When done properly, a romantic subplot can be an excellent addition to many TV shows, but theseromancestorylines hurt their shows. Audiences love to see when a heartwarming relationship begins to blossom between two beloved characters, especially when their deep connection is something that has been suggested throughout the series. Unfortunately, not every onscreen relationship is built equally. While some romance subplots can dramatically improve the quality of a show, others can lower it just as easily.
Many romance subplots flop when they are simply the product of writers trying to force in a love story between two characters with minimal chemistry.A TV romance can be greatwhen it feels natural, but pointless if it feels like it would never happen in real life. Even worse, some of these romances can feel completely irrelevant to the main plot, and merely serve as a distraction from what the audience actually wants to see. Regardless of what the creators may have thought, theseTV shows would have been better without romance subplots.
Friends
Cast
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
One of the worst sitcom romances ever was inFriends. The ever-popular sitcom was no stranger to romance subplots over the years. However, while some of these storylines were consistently enjoyable for viewers, others just felt completely out of place.This was the case for the dynamic between Joey and Rachel. In the sitcom’s eighth season, Rachel (while pregnant with Ross’s child) decides to move in with Joey. This sparks a will-they-won’t-they relationship that lasts all the way into the tenth season, much to the dismay of the show’s fans.
The romance subplot between Joey and Rachel was unsuccessful because of how unnecessary it feltto the show’s massive audience. Their “relationship” occurring whileRachel was pregnant with Ross’s childjust felt like a way of adding extra tension and awkwardness to the show for no reason. Above all else, their romance felt out of place because of how closely they were friends. The friendship between Joey and Rachel had been both heartwarming and humorous for many years, so forcing a romance between them just felt contradictory to their established dynamic.
Dexter
Dexter is a television series following Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for Miami Metro Police who secretly leads a dual life as a vigilante serial killer. Released in 2006, the show focuses on Dexter’s internal conflict as he hunts down criminals who elude justice within the legal system.
In the crime drama series,Dexter, the titular serial killer’s adoptive sister, Debra, has many romantic subplots over the course of the show’s eight-season run. While many of these relationships at least offered some means of adding additional depth to her character, one particular subplot was widely disliked by viewers across the board. Near the end of season six, a therapy session prompts Debra to realize that she may actually have fallen in love with Dexter.This idea is quickly abandoned once she discovers the truth about her sibling’s dark actions.
[Dexter’s creatives] failed to see that forcing a romantic storyline between two characters with a close brother/sister dynamic was not the wisest move.
By the time it had reached the sixth season,Dexterhad already been experiencing a massive decline both in terms of popularity and critical reception. The creators were likely looking for an exciting way to shake up the show. Unfortunately,they failed to see that forcing a romantic storyline between two characters with a close brother/sister dynamic was not the wisest move. The idea of Debra having feelings for Dexter was quickly abandoned, although this merely makes it even stranger that they introduced the idea at all.
The Legend of Korra
The Legend of Korra is an animated series set in the Avatar universe, following Avatar Korra’s journey as she strives to master the elements and fulfill her role as a fully realized Avatar. Released in 2012, the series explores her challenges against traditional norms and her internal quest for balance.
As the sequel series toAvatar: The Last Airbender,The Legend of Korrawas able to dive deep into the lore of its pre-established world, weaving a complex web of characters and stories. Unfortunately, not every new storyline was a hit. One subplot that did not go over particularly well with fans was the romance between Korra and Mako.Their relationship just felt pointless to many viewers, as they had very different personalities. As a result, it felt clear from the beginning that they would not end up together in the end.
The majority ofthe love triangle between Korra, Mako, and Asami inThe Legend of Korrafelt more annoying than entertaining to fans. Neither the relationship between Korra and Mako nor the one between Mako and Asami served much narrative purpose. Both of these relationships ended up just feeling like obstacles, delaying the connection between Korra and Asami, which many fans actually wanted to see. Thankfully, the writers were able to end the series on a positive note, giving fans the Korra-Asami relationship they wanted all along.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
With Jim and Pam, the beloved sitcom,The Office, managed to create one of the most iconic television love stories of all time. Sadly, not every romance on the show was quite as enjoyable to watch.Perhaps the most unpopular of the show’s majorromantic subplots was the one between Andy and Erin. Despite becoming a regular on the show following his introduction in season three, Andy was never a particularly popular character onThe Office. Giving him a complicated love story which spanned five full seasons of the show is not what the fans wanted.
The inclusion ofAndy and Erin’s relationship felt like merely the product of the writers wanting to try out another romance subplot after Jim and Pam finally got together. The chemistry between Andy and Erin was decent at best, and neither character was ever popular enough to truly warrant as much screen time as their relationship was given. Their scenes delivered neither the heartwarming tenderness of Jim and Pam, nor the laugh-out-loud humor of many other characters.The Officemay have struck gold with one romance, but it surely missed the mark with another.
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Hargreeves — collectively known as The Umbrella Academy — were born with superpowers, and their adoptive father utilized their abilities. However, as they grew older, the siblings grew apart as they dealt with their trauma. They are brought back together after their father dies and Five returns from the future with grave news: The world will end, and The Umbrella Academy has to stop it before it happens.
The superhero comedy-dramaThe Umbrella Academyoften thrived on its bizarre storylines and crazy scenarios. Some subplots, however, went a bit too fae and just became uncomfortable for the audience to watch. This is certainly the case for the romance between Allison and Luther. In the series, the pair are part of an adoptive family of superheroes, and have spent their entire lives together growing up side-by-side. Although they aren’t technically related by blood,they still feel like true siblings to the audience.
Because of this, their relationship throughoutThe Umbrella Academyfeels weird, even by the show’s standards. It is difficult for viewers to imagine them as anything besides brother and sister, even while they are flirting with each other.Their strange relationship also proves to be unnecessary to the overall narrative of the show, as Luther ends up marrying Sloane (a member of the Hargreeves family from a different dimension). From beginning to end, the relationship between Luther and Allison was an uncomfortable subplot that no one needed.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is a television series that premiered in 2009, focusing on Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in Pawnee, Indiana. She encounters various challenges from bureaucrats and citizens while striving to beautify the town through her role in the Parks and Recreation Department.
As far as sitcoms go,Parks and Recreationtypically handles the romantic lives of its characters quite well. Most of the relationships shown throughout the series feel both humorous and believable. One, however, achieves neither of these qualities. For much of the show’s fourth season, Tom and Ann inexplicably begin dating.Their relationship sticks out like a sore thumb among the others in the show, as it is hardly even clear why they began dating in the first place. The relationship proves short-lived, ending as soon as the fifth season begins.
Parks & Rec: Why Tom & Ann’s Romance Was Such A Huge Mistake
At one point in Parks & Recreation, Ann Perkins finally agreed to go out with Tom Haverford, and so one of the series' worst relationships began.
Tom and Ann’s relationship feels like nothing more than a lazy attempt to come up with a story for two characters who didn’t have much else going on that season. In reality, the characters have practically nothing in common, aside from their ties to the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department. Tom is consistently a terrible boyfriend to Ann, and Ann seems to be far too intelligent to put up with his behavior for as long as she does. Anyone could tell that their romance was doomed from the start, making it just feel like a waste of the audience’s time.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
Dan Harmon’s six-season sitcom,Community, follows an unlikely group of friends who form as they pursue their degrees at an underperforming community college. The friends get closer and closer as the series progresses, with romantic subplots even beginning to arise between some of them.One such romance occurs between Troy and Britta. Though their attraction is hinted at early in the show, their relationship doesn’t really take shape until the third and fourth seasons. Before long, however, they decide to go back to being just friends.
Troy and Britta’s relationship was never awful, as the two did appear to have decent chemistry with each other. The real problem was that it just felt a bit unnecessary.Communitywas never a show about passionate relationships and dramatic, heartfelt romances. While the show had serious moments every once in a while, it was always much more of a clean-cut comedy. Because of this, Troy and Britta’s relationship almost felttoogenuine. It may have worked well in a different setting, but their romance didn’t offer the level of comedy thatCommunityfans wanted to see.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
It’s no secret thatStranger Thingsis among the most popular Netflix series ever. The acclaimed series blends elements of science fiction, horror, and mystery, all within a 1980s setting. Over the course of its acclaimed run on Netflix, the series has accumulated an extensive cast of characters. Even with the show having a complex story already,the writers spend time giving practically every singleStranger Thingscharacter their own romantic subplot. Mike and Eleven get together. Hopper and Joyce get together. Lucas and Max. Dustin and Suzie. Even Steve, Jonathan, and Nancy have their own love triangle.
Stranger Thingsseason 5 is currently projected to be released in 2025.
While none of these romance subplots are particularly bad on their own,the show simply spends far too much time on them overall. With a massive, world-threatening mystery going on, it is difficult for audiences to remain actively invested in the love lives of every single character. If the episodes/seasons were longer, perhaps it would make more sense forStranger Thingsto dedicate so much time to giving a romance subplot to each character. Instead, the viewers are given various half-baked love stories, many of which just feel like distractions from the main plot.
This Is Us
This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who people become and how the connections people share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
NBC’s acclaimed drama,This Is Us, tells the powerful stories of the various generations of the Pearson family. Over the years, the show has presented an assortment of romantic subplots featuring various characters. While some have been tender and heartwarming,others have left the viewers feeling rather underwhelmed. Much of the show’s audience would agree that the most unwanted of these romances was the one between Rebecca and Miguel. After already having a beautiful (albeit tragic) love story with Jack, Rebecca eventually gets remarried to Jack’s best friend, Miguel, after his death.
Audiences opposed Rebecca and Miguel’s marriage for various reasons. For one, the idea that Rebecca would marry Jack’s best friend after he died simply did not sit right with many. The action felt very contradictory to the beautiful romance the two had shared. Additionally, the relationship between Rebecca and Miguel felt massively underexplained for most of the series. For a long time, viewers were hardly given an explanation as to how these two ended up together. Their subplot felt like a needless inclusion that detracted from other stories within the series.
Loki
Loki is a series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the alternate version of the titular character, Loki, after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Taken by the Time Variance Authority, he must confront his identity and choices while aiding in fixing the disrupted timeline to avert a greater threat.
Beginning in 2021,Lokiis one of several Disney+ original series to explore the lives and adventures of beloved Marvel characters outside the films. Much ofLokideals with the idea of events occurring that subsequently lead to the formation of alternate timelines, and thus alternate versions of the universe. Enlisted to help restore order to the main timeline, Loki goes on a mission through time that eventually leads him to meet Sylvie, a version of himself from another universe.Loki then finds himself quickly falling in love with his counterpart.
The act of falling in love with Sylvie was perceived by some audiences as narcissistic, and seen as a strong regression in terms of Loki’s character development.
Though it is far from the craziest thing Marvel has done over the years, having Loki fall in love with an alternate version of himself was definitely an interesting choice, one that sparked a great deal of discussion among fans.Marvel is no stranger to exploring the idea of parallel universes, but this romance felt like crossing a line to many. The act of falling in love with Sylvie was perceived by some audiences as narcissistic, and seen as a strong regression in terms of Loki’s character development. It’s why Loki and Sylvie’s relationship is one ofTV’sworst romances.
