6 of the best – and worst – queer couples in TV history, from relationship goals to toxic mess
Some of the best and worst queer TV couples. (PinkNews/HBO/Netflix)
Valentine’s Day is here, and what better way to celebrate than by remembering some of our favourite – and not so favourite – queer couples on TV.
We’ve come a long, long way in terms of LGBT+ representation. Once upon a time, queer characters were sexless, one-dimensional stereotypes – camp and undesirable, butch and undesirable, closeted and… well, you get the point.
Things couldn’t be more different today, with TV networks and streamers depicting layered, nuanced LGBT+ lives, with all the joy, tragedy, mundanity and romance straight characters have been afforded since the invention of television.
Sometimes, it’s a beautiful love story. Other times, it really, really isn’t. That can be because of writers falling into lazy tropes, but often it’s because of the simple fact that queer people – and queer relationships – are rarely perfect. Frankly, life and love would be boring if we all were.
To mark Valentine’s Day, PinkNews has rounded up some of the best and worst queer couples on TV.
The Haunting of Bly Manor’s Dani and Jamie broke our hearts
The Haunting of Bly Manor featured a heartbreakingly beautiful love story between Dani and Jamie. (Netflix)
The hit Netflix series wormed its way into the heart of the LGBT+ community for its depiction of the relationship between Dani and Jamie.
Dani, a young American woman who becomes an au pair for two English children, doesn’t seem at first to be a perfect match for gruff gardener Jamie. But as the series progresses, they develop an intense connection while battling the vengeful ghosts of the manor.
The last episode of the series offers a heartwarming and heartbreaking glimpse into their bond which seemingly transcends all barriers (even death). Don’t lie, you teared up too.
Glee’s Kurt and Blaine were low key toxic
Blaine accuses Kurt of cheating him after seeing texts on his phone on an episode of Glee. (YouTube/Glee Scenes/Fox)
It is perhaps an unpopular opinion, but Kurt and Blaine were toxic to each other. The teens begin their relationship shortly after Kurt transfers to Blaine’s all-boys school, and they bonded over their shared love of music.
They eventually decide to pursue a relationship, but constantly encounter obstacle after obstacle. Kurt flirts with another guy, Blaine cheats after Kurt moves to New York, they break off their engagement and Blaine even dates Kurt’s high school bully – the same bully who assaulted Kurt and threatened to kill him.
Despite literally all the red flags, the pair decide to work through their issues and in the end, marry. Their relationship may have been a LGBT+ couple goal when it started, but looking back it’s a textbook case of the horrors of bad first loves.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Holt and Kevin were husband goals
Captain Raymond Holt and his husband, Kevin Cozner, were truly the gay dads of the Brookyln Nine-Nine squad. (YouTube/Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Captain Raymond Holt and professor Kevin Cozner have one of the purest relationships on TV, period. They have been together for decades, and they support each other in all aspects of their lives.
Kevin is also super protective of his husband and even reveals in the series that he severely dislikes “cop talk” because of the discrimination Holt has faced for being an openly gay police officer. Holt spends a whole episode learning to cook and experimenting with dishes to surprise Kevin for their anniversary – which is just the cutest.
While both men are seemingly straight-faced and boring, they’re both secretly dramatic people who complement each other and grow as individuals as well as a couple throughout the series entirety.
Nothing was worse than the dynamic between Che And Miranda in And Just Like That…
Miranda and Che had one of the most toxic relationships in And Just Like That. (HBO)
In Sex and the City, Miranda was the straight-talking one the group, calling out toxic traits where she saw them. Sure, she had her problematic moments, but we loved her.
In sequel series And Just Like That…, Miranda embarks on a new path in her life by abandoning her long-term marriage to Steve for Che Diaz – who quickly became one of TV’s least-liked characters.
Miranda has a queer awakening after an intensely awkward sex scene with Che in Carrie’s kitchen. And from that point on, she is utterly blind to all of Che’s faults which include – but aren’t limited to – ghosting them for three months because they “did a ton of weed” and later, after they’ve swapped I love yous, informing them of their move across the country via the medium of song.
Honestly, if Samantha was here, she would not let this toxic relationship fly. And yet, we can’t wait for more.
David and Patrick are simply the best on Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek characters David and Patrick remain the ultimate queer couple goal. (Netflix)
In reality, there’s really not enough time to talk about why David and Patrick are one of the best couples on TV – LGBT+ or otherwise.
Schitt’s Creek did an amazing job of charting the complex relationship steps like meeting the family, finding other people attractive and dealing with past relationships in a way that was intensely interesting as well as hyper relatable to viewers.
Watching their story unfold across the series was an absolute celebration of what a queer relationship can be. Patrick was smitten with David when they first met, their first kiss melted everyone’s heart and their beautiful, heartfelt wedding was a perfect ending to the show.
Pose’s Angel and Papi had the wedding to end all weddings
Angel and Papi truly played with our emotions around this wedding. Did you have any doubts that they'd go through with it? #PoseFX pic.twitter.com/b1ZjwJzJec
— PoseFX (@PoseOnFX) May 31, 2021
Pose’s first season was partly driven by Angel’s relationship with her married client, Wall Street businessman Stan. It was well-played, and their break-up was an important moment for Angel’s character, but many fans felt that Stan and the other Wall Street characters were a distraction from the more important story: the lives of the characters we fell in love with.
That’s why many were thrilled to see Angel move on with Papi, a member of her ballroom house who worshipped the ground she walked on. Their eventual wedding was a frothy, over-the-top dream and the perfect way to sign off the series.
