19 TV Couples Who Defied the Moonlighting Curse
13. Dre/Rainbow, Blackish
Which is also the message that Dre and Rainbow send – you don’t have the agree on everything, you don’t have to be same kind of people, you just have to love each other. Well, that and – not every married couple is alike, and we can have more than one on TV and still enjoy them. Wonders will never cease.
12. Snowing, Once Upon A Time
The original couple of Once Upon A Time, Snow and Charming have been, well, Snow and Charming, from the first minute of the Pilot, and to be honest, the show wouldn’t have worked without these two together, setting the example, anchoring their family and making us fall in love with their love every second they had on screen together.
Couples ruin shows? HA. Once Upon A Time was built on Snow and Charming – and it not only survived, it thrived.
11. Richonne, The Walking Dead
What makes Richonne special is that Michonne became Rick’s family/partner/friend before they became romantically involved. She wasn’t there to replace Lori or be Carl’s mom. They were each other’s chance to have love again at the end of the world. They’re a team who learned to trust in each other’s presence and how to love in each other’s arms.
10. Claire/Jamie, Outlander
People won’t watch such a romance heavy show, they said. You have to have more.
And yet, Outlander always had more, but, the same time, it always has been unequivocally about this love story, about these two people and the home they found in each other. Even when they’re not together, Outlander is and forever will be the story of Claire and Jamie. And yes, people do want that. In fact, people love it.
9. Daryl/White Josh, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Daryl and White Josh are a special kind of unicorn when it comes to couples fighting the Moonlighting Curse. They have a huge age difference between them and Daryl found out he was bisexual after a divorce and a child. They are without the doubt the cutest couple on the show, openly affectionate with the right amount of cheesy.
And they’re tackling issues such as shared space, marriage, and meeting Daryl’s child. They’re setting a strong precedent when it comes relationships between two men on TV.
8. Brennan/Booth, Bones
We had the will they/won’t they for a while, but when these two committed, it was for good. And the show didn’t falter, the show didn’t get boring, in fact, the show gained a new dimension that it was lacking before, and it gave both Booth and Brennan an opportunity to grow as people in a realistic way. Plus, we got to see them together, every day, like fanfic come to life, and it was perfect and beautiful and yes, addicting.
7. Beth/Randall, This is Us
Family shows get away with more couples – and yet Beth and Randall were not the main couple, which is why they make this list – they could have, conceivably, been broken up without the main plot being affected. But the show chose to tell this story, one of two people who are not perfect, two people supporting each other, two people growing and learning and just …living. Like real people do.
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,
Comments are closed.