Top 10 TV Couple Relationships That Ended Badly
#10: Bonnie Bennett & Enzo St. John “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
It’s been years, but this one still stings. Bonnie and Enzo were a bright spot in the otherwise sinister series. Their relationship wasn’t easy by any means, but they were impossible not to root for. However, their romance came to an abrupt halt in the final season when the unthinkable happened. The tragic storyline involved Stefan going evil, tracking the couple down, and brutally ripping Enzo’s heart out right in front of Bonnie. It wasn’t the last time we saw him, but it was the end of his life. The unhappy ending was so callous it even briefly had the show’s creative team questioning if they made the right move!
#9: Allison Argent & Scott McCall “Teen Wolf” (2011-17)
These two endured a roller coaster ride of emotions during their relationship, to say the least. Handling the supernatural while navigating adolescence was definitely straining. Yet despite it all, they remained one of the fandom's favorite pairs. Everything changed in season 3, when the arrow-wielding teen suffered a fatal stab to her stomach during a battle and met her untimely demise. Dying in Scott’s arms, her passing was a twist that no one could’ve predicted, marking an unjust end to Scallison’s young love. We still get teary watching their final moments unfold.
#8: Regina Mills & Robin Hood “Once Upon a Time” (2011-18)
Most fairy tales end with couples getting their “happily ever after.” Sadly, that wasn’t the case for these two characters. Their love took us by surprise, but it quickly became a romance for the storybooks. But after Hades, aka the Lord of the Underworld, set out to kill Regina, Robin made the ultimate sacrifice to save her life. Though his passing was permanent, the character later appeared in different capacities. He had a fantastical season six arc, and even made a special appearance in the final season via a dream-style sequence. Still, we can’t help but wish he had survived. Despite their sorrowful ending, we know they’ll always be each other’s true love.
#7: Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
“Buffy” fans are still demanding justice for Tara Maclay, and for good reason. Thanks to their magical abilities and remarkable chemistry, she and Willow were a powerful couple. Just when it seemed like they were endgame, Tara tragically lost her life, which caused Willow to spiral. The show subsequently received a large amount of backlash from its audience. The fact that happy LGBTQ+ relationships were so rarely depicted on television – a problem that persists today – made matters even worse. Decades later, former executive producer and season six showrunner Marti Noxon confessed that the move was probably unnecessary, giving viewers the acknowledgement they’d been waiting for.
#6: Brooke Thompson & Joseph Cavanaugh “American Horror Story” (2011-)
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One of the most talked about moments from this anthology series’ ninth season, dubbed “1984”, was the wedding day that became a true nightmare. Emma Roberts' character Brooke Thompson recounted her horrifying tale through a flashback that can only be described as gruesome. During her nuptials, she faced the jealous wrath of her fiancé, Joseph Cavanaugh. Thinking she cheated on him with his best man Sam, the groom proceeded to shoot his friend. To make matters worse, he then turned the gun on his would-be bride’s father. The grim occasion ended with Joseph taking his own life, and a blood-splattered Brooke in hysterics.
#5: Jane Margolis & Jesse Pinkman “Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
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Granted, Jesse and Jane had their fair share of problems. But that doesn’t excuse the brutal end to their romance, which saw an overdosing Jane choke on her own vomit while unconscious. Jesse was asleep next to her, too out of it to realize what was happening. But his friend and partner Walter White was there. Not only did he accidentally cause her to lie on her back, but he didn’t help when things got dire. Instead, he let her pass away. It goes without saying, but discovering that the woman he loved had perished by his side was not easy on Jesse. White ultimately told Pinkman what he had done in season 5, making the painful ordeal even more devastating.
#4: Effy Stonem & Freddie McClair “Skins” (2007-13)
They were arguably the show’s “it” couple, but the end of this courtship took teenage heartbreak to a whole new level. After seeking help for her mental health, Effy found herself under the "care" of Dr. John Foster. However, the deranged psychiatrist became infatuated with her, and attempted to isolate her from her loved ones. It was the beginning of the end. It got to a point where nobody wanted him near Effy anymore. Unfortunately, Foster wouldn’t take no for an answer. So the not-so-good doctor arranged a meeting with Freddie, and, after feigning remorse, bludgeoned him with a baseball bat. The build-up to the senseless act was gradual, which made it all the more shocking. At least Freffy lives on in fans’ hearts forever.
#3: Lady Sybil Crawley & Tom Branson “Downton Abbey” (2010-15)
These two went through an abundance of challenges in order to be together, all for it to end in tragedy. Her family initially had strong reservations about the couple marrying, but they did so anyway. Not long after, it was revealed that she was pregnant. But a dark twist loomed over the happy occasion. Suffering from eclampsia, Sybil passed away shortly after giving birth to their daughter. Needless to say, the sorrowful end to the couple’s otherwise happy union shook everyone to their cores. Matthew Crawley perishing in a car accident, thus leaving Lady Mary and their newborn behind, was about as upsetting. Such endings would be heartbreaking in any instance, but even more so given the little ones.
#2: Guinevere Beck & Joe Goldberg “You” (2018-)
It could be said that all of Joe Goldberg’s romances end badly. One need only look at what ultimately happened with Love to see what we mean. However, his and Beck’s relationship was truly chilling. The pair had a tumultuous relationship, to put it mildly. That tends to happen when one party is secretly a stalker with murderous tendencies. But we were still thrown for a loop at the end of season one when Joe actually succeeded in killing Beck. Everybody was holding on to hope that she would make it out alive, but it wasn’t so. She certainly didn’t get her happy ending, but maybe one day he’ll get a heaping spoonful of karma. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Phoebe Halliwell & Cole Turner, “Charmed” (1998-2006) He Became Too Powerful for His Own Good Daisy Johnson & Lincoln Campbell, “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2013-20) Proving to Be a True Hero, He Sacrificed Himself Clarke Griffin & Lexa, “The 100” (2014-20) This Popular Couple’s Brutal End Sparked Outrage Emily Fields & Maya St. Germain, “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-17) Fans Were Distraught When They Learned Maya Had Been Killed Samar Navabi & Aram Mojtabai, “The Blacklist” (2013-) Her Deteriorating Health Led to a Goodbye That Shattered Hearts Everywhere
#1: Daenerys Targaryen & Jon Snow “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
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The eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” will go down as one of the most criticized in television history. With a rushed plot and questionable character choices, fans were largely left disappointed. The conclusion of Daenerys and Jon’s relationship is a perfect example of why. In an effort to stop her reign of terror, he plunged a dagger through her as they embraced, essentially giving her the kiss of death. In a show where so many beloved characters perished, watching Dany meet her end was especially tough. Although the act was done for the greater good, it definitely wasn’t the send-off we wanted for the Mother of Dragons.
