The Moonlighting Curse is a TV trope centered around will they/won’t they couples and the possible decline in quality that can come from finally exploring them.
This is a fear that some TV shows have obviously taking close to hear, not exploring an obvious pairing because of what is thought would happen to the show and the characters as a result of it.
The most notorious might be The X-Files, a show that became iconic in part because of the way Mulder and Scully fit together.
Legitimizing their obvious sexual tension would be the next step in developing their relationship, and the show suffered when that was never fully done.
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Mulder and Scully were together but in these undefined parameters where it didn’t feel like they were given enough exploration as they deserved.
Now the same question could be arising on The 100, with the two leads Bellamy and Clarke falling victim to the same fear.
There is no other direction for the show to go but to explore what has been built up between those two, but that commitment just can’t seem to be made.
Luckily, television over the years has proven that exploring slowburn relationships isn’t only successful but it even improves the trajectory of the show.
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Here is a slideshow of some successful TV relationships that the show finally allowed to get together, only to see even more potential from there.
Jake and Amy (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Looking at where these two are now, it is hard to believe that they weren’t always together. But as great as the destination is, the journey was a good portion of the story too. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but really any Michael Schur comedy, is an example of what happens when you see value in romance and don’t let it threaten your other storylines. Jake and Amy together is part of what makes the show so iconic, showing that in the narrative only make it that much more special.
Ben and Leslie (Parks and Recreation)
Ben and Leslie knew they were it for one another, they had to figure out some obstacles first so they could get there. Parks and Recreation did a wonderful job having them connect, then admit their feelings, and then find a way to make sure they wouldn’t miss out on their future. The pacing didn’t feel rushed and at the same time, it felt like the show let them get together realistically.
Jonah and Amy (Superstore)
Jonah and Amy took a while to find their way to one another, but once they did it was like everything finally fit perfectly. Superstore is an exceptional show that was only missing this key romance, and by finally committing to it they only made everything better.
Pam and Jim (The Office)
There was no question whether Pam and Jim were going to get together, but if The Office waited any longer it could have taken a toll on the show. Luckily the crisis was averted, with this ship becoming one of the most iconic of all time.
Brennan and Booth (Bones)
Bones did what The X-Files couldn’t for some reason, it saw how well their leads worked and made sure not to miss out on what could be. Brennan and Bones were obviously meant to be, and the memory of their relationship is still so sweet to think about.
Iris and Barry (The Flash)
Barry was so in love with Iris that it would be so foolish not to make these two endgame. The best part though was the time both of them had to get to the point where they were ready to be one another for real, with no obstacles getting in the way.
Nick and Jess (New Girl)
It wouldn’t make sense for New Girl not to invest in the slow build up that they created between Nick and Jess as roommates. It was clear that these two would explore something more someday, it was only a matter of perfect timing which the show managed to deliver.
Rick and Michonne (The Walking Dead)
The Walking Dead only got better when Rick and Michonne got their love story told. There is no one who could possibly look at these two and not love their chemistry.
Fitz and Simmons (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
The wait was well worth it, and these two lived happily ever after. We refuse to hear anything else because after waiting for Fitz and Simmons to finally get together, and for it to be exactly as epic as expected, there is no other future for these two in our minds.
Emma and Hook (Once Upon a Time)
Emma and Hook’s relationship had the perfect amount of waiting before the show finally got them together. There was that buildup that added to their story, without wasting too much time trying to raise the stakes before actually committing to a couple.
Ted and Alexis (Schitt’s Creek)
Ted and Alexis may not have been the longest slowburn, especially since they started dating during Schitt’s Creek Season 1. But in a way, it was the second time around when Alexis and Ted were the new versions of themselves that proved they were ready to have a long lasting relationship.
Holly and Vince (What I Like About You)
This is a real throwback and yet here we are because Holly and Vince were such a quality ship. It took a while for them to find their way to one another, a few boyfriends and a Thanksgiving hookup slowing them down a bit, but when they did it was clear they were endgame. Vince and Holly dating became the highlight of the show, the way they kept the bickering from their friendshp and added romance was the perfect example of a healthy relationship.
Danny and Riley (Baby Daddy)
Danny and Riley were the childhood soulmates fix that we were all looking for, even if it took them a while to get to their happy ending. And as someone who doesn’t like the rushed to pregnancy storylines for couples, the fact that Danny and Riley were just as lovable speaks to the success they found as a slowburn couple on Baby Daddy.
Walter and Paige (Scorpion)
Scorpion weaved in and out of a romantic relationship between Walter and Paige, letting the story show just how great their potential could be. Organically exploring them though was what proved that the show did right by the characters and the relationships, over and over again.
Kirsten and Cameron (Stitchers)
For a show like Stitchers that continued to defy the odds, Kirsten and Cameron finally getting together felt like a lifetime of waiting. But when the show fully made it happen, it enhanced an already wonderful show that found its success in listening to its fans along the way.
John and Aeryn (Farscape)
Another slight blast from the past but John and Aeryn getting together was what mattered to us then and even now.
Leonard and Penny (The Big Bang Theory)
Leonard and Penny finally getting together didn’t ruin The Big Bang Theory, maybe because there wasn’t much that could ruin the show. There isn’t much that could add to it either though …
Stiles and Lydia (Teen Wolf)
By the time Stiles and Lydia finally got together, there probably isn’t a debate to be made about Teen Wolf being ruined because of it. There is a question though about whether the show made it canon too late in the game, putting cracks in the potential that could have been if they were explored a little earlier.
Luke and Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)
Gilmore Girls was at its best when Luke and Lorelai found their way to one another, and arguably lost some of its success when they tried to put obstacles in the way.
