A core staple of so many long-running TV shows is the "will they/won't they" romance but that doesn't always mean it's the best part. Typically, the audience comes to adore the two characters who fall in love but just can't seem to say it, making the viewers wait with bated breath.
For the most part, this concept works and makes everyone tune in weekly. However, every once in a while a show comes up with a secondary romance that is better than the "will they/won't they." This doesn't always mean the main couple isn't beloved, it's just that the other one manages to sur it.
Angela & Hodgins (Bones)
The balancing act of one of these couples is that it can sometimes drag on for too long and damage the romance. That was kind of the case with Dr. Temperence Brennan and FBI agent Seeley Booth, Bones. It took them more than 100 episodes before they officially got together.
That was a lot for audiences to take in. While that was going on, an unexpected love blossomed between Angela Montengenro and Dr. Jack Hodgins. Although things were rocky at times, their love was strong and it ultimately made Hodgins a better person.
Bill & Sookie (True Blood)
When you start watching Sookie falls for the vampire almost immediately and they spend the first few seasons of the show together.
As is often the case in a supernatural series though, Sookie was drawn to the "bad boy" vampire, Eric Northman. Fans liked their chemistry and wanted them together for several seasons. When they finally did hook up, it was kind of disappointing and they weren't all that interesting together.
Andy & April (Parks & Recreation)
This is one of those cases where the show's main "will they/won't they" couple is iconic, beloved, and not at all bad. Parks and Recreation protagonist Leslie Knope eventually started dating Ben Wyatt at just the right moment and their eventual wedding was glorious.
That being said, Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate were too good to be sured. They were the opposite of a long-term story, getting married almost immediately after becoming an item. They did so on a whim but it worked for them because they were never traditional and fit each other perfectly.
Jack & Juliet (Lost)
To be honest, there were almost too many of these couples to even mention when it comes to Jack Shepard had one with Kate Austen but so did James Sawyer and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Eventually, Jack ended up with Kate while Sawyer was with Juliet Burke.
Ultimately, it was a love rectangle since Jack and Juliet also had a potential romance throughout season 3. This fit better than Jack and Kate since they had more in common and their chemistry was stronger. Many felt that it was a cop-out to have Juliet and Sawyer somewhat randomly get together to end the story.
Holly & Michael (The Office)
Everyone seemed to love Jim and Pam on The Office. Watching them fall for each other and always come close to dating but not doing so until the season 3 finale was incredibly engaging and had everyone coming back each week. However, many look back on some of Jim's behavior and find it toxic.
It hasn't aged well, which makes the romance between Michael Scott and Holly Flax better by comparison. Though Michael could be immature and desperate, he accepted letting Holly go with grace when he had to and when they came back to each other, things went so well for them. They truly were perfect for one another.
Janet & Jason (The Good Place)
This is another situation where a show's core romance was great. On The Good Place, Eleanor and Chidi were incredibly adorable and every scene between them was captivating. Seeing them get together felt truly worth it but one couple managed to slightly edge them out.
Jason Mendoza and Janet, not a girl but also not a robot, had a love that was almost too pure. Jason was too naive to have a mean bone in his body and Janet fell for him despite initially being an informational guide with no emotions. This relationship was so good and pure that it literally changed both involved.
Elena & Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)
Along the same lines as Sookie and Bill, the The Vampire Diaries. She was the human girl who fell in love with the handsome vampire and entered the world of the supernatural.
But like Sookie, Elena was drawn in by a bad boy, this one being Stefan's brother Damon. Their "will they/won't they" drove a large part of the show but the series also pointed out that they were actually bad for each other. Stefan was a much better match for her given how he respected what she wanted in a way that Damon never could.
Otis & Ruby (Sex Education)
Most fans of Sex Education wanted nothing more than for Maeve Wiley and Otis Milburn to finally get together. It was excruciatingly close in the season 2 finale but it got halted by an outside party. Season 3 was believed to be all about them but in stepped Ruby Matthews.
After sleeping together in season 2, Ruby and Otis hooked up all throughout summer. They ended up with real feelings for each other, to the point where Ruby became a more trusting and open person who loved Otis. When they broke up and Otis finally kissed Maeve, some fans were cooled on the original romance and just wanted more Ruby and Otis.
Ted & Tracy (How I Met Your Mother)
The very first episode of How I Met Your Mother dropped the news that Ted Mosby's feelings for Robin Scherbatsky would not result in her being the eventual mother to his children. The series still gave fans a drawn-out romance between them, starting in season 2 and ending in season 3. Tracy McConnell was introduced as the ideal woman for Ted and she was the best part of the final season.
The two worked fantastically together and seeing them was more entertaining and endearing than anything between Ted and Robin. Alas, the show kept going back to the Ted and Robin well, even ending the show with them getting together in old age after Tracy died. It's part of what made the finale so maligned.