Top 10 TV Couples You Never Expected to Hook Up
#10: Haley Dunphy & Andy Bailey “Modern Family” (2009-)
Top 10 Nathan & Haley Moments on One Tree Hill
The ditzy and popular Haley Dunphy seems like a strange match for the goofy nanny Andy, and not just because of their very different personalities. Andy is in a long-term committed relationship from the moment they meet, and while they have undeniable chemistry, he’s such a decent guy that we would never expect him to cheat on his partner. But their love is too strong to be denied…and Andy’s fiancée wasn’t exactly faithful either. Haley and Andy may been unexpected, but they’ve become surprisingly popular together, given how cute and romantic their relationship proved to be.
#9: Samantha Jones & Maria “Sex and the City” (1998-2004)
Top 10 Times Samantha Deserved Better on Sex And The City
Maria is a painter Samantha meets and hits it off with, leading to not only sex, but also a relationship. Samantha Jones is notoriously obsessed with sex, so it came as a shock to her friends, as well as the audience, when she entered into a committed relationship with anyone at all, much less with another woman. While Samantha’s promiscuous past ultimately comes between them and leads to their break-up, Samantha’s time with Maria definitely showed off a new and unexpected side to her character.
#8: Rick Grimes & Michonne “The Walking Dead” (2010-)
Top 10 Times Rick From The Walking Dead Went Beast Mode
There have been many differences between the “Walking Dead” comics and the television series, but one of the most surprising and well-received has been the relationship between Rick and Michonne. Rick is the hardened leader of the main group of survivors, while Michonne is his katana-wielding right hand woman. Over the course of the series, a mutual trust and rapport develop between them, which transitions into love in the later seasons. While the lack of such a pairing in the comics may have made them seem an unlikely couple at first, their similarly strong, capable personalities make them an excellent match on TV.
#7: Spencer Hastings & Caleb Rivers “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-17)
10 Times Spencer was the Best Character on Pretty Little Liars
Some couples seem destined to end up together from the start of a show, while others seem like they’re dreamt up to keep an inevitable couple from getting together too soon. This is definitely one of the latter. Caleb always seemed like he was destined for Spencer’s friend Hanna, so he and Spencer’s relationship came as something of a surprise. Also, their respective backgrounds made a potential pairing unlikely, since Caleb has a checkered past, having done his fair share of computer hacking, while Spencer comes from a family of lawyers. Still, they did initially bond over a bit of hacking, so it wasn’t a complete surprise.
#6: Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
When Willow experiments even more with magic in college, she meets a fellow witch named Tara, and the two of them fall under each other’s spell, so to speak. The pairing was a very unexpected one, not in the least because Willow still carried a torch for Oz, but also because she’d shown few indications of not being straight. Though there were some signs... [“That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil, and skanky... and I think I'm kinda gay.”] In addition, Tara and Willow were so surprising because, at this point in time, few homosexual couples had been depicted on television. Though we couldn’t have predicted it, these two ended up being a fan favorite couple.
#5: James “Sawyer” Ford & Juliet Burke “Lost” (2004-10)
Another Top 10 James Corden Carpool Karaoke Performances
“Lost” features a long-running love triangle between Jack, Kate, and Sawyer, and when Juliet was added to the mix, she seemed like a romantic rival for Kate for Jack’s affections. So, when Juliet is stranded on the Island with Sawyer, it came as a surprise that they ended up together, particularly as they didn’t begin on the best footing (there may have been a taser involved). Despite being an unexpected relationship, they quickly become the power couple that fans didn’t know they wanted; making their ultimate separation all the more tragic, and their eventual metaphysical reunion all the more heartwarming.
#4: Jackie Burkhart & Steven Hyde “That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
Top 10 Kelso & Jackie Moments on That '70s Show
Although Jackie’s relationship with Fez was also a head scratcher, the Point Place gang’s resident diva’s relationship with bad boy Hyde was even more out of left field (and a better pairing to boot). Hyde and Jackie constantly snipe at each other throughout most of the first part of the series, although there are some romantic undercurrents as well. Their hookup is thoroughly unexpected though, as they are revealed to be fooling around in secret. Despite several breakups and Hyde’s reluctance to commit, their relationship is a remarkably entertaining one that we would’ve liked to have seen go the distance.
#3: Blair Waldorf & Dan Humphrey “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
Top 10 Unforgettable Chuck and Blair Moments
Like some of our previous entries, this is a pairing that had very little buildup, partially due to the characters’ longtime dislike for one another. Blair Waldorf is a queen bee socialite, and pretty much encompasses everything burgeoning writer Dan Humphrey claims to hate. In fact, the pair rarely interact during the first part of the series, and when they do it’s often because they are forced to and often end up in competition with one another. However, it’s this competition that brings them closer together. Ultimately, while most fans prefer them with the characters they ultimately ended up, Dan and Blair still have their supporters.
#2: Monica Geller & Chandler Bing “Friends” (1994-2004)
Monica & Chandler VS Ross & Rachel: Who is the Ultimate Friends Couple?
While this show has seen several unexpected matchups, notably Joey and Rachel, we had to tip our hats to Monica and Chandler. The funny thing is, in hindsight, we can see the hints of it building in earlier episodes - though the whole jellyfish incident definitely had us thinking it would never happen. [“You will always be the guy who peed on me!”] However, at Ross’ wedding in London, the pair hook up unexpectedly off-screen, catching the audience completely off-guard. Their unexpected romance hit the show like a hurricane and had fans loving every minute of their sweet and hilarious relationship. [“Oh my God, Chandler and Monica!”] We’re right there with you, Phoebe! Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: James Wilson & Amber Volakis “House” (2004-12) Kelly Kapoor & Darryl Philbin “The Office” (2005-13) C.C. Babcock & Niles “The Nanny” (1993-1999)
#1: Barney Stinson & Robin Scherbatsky “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
We would not have laid odds on these two committing at all, much less to each other. Barney is practically a professional horndog, devoting large swaths of his time to picking up women in outlandish ways, while Robin is equally devoted to her job and isn’t interested in being tied down. Their disparate personalities, as well as Robin’s complicated relationship with Ted, made it seem unlikely that these two would get together. But hook up they do. And while they don’t get a happily ever after thanks to a divisive finale, Barney and Robin manage to bring the best and worst out of each other when they are together.
