There’s magic in reading or watching fictional characters fall in love. You know they’re make-believe, but the emotions they evoke from you are real. Next thing you know, you’re bawling your eyes out as butterflies flutter in your stomach.
That being said, many fictional characters have set the bar high for most people. And why wouldn’t they? The idea of undying love is certainly something to aspire to.
Fictional Couples
From their meet-cutes to their up-and-downs, fictional couples make you feel invested in a story. You want to know how things progress and whether a happy ever after is in sight. Below are a few of these couples, whose journey of love can make anyone go “awww”.
1. Carl and Ellie from Up
Carl and Ellie start as mutual fans of a famed explorer and slowly grow into the loving couple shown above. Though their life story is only shown in a quick montage, they not only manage to show what a healthy relationship is but also captivate every Disney and Pixar fan’s heart.
2. Monica Geller and Chandler Bing from Friends
Friends might push Ross and Rachel as the main couple but Monica and Chandler easily steal the spotlight. They fell in love, never took a “break”, and just kept on going as the series went on. They’re the opposite of the former, who had an unsure attitude to their relationship up to the series finale.
3. Jay and Gloria from Modern Family
When they’re first introduced, you’d think Jay and Gloria are your run-of-the-mill rich old dude with a trophy wife. But as seasons pass, you get to understand how false that is.
Though both are from different cultures and age brackets, their differences become the catalyst for one another’s growth. Gloria softens Jay’s hard exterior, allowing him to better express his love for his family. Jay is Gloria’s rock, helping her navigate the intricacies of American culture, language, and everyday life.
4. Frodo and Sam from The Lord of the Rings
While not a romantic couple, Frodo and Sam easily top the list when it comes to loyalty. Though they seem to have a master-servant relationship at first, that all melts away as they confront an unfamiliar world and the powers that covet the One Ring.
5. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy from The Muppets
Miss Piggy’s been chasing Kermit the Frog since the debut of The Muppet Show. Though she’s constantly rebuffed, Kermit eventually reciprocates her feelings and they get married. It’s been an on-again/off-again rollercoaster since then.
6. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley from Harry Potter
Hermione and Ron’s journey could be one of the best-executed friends-to-lovers tropes in recent fiction. From mildly annoyed with each other to awkwardly in love, there’s a natural progression in how their romance developed.
7. Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin from How I Met Your Mother
While Ted was in a perpetual romantic crisis, Marshall and Lily were already building their lives together. They’re the kind of couple you’d cringe at but also be envious of.
They called each other the cutest names, did almost everything together, and generally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Even when they broke up, you just knew they’d be back together soon.
8. Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean
The romance between Elizabeth and Will was as defining for their characters as Jack’s drunken swagger was for him. To them, love was always the end goal despite the many challenges the seas threw at them. Even the curse of Davy Jones couldn’t keep them apart.
9. Joel and Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The story might have started with them already broken up but as things unfold, you get to see all the ups and downs of their relationship. And though they erase their memories of one another, they still find each other again.
10. Westley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride
Westley and Buttercup’s love story is a whirlwind of events that all started with a simple “As you wish”. Though it seems their journey came to an abrupt and sad end, their reunion (shown above) is one of the most iconic scenes in film history.
She even throws herself down after him when she realizes who’s really behind the mask. To be fair, she did push him off the cliff, but her unhesitant actions confirm how much she loves Westley.
11. Rachel and Nick from Crazy Rich Asians
Turns out, having a crazy rich partner isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you’re dealing with their crazy rich family. But hey, Nick is 100% all in for Rachel and is ready to fight his family for her.
And Rachel? She never got blinded by all the wealth and was even willing to go toe-to-toe with Nick’s domineering mother when it comes to love.
12. Gus and Hazel The Fault in Our Stars
It seems like a doomed romance at the beginning but while the story does have a sad ending, it’s more bitter-sweet than just plain old depressed. The time they have, while short, has a deep and transformative effect on both of them.
13. Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate from Parks And Recreation
Andy and April are the definition of opposites attract. Andy’s a bumbling goofball akin to a golden retriever while April’s a goth-like gem full to bursting with sarcasm and apathy. You would think they can’t possibly work, but time and again they’re able to move past romantic stereotypes and be comfortable in their differences.
14. Maggie and Glenn from The Walking Dead
The last thing you’d expect during the end of the world is to find love. Everyone’s in survival mode, especially when there are hordes of zombies just waiting to chomp on you. Maggie and Glenn found it though and made it work—at least, until Glenn’s curveball demise.
15. Gomez and Morticia from The Addams Family
Their eccentricities aside, Gomez and Morticia are simply enamored with one another. In almost every scene that they’re together, one of them always finds a way to declare their love.
16. Shrek and Fiona from Shrek
These two are the definition of appearance isn’t everything. Fiona, despite having the option to remain human, fully embraces her curse to be with Shrek, the grumpy ogre that he is. Quite fortunately too, because Prince Charming turns out to be a real rotten egg.
Relationships in Fiction
Everyone has a fictional relationship they aspire to have. They make you believe in love and actively work towards claiming even some semblance of what you see on TV.
Of course, some of these relationships are downright impossible which has led to a few unrealistic standards. Reality can be a bit disappointing, but if you’re with a good partner, these are the things you talk about and work around.
That being said, fictional couples have a powerful pull on you. You laugh over their ups and cry over their downs, eagerly waiting for how things are going to end.
What other fictional couples do you love? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
