15 TV Couples Fans Never Rooted For

TV writers don’t always get the romance right. While some couples become the heart of a series, others leave fans wondering why they ever got together in the first place. Sometimes the chemistry just isn’t there. Other times, the relationship interrupts a pairing viewers have spent years rooting for, or it changes a dynamic that worked much better as a friendship. These storylines often become some of the most debated parts of otherwise beloved shows, with fans still arguing years later that the romance should never have happened.

Here are 15 TV couples fans never rooted for.

Joey and Rachel on Friends

Turning Joey and Rachel into a couple remains one of Friends’ most controversial storylines. Their friendship had always been one of the show’s strengths, but the romance felt awkward and mostly delayed Rachel’s inevitable reunion with Ross.

George and Izzie on Grey’s Anatomy

George and Izzie had a believable friendship, which made their sudden romance feel even stranger. Instead of strengthening either character, the relationship created unnecessary drama and quickly fell apart.

Jackie and Fez on That ’70s Show

After spending years developing Jackie with Kelso and Hyde, the show suddenly paired her with Fez in its final season. Many fans felt the relationship came out of nowhere and lacked the chemistry of her previous romances.

Buffy and Riley on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Riley was stable and supportive, but many viewers never believed he was the right match for Buffy. Compared to her other relationships, theirs often felt flat and emotionally disconnected.

Lorelai and Christopher on Gilmore Girls

Christopher always seemed to appear just when Lorelai was moving on. Although they shared a long history, fans had spent years rooting for Luke, making Lorelai’s marriage to Christopher difficult for many to embrace.

Carrie and Aleksandr on Sex and the City

Carrie’s relationship with Aleksandr Petrovsky offered glamour and a new life in Paris, but little emotional warmth. By the end of the storyline, many viewers were simply waiting for her to return to New York.

Ted and Zoey on How I Met Your Mother

Ted and Zoey spent much of their relationship arguing over the future of the Arcadian building. Since neither was willing to compromise, their romance felt doomed almost from the beginning.

Michael and Jan on The Office

Michael and Jan’s relationship became increasingly dysfunctional with every episode. Their infamous dinner party remains one of the show’s funniest moments, but it also highlighted just how unhealthy the pairing had become.

Aria and Ezra on Pretty Little Liars

Despite being one of the show’s central romances, Aria and Ezra’s relationship was controversial from the start because of the teacher-student dynamic. Later twists only made many viewers question the pairing even more.

Jackson and Maggie on Grey’s Anatomy

Jackson and Maggie never developed the romantic chemistry many fans expected. Their relationship often felt forced, and their family connection made the storyline even more uncomfortable for some viewers.

Rory and Dean on Gilmore Girls

Rory’s first romance with Dean had plenty of supporters, but their later reunion was far less popular. Since Dean was married at the time, the relationship quickly became one of the show’s most criticized storylines.

Serena and Aaron on Gossip Girl

Aaron never felt like a natural fit within Gossip Girl’s main cast. His brief romance with Serena lacked excitement and ended without leaving much of an impact on the series.

Dan and Vanessa on Gossip Girl

Dan and Vanessa had worked well as longtime friends, but their romantic relationship never generated much enthusiasm. Many viewers felt the chemistry disappeared once they officially became a couple.

Marissa and Volchok on The O.C.

Marissa’s relationship with Volchok was built around chaos from the very beginning. Instead of helping either character grow, it became one of the darkest and most destructive romances on the show.

Rachel and Tag on Friends

Rachel’s relationship with her younger assistant never seemed built to last. Beyond the awkward workplace dynamic, the couple wanted different things in life, making the breakup feel inevitable.