Real-life love just can’t compare to the kisses in the rain, epic professions of love, and fairytale endings that populate the romances of film, television, and literature. If you’re like me, watching a rom-com or reading romance books fills you both with butterflies, but also the gut-wrenching pain of knowing couples like those don’t actually exist in real life. So to cope with the emotional damages they’ve caused me, here is a list (in no particular order) of some couples that set my expectations for love way too high!
- Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper
I have watched Heartstopper an unhealthy amount of times now, but the beauty of Nick and Charlie’s relationship is that my heart does the same loops-the-loops as it did the first time I watched it. Their relationship is so pure and wholesome to watch unfold, and my heart does quite literally stop whenever they hook their pinky fingers together or say their signature “hi” “hi” all shyly each time they see each other.
- Will and Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean
If my wedding doesn’t take place mid-battle in the rain on a pirate ship, then I honestly don’t want it. I always get so giddy rewatching Elizabeth and Will’s relationship develop on the screen, from seeing how smitten they were with each other from the start, to them becoming pirate captain baddies together. They work so well as a team, and their love story is so beautiful, yet also tragic, to watch.
- Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice
As the enemies to lovers blueprint for literally every other couple in that genre, how could anyone not fantasize about one day finding a love like theirs. They are truly the definition of opposites attract, with Lizzie’s bold, outspoken nature paired against Mr. Darcy’s quiet awkwardness. And don’t even tell me “you have bewitched me body and soul” didn’t set the standard for all pickup lines everywhere.
- Amity and Luz from The Owl House
Are we catching on that I really love enemies to lovers? The way Amity comes across as so rough and tough at the start but then steadily falls for Luz, and the way Luz constantly puts faith in Amity even after all the times Amity tries to sabotage her, is just so incredibly sweet. They’re relationship is so supportive and wholesome, and I love their shared geeky interests. I only wish we had gotten more of it (curse you, Disney).
- Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games
Obviously the fact that their love unfolds in numerous fight-to-the-death scenarios isn’t exactly ideal, but the total devotion Peeta has to Katniss is just so swoon worthy. These two are another great example of polar opposite personalities who work so well together. Katniss herself said it best; she’s the fire and Peeta’s the “dandelion in the spring.” Not to mention the Catching Fire movie kiss is probably one of the best film kisses ever.
- Jess and Nick from New Girl
As much as I love enemies to lovers, friends-to-lovers romances in some cases come out on top for me. There’s something so beautiful about two people already having that strong foundation of friendship, then evolving into love. And everyone deserves to be kissed with at least half the fireworks as Nick and Jess’ first kiss, which I maintain is one of the best TV kisses ever.
- Anastasia and Dimitri from Anastasia
The enemies to lovers dynamic of these two is just so good, and as much as I love an opposites attract story, I also love it when characters like these two butt heads because of how similar they are. The beauty of their love story really is that they’re the only one who can take the other down a peg. Get you a man who’ll look at you the way Dimitri looks at Anastasia at the opera!
- Sophie and Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle
Who doesn’t fantasize about taking a romantic walk through the skies with their wizard beloved? Howl and Sophie really epitomize the perfect fantasy love story, and I love relationships like theirs where the female love interest is the only one who can put the male love interest in his place. Even when Sophie was under her curse, you can still see how much Howl loved her. And although Howl was heartless, Sophie literally gives him back his heart–I mean, what’s more romantic than that? Plus he gave her an entire flower garden, so they’re setting the bar for couples’ gifts astronomically high.
- Jack and Rose from Titanic
While Titanic literally wreaks me, I am a firm believer that Jack and Rose’s love story is one of the greatest there is (and don’t you dare bring up the door thing, because my girl Rose was in a survival situation and probably wasn’t thinking straight, so leave her alone). The classic poor boy/rich girl storyline always gets me, and literally all I want is to have a “you jump, I jump” kind of dynamic with someone.
- Ed and Stede from Our Flag Means Death
They really seem like the most impossible pairing—bloodthirsty killer and prissy rich man—but they ultimately end up bringing out the best in each other in the most heartwarming way. Here’s to hoping that season 2 undoes the emotional damage of the season 1 finale, because I just need these two to be happy little co-captains together.
- Rapunzel and Eugene from Tangled
Rapunzel and Eugene are just objectively the cutest, healthiest, most mutually supportive Disney couple to ever exist. If you’ve been held back from watching Tangled: the Series because you think it’s for kids, I highly recommend you reconsider, because the development of their relationship across the show is truly beautiful, with Rapunzel always there to help Eugene learn to be more emotionally vulnerable, and Eugene just being the most supportive boyfriend ever, always cheering his girlfriend on and content to let her take center stage.
- Tiana and Naveen from The Princess and the Frog
Tiana and Naveen are right close behind Rapunzel and Eugene as my favorite Disney couple. They both help the other learn and grow so much and make each other all the better for it. And the way Naveen looks at Tiana simultaneously melts and breaks my cold single heart. I mean, if someone is willing to stay a frog forever for you, you know it must be real love!
- Jess and Rory from Gilmore Girls
Literally all I want is a relationship like this where I can have someone to trade books and trade pop culture references with. I am a real sucker for the bad boy/goodie-goodie girl trope, but what I especially love about this rendition of it is how Jess is very much just as much of a geek as Rory, despite his punk exterior. Their relationship is just such the perfect matching of intellect, and it physically pains me that they didn’t end up together, because they are literally soulmates (#TeamJessForever).
- Shin Ha-ri and Kang Tae-moo from Business Proposal
I recently got hooked on this K-drama, and let me say, the fake dating trope will have a chokehold on me until the day I die. The character development of the cold-hearted Tae-moo into an open and loving boyfriend throughout the show, thanks to Ha-ri’s bright and optimistic presence in his life, is so incredibly endearing to watch, and it has me giddily giggling all the way through.
- Anthony and Kate from Bridgerton
I am a firm believer that Bridgerton season 2 is better than season 1 (fight me on it), and Kate and Anthony really are the superior Bridgerton couple. Another incredible slow burn, the passion, tension, and scandal of this relationship is so fun to watch, and “you are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires” pretty much set the bar for every love proposal.
- Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls
The slowest of slow burns, Luke and Lorelai’s relationship really was worth the wait. The fact that Luke never gave up on Lorelai and waited so long for her to reciprocate his feelings (the horoscope he carried every day in his wallet *sobs*) is just peak romance, and they have the perfect banter of grumpy guy and bubbly girl who, despite their polarities, still perfectly balance each other out.
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