19 TV Couples Who Defied the Moonlighting Curse
You’ve probably heard about the Moonlighting Curse. In fact, most people who have consumed television in the past thirty or so years have heard of the Moonlighting Curse.
Conventional wisdom goes that that show, Moonlighting, starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, was doomed by – well, by the two main characters getting together. Viewers want the “will they/won’t they” as the conclusion. They don’t want happy couples.
But then again, that was 1989, and even then you could say the problem was not the fact that David and Maddie got together, but that the show got boring after they did. And yet, to this day, the Moonlighting Curse is used as reasoning to drag romances on for more seasons that they need to be. (Looking your way, NCIS).
And yet, there are some writers – some shows, that have dared to defy the odds, to go against the curse, and, in doing so, have provided us with some of the most beautiful examples of what true partnership can be on TV.
So, today, we celebrate the couples that have proved that yes, you can tell good stories about two people after they take that plunge. You can keep viewers invested. Happiness is not the end of a show, no.
From time to time, if done right, it can be the beginning.
Starting with …
19. Tom/Alex Kirkman, Designated Survivor
Designated Survivor could have upped the drama in many, many ways – they just chose the healthier one, focusing on the politics and the conspiracy and keeping the new President and First Lady a shining example of how, sometimes, in the darkest, most complicated times, the people who love us can be our support and our inspiration.
18. Ben/Leslie, Parks and Recreation
Ben and Leslie fell in love over long boring government work, enthusiastic talk of Lil’ Sebastian, and wanting to give their community a fighting chance against scheming people like Jeremy Jam. They didn’t fizzle away when they got together in Season 3. If anything, they became a political force who nurtured and supported each other, one color coded binder at a time. I don’t think they would’ve gotten as far as the White House if not for how much they believed in each other.
17. Schmidt/Cece, New Girl
They had a rocky path, but when these two committed, they really committed. And though they weren’t the main couple and as such you might think them exempt from the rule, it was still a surprise to see them not just get back together, but get married and start a family without any contrived drama. Almost like viewers were into the whole thing – not just the rocky dating. Huh.
16. Mitch/Cam, Modern Family
Honestly, any and all Modern Family couples would have done well on this list, but Mitch and Cam get the nod because, on paper, they should have had the hardest time staying together.
And yet, Mitch and Cam are rock solid. Yes, they have their disagreements and, of course, those are always played up for laughs, but that doesn’t mean the show shies away from showing the good moments, from establishing why these two work so well together. And hey, no one wants them to break up to add some drama!
15. Castle/Beckett, Castle
Like in Bones, Castle and Beckett had their share of will they/won’t they before they settled into the yes they will and they’ll be awesome at it while we’re at it. Despite a lot of behind-the-scenes drama, the show thrived when these two characters finally stopped playing around each other and decided that the best way to live life was, well, together.
Because, yes, you can make a cop show and get the couple together without ending the show. Castle is proof of that.
14. Jessica/Louis, Fresh of the Boat
Louis and Jessica represent two approaches to life and to adapting to American culture, and yet, they also represent one of the greatest examples of how, when you really want to, you can find common ground in the most surprising places. That and married couples can be interesting.
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat
16 comments
This is a great list and yes it disproves the moonlighting curse. Thank you so much for including my favorite couple, Deeks and Kensi from NCIS LA; their on screen chemistry is just amazing and it is wonderful that the showrunners have allowed their characters to develop over time both as individuals and as a couple.
I agree with this list but Captain Swan proved this trope, not because they stayed together but because they were the worst written couple on the show and one of the reasons ratings dropped. They were boring and brought out the worst in each other. I would have left them off and stuck with Snowing. I loved Rumbelle but they were will they or won’t they until the end. Angsty and beautiful to watch but Snowing fits this article better. The less of cs I saw, the better.
Given that CS centric episodes often brought in viewers (The Other Shoe, Good Form, the Apprentice) I’d say your claim is wrong. Hook made Emma happy and confident, thats not bringing out the worst in each other.
The Moonlighting Curse is specifically for will they/won’t they couples. I hate to say this but this list is immediately discredited to me by the inclusion of couples who were never will they/won’t they or have been together since the start of the show (for example: Cam and Mitch).
No offense but a few of these couples have only been together one season in like season one and season two. How do you know they defied they curse, lol. There’s still plenty of time for drama and break ups for a few of these. I think some of them you are jumping the gun on. Really until a couple has been together for like three seasons or more or really when the show ends you can’t say they defied the curse. You don’t know what’s coming that might break them up.
I can so agree with all, except Captain Swan. That couple failed as a pairing in so many cases, and was the most boring and cliché relationship that could exist. But hey, we’re talking about OUAT and we all know they can’t write romances well.
Go WayHaught, go Sanvers!
My favourite is Emma and Hook, beautiful couple – but also individually their journey too, and together as a couple. Fighting to be together and so on.
I completely agree with number 1!! Captain Swan had to fight for their love unlike snowing who obviously r gonna end up together, but Hook and Emma had to face hard challenges to get were they are and are now a happily married. ❤️❤️
Yay!! Snowing & Captain Swan ?The two most epic love stories. Also outlander nice.
These aren’t all will they/won’t they couples,which defeats the purpose of comparing it to Moonlighting. This list includes couples that just don’t fit the criteria. Couples that stick together throughout a series is not the Moonlighting curse.
Love the Captain swan addition! They are my absolute #1 reason to watch the show and have made it 100% better. Such a beautiful love story
I agree with Densi and Captain Swan competely. I love them so much! They are such cute and envy worthy couples.
Captain Swan and Snowing are two amazing examples of couples who work together as equals, empower each other, bring out the best in each other and have a dynamic based on mutual respect and trust. If only the writers hadn’t sidelined Snowing (though I understand Ginny and Josh had personal reasons for wanting reduced hours) and started throwing constant angst at CS. But still, here’s to the celebration of couples including badass strong women and the men who empower and respect them.
I Love Captain Swan!
1. Love Captain Swan and Snowing. <3
2. A couple that wasn't mentioned….Chandler and Monica Bing (F.R.I.E.N.D.S). The show was amazing before, but I think it got better when those 2 characters made it official.
I would have added in Nathan and Haley from One Tree Hill, and Chandler and Monica from Friends,
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