What’s better than hearing your OTP finally call each other their boyfriend or girlfriend? When they become each other’s husband or wife.
Each step in an onscreen relationship builds audience investment in the pairing, and each upgrade comes with something new to celebrate.
Related: 17 Kisses That Didn’t Count
We put together a slideshow below of 21 of the most epic relationship upgrades!
Jane and Michael: Husband/Wife – Jane the Virgin
Jane and Michael were everything, and they still are. Despite the events of the last couple of seasons, their wedding is the best scene on Jane the Virgin and nothing will ever diminish their relationship.
Alex and Maggie: Fiancée/Fiancée – Supergirl
The notion of kids may have torn them apart, but we still have to appreciate the time Sanvers’ upgraded their relationship status from dating to engaged. It was nice while it lasted.
Conrad and Nic: Boyfriend/Girlfriend – The Resident
Nic danced around her feelings for Conrad for the entire first season of The Resident. Even though they acted like they were together, they never said it out loud. Nic confessing her love for him was all the confirmation we needed to upgrade their Facebook statuses to “in a relationship.”
Bobby and Athena: Husband/Wife – 9-1-1
Their wedding may have taken place at a courthouse with Athena’s children as witnesses, but Bobby and Athena loved each other so much that they couldn’t stand not being married another second. This was one epic upgrade.
Amy and Jonah: Boyfriend/Girlfriend – Superstore
Amy and Jonah are the most stubborn characters in history. Even after dating for months, they refused to use the term “boyfriend” or “girlfriend.” But it accidentally slipped out in an argument with a declaration of love from both of them. It was adorable, epic, and hilarious.
Waverly and Nicole: Fiancée/Fiancée – Wynonna Earp
Nicole didn’t get a chance to actually say yes, but it’s heavily implied so we’re calling it. Waverly and Nicole belong together, and an engagement is just the upgrade this relationship deserves.
Glenn and Maggie: Husband/Wife – The Walking Dead
From the moment they met, it was clear that Glenn and Maggie belonged together. Although the zombie apocalypse prevented an official wedding from happening, they were married in all the ways that count.
Alec and Magnus: Husband/Husband – Shadowhunters
Alec and Magnus are one of the best upgrades on this list. These two have been to hell and back for each other (literally) and we can’t think of anyone more deserving of a happy life together.
Cheryl and Toni: Girlfriend/Girlfriend – Riverdale
Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers ship? After being abused by her mother and feeling unloved for so long, Cheryl finally found someone who loves her unconditionally. We give this upgrade 5 stars.
Emily and Alison: Wife/Wife – Pretty Little Liars
Alison and Emily may not have gotten an onscreen wedding, but The Perfectionists confirmed that they did get married. But we’re not going to talk about anything that happened after that. We don’t have time for useless downgrades that served as a poorly-written way to explain Emily’s absence from the spinoff.
Stiles and Lydia: Boyfriend/Girlfriend – Teen Wolf
After patiently waited 6 seasons, we never did get to hear Stiles and Lydia call each other their boyfriend or girlfriend. While they may not have said it, that’s still what they were. They were best friends for years, but it took a life or death situation to finally jumpstart their relationship.
Kurt and Blaine: Husband/Husband & Santana/Brittany: Wife/Wife – Glee
This was the double wedding of the century. Both of these couples went from friends, to boyfriends and girlfriends, to spouses. And we have to mention how important these pairings were for the LGBTQ+ community.
Jimmy and Stephanie: Fiancé/Fiancée – Fuller House
Jimmy and Stephanie were dancing around marriage for seasons. They even had a baby together before considering it. But what’s a better way to welcome your new child into the world than getting engaged and becoming a family?
Barry and Iris: Husband/Wife – The Flash
Barry was in love with Iris his entire life. The most incredible relationships are always rooted in friendships, so it warms our hearts that Westallen upgraded from besties to husband and wife.
Jake and Amy: Husband/Wife – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Jake and Amy are the purest couple in television history, and we fully support this upgrade. We couldn’t think of a better way to end Season 5 than with Jake and Amy’s wedding.
Chloe and Lucifer: Boyfriend/Girlfriend? – Lucifer
You may notice the question mark. We’re not really sure where Chloe and Lucifer stand since he left for hell after Chloe declared her love for him. But considering that Chloe was not a huge fan of Lucifer at the beginning of the series, it’s safe to say that this relationship has definitely undergone an upgrade or two.
Oliver and Felicity: Husband/Wife – Arrow
Oliver and Felicity’s marriage was a long time coming. It was clear they would never love anyone like they loved each other, and we were thankful that they were finally able to overcome everything that stood in the way of their happiness.
Chidi and Eleanor: Boyfriend/Girlfriend – The Good Place
Chidi and Eleanor may have been together multiple times over the centuries, but we never got to experience it in real time. When they finally became a couple at the end of Season 3, we almost cried when Eleanor called Chidi her boyfriend.
Jim and Pam: Husband/Wife – The Office
Jim and Pam’s status as a married couple is one of America’s favorite relationship upgrades to date. Pam went from being Jim’s co-worker and long-term crush to being his wife. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
David and Patrick: Fiancé/Fiancé – Schitt’s Creek
David and Patrick are everything we’ve ever wanted. The proposal was absolute perfection, and we’re so excited that they’re taking this next step in their relationship.
Ben and Leslie: Husband/Wife – Parks and Recreation
If you think Ben and Leslie don’t belong together, then you’re wrong. Ben and Leslie are one of the best couples a sitcom has ever created, and we couldn’t help what cheer when they decided to officially start their lives together.
