When it comes to romance on TV, a partnership isn’t always made up of two equals.
As little sense as it might make, television has no problem putting a fan favorite character with someone that they just don’t deserve.
Related: 13 Romances Ruined By Age
In some cases, it even tries to romanticize potentially toxic or abusive relationships.
We created a slideshow below of 13 characters who deserve better than their love interests.
Bellamy Blake – The 100
Bellamy Blake being in love with the woman who murdered his girlfriend, blew up his friends, and stabbed his sister is probably the worst storyline in history. But it’s no problem, there’s a five-year time jump to cover up that Bellamy would never be with someone like that.
Rachel Green – Friends
Rachel, you should have stayed on the plane. Rachel gave up her dream job in Paris to be with Ross, who never supported her career, and frankly, didn’t treat her very well.
Josh – Younger
Has Josh even been given a last name? He’s become such a prop on Younger that it’s painful to watch. Josh loved Liza with everything he had and even forgave her for all the lies. He didn’t care in the slightest that she was 40-years-old. He was willing to give up having kids to be with her, and when he planned a romantic proposal, he caught her making out with her boss.
Cheyenne Lee – Superstore
Cheyenne deserves better than a husband who married her just to “pay the consequences of his actions.” She’s sweet, bubbly, and can do much better than Bo.
Ed Mackenzie – Big Little Lies
Ed stood by Madeline’s side through thick and thin. He was an incredibly supportive husband who thought of Madeline’s daughter as his own. Madeline cheating on him didn’t just break his heart, it broke ours too.
Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl
Blair Waldorf became a shell of her formal self whenever she was around Chuck Bass. She was an outspoken, independent, and comedic character until Chuck physically and emotionally abused her, and sucked her personality out. Blair deserved better.
Callie Torres – Grey’s Anatomy
Callie deserved better than Grey’s Anatomy as a whole. She was cheated on not once, but twice, despite putting everything she had into both of her marriages.
Emma Becker – The Lying Game
Ethan was a good friend to Emma at the beginning of The Lying Game, but their relationship went downhill quickly. After he cheated on her with her twin sister, there was no repairing what they once had. Emma is a selfless character who puts it all on the line for the people she loves, and it’s about time someone did that for her in return.
Jessica Davis – 13 Reasons Why
It blows our minds that 13 Reasons Why thought it was a good idea to put Jessica back with the guy who knowingly sat outside the door while she was raped by his best friend. Justin may have undergone some serious character development, but never should have entered back into that relationship.
Conrad Hawkins – The Resident
This may be an unpopular opinion, but it needs to be said. Conrad is the most selfless person on The Resident and deserves to be someone who loves him completely. Conrad was there for Nic through everything, but the same can’t be said on her end. Her interest in and devotion to Conrad started to fade on the second season and she doesn’t treat him the same way he treats her.
Kaylie Cruz – Make it or Break it
Carter was supposed to be Kaylie’s “epic love” until he cheated on her with her best friend. Carter wasn’t worth the heartache and neither was Lauren. Thankfully, Kaylie later found someone who treated her right and loved her completely.
Matt and Steve – Fuller House
Matt and Steve are both great guys who found themselves stuck in a love triangle with D.J. She couldn’t make up her mind for the longest time and ended up stringing them both along. On a more positive note, they found a real friendship with each other.
Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead
Carol’s husband abused her when he was introduced at the beginning of The Walking Dead. As it turns out, people can be even worse than flesh-eating zombies. But Carol was able to rise from the ashes and become one of the most kickass women on television.
