Happy Valentine’s Day TV fans! When it comes to defining what makes a OTP (one true pairing) on television, what comes to mind? Is it the passionate and fiery moments between these two characters or is it more about an everlasting love that stands the test of time? Whether it involves sacrifice and heartbreak or compromise and understanding, there are some couples on television who truly encompass the essence of love.
It’s rare to find that happy ending that we read about in fairy-tales, but these OTPs are not for lack of trying. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch any of these series yet. Please also note that sitcoms were not included for today’s list. My top 5 One True Pairings on television are:
5
Veronica & Logan from Veronica Mars.
Logan: “I thought our story was epic, you know you and me?”
Veronica: “Epic how?”
Logan: “Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined, bloodshed. EPIC…”
Although Veronica Mars only lasted for three seasons, it still gave fans plenty of time to ship Veronica and Logan. While the beginning of the series focuses on her feelings for her former love, Duncan, Veronica also seems to initially despise Logan. On the surface, Logan is selfish and cruel, refusing to apologize for his actions. When Veronica and Logan team up later on in season one, you cannot deny the sparks flying between these two. Logan lets his guard down for Veronica and they fall in love with each other.
These two do not ride off into the sunset, however; as they are in for their fair share of ups and downs. At the end of the season one cliffhanger, fans are not sure who is on the other side of the door for Veronica when she says, “I was hoping it would be you.” Once season 2 premieres, we learn that it was Logan waiting for her on the other end, but she is now dating Duncan to make things even more complicated. Even when Veronica and Logan are not together, Logan clearly cares about Veronica more than anyone else. He constantly proves his love for her and defends her honor, not caring about the consequences.
While Logan may initially lack the stability that Veronica ultimately needs, his love for her is unchanging. At the end of the series, Logan and Veronica are not back together, leaving fans disappointed. However, when the Veronica Mars film was released years later, Veronica and Logan finally got the happy ending they deserved. It was worth the wait!
4
Piper & Leo from Charmed.
“Leo, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was afraid that you were too good to be true, that maybe I didn’t deserve someone so pure and beautiful and loving as you are…Leo I was born to love you and I always will.”
At the beginning of the Charmed series, the blossoming relationship between Piper and Leo is delightful and real. Piper’s sister, Phoebe even initially competes with her to win Leo’s affection, but it’s always been clear where Leo’s heart lies. As Piper’s white lighter, it is forbidden for them to be together, but they cannot deny their connection. Piper and Leo have been through so much together and Leo is even ripped away from her by the elders during their first attempt at a wedding.
Ultimately, Piper and Leo are meant for each other. However, they go through quite a lot on the way and are tested constantly. Piper and Leo have two beautiful sons, Wyatt and Chris, and form a beautiful family together, constantly trying to keep this priority above all others. While Piper is known for her quick temper, Leo balances her out and always keeps her calm. When they are apart, it’s truly heartbreaking, as fans recognize the selfless love these two have for one another.
Piper and Leo do get their happy ending and keep their friendship and love strong in the process. There is something so believable and undeniable between Piper and Leo, still holding the test of time and reminding us what true love is all about.
3
Emma & Hook from Once Upon a Time.
“When I win your heart, Emma, and I will win it. It will not be because of any trickery. It will be because you want me.”
When the devilishly handsome Captain Hook sailed into our hearts on OUAT, he initially was out for revenge. While Hook innocently flirted with Emma from the start, his love for her allowed him to grow as a character and to learn from his wicked past. Hook was always used to taking the easy way out and making decisions based on how well it suited him.
Emma changed this perspective, however; proving that he could be a selfless man. When Hook realized his strong feelings for Emma, he even backed down and explained that she should be with Neal so that Henry could have his family all together. Hook truly loved Emma at this point, but was willing to sacrifice this so that she could find happiness. Later, when they did end up together, Emma’s power became too great and evil corrupted her heart. The only thing that could bring her back to goodness was Hook’s love for her.
Emma and Hook had one of the most beautiful relationships on television and their wedding at the end of season 6 was touching and heart-warming. Hook’s love for Emma transformed him from a villain into a hero one can be proud of, who will never stop fighting for the one he loves. Now that’s a fairy-tale ending!
2
Buffy & Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Angel: “This isn’t some fairy-tale. When I kiss you…you don’t wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after.”
Buffy: “No, when you kiss me, I wanna die.”
This list would not be complete without including Buffy and Angel. Known as the vampire cursed with a soul, Angel is initially used to being on his own, lurking in the shadows and staying clear of human connections. When he crosses paths with Buffy, he realizes that he has a chance to turn his destiny around and do some good. However, he falls in love with her along the way.
Buffy and Angel’s love is touching and romantic initially, making fans everywhere swoon this ship. When Buffy and Angel consummate their love, he experiences a moment of true happiness and the curse is broken, freeing his soul in the process. As a result of this, Angelus is released, the pure vampire killer with no remorse or guilt and he begins torturing Buffy and her friends. Buffy is completely heart-broken but she proves her strength when she goes up against Angel, knowing that she must defeat him to protect the world. She recognizes that the good man she came to know and love is gone, leaving only a shell of a monster behind. After Buffy sacrifices Angel, he returns from Hell with his soul intact but their relationship is so complicated and shattered at this point. They love each other but they know that they can’t get too close because of the consequences.
They try out being friends and the villainous vampire, Spike even points out that they can never be friends because their love for one another is messy and passionate. At the end of season 3, Buffy and Angel part ways as Angel leaves the show for his spin-off, but not before he shows up at her prom to dance with her one last time, reminding her that he will always be there for her.
Although Buffy and Angel do not end up together and have other relationships along the way, they both recognize how much they truly care for one another. They have a love that transcends romance, understanding that even though they are apart; they are always together on some level.
Some honorable mentions before revealing my favorite OTP are:
- Blair & Chuck from Gossip Girl
- Brenda & Dylan from Beverly Hills, 90210
- Michael & Sara from Prison Break
- Maggie & Glenn from The Walking Dead
- Octavia & Lincoln from the 100
- Piper & Alex from Orange is the New Black
- Kev & V from Shameless
- Ian & Mickey from Shameless
- Seth & Summer from The OC
- Damon & Elena from The Vampire Diaries
- Phoebe & Cole from Charmed
- Buffy & Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Desmond & Penny from Lost
- Sawyer & Juliet from Lost
- Mike & Susan from Desperate Housewives
- Tara & Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Clarke and Lexa from The 100
- Sookie & Eric from True Blood
- Nathan & Haley from One Tree Hill
- Alice & Robin from Once Upon a Time
- Cheryl & Toni from Riverdale
1
Sun & Jin from Lost.
“I was going to leave you. I was going to get away…but you made me change my mind.”
My all-time favorite OTP has to go to Sun & Jin from Lost. For me, Sun and Jin have a love that is very different from other characters on television. This is mostly because their love is the most real. Their love isn’t perfect and there are times where they do temporarily give up on one another and forget about why they fell in love in the first place. But this is what makes their love so important. Real love isn’t out of a fairy-tale; although I’m sure we would like it to be. Real love is about compromise and accepting that we will make mistakes along the way.
Sun has an affair with another man and even contemplates leaving Jin and running away at the airport. However, Jin shows her that he is holding a small white flower, just like when they first met and she changes her mind. It breaks Jin’s heart when he finds out that Sun speaks English, representing another lie she kept from him for so long. Both Sun and Jin are looking to prove themselves to the other, only to later realize that their love is enough. The fact that they are able to forgive each other for mistakes they made before, shows the viewer what true love is all about. Sun and Jin truly find themselves together as a couple and learn to love each other more than they thought possible.
After they are separated numerous times, they are finally reunited, not realizing that it will be short-lived. Right after they are reunited, Sun gets pinned under metal in the sinking submarine and Jin is unable to free her. Sun demands that he go and save himself, but Jin won’t leave her. He will never leave her again. Their death is one of the saddest for me to watch on television and the image of them holding hands under water as they take their last breaths, proves that they will never be apart again.
I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own comments and thoughts about some of your favorite OTPs on television. Thanks for reading! Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
@TV_Fanatic_Girl
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My favourite Emma and Hook…. epic!
Yes they are absolutely wonderful! I love them too!
Ah great pic for number one! Though I totally hated him in the beginning it really was a great relationship as the story unfolded.
Thank you! I totally agree about Jin. I think that’s why I liked them so much in the end. They both transformed so much as individuals and as a couple and their love wasn’t perfect but it was real and beautiful. They make me cry like no other couple on TV!