Valentine’s Day is upon us, which is good news for makers of giant heart-shaped balloons and startled-looking teddy bears. But while it’s easy to be cynical about the commodification of love, the cheery truth is that your television has enough heartwarming stories to restore your belief in romance.
Log out of dating apps, put that novel down and look deep into our eyes as we bring you a countdown of on-screen couples – pairings especially for February 14th.
Ross and Rachel – Friends
Not content with introducing the concept of “we were on a break!” to at least two generations, the 1990s’ ultimate on/off couple gave Friends its emotional core while delivering a relatively realistic portrait of the ups-and-downs of love. It helped that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer had the perfect “couple not getting along” chemistry – they were convincing as people who were meant to be together if only they could get out of each other’s way.
Tim and Dawn – The Office
If Shakespeare was from Slough and had spent his formative years working in accounts, Romeo and Juliet might have ended a lot like Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis) from The Office. Their slow-burn romance rose above the show’s cynicism. Their Christmas party snog encouraged an entire generation to believe in the possibility of true love.
Streaming on BBC iPlayer
Tara and Willow – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Same-sex couples were not a thing in the late 1990s/early 2000s television, and so the love affair between Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) was groundbreaking. In the moment, Tara and Willow moved the needle and showed that television had gone beyond the shock value of a kiss on Brookside in 1994.
Streaming on ITVX
Tami and Eric – Friday Night Lights
On-screen romance tends to focus on the thrill of young love – and Friday Night Lights delivered a moving portrayal of married romance in the shape of Eric (Kyle Chandler) and Tami (Connie Britton) – a couple who stay together through thick and thin. They remained true to one another when every other character on television seemed to be having affairs.
Available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video and YouTube
Keith and David – The Last of Us
HBO’s zombie thriller took a pause from all the killing with an episode about conspiracy theorist Bill (Nick Offerman), who finds love late in life when Frank (Murray Bartlett) blunders into his fortified compound. Their romance blossomed even as the world ended – a beautiful portrayal of how the need for human connection can flourish in even the darkest environment.
Streaming on Now TV
Marianne and Connell – Normal People
She’s from a posh family, he’s a jock. Such was the premise of Sally Rooney’s dissection of modern love – which flourished on screen thanks to the chemistry between Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.
Streaming on BBC iPlayer
Jim and Pam – The Office (US)
The dynamic between Jim and Pam in the US version of The Office was different from that of Tim and Dawn in the BBC original in that the American show made it clear from the outset that the two were destined to be together. The US Office was a cuddlier affair and the progression of Jim and Pam’s relationship brought the feel-good factor.
Streaming on Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix and Now TV
Lorelai and Luke – Gilmore Girls
There was slow-burn and then there was the four seasons it took chirpy Lorelai (Lauren Graham) to get in a clinch with her cynical best pal Luke (Scott Patterson). Their marriage was a happy ending with a frustrating twist, as it emerged that Luke had a teenage daughter he didn’t know about.
Streaming on ITVX, Netflix and Disney+
Patrick and David – Schitt’s Creek
The sitcom often seemed to take place in a whimsical alternative reality – but was realistic in its chronicling of the opposites-attract romance between David (Dan Levy) and the rock of sense that was Patrick (Noah Reid). Their marriage was a perfect emotional send-off.
Streaming on Netflix
