19 TV Couples Who Defied the Moonlighting Curse
6. Wayhaught, Wynonna Earp
Falling in love with Nicole caught Waverly by surprise. She’d never looked at a woman this way before or felt what she did for Nicole. What could have become cliché blossomed into a beautiful relationship that only gets more complicated and rich as the show progresses.
Each episode is about moving them forward, giving them challenges they can face head on, and flipping the bird at the ‘bury your gays’ trope. Wayhaught’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.
5. Dawsey, Chicago Fire
Like other couples on this list, Matt and Gabriela took a while, and yes, they had their ups and downs, but the show never shied away from their endgame status and there was never any pretense that this could end any other way than where they are right now – together. Who says you can’t do drama and have a stable couple?
4. Jake/Amy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedy, but it’s also a cop show, so one thing could negate the other. Comedies do couples much better than drama – but cop shows seem allergic to commitment. So the fact that Jake and Amy are not just together, but that we can still laugh at them, they can still laugh at each other and the show hasn’t turned into one big drama because of it just makes them even more enjoyable to watch.
3. Sanvers, Supergirl
From the beginning, Alex and Maggie were just …two people falling in love. No clichés, no drama for the sake of drama like in other superhero shows that shall not be mentioned, just a journey of self-discovery for both, some setbacks, the type every couple faces, and a hell of a lot of love.
And the most important part of it – we got to experience their journey, not just be told about it. They existed in front of us – in the light. And they will continue to.
2. Densi, NCIS: Los Angeles
Boy, did these two take a while. For a moment there I was afraid the show was going to go the NCIS way. And then, they didn’t. They not only got Kensi and Deeks together, they allowed them to move on, little by little, to support each, to not consume each other but to be part of each other’s storylines in the way you are in real life.
They were partners before they were romantic, and they are partners today, partners in every aspect of the word. And, guess what? The show hasn’t become the Densi Hour. (Though, actually, that sounds pretty good). No, the show is still what it is, and fans haven’t stopped watching.
1. Captain Swan, Once Upon A Time
A full-fledged couple since the end of Season 3, Emma and Hook prove that you can progress, you can grow together, and if your love is true, you can defeat death, Dark Ones and curses, without the show ever getting boring.
In fact, we kinda wish they’d have a little less to contend with. Quiet moments are good. Necessary. We’d watch a whole episode of Emma explaining technology to Hook, or the two of them going on a double date with Emma’s parents. We really, really would.
Agree? Disagree? Have other couples we missed? Share with us in the comments below!
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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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