Some on-screen couples have never left our minds because we still believe they deserved a better ending. These are the couples we shipped from the very beginning, convinced that they were meant to be endgame.
But despite their never-ending love for each other, they were separated by fate. Here are 12 on-screen couples who needed to end up together and didn’t deserve the heartbreaking ending they got.
12. Alexis and Ted in ‘Schitt’s Creek’
There is no doubt we all felt personally attacked when this relationship ended. What started as a friendship blossomed into a warm and sincere romance between Alexis and Ted, and managed to resonate so deeply with us.
Their decision to part so they could pursue their individual careers was mature, amicable, and understanding, yet also deeply bittersweet. We can understand why the writers chose this ending, but we can’t help wishing they had found a way to stay together.
Related: 25 Most Iconic Sitcom Couples Ever
11. Klaus and Caroline in ‘The Vampire Diaries’
Klaus’s ruthless persona softened when he met Caroline, and we got to see a side of him nobody could have predicted. Their relationship was short, yet so complex, charged, and unexpectedly tender.
From that brief moment, we knew they deserved a future together. It made us believe that Klaus was capable of redemption, and that Caroline could also have found a truly deserving and loving relationship.
10. Midge and Lenny in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’
Over the course of five seasons, we had to watch an electric relationship develop between Midge and Lenny, only to meet an abrupt end. He was a constant source of support for Midge, and yet the show offered no closure for their arc.
Lenny’s rock bottom and the fallout of his and Midge’s relationship felt strange. Though we know this ending may have been more historically accurate. But after all that build-up, we were rooting for them to end up together happily.
9. The Doctor and Rose in ‘Doctor Who’
The relationship between the Tenth Doctor and Rose remains the most iconic in the entire series. Though we never forgot their playful banter, we also knew that they shared a deep emotional connection.
They didn’t need constant declarations to show how much they truly meant for each other. Rose being trapped in a parallel universe shattered both of their worlds. Even in his last moments, the Doctor longed for Rose. They truly deserved each other, but time and fate weren’t on their side.
8. Joe and Ann in ‘Roman Holiday’
Joe’s and Ann’s whirlwind time together in Rome felt like a dream. But that was the charm of rom-coms. We certainly did not expect this one to end on such a bittersweet note.
They came from different worlds and met simply by chance. But somehow still turned out to be perfect for each other. The joy they shared during their brief time together was meant to last forever.
7. Edward and Kim in ‘Edward Scissorhands’
The heartbreaking plotline, along with Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp’s iconic chemistry, left us shattered by the ending of ‘Edward Scissorhands’. Edward finally found someone who saw beyond his differences and treated him with kindness.
They had such a purity in their connection that we knew instantly they were meant for each other. What felt even more unsatisfying was the hope that there could have been another way for the movie to end that would have kept their relationship alive.
In Case You Missed It: Top 10 Tragic Romance Movies of All Time
6. Rory and Jess in ‘Gilmore Girls‘
Out of all of Rory’s boyfriends, we were always rooting for Jess. When he said, “Why did you drop out of Yale?” we instantly knew he was the one. Though they felt like polar opposites, their bond over books and music was genuine.
They always challenged each other to become better versions of themselves, but at the same time, they could be each other’s emotional anchors. It felt like unfinished business when they drifted apart.
5. Rick and Ilsa in ‘Casablanca’
We knew from the beginning that this ship was doomed to sink, yet we couldn’t help but hope. Rick’s decision to let Ilsa go came from knowing that staying together would put her life in danger.
And we also understood why Ilsa needed to return to Victor. But despite knowing all of this, “We’ll always have Paris” never fails to bring tears to our eyes. If only there could be an alternate world where we could see them getting the happy ending they deserved.
4. Ennis and Jack in ‘Brokeback Mountain’
Though some separations can still be made peace with, Ennis and Jack’s story leaves a gaping hole in our hearts. Their dream of living together on a quiet ranch remained just that – a dream – and all because of society’s cruelty.
What hurts even more is knowing that Jack had to die in a homophobic attack, something that can never be justified. And this left Ennis to suffer all alone with the painful memories and trauma.
3. Fleabag and the Hot Priest in ‘Fleabag‘
Even though he promised, to this day, it hasn’t passed. Few contemporary love stories have felt as intimate and at the same time as devastating as Fleabag’s connection with the Hot Priest.
None of us made it through that unforgettable bus stop goodbye without tears. Their connection still lingers somewhere in our hearts, and we can only imagine a better ending where they stayed together.
2. Mia and Sebastian in ‘La La Land‘
Mia and Sebastian were asked to choose between their love and their dreams. Of course, as they took separate paths to achieve everything they once imagined, we continued to root for them.
Yet just thinking about what they could have been if they had been given a chance to stay together breaks our hearts. Their imagined reunion at the end only hurts more because we knew that they deserved to share their successes side by side.
1. Connell and Marianne in ‘Normal People’
From school corridors to university halls, we saw Connell and Marianne go through the highs and lows of life with each other. Their relationship was a slow burn filled with missed chances, insecurities, societal pressure, and unspoken feelings, but we knew from the start they could never love anyone the way they loved each other.
Even though life kept pulling them apart, they always found their way to each other. The ambiguous ending of ‘Normal People’ leaves us hoping that they will eventually be reunited once again.
You Might Also Like To Read: 10 TV Show Couples Who Should’ve Been Endgame But Broke Our Hearts
