Top 10 Most Shocking TV Couple Breakups
#10: Rory & Dean
“Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)
Top 10 Rory Gilmore Moments That Make Us Yell at Our TVs
Throughout the series, Rory navigated her feelings for her two main love interests, Dean and Jess. During a dance marathon in a season three episode, Rory’s focus became clearer as she and Jess expressed their feelings for one another, but there was just one problem – Rory was still dating Dean. Considering Dean was Rory’s first kiss, first love, and her off and on love interest for the first few seasons, we were stunned when she made the choice to go for Jess. Although this may not have officially been the end for Rory and Dean, it was still a surprising turning point in the series.
#9: Brooke & Lucas
“One Tree Hill” (2003-12)
Top 10 Times Brooke Davis was the Best Character on One Tree Hill
There were many romantic entanglements with this high-school-turned-adult friend group, and one that was unexpectedly adorable was Brucas. Lucas and Peyton had stood out early in the show as potential love interests, so when Lucas ended up with Peyton’s best friend, Brooke, we were pretty surprised. They ended up realizing that despite their attraction, there weren’t many commonalities between them, and that, mixed with his lingering feelings for Peyton, led to their demise. Their emotional break up showed unforeseen vulnerabilities in both of them, and left us in awe of what their relationship could’ve been like under different circumstances.
#8: Jess & Nick
“New Girl” (2011-18)
Top 10 Nick & Jess Moments on New Girl
For the first few seasons of “New Girl,” we waited not so patiently for these two reluctant roommates to get together. The chemistry between them was evident from the start, and we were over the moon when they got together near the end of season two. But they both carried some baggage that caused trouble in their relationship, like Nick’s inability to communicate and Jess’s unrealistic expectations. These all came to a boiling point at the end of season three, when after attending a wedding together they decide they are on different pages and call it quits. Considering how long it took them to get to this point, we were shocked that they ended things so abruptly.
#7: Cristina & Burke
“Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
Top 10 Times Meredith & Cristina from Grey's Anatomy Were BFF Goals
These two were part of the original surgical residents in the series, and their competitive nature was a clear commonality from the beginning that ended up driving them together romantically. We were shown that balancing their demanding careers with their relationship wasn’t easy, and we saw them tackle their fair share of issues, but when Cristina discovered Burke’s hand tremor, everything changed. They got engaged after the hand tremor was revealed, and it turned out their problems were only beginning. Burke and Cristina called off the wedding the day of and Burke ended up leaving, even handing in his resignation, turning Cristina’s world upside down and dropping our jaws to the floor.
#6: Donna & Eric
“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
Donna and Eric had been friends since they were children, with Eric crushing on her practically forever. Eric won her heart in the first season, battling Hyde for it, and near the end of the third season, Eric decided to show his commitment to Donna with a promise ring. Donna accepted at first, but got overwhelmed at the implication of the ring, fearing that they were too young to know what they wanted. When she gave the ring back, Eric broke up with her, and we were shocked to see that this break-up lasted for an entire season and wouldn’t be their last. We were so happy that the finale saw them finally get together.
#5: Amy & Sheldon
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
Top 10 TV Couple Relationships That Ended Badly
We rated Howard and Raj as unlikely to find long term partners but thought Sheldon was an even longer shot. So when his friends thought it would be interesting to create an online dating profile for him, we were as shocked as they were to find a match in Amy Farrah Fowler. She shared many personality traits with him and was similarly well-educated, but they both struggled to navigate this new relationship. These difficulties led to Amy calling it a day at the end of season eight. If that wasn’t unbelievable enough, it was revealed right after that Sheldon had an engagement ring for Amy, and our hearts were collectively shattered.
#4: Blair & Chuck
“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
Top 10 Unforgettable Chuck and Blair Moments
This couple had more ups and downs than most, and were on again and off again through most of the series. Even though they eventually ended up getting married and having a son together, they had to battle through some particularly brutal and unexpected times first. One of these occurred in season three, when Chuck orchestrated a scheme to defeat his uncle, and used Blair to achieve this. When Jack told her how Chuck involved her in his mess, she was devastated, and it was crushing to watch the scene in which she confronted Chuck about this. She told him how all she ever did was love him, and it was truly devastating and disconcerting to watch.
#3: Ian & Mickey
“Shameless” (2011-21)
The Shocking True Story of Sins of Our Mother
This relationship was perhaps one of the most unexpected on “Shameless,” but quickly became one of the most beloved. Their families didn’t exactly get along and Mickey’s father tragically deeply disapproved of his son’s sexuality. But one of the toughest moments they encountered was Ian’s struggle with his untreated bipolar disorder. Mickey believed he could help him through the drastic highs and lows he was experiencing, but Ian couldn’t put him through that. Mickey broke up with him upon realizing their relationship was no longer working. It was clear that there was still so much love between them, which made this parting even more shocking, and we were so thankful that this break up didn’t last forever.
#2: Alexis & Ted
“Schitt’s Creek” (2015-20)
Top 10 Alexis & Ted Moments on Schitt's Creek
The first time Ted and Alexis got together, they had a fun-loving relationship, but it wasn’t meant to last. It took a few seasons for her to realize her true feelings for Ted, after working for him and watching him fall for someone else. We couldn’t have been happier when they finally got back together. During their time together, Alexis started her career in PR while Ted got an opportunity to work in the Galapagos, and they realized that they had to follow their dreams down paths that would take them away from one another. It was a surprising break-up, but it was also a mature moment of personal growth for both of them.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Veronica & Logan, “Veronica Mars” (2004-07; 2019)
When Logan’s Father is Acquitted, He and Veronica Shockingly Call It Quits
Mindy & Danny, “The Mindy Project” (2012-17)
The Classic Battle of Career Vs. Romance Led to This Couple’s Demise
Maggie & Alex, “Supergirl” (2015-21)
When These Two Can’t Agree About Having Kids in Their Future, They Surprisingly Split
Olivia & Fitz, “Scandal” (2012-18)
The High Stakes of Their Relationship Takes a Toll That Ends Their Entanglement
Rachel & Finn, “Glee” (2009-15)
On the Day That Would’ve Been Their Wedding, Finn Sends Rachel to New York
#1: Lily & Marshall
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
Top 10 Funniest Lily Moments on How I Met Your Mother
While Ted was on his quest for love, his two best friends were a steadfast example of what true love looked like. That was until the end of the first season, when Lily applied to an art program across the country during a time that would interfere with her and Marshall’s wedding. This was Lily’s realization that she hadn’t experienced enough on her own before settling down, and the roller coaster that she and Marshall experienced as a result was soul crushing. They eventually found their way back to each other, marrying and having three kids by the end of the series, but this break up was a highly unexpected and heartbreaking way to end the first season.
Let us know which break-up left you dumbfounded in the comments.
