The Epic Love Stories of TV: From Slow-Burn Romance to Electric Chemistry

Some of the most beloved TV couples are the ones that took their sweet time getting together. Take, for example, Teen Wolf's Stiles and Lydia or Stranger Things' Joyce and Hopper. In the case of Teen Wolf, the popular MTV series that ran from 2011 to 2017, we followed high school student Scott (played by Tyler Posey) as he navigated life as a newly minted werewolf while also dealing with threats to his town.

Throughout the series, Scott's best friend Stiles (Dylan O'Brien) and Lydia (Holland Roden) shared a subtle chemistry that didn't go unnoticed by viewers, despite the fact that Scott ended up with Allison (Crystal Reed). The two characters, known as Stydia, finally got together in the series finale. However, things took a different turn when Teen Wolf was revived, and fans were taken aback when O'Brien decided not to appear in Paramount+'s Teen Wolf movie. In preparation for the film's release, Roden explained how the filmmakers worked around Stiles' absence.

The actress compared the feeling of having one missing child out of 11 to the absence of a character in the movie. She shared in an exclusive interview with We in January 2023 that although it was sad that the character was not there, it was still satisfying that they were able to gather as many people as possible. In the film, Lydia disclosed that she ended her relationship with Stiles because she had premonitions of his death in a car crash. As a banshee, she hoped that breaking up with him would keep him safe.

Showrunner Jeff Davis revealed that the split between Stiles and Lydia in the movie wasn't just due to O'Brien's absence. Instead of leaving it as a simple excuse, Davis aimed to tell an emotional story. He explained that Lydia had a premonition and broke up with Stiles to save his life, which added a heroic sacrifice to the plot.

Stranger Things cleverly employed supernatural elements to delay Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper's (David Harbour) romantic union. The pair had to weather a series of ups and downs before finally seizing the opportunity to explore their mutual attraction in season 4 of the Netflix smash hit.

According to Harbour, he and Ryder had plenty of theories about the direction the show could take their characters' relationship, ranging from the wild to the more subdued. "They knew each other back in high school, when they were both innocent and full of potential," he explained in a May 2022 Variety interview, shortly after the debut of season 4's first installment. "We've mapped out their story, but how much of it is shown is ultimately up to the showrunners."

"There's no doubt that Joyce and Hopper went through quite a journey before they became a couple," said the Black Widow star, acknowledging their complicated history. However, he also expressed doubt about their compatibility in the future, citing the changes they would need to undergo in order for their relationship to work. "After everything they went through in season 3, it's clear that they couldn't make it work as they were. They have chemistry and a desire to be together, but they'd both need to transform into different people."

Scroll down for more TV couples that took the long road to happily ever after:

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TV Couples Who Took a Very Long Time to Get Together: From The Rookie's Tim and Lucy to The X-Files' Mulder and Scully

Some of the most beloved couples in TV history have been those that took a while to finally get together. From Teen Wolf's Stiles and Lydia to Stranger Things' Joyce and Hopper, viewers have been captivated by the slow burn of these romances. Teen Wolf, which aired for six seasons on MTV, followed high school student Scott as he navigated life as a teenage werewolf and tried to protect his hometown from various threats.

The romance between Allison and the lead character may have been evident, but viewers couldn't overlook the undeniable chemistry between Stiles and Lydia, also known as Stydia. Although they finally got together in the series finale, things took an unexpected turn when Teen Wolf was revived. Fans were left in shock when O'Brien decided not to appear in the Teen Wolf movie on Paramount+. Roden spoke about how the film addressed Stiles' absence in preparation for its release.

The actress compared the feeling of having one missing kid out of 11 to the absence of a character in the movie. In an exclusive interview with We in January 2023, she expressed how it was sad that the character was not there, but it was still great that they managed to gather as many people as possible. In the movie, Lydia disclosed that she ended her relationship with Stiles after having recurring dreams about his death in a car accident. As a banshee, she believed that it was the best way to protect her boyfriend.

Showrunner Jeff Davis explained that Stiles' absence wasn't the only reason for the split. He wanted to tell a deeper story and decided to have Lydia break up with him because of a premonition, sacrificing their relationship to keep him safe. This added an emotional and heroic element to the storyline.

Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) faced numerous obstacles in their relationship on Stranger Things, largely due to supernatural interference. However, season 4 finally gave them the opportunity to explore their feelings for one another after years of ups and downs. Harbour revealed that he and Ryder had discussed various theories about their characters' past and potential future, ranging from the wild to the tame. Ultimately, their high school connection and untapped potential played a significant role in their romance.

"There's no denying the chemistry between Joyce and Hopper, but given the events of season 3, it's clear that their relationship couldn't work as they were. They both went through a lot before they could even consider being together, and it would require a significant amount of personal growth and change for them to make it work."

Scroll down for more TV couples that took the long road to happily ever after:

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Carly and Freddie ('iCarly')

In the Paramount+ revival of the OG Nickelodeon series, Carly and Freddie finally delve into their past romantic feelings for each other more than a decade later.

Credit: Youtube ; Curtis Bonds Baker/Paramount+

Stiles and Lydia ('Teen Wolf')

When They Got Together: Season 6

Lydia decided to end her romantic relationship with Stiles in Teen Wolf, citing concerns for his safety as the reason. However, it is unknown whether the two eventually worked things out or remained apart.

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Tim and Lucy ('The Rookie')

When They Got Together: Season 5

Relationship Status: The coworkers are currently going strong as of season 5, which premiered in September 2022.

Credit: The CW

Betty and Archie ('Riverdale')

When They Got Together: Season 5

After much indecision and wavering emotions, the couple finally decided to take a leap of faith in their relationship following a time jump introduced in the CW series. The season 6 finale saw Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Archie (KJ Apa) getting engaged, only to be transported back in time to the 1950s shortly after.

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Mulder and Scully ('The X-Files')

Scully and Mulder's tumultuous relationship throughout the series finally culminated in the season 11 finale when Scully revealed her pregnancy to Mulder. Despite their history of dating on and off, their future together remained uncertain with the end of the show.

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Joyce and Hopper ('Stranger Things')

When They Got Together: Season 4

Relationship Status: Following their reunion in Russia, Joyce and Hopper returned to Hawkins and are still a couple.

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Harvey and Donna ('Suits')

When They Got Together: Season 8

Relationship Status: During the Suits series finale, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Donna (Sarah Rafferty) got engaged and ultimately walked down the aisle.

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Leopold Fitz and Jemma Simmons ('Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.')

When They Got Together: Season 3

After being separated for quite some time, Fitz and Simmons finally get to be reunited with their daughter, Alya, in the final season of the Marvel series. In the end, the couple decides to leave S.H.I.E.L.D. to prioritize their family and their future together.

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Luke and Lorelai ('Gilmore Girls')

When They Got Together: Season 5

Relationship Status: The twosome tied the knot in the finale of Netflix's revival series.

Credit: Freeform/Eric McCandless

Emily and Allison ('Pretty Little Liars')

When They Got Together: Season 7

Emily and Allison, the beloved couple from Pretty Little Liars, initially had a fairytale ending. However, the spinoff series The Perfectionists shattered fans' hearts when it was revealed that the couple had gone through a divorce.

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Benson and Stabler ('Law & Order: SVU')

Benson and Stabler's Relationship: A Look Back

After 24 seasons, fans of Law and Order: SVU were anxiously waiting for Benson and Stabler's relationship to progress. However, their hopes were dashed when a fake-out kiss left Benson feeling unsure and the duo remained in their platonic friendship.

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Norma and Alex ('Bates Motel')

When They Got Together: Season 4

Norma (Vera Farmiga) and Alex (Néstor Carbonell) appeared to have found their happily ever after, but unfortunately, their joy was short-lived as the season ended with the tragic death of Norma at the hands of her own son, Norman (Freddie Highmore).

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Brennan and Booth ('Bones')

When They Got Together: Season 6

Relationship Status: Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Booth (David Boreanaz) remained together by the time Bones came to an end on season 12.