15 Daytime Soap Couples Who Captured Hearts in the 2010s (PHOTOS)
Victor (Eric Braeden) & Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), Young and the Restless
The mogul and the stripper have been a hit since they were paired together on Y&R in the early 1980s. They’ve married many times and, so far, their last union has stuck! Victor has supported Nikki through her challenges in life and, in turn, she helps Victor fake his death when necessary.
John (Drake Hogestyn) & Marlena (Deidre Hall), Days of Our Lives
They’re Salem’s – if not daytime’s – gold standard of supercouples. There’s no obstacle their love can’t survive. Never was John’s love for Marlena more apparent than when he fought like a demon to keep her on life support after she was hovering between life and death. (Sure, it turned out to be Hattie, but soaps are also about surprise twists, too!)
Erica (Susan Lucci) & Jack (Walt Willey), All My Children
They may not have been together when AMC went off the air in 2011, but of all Erica’s husbands, Jack seemed to be the one who understood her the most. If the show is ever revived, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that in the intervening years, Jack and Erica found their way back to one another.
Nick (Joshua Morrow) & Sharon (Sharon Case), Young and the Restless
No matter how many times they split up and engage in romantic relationships with other people, there’s an underlying attraction between Nick and Sharon. Many fans agree that “Shick” is the endgame. Maybe they’ll get back together in 2020?
Stephanie (Susan Flannery) & Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), Bold and the Beautiful
They sparred for decades, but, towards the end of her life, Stephanie, who was dying from cancer, accepted Brooke and died in her arms. Brooke always wanted to be friends with the mother of the man she loved (Ridge, Thorsten Kaye) and got her wish. Stephanie – or rather her voice – showed up a few years later when Ridge and Brooke got married again. She’s likely sad in the afterlife that the couple is having big problems. (Well, we think she is.)
Maxie (Kirsten Storms) & Nathan (Ryan Paevey), General Hospital
Lovable Maxie and lawman Nathan had a tragic love story. He died in the line of duty while she was pregnant with his son. A return from the dead isn’t likely as Nathan had an open casket funeral, but fans would likely embrace visits from Paevey as either a spirit or a twin.
Katie (Heather Tom) & Bill (Don Diamont), Bold and the Beautiful
Once upon a time, Tom and Diamont played Victoria and Brad on Young and the Restless. But now, viewers only see them as the tough publishing magnate who has changed for the better thanks to the love of a good woman.
Will (Chandler Massey) & Sonny (Freddie Smith), Days of Our Lives
Soap history was made when two men – Will and Sonny – got married in 2014, surrounded by family and friends. The couple was torn apart after Will was murdered, but, fortunately, this was on DAYS, the soap on which folks never say dead forever.
Dr. Hamilton Finn (Michael Easton) & Roxy, General Hospital
Hamilton Finn is a man of few words and doesn’t always display his emotions. We know he loves Anna (Finola Hughes), Hayden (Rebecca Budig), his daughter Violet (Jophielle Love), his brother Chase (Josh Swickard), but we all know a bearded dragon is the one who holds his heart. Right, Roxy?
Steve (Stephen Nichols) & Kayla (Mary Beth Evans), Days of Our Lives
Time and fate tear these two apart again and again, but when Steve utters to Kayla the word “Sweetness” (his affectionate nickname for his wife) it’s like no time has passed at all. Another reunion is on the horizon for these two and it’s going to make their longtime fans very happy.
Mariah (Camryn Grimes) & Tessa (Cait Fairbanks), Young and the Restless
Mariah had a few failed relationships with men. She became intrigued by singer Tessa Porter and fell in love with her. There was a time when soaps wouldn’t entertain a same-sex duo, but Mariah and Tessa helped change all that.
Chad (Billy M. Flynn) & Abby (Kate Mansi), Days of Our Lives
DAYS joined together two long running families – the Hortons and the DiMeras – when it paired Tom and Alice Horton’s great-granddaughter Abby with the love child of Stefano DiMera and Madeline. After years of conflicts and hurdles, Chad and Abby were rewarded with a wedding – and their own series Chad & Abby in Paris on the DOOL App.
Laura (Genie Francis) & Kevin (Jon Lindstrom), General Hospital
Once you’ve been paired with not one, but two of daytime’s most popular leading men – Anthony Geary (ex-Luke) and Kin Shriner (Scotty) – as Genie Francis (Laura) has been, the question is can lightning strike again? It did when Laura and Kevin found friendship that turned to love. Fans wondered if their union was legit after it came out that Kevin’s twin Ryan was still alive. But the evil doc hadn’t switched places with his twin until after the vows were exchanged. (Whew!)
Cane (Daniel Goddard) & Lily (Christel Khalil), Young and the Restless
It’s rare that Y&R fans won’t at least entertain seeing their favorites paired romantically with someone else, even temporarily. Cane and Lily, though, are different. Fans protested if there was any disharmony between them. They’re in the history books now as both actors have left the show, but fans like to think that the characters are together somewhere.
Brad (Parry Shen) & Lucas (Ryan Carnes), General Hospital
What’s interesting about the match between lab tech Brad and Lucas, a doctor, is that their current storyline – the baby they’ve adopted isn’t theirs – has nothing to do with their sexual orientation. Before Brad came clean about their son, Wiley, not being the one they adopted, Lucas thought Brad was cheating on him. (As if!) Now, Lucas is fighting for his life following a horrific car wreck.
Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) & Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), Bold and the Beautiful
Brooke and Ridge’s love has never been so evident as now when they’re on the verge of splitting up once more. While breakups are inevitable on soaps, the good news is that makeups often follow. These two are unforgettable.
John (Larry Bryggman) & Lucinda (Elizabeth Hubbard), As the World Turns
ATWT went off the air in 2010 so, technically, John and Lucinda qualify as a favorite couple from over the last decade. In the 1980s and 1990s, these two characters squabbled like no other. It was sad that ATWT was going off the air, but it’s nice knowing somewhere John and Lucinda are out there together.
Rick (Jacob Young) & Maya (Karla Mosley), Bold and the Beautiful
Rick was stunned to learn that the woman he loved had been born a man. He looked inside himself and realized that it didn’t matter who Maya was – what was important is who she is. They’re apart now, but maybe someday they’ll get back together.
Viki (Erika Slezak) & Dorian (Robin Strasser), One Life to Live
Not only did Viki and Dorian carry their relationship to the end when ABC aired its last episode of OLTL, they picked it up again when the show enjoyed a brief revival online the following year. Dorian had wed Viki’s father, Victor, who had more than his share of control issues. As Victor’s daughter, Viki and Dorian locked horns and, as far as we know, they’re still sparring with one another.
Kevin (Greg Rikaart) & Mark (Chris L. McKenna), Young and the Restless
Okay, these two weren’t a romantic couple and neither character is gay. However, Kevin and Det. Harding sure sparred like they were in a relationship. Fans even came up with a couple name for these two, a combination of their characters’ handles — Harding and Fisher — “Harder.”
Jason (Steve Burton) & Sam (Kelly Monaco), General Hospital
They’ve worked together so long it’s as if the actors’ characters can read each other’s minds in scenes. Jason and Sam don’t need words — just each other.
Hope (Annika Noelle), Liam (Scott Clifton) & Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), Bold and the Beautiful
Over the last decade, Liam has spent so much time with each woman it’d be impossible to say which one he loves more – Hope or Steffy. Right now, it appears to be Hope – but who knows what next year will bring?
Devon (Bryton James) & Hilary (Mishael Morgan), Young and the Restless
One of the saddest love stories in Y&R history is Devon and Hilary’s. The couple wasted too many years fighting and didn’t fully realize that life was short until her untimely death. They re-wed on her deathbed and while Devon’s now moved on to Elena (Brytni Sarpy), Hilary’s doppelgänger Amanda (also played by Morgan) may chance all that.
Ben (Robert Scott Wilson) & Ciara (Victoria Konefal), Days of Our Lives
Soaps need to keep an influx of new characters and couples coming in but finding a magical pair isn’t as easy as it sounds. The show hit pay dirt with the coupling of reformed (we hope) serial killer Ben Weston and Ciara Brady, daughter of legendary duo Bo (Peter Reckell) and Kristian Alfonso (Hope). The best gift the show could give these fans is not a wedding but a storyline tweak in which Ben is revealed not to be a killer at all.
Carly (Laura Wright) & Sonny (Maurice Benard), General Hospital
These two never seemed more in love than when Carly stepped up and helped Sonny deal with the fact that his dad, Mike (Max Gail), has Alzheimer’s. Soaps are about couples, sure, but they’re also about something even more important — family.
Soaps are about nothing if they’re not about couples!
Over the last decade, daytime fans have seen couples make up and break up. Some have continued on having been established years ago. Others are newer. And some were platonic pairings that still had fans riveted by their relationships.
Click through the gallery for a look back at 25 couples that captured the hearts of fans in the 2010s. Check ‘em out and let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments below!
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