25 TV Couples That Never Should Have Happened

Couples don't always work out, especially on television shows, and yet there are some cases to be made for relationships that should have never been explored.

Some of the reasons become time-wasting in the form of a predictable obstacle, or when they just aren't right for each other yet the audience is meant to follow along on their short-lived journey.

There is also the question of how much a couple works when there are so many expectations from the fandom side of things.

There are sometimes mistakes on TV when two people get together when it would have made more sense if that wasn't the focus. Here is a slideshow of just a few that jump out as blunders, either current or past.

1. Mon-El and Kara - Supergirl

There is no way to avoid the obvious issue of Mon-El appearing on Supergirl and the way the narrative shifted focus. The issue with Mon-El and Kara was the way that Kara got lost in her own story, so them breaking up might be what the show needs for their lead.

2. Bellamy and Echo - The 100

How much time do you have for this one? Bellamy Blake's romantic life has been on the back burner pretty much always, so it is adding insult to injury to say this is the relationship that the male lead is worthy of being introduced in. Besides the obvious way that offscreen development means offscreen investment for the fans, it is a silly way to attempt to integrate Echo into the narrative as a newfound hero and not the enemy that we have known for so long.

But Echo was the villain, specifically to Bellamy for three seasons straight when she killed, almost killed, or attempted to harm everyone he cared about. It is unfair to expect Bellamy's offscreen forgiveness and popularity to do the work for Echo's redemption when it could have been done by just writing more content for Echo, because at the end of the day Season 5 didn't give her much anyway. And it wouldn't have disrespected Bellamy's character and the audience that blindly had to hear the time jump excuse as a way to sell something that frankly is doomed regardless.

3. Nancy and Jonathan - Stranger Things

Shelving away the fact that Jonathan took photos of Nancy that she didn't consent to, these two won't be able to last long. Maybe it is the way that the story brought them together, connecting over the search for the truth, but soon reality might fracture this idealized view of their relationship.

4. Alex and Sutton - The Bold Type

This is a strange one because Sutton and Alex themselves could have worked if only the show actually went all in with them. Their relationship and by extension Alex was treated as a way to stir something within Richard and his relationship with Sutton. Alex and his genuine feelings for Sutton were played with for a while and then shoved aside when he wasn't needed anymore and that was such a huge shame.

5. Jim and Karen - The Office

It was a disservice to Karen to bring her in almost as an obstacle to Jim/Pam. It was obvious where the story was going and Karen was used to prolong that for a season, which isn't fair to her as an individual. Jim knew he still loved Pam and the way he treated Karen for not being okay with this revelation wasn't what she deserved in this situation.

6. Stefan and Caroline - The Vampire Diaries

When you have a show dedicated to the idea that both brothers love the lead, it can be difficult to shift gears when you decide on an endgame. Stefan loved Elena, he in a way would always continue to no matter what she chose for her future. Caroline ended up a very clear second choice, which was proved when Stefan chose to sacrifice himself after just seemingly planning a future with Caroline.

7. Chloe and Pierce - Lucifer

Does this even need an explanation? Lucifer and Chloe are the clear endgame here so Pierce is just a strange swerve that thankfully won't be the end now that Netflix saved the idea with a renewal for the show.

8. Rachel and Ross - Friends

Ross was a toxic person that never supported Rachel's success and that forced all his baggage onto her. When they were together, Rachel couldn't find happiness in her career and had to constantly justify having friends because of Ross' jealousy. They weren't right for one another so that cop-out series finale where Rachel threw away a wonderful job in favor of Ross perfectly showed how much they shouldn't have happened ever.

9. Michele and Fernando - 3%

Who knows what the future may hold for these two but maybe that isn't something that is necessary to explore.

10. Alex and Ryan - Quantico

These two may be the central relationship on the show, but that, in fact, is a glaring distraction. They don't work and their scenes together take away from the show more than anything else. It is difficult to invest in their relationship and I guess luckily we won't have to anymore.

11. Ann and Tom - Parks and Recreation

This was just a funny attempt to explore something that was doomed from the start, but could these kinds of couples be considered a waste of time? Tom wasn't the greatest and Ann deserved better, so wasting time here might have made sense for where Ann was in her life but for the audience it just came off weirdly predictable.

12. Ted and Robin - How I Met Your Mother

Ted and Robin's relationship was all about how much more he cared for her and how much more he expected from her. Robin had feelings for Ted but he was always five steps ahead of her, pushing to give him what she rightfully didn't want and shouldn't have forced herself to want. In an attempt to get them together, relationships and valuable characters got tossed in the trash, and all for Ted to end up with someone who just wasn't right for him and he wasn't right for her.

13. Hayley and Elijah - The Originals

There's obviously plenty to discuss whether these two belonged together, but generally, it felt like the show thought they did. But then in an effort to take a step back from a character choice that the show itself created, Hayley and Elijah turned into a shell of what they once were. Hayley's death was barely given any attention and was all an attempt to alter Elijah's plot, a common approach in The Originals and The Vampire Diaries universe.

14. Kelly and Stella - Chicago Fire

There was always something building between these two, but should they have fizzled out completely after that Season 5 hookup?

15. Damon and Elena - The Vampire Diaries

There are no words to describe why Damon and Elena didn't work, most of it rooted in Damon as a person. They just weren't a healthy choice and what they represented for the girls watching The Vampire Diaries wasn't great either. But the essence of the show was a love triangle that benefited from getting Damon and Elena together in the end.

16. Oliver and Felicity - Arrow

Sometimes a relationship, or the promise of one, seems like a dream come true in theory. But then starts this phenomenon where that fan favorite couple is finally written together and they lose a bit of what made them so amazing in the first place. Felicity and Oliver fell into that predicament a little bit and it makes some question if they never should have been explored with this kind of outcome.

17. George and Izzie - Grey's Anatomy

Neither of them is on the show anymore but you know this to be true! George and Izzie just shouldn't have happened, even after all this time has passed.

18. Blaine and Peyton - iZombie

Blaine was the reason Peyton's best friend became a zombie, was behind all the murders of kids in the area and was responsible for pretty much every terrible thing that their entire friend group went through. And while Blaine fits the villain role well, that doesn't mean Peyton should have dated him, however brief. Blaine does well as the guy who is set in his screwed up ways. and Peyton deserved someone as good as her.

19. Robb Stark and Talisa - Game of Thrones

Talisa was essentially the reason for The Red Wedding so this odd couple choice was one of the worst, especially because of what it said about Robb.

20. Jim and Sofia - Gotham

There are plenty of relationships that Jim found himself in that could have fit this list, and yet there is something about Jim and Sofia that makes them the prime example of an unsuccessful relationship. I wonder what exactly that could be ...

21. Veronica and Archie - Riverdale

These two are better off when they aren't together, which is hard to piece together since they are one of the core relationships on the show. It is clear how prominent and long-lasting these two are meant to be, but are they really?

22. Scott and Malia - Teen Wolf

This is another complicated one, mostly because the potential was there but it almost felt like it was explored too late. Scott's previous relationships held a lot of worth for him and for the fans of the show, so easing him into a sustainable relationship felt like the right way to give him an endgame. This affected the way Malia and Scott played out on screen for sure.

23. J and Mia - Animal Kingdom

There is just something, maybe J and his inability to be faithful or the way he is intrigued by forbidden women that guaranteed these two a spot on this list.

24. Spencer and Caleb - Pretty Little Liars

On a show with decided endgame ships from the early seasons, it is hard to get invested in new relationships that obviously aren't going to last. Spencer and Caleb are another example of something that could have been explored, if only they were actually going to stick around. One good thing that came out of this though was that iconic scene between Spencer and Caleb while Hanna listens in, it is so emotionally raw and had some of the best performances from the show.

25. Daisy and Lincoln - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

There is always that question about whether a couple was worth exploring if it ended in tragedy. Was it worth that journey if the destination was heartbreaking? Daisy and Lincoln's relationship definitely begs that question quite a bit.