Not every ship is meant to leave the port. Otherwise, these ships may end up sinking like the Titanic. However, this time we will discuss the relationships portrayed on TV that don’t necessarily scream #relationshipgoals. If particular famous movie couples, like Rose and Jack, epitomize the saying love “like in the movies,” then toxic TV couples should make it clear which relationships raise red flags and lead to no good, if not immediately, then in the long run.
Dysfunctional relationships are just as prevalent in real life as they are on TV. However, for some reason, viewers are more inclined to perceive unhealthy relationships in TV shows and movies in a more favorable light. This probably stems from the notion that to live “like in the movies” is the ultimate ambition for many, especially younger audiences. Hence, it’s important to distinguish healthy relationships from toxic couples in TV shows and movies since knowing the difference can heavily influence how one pursues their own personal, romantic life. However, judging solely on the chemistry can be misleading, since toxic couples can have the best chemistry yet be incredibly unwholesome to one another. And although TV show and movie couples with no chemistry make it easy to disparage unhealthy relationships in movies and TV shows, most toxic couples on TV are portrayed as compatible, seriously complicating our judgment.
To help with the latter, below, we’ve compiled a list of the most toxic TV couples, which, even though they look cute together or know how to have a good time, really go against the vision of what a respectful and loving relationship should look like. Do you agree with our selection of the most toxic relationships portrayed on TV? Give the entries you agree with an upvote, and also, let us know whether we’ve missed out on any more toxic couples in movies and TV shows!
#1 Ross And Rachel (Friends)
Fans sometimes overlook that Ross was overly jealous and Rachel was overly self-centered, problems that would haunt them in later in their relationship.
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28points
#2 Ted And Robin (How I Met Your Mother)
Ted spent years yearning over Robin, even though we knew they wouldn't get along from the get-go. The beautiful Tracy seemed to be the perfect happy ending for him. Still, she eventually passes, forcing Ted to recount his whole life to his children to get their approval to date their aunt. Everything is twisted up. No matter how strongly Ted defends it, they are not meant to be.
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24points
#3 Kelly And Ryan (The Office)
The oddest couple on The Office was undoubtedly Kelly and Ryan. Most unhealthy relationships have at least one redeeming quality, but Kelly and Ryan transcend any notion of self-preservation. Ryan only wants Kelly when she’s in other relationships, and Kelly manipulates other guys to make Ryan envious. From Kelly pretending to be pregnant to Ryan proposing to her when she finally moves on while openly stating he’ll probably change his mind later, they both exhibit extreme levels of delusion.
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17points
#4 Carrie And Big (Sex And The City)
Big and Carrie both engaged in a game throughout their relationships. Carrie frequently makes up tiny “tests” for her partners since she has a habit of expecting them to understand what she wants without actually telling them. Big, on the other hand, is all about playing games. He never calls or follows through, leaves Carrie hanging, and then shows up with a lovely grin and something to make amends. That is in no way a healthy approach to connecting with one another or showing respect.
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16points
#5 Miss Piggy And Kermit (The Muppet Show)
The split between Miss Piggy and Kermit in 2015 was long overdue. Their toxic back-and-forth relationship was played for laughs when they originally appeared on television as a couple in the 1970s on The Muppet Show, but, boy, it gets ugly! While many Muppet one-liners slyly target adults, the message of Miss Piggy and Kermit’s relationship is not that subtle.
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15points
#6 Sam And Ruby (Supernatural)
The act of your sweetheart tricking you into consuming demon blood so she may let Satan free is the quintessential expression of love, isn’t it? Demon Ruby shows up in Season 3 of Supernatural and promptly tries to convince Sam that she’s on his side. Also, when has it ever worked out well for the Winchesters (or anybody) to trust a demon?
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15points
#7 Piper And Alex (Orange Is The New Black)
You know a relationship is toxic when both partners have at least once reported the other to the police. Due to their dependence on one another, Alex and Piper discover a means to condemn the other and send them both to the same prison when one of them is put in jail. They do love one another, but they express it in all the wrong ways.
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13points
#8 Jamie And Cersei (Game Of Thrones)
The concept of them being together is wrong and should not be supported, despite their devotion and readiness to sacrifice anything for one another. They discreetly cause each other’s lives to be lost because one cannot survive without the other, and the other selfishly does not want to be left alone. They emotionally harm each other almost constantly and cling to one another. Their relationship represents codependency at its worst.
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12points
#9 Jade And Beck (Victorious)
People were only okay with Jade and Beck’s toxic relationship because Jade, not Beck, was the aggressor. They didn’t work well together. Beck should not have given Jade further opportunities since she was becoming overly possessive. Even though we were meant to rejoice when they reconciled, it was a poor lesson for the children.
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11points
#10 Aria And Ezra (Pretty Little Liars)
Understanding the teacher/student relationship in the series had always been challenging. In addition to being Aria’s English teacher in high school and being aware of the substantial age difference between them, Ezra had also been a manipulative stalker, which raised the stakes even higher.
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11points
#11 Haley And Dylan (Modern Family)
Haley yearned for Andy even as he was seeing Beth at the time, and she was dating Dylan. And she dated him out of pure loneliness. This last relationship destroyed her character by regressing her growth. Although Haley and Dylan always had a love connection, it was never as intense. The eventual goal should have always been Haley and Andy.
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11points
#12 Phoebe And Cole (Charmed)
Even though Phoebe and Cole’s wedding was fraught with issues, many signs of toxicity and abuse only begin to surface afterward. In “Marry-Go-Round” (S4, E15), Cole sabotages their wedding so that he may secretly wed Phoebe to him in a secret ceremony. Alarmingly, this disdain for Phoebe’s consent doesn’t end there. Cole’s primary goal in the following episodes is to impregnate Phoebe. In the same way that “stealthing” is currently a thing, Cole trying to get Phoebe pregnant in this way is also a violation of consent.
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11points
#13 Joey And Dawson (Dawson’s Creek)
At the start of Dawson’s Creek, Joey realizes she has a massive crush on her closest friend and next-door neighbor, Dawson. If it had only been a crush, everything would have been great! But when Dawson started feeling the same way, everything went horribly wrong. He seems to be quite critical of everything she does, and due to his egocentric personality, Joey finds it tough to express her feelings to him. She’s like a withering flower around him. Yet when they finally part ways, she thrives again.
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11points
#14 Jackie And Kelso (That 70's Show)
Even if Mila and Ashton are together in real life, Jackie and Kelso's on-screen romance is an abject failure. Jackie anticipates constant availability from Kelso despite the numerous times he has cheated on her. If you insist on shipping a pair from this show, please do Donna and Eric instead.
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11points
#15 Damon And Elena (The Vampire Diaries)
Damon himself once told Elena that he and she were toxic to one another. For those unaware, Elena dated Damon in TVD after she turned into a vampire while under the sire bond’s influence. This aspect of Elena and Damon’s relationship is toxic since it limits Elena’s options and casts doubt on the sincerity of their love for one another. Also, why would you want to date someone who went after your brother?
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10points
#16 Archie And Veronica (Riverdale)
They are toxic and exaggerate each other’s worst traits. While Archie’s persona had so much potential, it seemed he retreated back into his shell once he got emotionally involved with Veronica. Also, they simply never engage in regular, healthy conversations that couples have. It has always felt like as a couple, they are more in lust than in love.
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10points
#17 Finn And Rachel (Glee)
Rachel saw him more as a status symbol than anything else. After all, he was the “most popular boy,” which piqued her curiosity about him even more. Still, she could have grown to love him for the person he truly was. However, she should never have chosen Finn. He often expressed his irritation or annoyance with her personality, whether it was her talking too much or using big words. He would make her feel awful when she was excited by putting her down for it. He had only ever desired Rachel when he was unable to have her.
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10points
#18 Derek And Kate (Teen Wolf)
Derek from Teen Wolf arguably has the worst luck in love (and in life) of any TV show character. But then, most people aren't Derek Hale, and most toxic relationships don't end with someone's whole family passing and enough self-blame to last a lifetime. Once Derek's first love, Paige, passes away from the werewolf bite he planned, Kate Argent, his worst girlfriend, enters the scene. Because of Derek's experience with his everlasting remorse and self-pity brought on by Paige's demise, Kate finds it all too simple to seduce him.
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9points
#19 Bellamy And Clarke (The 100)
In the end, Bellamy and Clarke’s relationship didn’t make much sense. Even though the show highlighted their undying love for one another, they repeatedly deceived one another.
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8points
#20 Craig And Manny (Degrassi: The Next Generation)
The plot was never intended to be a sad love tale; instead, it was designed to depict a toxic relationship that lasted for years and teach the audience what happens when you repeatedly allow yourself to be used by someone (relationship blinders).
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8points