs in equal measure.

Why they work: They grew as characters together, showing that the best relationships are built on friendship.

The Worst TV Couples of All Time

Now, brace yourselves. These pairings somehow made it to our screens despite glaring issues.

1. Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big (Sex and the City)

Carrie and Big’s relationship is the ultimate case study in toxicity. Big was emotionally unavailable, consistently inconsistent, and treated Carrie like a low-priority placeholder.

Even after years of on-again, off-again drama, their marriage still felt like a dud. Does anyone else think Aidan deserved better?

Why they don’t work: A toxic mess wrapped in designer shoes. Period.

2. Rory Gilmore and Logan Huntzberger (Gilmore Girls)

Sure, Logan had charm, wealth, and charisma, but was he good for Rory? Debatable. He encouraged some of her worst traits (like aimless privilege), and their relationship lacked the substance we saw in Rory’s earlier pairings.

Logan’s loyalty issues coupled with Rory’s inability to grow out of her “I’m special” phase made their dynamic frustrating at best and maddening at worst.

Why they don’t work: He brought out the worst in her, and she never seemed fully sure she even liked him.

3. Jamie Lannister and Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Where do we even start? The twin incest alone is enough to make this couple a hard no, but add in their manipulative, power-hungry toxicity, and you have one of TV’s most revolting romances.

Sure, they had chemistry (ew?), but any bond rooted in mutual destruction isn’t exactly aspirational.

Why they don’t work: Take your pick of reasons—but “twincest” feels like a good starting point.

4. Robin Scherbatsky and Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)

Robin and Ted’s relationship was doomed from the start. They wanted completely opposite things out of life (starting with, oh, kids vs. no kids), and yet the show kept forcing their romance on us over and over again.

By the time Ted’s kids gave the green light for him to date Robin in the series finale, fans were already exhausted by their melodrama.

Why they don’t work: Fundamentally incompatible and way too overdone.

5. Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)

We get it, bad boys are sexy. But Damon’s treatment of Elena left a lot to be desired. Between endless manipulation, creepy behavior (we’re looking at you, season 1 Damon), and a relationship built on a foundation of guilt, it’s hard to root for these two without cringing.

Sure, Ian Somerhalder’s smoldering looks helped sell the romance, but even his charm couldn’t mask how chaotic and unhealthy their love was.

Why they don’t work: Toxicity disguised as passion isn’t the love story we need.