How do tv characters show their love for another character? Maybe it’s with a slow dance, maybe it’s with a crazy stunt, or maybe all that is needed is an anguished declaration of love. If done right, the hearts of the audience should be skipping a beat during these demonstrations of love.
Yet sometimes — even if all the elements are in place — television shows are not always successful in executing a swoon-worthy moment. Sometimes the expression
comes off as more selfish than romantic. It could also be because no matter grand the act, it will never convince us these individuals belong together.
Here are just a few examples of when tv characters and shows were absolutely clueless in how to go about pulling off a romantic gesture.
Felicity Interrupts Iris and Barry’s Wedding Ceremony – Arrowverse
Weddings belong to the bride and groom. Felicity interrupting the highly anticipated moment where Barry and Iris would take each other as husband and wife with her abrupt change of heart towards marriage was rude, selfish, and anti-climatic.
Dawson Sails for Love – Dawson’s Creek
Fighting for a relationship is one thing, but Dawson was way out of line when he nearly killed Pacey during a sailboat race he entered in a misguided attempt to win Joey back. Why she continued to agonize over not wanting to hurt Dawson’s feelings after he pulled this stunt is a riddle for the ages.
Logan Gifts Rory a House – Gilmore Girls
Logan’s attempt to give Rory a house so she could write her novel was certainly well-intentioned. What was impossible to ignore — especially when Logan described how no one would notice Rory living there and how there would be people to cook, clean, and look after her — was that his gift made Rory a kept woman.
Leonard and Penny Elope – The Big Bang Theory
Finally — after seasons of pining, several proposals, and a long engagement — Leonard and Penny were tying the knot. Too bad Leonard’s confession that he cheated killed any and all joy for the occasion.
Phoebe Chooses to Reign in the Underworld with Cole – Charmed
Succumbing to the dark side to be with the one you love should be a heartwrenching but riveting struggle between what is right and who you love. Instead, Phoebe was annoyingly wishy-washy and then let the demonic baby she was pregnant with take over her brain. An epic conflict for the human heart this was not.
Julian Teaches Devon How to Dance – The Resident
Teaching someone to dance can be a very sweet expression of love, but there wasn’t any of that present when Julian started giving Devon lessons because it was obvious she was looking to seduce an engaged man.
Noah and Juliette’s Parisan Tryst – The Affair
Going to Paris to be with your lover is a classic romantic gesture. However, not even the most romantic setting on Earth could make Noah and Juliette’s romance watchable.
Matt and Elektra Choose to Die Together — The Defenders
Matt and Elektra’s star-crossed romance never lived up to the hype. What should have been an achingly tragic story about love and redemption was boring and tedious. The last thing we wanted to see was Matt choosing to sacrifice himself over a love that was never worth the screentime.
Ted Resteals a Blue French Horn for Robin – How I Met Your Mother
Ted stealing a blue French horn for Robin in the HIMYM pilot was sweet, repeating the gesture in the series finale was rage-inducing. Not only is it impossible to believe in Ted and Robin ever working out, but also because in order to make the moment happen, HIMYM had to destroy everything good about itself.
Veronica Cheers for Archie – Riverdale
With Archie serving time in juvie for a crime he didn’t commit, what could lift his spirits more than a grand romantic gesture? Too bad Veronica’s “Jailhouse Rock” cheer came across as overindulgent pandering with badly sung vocals that slowed down the plot.
Mary and Matthew Slow Dance in the Time of Spanish Flu – Downton Abbey
Matthew and Mary take advantage of an early end to dinner to dance and are unable to hold back their feelings. After years of misunderstandings, war, and engagements to other people — Oh wait, they’re still engaged to other people, and Matthew’s fiance is upstairs and deathly ill from the Spanish flu.
Izzie has Sex with Her Ghost-Ex – Grey’s Anatomy
In some works having your long lost love return as a ghost is romantic. This wasn’t the case on Grey’s Anatomy. The whole Izzie has an affair with her dead boyfriend was creepy, cringe-worthy, repetitive, and we all saw the twist coming episodes before it was revealed.
Gossip Girl Marries the It Girl – Gossip Girl
Not even a shiny, gold wedding dress could put a positive spin on Serena marrying the stalker that had been unapologetically posting all her sins and secrets for the world to devour and dissect for years.
Zoe Confesses Her Change of Heart to George Tucker – Hart of Dixie
After nearly choking to death on a donut, Zoe confesses her feelings to George Tucker. It would have been a touching moment if she hadn’t already turned him down and he hadn’t already moved on with someone else.
Stefan Gives Elena the Cure – The Vampire Diaries
Stefan giving Elena the cure so that she could choose whether or not to be a vampire seemed romantic, but we could see through the act. What Stefan was really hoping for was that a human Elena wouldn’t choose Damon over him.
Ross Stops Rachel from Getting on the Plane – Friends
Ross racing to stop Rachel from getting on a plane to Paris was certainly memorable, but it couldn’t erase 10 seasons of episodes proving Ross and Rachel didn’t work as a couple. Sorry, Ross, but you should have stuck to the episode’s theme of saying good-bye and letting go.
Cersei and Jaime in the Sept – Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones deserved (and still deserves) the backlash it received for this scene because it was clearly non-consensual.
