Top 20 Forbidden TV Romances
#20: Piper Halliwell & Leo Wyatt “Charmed” (1998-2006)
Piper and Leo were one of the longest running couples on “Charmed,” and perhaps one of the couples plagued with the most heartache. Leo entered the Charmed Ones’ lives when he was assigned by heavenly beings called the Elders to be the sisters’ Whitelighter (or guardian angel of sorts). Whitelighters and witches were forbidden from being involved romantically, but the connection between Piper and Leo was just too strong to ignore. That forbidden aspect to their relationship plagued them continuously throughout the show, keeping them apart time and time again. But in the end, these two proved they belonged together.
#19: Brandon & Callie Foster “The Fosters” (2013-18)
Sure, Brandon and Callie are not actually related. But there are still a lot of roadblocks when it comes to dating as foster siblings. The romantic feelings between Brandon and Callie seemed obvious to viewers from the moment they met. Brandon acted on these feelings fairly early, but Callie was more hesitant to move forward, knowing that if she became involved with a foster sibling, she might be kicked out of the house. The two ultimately ended up pressing down their feelings for each other to ensure that Callie could get adopted. But, Brallie shippers out there in the world still hold out hope that something might have been possible for these two beyond the series’ end.
#18: Victoria Grayson & David Clarke “Revenge” (2011-15)
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“Revenge” was filled with plenty of twists and turns over its four year run. But nothing was quite as surprising as the relationship between Victoria Grayson and David Clarke. Victoria was part of the reason that David Clarke was framed for the crashed Flight 197. We had this information for most of the series’ run, but then romance threw a wrench in what we thought we knew. Turns out, before the series, Victoria and David engaged in an affair that resulted in the birth of Victoria’s daughter Charlotte. Victoria was forced by Conrad to blame David, and she ends up deeply affected by her actions throughout the course of the show. We’re not going to lie, things don’t end up great for these two and it was twisted while it lasted.
#17: Lee “Apollo” Adama & Kara “Starbuck” Thrace “Battlestar Galactica” (2004-09)
Top 10 Forbidden TV Romances
Come on, who hasn’t fallen into a complicated, yet loving relationship with their dead fiance’s brother? No? Just Kara Thrace, then? Well, it might not be normal, but it certainly made for compelling television. The complexities between Kara Thrace and Lee Adama started way before the events of “Battlestar Galactica.” Any chance of a romance between the two seems impossible because of Kara’s previous engagement to Lee’s brother Zak. Even more than that, the two are so completely different. But sometimes, those differences are the things that make them seem destined to be together.
#16: Alicia Florrick & Will Gardner “The Good Wife” (2009-16)
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Workplace relationships are taboo for a reason. But when your chemistry is as hot as Alicia and Will’s? Maybe exceptions should be made. Throughout “The Good Wife,” Will makes his attraction to Alicia quite plain, but she tends to push him away. It probably doesn’t help that she’s married, and her husband is in prison. She’s going through a lot, okay? But even with all those obstacles between them, the sheer passion between Alicia and Will pushes their relationship forward. Making out in elevators has never been this sexy.
#15: Elena Gilbert & Damon Salvatore “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
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It’s a tale as old as time. In so many of our favorite stories, a vampire and a human fall in love, but can’t be together because one of them literally consumes part of the other for sustenance. But “The Vampire Diaries” didn’t stop there. They threw a love triangle with a brother into the mix. At the beginning of “The Vampire Diaries,” Elena begins dating the vampire Stefan Salvatore. Then, his brother Damon shows up, hell bent on taking revenge on his brother and doing some truly horrific things to Elena. The two start off as foes, but eventually, that animosity turns into a tentative friendship and, later, love.
#14: Carrie Mathison & Nicholas Brody “Homeland” (2011-20)
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If you’re working for the CIA, it’s probably a given that you shouldn’t become romantically involved with someone who is under investigation for terrorism. But on “Homeland,” Carrie Mathison was never one for playing by the rules. In season one, she takes an investigation into her own hands, looking into a possible POW-turned-terrorist named Brody outside of CIA protocol. She eventually strikes up a romantic relationship with him, and when he finds out about her initial intentions, he’s unhappy, to say the least. The back and forth between Carrie and Brody forms the meat of much of the first few seasons of the show. We know this relationship isn’t a great idea, but listen. You could cut that tension with a knife.
#13: Leslie Knope & Ben Wyatt “Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)
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The Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation Department might not be as intense a workplace as some. But it certainly can breed illicit romances of its own. Ben Wyatt doesn’t show up on “Parks and Recreation” until the end of season two, but it’s hard to imagine the show without his and Leslie’s incessant flirting. They are explicitly forbidden from dating each other, and Leslie’s bid at city leadership doesn’t necessarily leave a lot of time for romance. Despite the setbacks they face, however, it’s clear from the get-go they’ve always got each other’s backs.
#12: Meredith Grey & Derek Shepherd “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
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Picture this. You have a one-night stand before your first day at your new job. You show up to your new job and realize that your one-night stand? He’s your boss. Later, you’re maybe starting to get used to the idea of dating at the workplace. Then, your boyfriend/boss’ estranged wife shows up. This is the kind of thing that Meredith Grey is dealing with on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Despite all those early hurdles for Meredith and Derek Shepherd’s forbidden romance, they quickly became one of the show’s most beloved couples. Meredith’s “pick me” speech is still one of the most iconic moments in television history.
#11: Fleabag & The Priest “Fleabag” (2016-19)
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Dating a man of the cloth? Well that’s probably about as forbidden as you can get. But rules never stopped Fleabag before, and she’s not about to let them stop her now. The second season of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s amazing show “Fleabag” was somehow better than its first. A lot of that had to do with the introduction of Andrew Scott’s affectionately nicknamed “Hot Priest.” The relationship between Fleabag and The Priest starts friendly enough. They’re eventually pushed over that line, however, leaving the audience wondering how things would turn out. The answer? With one of the most heartbreakingly profound endings of any show, ever.
#10: Allison Bailey & Noah Solloway “The Affair” (2014-19)
Extramarital affairs certainly count as forbidden. When Noah Solloway meets Alison Bailey at the diner where she works as a waitress, he is a happily married man – or at least mostly happy. Alison herself is trying to get her life back together after the death of her son. While cheating isn’t cool, they (like others on this list) are captivated by desire. With the story told from the shifting, often differing perspectives of these two leads, it is a provocative look into the minds of people who know deep down they should not be together.
#9: Cole Turner & Phoebe Halliwell “Charmed” (1998-2006)
The first but not last supernaturally star-crossed lovers, Cole and Phoebe got off to a rocky start. As half-demon soldier Belthazor, Cole was sent after the Charmed sisters by the Triad. However, his human side emerged when he fell in love with Phoebe and it began to be his dominant trait. Sadly, things couldn’t stay rosy for long. When he became possessed by the Source of All Evil, Phoebe temporarily joined him as an evil-doer - however she would eventually break things off in a big way with the help of her sisters.
#8: Sayid Jarrah & Nadia Jaseem “Lost” (2004-10)
This dynamic and game-changing series from the early 2000s pushed the boundaries of long-form storytelling in many ways, with engaging characters carrying the addictive if at times convoluted plot. One such character is Sayid Jarrah, one of the Oceanic Six. Sayid and Noor "Nadia" Abed Jaseem first meet as children and schoolyard friends. As an adult, Sayid joins the Iraqi Republican Guard while Nadia is a freedom fighter against Saddam Hussein's regime. When she is captured, it is Sayid’s job to interrogate her. Instead, he falls in love with her all over again and helps her to escape.
#7: Ned & Charlotte ‘Chuck’ Charles “Pushing Daisies” (2007-09)
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Ned’s got a very particular talent: with the touch of a finger, he can bring the deceased back to life. Charlotte, aka Chuck, was the girl-next-door and Ned’s childhood crush. Sadly, in adulthood she is murdered so Ned takes it upon himself to resurrect his one-time sweetheart. There is a catch, however: another touch puts anyone Ned has resuscitated back down for good. Despite being in love, they can never touch – not a kiss goodnight, not a little hand-holding at sunset. They come up with creative ways to be in contact (smooch through a body bag, anyone?), but they’re still playing a dangerous game of keep-away.
#6: Tom Branson & Sybil Crawley “Downton Abbey” (2010-15)
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This is the classic tale of two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks. Sybil is the youngest daughter of a well-established aristocratic house; she might have progressive views, but her future path seems set for her - until she meets Tom Branson, the new chauffeur. An Irishman and outspoken socialist, he is in many ways against everything that the Crawley family represents in society. However, despite their different backgrounds they have similar political minds and it isn’t long before their romance blossoms in spite of her family’s initial disapproval. When they are discovered, they do everything they can to stay together, finally achieving their happy ending … if not for long.
#5: Olivia Pope & Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant “Scandal” (2012-18)
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With a name like “Scandal,” you know that this show is going to be filled with salacious secrets! Olivia Pope helped Fitz Grant make it to the White House, but their professional relationship crosses lines and leads to an – ahem – scandalous affair. But once the stump speeches and the election are over, who’s still jumping into bed is another thing. Washington DC is a hotbed of secrets and political one-upmanship, and despite all the work to get Grant into the Oval Office, an extramarital affair could mean the undoing of everything they built.
#4: Dayanara ‘Daya’ Diaz & John Bennett “Orange is the New Black” (2013-19)
Every relationship has its own power dynamic as two partners figure each other out, which is why in situations where the balance is already unnaturally tipped, romantic relations are not typically recommended. That being said, this is a forbidden romance list and Dannett is an undeniably cute couple. John Bennett is (or was) a Correctional Officer at Litchfield Penitentiary. Daya Diaz is an inmate. You can already see the problem here. However, despite the taboo nature of their romance, they communicate through notes and quickie hook-ups. Daya becomes pregnant with John’s child, a fact that could get John in serious trouble. The strain it all puts them through is just as real as the love is.
#3: Ezra Fitz & Aria Montgomery “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-17)
Ever gone out and met someone really cute at a bar? Someone you connected to and with whom you shared interests as well as had a physical attraction to? Did that person turn out to be your high school teacher? Well, this is the situation that Ezra Fitz and Aria Montgomery find themselves in. Aria tries to do what she feels is the right thing, asking to be transferred out of the cute, young prof’s class because she doesn’t think she could help herself and doesn’t want to put him in an awkward position. But the stars align a different way, and she stays. Professor/student relationships are highly taboo, but we’re sure glad we got Ezria despite it.
#2: Bill Compton & Sookie Stackhouse “True Blood” (2008-14)
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What’s the only thing more complicated than friends becoming lovers? When one of them is a vampire, of course! Even in a world where vampires have come out into the open, the situation is fraught with peril and so many ups and downs we don’t even know where to begin. Sookie Stackhouse is a half-fairy/half-human with the ability to read people’s thoughts; Bill Compton is a 150-plus year-old vampire. You’d think their supernatural status would be enough, but in the end, theirs is a love story marred by tragedy, betrayal, redemption, and heartache.
#1: Buffy Summers & Angel “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
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Buffy doesn’t just slay some serious vampire butt, but she looks good doing it. The teenage Slayer is stumped, therefore, when she encounters Angel, a vampire who is not like the rest; he actually seems to have a soul. Cautious indifference turns to attraction, however, as it becomes apparent they are on the same side … at least for a time. When they consummate their love and his soul is suddenly lost, things get real bad real fast. It’s been twenty years, and we’re still not over the tragedy that was “Becoming.” Annnnd cue the Sarah McLachlan. If we missed any of your favorite illicit affairs, let us know in the comments below.
