Favorite Couples Outside of the Core Teen Dramas

Sep 27, 2021

I love LoVe — and a few other couples outside of the core teen dramas.

I have five all-time favorite couples spanning “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “The O.C.,” and “One Tree Hill,” as well as favorites on “Gossip Girl” and even “90210.” But beyond the core teen dramas, a few other pairings have captured my heart.

Ephram & Amy, “Everwood”

“Everwood,” which I consider a family drama, is one of my absolute favorite series that isn’t a core teen drama. Ephram (Gregory Smith) and Amy (Emily VanCamp) are a big reason why. From the show’s start, I wanted them together, even though Amy’s comatose boyfriend was quite the complicating factor. I still get chills thinking about my favorite exchange (“You’re gonna have to stop doing that, you know?” “What?” Saying things that make me wanna kiss you.” “You too.”) and their resolution in the series finale was just perfect.

Logan & Veronica, “Veronica Mars”

Talk about an ending that totally, absolutely was not perfect. You would’ve never guessed Logan (Jason Dohring) and Veronica (Kristen Bell, aka the voice of Gossip Girl) would get together when “Veronica Mars” began… but you would’ve never guessed their story would end so tragically, either. I mean, I love me some angst, like in my favorite clip below, but Rob Thomas did us LoVe shippers dirty.

Zack & Kelly, “Saved by the Bell”

“Saved by the Bell” was a lot of things. It was probably the first show that made me feel attached to a couple. It was also probably the first show that taught me heartbreak. When Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen, aka Valerie on “Beverly Hills, 90210”) broke up outside the costume ball, with Jessie and Slater singing “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” well, I fell in love with that song. But I also found myself crushed… and rooting for them every time they found their way back together.

Ross & Rachel, “Friends”

From their first kiss to season 4’s relationship retrospective to “I got off the plane,” I was on board with Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) the whole time. After all, he’s her lobster. And “The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break” and “The One With the Morning After” are two of the best episodes of television, period, in my book.

Jess & Rory, “Gilmore Girls”

Look, I like a bad boy. (See Logan above.) I like when two people yearn for one another in spite of their circumstances. (See Ephram and Amy above.) And while Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) definitely had times when they weren’t good for one another, she made him want to be a better person and he ultimately did the same for her too. He may not be the father of her baby, but I still think they could have a happy ending.

What are some of your favorite couples outside of the core teen dramas?