Fan-Favorite TV Couples Who Didn't End Up Together

There’s nothing like a good love story on TV — even if it doesn’t end up the way that fans want. For years, there have been couples who have garnered huge fan bases , but still don’t end up together like Dawson’s Creek ’s Dawson Leery ( James Van Der Beek ) and Joey Potter ( Katie Holmes ). When Kevin Williamson created the series, he was convinced that Joey would end up with her best friend and “star-crossed lover,” Dawson.

However, that shifted quite a bit over the course of six seasons — and ended with her choosing Pacey ( Joshua Jackson ). “To me, Dawson and Joey are soul mates. And then I kept thinking, one thing I’ve learned in my life is that my soulmate isn’t necessarily my romantic love,” Williamson told Entertainment Weekly in 2018.



“So I was trying to put that in place with Dawson and Joey professing their forever to each other. And then we revealed that she chose her romantic love, which was Pacey.” You have successfully subscribed.

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Joey and Dawson were just one of many famous TV couples who didn’t end up together when the finale aired. Scroll through the gallery below for more: Credit: Getty Images(2) ; ABC(2) Fan-Favorite TV Couples Who Didn't End Up Together There's nothing like a good love story on TV — even if it doesn't end up the way that fans want.For years, there have been couples who have garnered huge fan bases , but still don’t end up together like Dawson's Creek ’s Dawson Leery ( James Van Der Beek ) and Joey Potter ( Katie Holmes ).

When Kevin Williamson created the series, he was convinced that Joey would end up with her best friend and “star-crossed lover,” Dawson. However, that shifted quite a bit over the course of six seasons — and ended with her choosing Pacey ( Joshua Jackson ).“To me, Dawson and Joey are soul mates.

And then I kept thinking, one thing I’ve learned in my life is that my soulmate isn’t necessarily my romantic love,” Williamson told Entertainment Weekly in 2018. “So I was trying to put that in place with Dawson and Joey professing their forever to each other. And then we revealed that she chose her romantic love, which was Pacey.

”Joey and Dawson were just one of many famous TV couples who didn’t end up together when the finale aired.Scroll through the gallery below for more: Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix JJ and Kiara ('Outer Banks') After three seasons of build-up, Kiara and JJ had everything that pointed to them being endgame. Season 4, however, had different ideas and instead chose to kill off JJ and leaving Kiara grief-stricken.

Credit: Sever Zolak/MASTERPIECE Eliza and William (‘Miss Scarlet and the Duke’) During the first four seasons of the PBS Masterpiece series, Eliza Scarlet ( Kate Phillips ) leaned on Scotland Yard detective William “The Duke” Wellington ( Stuart Martin ) for help as a private detective herself. However, their underlying attraction is what had fans coming back week after week. William finally told Eliza he loved her during season 4 before kissing her and moving to New York for a one-year assignment.

PBS confirmed in February 2024 that the series was changing its name to Miss Scarlet for season 5 and Martin's William would not be returning . The casting news dashed viewers’ hope for a happily ever after for Eliza and her Duke. Credit: Patrick Ecclesine/The WB Jess and Rory ('Gilmore Girls') Though many wanted Milo Ventimiglia 's Jess to end up with Rory ( Alexis Bledel ) — especially after the actors briefly dated in real life — she ultimately ended up single and pregnant.

Credit: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Lyla and Tim ('Friday Night Lights') After coming together while she was dating his best friend, Lyla ( Minka Kelly ) and Tim Riggins ( Taylor Kitsch ) split by the end of the series. Instead, Tim and Tyra ( Adrienne Palicki ) were together in the end. Credit: Fred Norris/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Dawson and Joey ('Dawson's Creek') Despite Dawson and Joey being soulmates, she ultimately chose bad boy Pacey — who Dawson had once pushed her toward — in the end.

Credit: ERIC MCCANDLESS/CBS Robin and Barney ('How I Met Your Mother') Barney ( Neil Patrick Harris ) fell in love with Robin ( Cobie Smulders ) in the sitcom, despite the fact that his best friend Ted ( Josh Radnor ) also was in love with her. Even though Robin and Barney were briefly married, they split in the final season, and Ted returned to Robin's apartment. Credit: The CW Brooke and Lucas ('One Tree Hill') Although Lucas ( Chad Michael Murray ) ended up happily ever after with Peyton ( Hilarie Burton ), there still was a large audience that hoped he'd end up with Brooke ( Sophia Bush ) after their on-and-off relationship.

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock Nate and Serena ('Gossip Girl') In the end, Serena ( Blake Lively ) married Lonely Boy himself, Dan Humphrey ( Penn Badgley ), but many viewers had hoped to see her steamy romance with Nate ( Chace Crawford ) continue. Credit: The CW Caroline and Klaus ('The Vampire Diaries') It never was going to last, but Klaroline fans really wanted more from the pair, who had a one-time steamy hookup in the woods. Klaus (Joseph Morgan) also promised Caroline ( Candice King ) he'd be her last love.

Credit: Alan Markfield/The CW Stefan and Elena ('The Vampire Diaries') Stelena fans unite! Elena ( Nina Dobrev ) first fell for Stefan ( Paul Wesley ), but it was his brother, Damon ( Ian Somerhalder ), who she ended up with when the show ended. Credit: Paramount Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Sam and Diane ('Cheers') Diane ( Shelley Long ) and Sam ( Ted Danson ) announced their engagement on the finale, only to end their relationship moments later and go their separate ways. Credit: 20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock Buffy and Angel ('Buffy the Vampire Slayer') Despite Buffy ( Sarah Michelle Gellar ) and Angel ( David Boreanaz ) having the strongest love of the show, the pair did not end up together at the end of Buffy .

(He then went on to his spinoff, Angel , and Buffy made a cameo twice.) Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC April and Jackson ('Grey's Anatomy') Actress Sarah Drew was just as shocked as fans when they chose to write her off of Grey's , especially since they wanted April to end up with Jackson ( Jesse Williams ). Credit: ABC Haley and Andy ('Modern Family') When Modern Family ended, Haley ( Sarah Hyland ), her husband, Dylan ( Reid Ewing ), and their twins moved out.

Many hoped that her ex, Andy ( Adam DeVine ), would somehow end up back in her life. Credit: YouTube Angela and Shawn ('Boy Meets World') Despite Angela ( Trina McGee ) being a perfect match for Shawn ( Ryder Strong ), the pair weren't endgame. During an episode of the spinoff, Girl Meets World , Angela made a cameo, revealing she was married.

Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC Jake and Olivia ('Scandal') Team Jake or Fitz? That was the question during Scandal , but ultimately Olivia ( Kerry Washington ) and Jake ( Scott Foley )'s ending was strictly a friendship. Credit: YouTube Dylan and Brenda ('Beverly Hills, 90210') Although fans always hoped Brenda ( Shannen Doherty ) would find her way back to her first love, Dylan ( Luke Perry ), he ultimately chose Kelly ( Jennie Garth ). Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock Mulder and Scully ('The X-Files') Fox Mulder ( David Duchovny ) and Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson ) were sometimes together over the course of 218 episodes and two movies, but when the show's 11th season wrapped up in 2018, they weren't quite a couple.

The X-Files isn't the kind of show to have a very special wedding episode, but many viewers were still hoping for some sort of closure between the two FBI agents. Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO Jaime and Brienne ('Game of Thrones') A lasting romance between Jaime Lannister ( Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ) and Brienne of Tarth ( Gwendoline Christie ) was always a long shot given Jaime's undying love for his sister, Cersei ( Lena Headey ), but some fans still held out hope. While Brienne and Jaime finally consummated their love in season 8, it didn't last — the Kingslayer turned around and went back to King's Landing, where he reunited with his twin (and later died).

Credit: Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Ryan and Marissa ('The O.C.') Seth ( Adam Brody ) and Summer ( Rachel Bilson ) were always meant to be, but Ryan ( Ben McKenzie ) and Marissa ( Mischa Barton ) really had to work for it.

After three seasons of off-and-on drama, tensions finally seemed to be cooling between the star-crossed duo. Unfortunately for fans, the show's writers killed off Marissa in the season 3 finale, forever ending the hope of a rekindled romance. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!.