‘New Girl,’ ‘Ted Lasso’ & More of TV’s Most Memorable Friends-to-Lovers Romances
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One of the world’s favorite tropes to watch, friends to lovers, is extremely prevalent in various shows throughout the years, from beloved comedies like Friends and The Office to more recent ones like Sex Education and Ted Lasso.
There’s just something about a slow-burning romance between best friends that captivates the audience like no other. Since fans have most likely been rooting for the two to get together all along, they feel like they are a part of the relationship.
This dynamic has been loved for years, maybe the sweetest yet most predictable pathway to romance on television. Let’s go back in time and see some of the most memorable friends to lovers to date!
Sam and Diane, Cheers
Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) are the original friends to lovers in the ’80s series. Though most of their relationship is spent fighting, that’s what friends do, right? Once Diane opens up to Sam about her depression after her cat passes away, it’s clear these two are very sympathetic toward each other and have an unmatched tension.
One problem: They are complete opposites, the underlying issue for the entire series. But it makes their “will they or won’t they dynamic” much more enjoyable. Diane is a threat to Sam’s masculinity, they come from very different backgrounds, and she overthinks while he never contemplates his actions or their impact. The buildup to the two getting together is intense, and once they do, unfortunately, they fight constantly. Sam proposes, and Diane goes back and forth for a long time. This allows the show to keep pulling fans in with the back-and-forth of their relationship.
However, while they almost get married in the end, ultimately, the wedding is canceled, and they do not end up together.
Monica and Chandler, Friends
Debatably one of the best couples in television history, Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox) are the perfect, most adorable, sweetest friends-to-lovers story still to this day. Monica’s brother, Ross (David Schwimmer), is friends with Chandler in college, and he famously calls her fat, which Monica hints at being the reason she decides to lose weight.
After four seasons of being best friends and precious moments alluding to something potentially happening, they finally get together: Before Ross’s wedding to Emily (Helen Baxendale), Monica stumbles into Chandler’s hotel room looking for Joey (Matt LeBlanc), but as fate would have it, that’s the start of their road to love and happiness.
They get engaged at the end of Season 6 (with Monica, then Chandler proposing) and end the series adopting two kids and moving to the suburbs. It’s rare to see a couple on television having little to no problems, but that’s what happens here.
Jim and Pam, The Office
From the start, it is clear that Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are best friends who lean on each other for everything. They have the most endearing dynamic, and fans immediately root for them to get together.
However, Pam’s engaged to Roy (David Denman), who works in the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. warehouse. In Season 2, Jim and Pam grow closer, and at The Dundies award show, they kiss but decide to pretend it never happened. At the end of the season, after a casino night, Jim confesses his love and they kiss again, but Pam decides to stay with Roy.
Theirs is the most aggravating friends-to-lovers story because they are so obviously perfect for each other; their chemistry is so organic, it is almost too real. Jim moves to a different office and becomes involved with his new co-worker, Karen (Rashida Jones) … just as Pam finally realizes how much she loves him and breaks off her engagement. But by the end of Season 3, they’re officially together, and by the series finale, they’re married with two children and living happily ever after.
Santana and Brittany, Glee
From the beginning, there are signs that cheerleaders and best friends Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany (Heather Morris) may have feelings for each other. They’re always together, giggling, chatting, or simply exchanging intense looks during songs. Viewers know how harsh Santana can come across, but she becomes soft and loving when she is with Brittany.
It’s not until Season 2 that they finally kiss, but their relationship isn’t without its obstacles, such as jealousy, other love interests, and Santana’s fear of coming out. In Season 3, their relationship is finally official, but the following year, Santana goes off to college while Brittany repeats her senior year and is miserable. It’s too hard for them to make long-distance work. They iconically sing “Valerie” together, evoking a lot of emotions — and the idea of running away together. In Season 6, all becomes right in the world, and they get married. Though they experience a few rough patches, these best friends find a way to put their love first.
Jess and Nick, New Girl
This one adds a layer of roommates-to-lovers. In the first episode, Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moves in with Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.). At first, Nick is annoyed by her; both are going through breakups, and she’s crying. The pair grows closer, then in Season 2, Jess and Nick finally share their first kiss in the hallway of their apartment, an iconic and tension-filled moment. However, neither admits their feelings for the other until, later in the season, Nick asks Jess out, and they finally get together.
At the end of Season 3, however, they break up, believing they have nothing in common other than their feelings. Three seasons later, Schmidt knocks some sense into Nick, telling him he’s been in love with Jess since she first moved in. She’s about to move out, only to decide to tell him how she feels, just as Nick runs up to “tell my best friend I’m in love with her.” They share a magical kiss, and three years later, the couple is happily married and in love.
Jake and Amy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Jake (Andy Samberg) and Amy (Melissa Fumero) are partners, competitors, and, ultimately, spouses at the 99th precinct. Throughout the show, the duo turns their witty, competitive banter into realizing they have true feelings for each other. It may be true that the person who makes fun of you the most is in love with you. Amy is an incredibly strong, Type-A, intelligent woman who is passionate about her job and doing everything perfectly. On the other hand, Jake is a goofball who loves to make bets and make everyone laugh. But they both have quite the competitive side.
In Season 3, they start dating, and while things are a bit awkward at first and they even question if they should backtrack, they acknowledge how they truly feel about each other. Season 5’s Halloween heist features Jake proposing (she says yes!). They do marry (but not without hijinks, including a bomb threat), and by the end of the series, they have a son and are extremely happy.
Ola and Lily, Sex Education
Ola (Patricia Allison) is a new student at Moordale Secondary that Lily (Tanya Reynolds) takes under her wing. She shows her around, introduces her to people, and makes her feel welcome. She warns her of who to avoid, the unique dynamics of their school, and its students.
At first, Ola’s involved with Otis (Asa Butterfield), with the two sharing their first kiss at the end of Season 1. By the next season, however, they realize they want other people; Ola dreams about kissing her best friend, Lily. She comes out as pansexual, breaks up with Otis, and tells Lily how she feels. Season 2 ends with the beginning of Ola and Lila’s relationship and Season 3 with the two no longer just besties but also the loves of each other’s lives.
Devi and Ben, Never Have I Ever
Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Ben’s (Jaren Lewison) journey is actually that of enemies-to-lovers, with the two competing to see who’s smarter since childhood. But once they do become friends, and though they have relationships with other people, Ben kisses Devi. At first, she chooses Paxton (Darren Barnet), but that changes after Ben helps spread Devi’s father’s (Sendhil Ramamurthy) ashes. She’s not ready to let Paxton go and tries to date both of them, but when they find out, she’s left alone.
At the end of Season 3, Devi makes the first move in a while and shows up at Ben’s house with a “one free boink card.” The season that follows takes us on the rollercoaster of their relationship. Ben returns to school with a new girlfriend, Margot (Victoria Moroles), and Devi is heartbroken. She struggles with college applications, meets new boys, and ultimately realizes Ben is the one for her.
Devi is devastated when she learns Ben must spend the summer in New York City, but in the finale, he flies back to attend her grandmother’s (Ranjita Chakravarty) wedding. They both admit their strong feelings for each other have been there from the beginning and stay together as they prepare to head to college. All is left right in their world.
Roy and Keeley, Ted Lasso
This series is special because it focuses more on the healthy, comical friendships of the characters rather than forcing them into relationships. Of course, there are a few exceptions. At the beginning of the series, Keeley (Juno Temple) is dating Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), with the two quite the dysfunctional, flashy couple. She soon realizes how selfish he is and breaks up with him. One of Jamie’s teammates, Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), though not showing obvious interest, seems to have a soft spot for Keeley, and the two share sweet little interactions.
After the breakup, Roy and Keeley slowly but surely start dating. She’s a rainbow in a human being, always happy, driven, and wanting to share her feelings, whereas Roy is a closed book and famously grunts his way through life. (It’s why they work so well.) Keeley supports Roy through everything, including holding him after his career-ending injury, being there for his niece (Elodie Blomfield), and ultimately pushing him to continue doing what he loves and making him a better person overall.
They live together and work together, and issues arise: Roy becomes too dependent on Keeley since he’s never had such an amazing relationship, and she makes it clear she needs her space. Though she loves him, she has a clear life path that she wants to take alone, and they break up off-screen between Seasons 2 and 3.
In what might very well be the final season, Jamie realizes he is still in love with Keeley, while Roy struggles to get over her. She explores other romantic options and picks herself in the end, making it clear they’re better off as friends…for now?
