15 Best TV Friendships

Friendship on TV can be incredibly hit or miss. Whether it’s written to clearly imply a slow burn romance or one character cares for one more in a show of necessary growth, there are no exact ways friendships are presented on different shows.

Finding your friendship soulmate isn’t easy to do, but once these characters do, something clicks that wasn’t there before, inevitably making the show better off. 

So when you find one that isn’t a ship or isn’t helping someone grow at the detriment to another character, it’s like a breath of fresh air. 

Here are our picks for the best 15 friendships on TV:

1. David and Stevie (Schitt’s Creek)

David and Stevie are often so similar that they bounce right off of each other in perfect lyrical harmony. Where David is A, Stevie is B, and where David is dark, Stevie is light, and vice versa.

The two act as siblings, bickering and bantering, but in the end, always coming out with immense love for each other.

They reflect each other in the most subtle ways, making them a dynamic duo I can’t not watch.

2. Eric and Otis (Sex Education)

Eric Effiong is exactly the kind of teenager I wanted to be; beautiful, confident, and sure of who they are. Instead, I was Otis: floundering, awkward, and not truly fitting in anywhere.

Though sometimes they fight and there are errors of judgment, what friendship doesn’t encounter these at some point?

Eric and Otis are fantastic best friends because they balance each other out with their differences, and they don’t judge each other because of them.

3. Blanca and Pray Tell (Pose)

Blanca and Pray Tell understand each other in ways nobody else can. The things they’ve seen, the things they’ve been through, and even the things and people they represent — only they can completely understand each other.

They come from different worlds, and yet they find out who they really are, and each other, within this colorful world of balls. They’re there for each other in times of struggle, triumph, loss, and more.

I truly believe they are each other’s platonic soulmates.

4. Kat and Sutton (The Bold Type)

I know, I know, you’re probably thinking “what about Jane?.” What about her?

While you could maybe argue that Jane and Sutton are closer than Sutton and Kat, it doesn’t negate the fact that Kat and Sutton are better for each other. What makes a good friend is someone who is there for you, loves you, and calls you out on your BS.

Kat and Sutton never hold back in their criticism of each other, while Jane often plays the victim or becomes the devil’s advocate. Being able to give your friends constructive criticism, loving them through the transition, and still being there for each other in the end.

Kat and Sutton do a seriously wonderful job at this.

5. Jen and Judy (Dead to Me)

Lots of friends, even on TV, joke about helping their best friend hide a dead body. Jen and Judy actually did it.

Friendships are hard to form once you’re out of school and/or work. Finding things you have in common with someone isn’t easy, but sometimes you find your best friend in the woman who got your husband killed.

The best thing about their friendship is the tenderness that comes with it. Yes, they annoy each other, and they yell at each other, but they allow themselves to be held at the end of that. They say I love you and then also show it. These women are one of a kind.

6. Rebecca and Keeley (Ted Lasso)

Wildly different and yet indistinctly the same, Rebecca and Keeley know what it feels like to be taken for granted and not realize it’s happening. They also know what it’s like to be a woman in a man’s world.

They start out not even disliking each other, but actively avoiding each other until they simply can’t anymore. 

The love and appreciation they show each other once they start interacting is soft and kind but harsh when it needs to be. They love each other fully, and they’re part of what makes the show so good.

7. Lauren and Floyd (New Amsterdam)

I thought Lauren and Floyd may start something serious for a bit there, but they didn’t and that was clearly for the better. They work together great as far as exes go, and their standalone relationship fares even better.

The two go at each other sometimes, because duh, but it’s obvious that it’s never from a false sense of understanding their once romantic relationship. 

It’s clear that they care for one another, and they can talk each other through their stupid mistakes or brilliant plans because they trust each other.

8. Chester and Riley (Genera+ion)

Riley and Chester. Chester and Riley. They’re almost opposite ends of the spectrum — Chester with his bright clothes, loud personality, and self-confidence vs. Riley with her dark outfits, pessimistic attitude, and impulsive behavior.

Presenting entirely differently, Chester and Riley, at their core, understand each other very deeply. 

These two balance each other out. They tease each other until one of them finally breaks, which is so often what happens in real life.

9. Mare and Lori (Mare of Easttown)

Mare and Lori were there for each other in the very worst moments of each other’s lives, as well as the smaller things. Whether it’s Mare being suspended or Lori finding out John was cheating, in those moments, they found love and solace in one another.

Never ones to outright discuss their feelings, Mare and Lori fit like puzzle pieces once they get to actually talking.

The things they’ve dealt with are heavy, hard, life-changing, but they got through them together.

10. Ted, Coach Beard, and Nate (Ted Lasso)

Does anyone else get really emotional thinking about these characters? They’ve all grown exponentially since Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.”

This is a group of caring, loving men who just want the people they care about to be happy. Which, let’s face it, is quite rare on TV.

Though Ted and Coach Beard knew each other before coming to London, there’s no sense of ill-will or jealousy towards anyone who wants to join their friendship. They’re all vulnerable around each other, and in these moments of vulnerability, you can find a deep-seated love built between them.

11. Rosa and Jake (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Rosa and Jake’s relationship has done an extreme amount of growth through the show, and we’ve gotten to see what they mean to each other more than once.

My favorite friendship moment of theirs is on Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 10, “Game Night,” when Rosa goes to Jake for advice when she was considering coming out to her family as bisexual.

Coming out, especially to family, is an incredibly hard thing to do. For Rosa to ask Jake to join her at that dinner shows how strong their friendship is. 

12. Linda and Mazikeen (Lucifer)

Sweet, sweet, Linda and Maze.

Linda is such a caring, thoughtful person, and clearly, a lot of her own love has resonated with Maze. Maze goes to her when she has a problem, often when she’s nearly lost her temper, and Linda calms her down off of the ledge in such a respectful way.

She doesn’t tell her to calm down or relax; she just lets her explain what has her upset. Maze finds her tenderness, which we so rarely see when she’s comforting Linda.

13. Henrietta and Athena (9-1-1)

The relationship between Hen and Athena is so beautiful to watch. We’ve watched them grow closer and seen their friendship bloom fully.

They don’t get enough scenes together, but the ones they do get are always so well thought out. 

Hen and Athena know their struggles of course differ but are also very similar; being Black women working in predominantly white man’s jobs, expectations from them are higher. Having these characters being able to lean on each other is so important for the show. 

14. Max and Eleven (Stranger Things)

I absolutely adore this friendship. The fact that they started out hating each other, because duh, teenage girls, and now are close enough that they take mall trips together? Ugh. They are so sweet.

Female friendships are hard to come by on Stranger Things, but Max and Eleven take it upon themselves to form something separately from the boys. 

Max and Eleven have quite literally put their lives on the line for each other, no questions asked. And they’re only tweens!

15. Liza and Maggie (Younger)

Liza and Maggie are genuinely some of the best friends I’ve seen on TV.

They accept each other for who they are, no matter what the situation. Whether it’s who they’re dating or who they’re friends with, neither of these women are shy of making their opinions known. Being able to be open and honest makes for the best friendships.

These two stuck with each other through everything and came out the other end still best friends.

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Who are some of your favorite friendships on TV? Let us know in the comments below!

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