Top 10 TV Couple Breakup Scenes

Love begins to blossom between these two high school students during the first season of this iconic teen drama. Their relationship faces a major hurdle when Brenda fears that she may be pregnant. Although it turns out she isn’t, Brenda feels that things are moving too fast and breaks things off with Dylan. For the next few years, it appears that the young couple may potentially get back together. Any hope for their reconciliation is shattered, however, when Dylan has an affair with Kelly, Brenda’s best friend. As you can probably guess, Brenda doesn’t take the news well.

From its pilot episode, this sitcom established that Robin wouldn’t be the mother of Ted’s children. Despite wanting different things out of life, Ted and Robin entered a committed relationship for a whole season nevertheless. Although the audience knew this wouldn’t last, there’s no denying these two characters shared marvelous chemistry. Watching them inevitably break up made us feel bluer than the French horn. Ted and Robin would rekindle their romance in the series finale. By that point, however, we were all kind of rooting for Ted to live happily ever after with the mother.

Mindy views her life as if it were a romantic comedy. Of course, no rom-com would be complete without a tear-jerking breakup. Just as they start to address their feelings for each other, Danny informs Mindy that he wants to keep their relationship a secret. Mindy gives Danny an ultimatum: they can either become a real couple or call things off. This backfires, as Danny doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. Yeah, we’ve all heard that one before. Fortunately, it doesn’t take too long for Danny and Mindy to finally reconcile at the top of the Empire State Building, borrowing from the classic rom-com “Sleepless in Seattle,” in true Mindy fashion.

Seth and Summer were easily everyone’s favorite couple on “The O.C.,” making thisbreakup especially painful to endure. After Summer gets into Brown, she decides to stay behind with Seth, who got rejected. Only wanting the best for his girlfriend, Seth breaks up with Summer so she can move on to greater things. Even after Summer makes a grand romantic gesture, Seth still insists that he doesn’t love her anymore. While he had good intentions, lying to Summer remains one of Seth’s most debatable choices. At least the truth comes out in time and the two get their happy ending. Ah, beauty and the geek.

Sharing an on-again, off-again relationship since the first episode of “Pretty Little Liars,” Aria and Ezra’s romance has been a true emotional rollercoaster. With Aria leaving for college towards the end of season five, the couple comes to the mutual decision to make a clean break. The end of Ezria left shippers everywhere stricken with grief. At the same time, their breakup proved to be surprisingly identifiable. It also exemplified Aria’s growth, leaving high school behind and becoming an adult. Besides, we have a feeling that things aren’t entirely over between these two just yet.

As far as we’re concerned, Joey, Pacey, and Dawson are still the ultimate TV love triangle. Joey would eventually choose Team Pacey, but their relationship wasn’tsmooth sailing from there on. With college on the horizon, Pacey starts to fear that he’s not good enough for Joey. He unleashes his insecurities in the middle of senior prom, furiously rocking the boat. Infuriated by her boyfriend’s public outburst, Joey tells him to go to hell and abandons the ship. This might’ve given some hope to those who were championing Team Dawson. In the end, though, Joey and Pacey rein as the creek’s definitive couple.

Although Callie and Arizona’s breakup hit us hard, the end of Christina and Preston’s relationship was an even bigger bombshell. It was a rocky road to the altar for thiscouple and their nuptials didn’t exactly go off without a hitch. Seeing that his apprehensive bride clearly isn’t ready for marriage, Burke calls off their wedding. Of course the real reason was because actor Isaiah Washington got fired. Unable to breathe in her dress, Christina is left with a broken heart that can’t be mended through modern medicine. While her romance with Preston wasn’t built to last, Cristina’s friendship with Meredith would remain unbreakable.

Buffy and Angel made for a great team, and an even greater power couple. Seeing how one is an ageless vampire and the other is the vampire slayer, though, their relationship naturally had its complications. Knowing that he’ll only cause Buffy more pain, Angel makes the difficult decision to break up with her and move away. Buffy can’t believe this news and the audience is just as crushed, but at least Angel is now free to pursue his own spinoff series. Both of their shows concluded without a romantic reconciliation, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed Buffy and Angel end up together in the comics.

While Carrie and Mr. Big split up numerous times, it was her second breakup with Aidan that left us bawling. After she accepted Aidan’s marriage proposal, it looked like Carrie Bradshaw was officially spoken for. Alas, their engagement would only last acouple episodes. Where Aidan is 100% ready for marriage, Carrie is unsure she’ll ever be ready to tie the knot. It doesn’t help that Aidan could never fully trust Carrie after her affair. Unable to reach a compromise, their relationship comes to a bitter end. Well, at least it’s better than getting broken up with via post-it note.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-)

Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf
“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)

Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes
“Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)

Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence
“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)

Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott
“One Tree Hill” (2003-12)

While Ross and Rachel’s breakup stands out as one of the most dramatic moments on “Friends,” it also incorporated a fair deal of humor to balance things out. Part of it derives from Rachel’s animosity towards Ross after learning he slept with another woman. We also get some strong comedy from the rest of the cast, who have been trapped inside a neighboring bedroom. Ultimately, however, the fight works up to a devastating conclusion in which Rachel tells Ross it’s over. Several years later, the two finally sorted their feelings out in the series finale. For the record, though, they weren’t on a break.