Love. Love is a many splendored thing. Love is in the air. Love changes everything. Love makes the world go round. Love is a battlefield. Love doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints. Love is all around. Love makes you do crazy things. Love is an open door. Love is the drug. Love is a losing game. Love makes fools of us all. Love will keep us together. Love will tear us apart again. Love will find a way. Love is all you need. That, and oxygen, obviously.
Being the hopeless romantic that I am (don't let my cold, hard, cynical exterior fool you, I'm really a big softie) I decided that I would celebrate Valentine's Day this year by doing a round up of what I personally feel are some of the most iconic couples in sci-fi and fantasy, past and present. Enjoy and feel free to tell us your own favourites in the comments.
Westley and Buttercup (The Princess Bride)
This is true love. You think this happens every day?
Wash and Zoe (Firefly)
Let's just agree that the movie never happened. Sure, it's great an' all, but it didn't happen. I repeat, it didn't happen.
John Crichton and Aeryn Sun (Farscape)
For these two star-crossed lovers the course of true love never did run smooth. I ain't kidding, they went through some seriously crazy shit before they finally got their happily ever after.
Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter (Captain America)
The best romantic relationship in the MCU is also the briefest and most tragic.
Han Solo and Princess Leia (Star Wars)
She loved him. He knew.
Xena and Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess)
To this day there are still people who will insist that Xena and Gabrielle were never anything more than very close platonic friends. These people are of course completely wrong and should be ignored at all times.
Buffy and Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Popular culture is currently littered with stories about a teenage girl falling in love with a brooding, centuries old vampire, but they all pale in comparison to Buffy and Angel. These two are the Burton and Taylor of this particular subgenre.
Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese (The Terminator)
Before Steven Moffat introduced the Doctor to a certain curly haired archaeologist (see below), this was pop culture's most paradoxical romantic relationship.
Root and Shaw (Person of Interest)
They spoon with each other while shooting bad guys. What's not to love?
Jessica Jones and Luke Cage (Jessica Jones)
You could argue that there are more famous Marvel couples like Spider-Man and Mary Jane or Reed and Sue Richards, but did they have a kid who grew up to Captain America? The answer is no.
The Doctor and River Song (Doctor Who)
I was one of those people who firmly believed that the Doctor should never have a love interest. Then River Song showed up and I was shipping it like a loon.
Sun and Jin (LOST)
"I won't leave you. I will never leave you again." *ugly sobbing*
Lois and Clark (Superman)
These two are as inevitable as a sunrise or Kanye West being a pompous arse.
Batman and Catwoman (Batman)
Like Lois and Clark. Only kinkier.
EVE and WALL-E (WALL-E)
Who says the most heartwarming tales need to feature characters with actually hearts?
Bo and Lauren and Dyson and Tamsin (Lost Girl)
In an ideal world this is how the series would've ended, with the succubus and all her various love interests in one nice big happy group marriage.
Oliver and Felicity (Arrow)
I only know two things. 1) There are no magical kingdoms at the back of wardrobes, just smelly old shoes and moths. And 2) Oliver Queen truly, madly, deeply loves Felicity Smoak and vice versa.
Fry and Leela (Futurama)
A love so grand it moved the stars themselves. Literally.
Clarke and Lexa (The 100)
Am I jumping the gun here by listing this pairing, which has only been around for little over a year, alongside all these other iconic couples? Probably, but this is my list and I'll include whoever the hell I like.
Mulder and Scully (The X-Files)
Back in the 90s we all wanted to believe...that these two idiots would finally realise how madly in love with each other they so obviously were. And they did.
Jack and Ianto (Torchwood)
Do you still cry over episode 4 of Children of Earth? I sure as hell do.
Roslin and Adama (Battlestar Galactica)
Anyone who says their face didn't burst into a massive grin when these two finally admitted their feelings for each other is a lying liar.
Kirk and Spock (Star Trek)
What do you mean it isn't canon? Do you see how Kirk is holding Spock's hand? The look in his eyes? The subtle heartbreak of a clearly jealous Bones? If that isn't true love I don't know what is.
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Mark Greig is love's bitch, and man enough to admit it. More Mark Greig.
These were your best picks IMO: Wash and Zoe--In my mind canon, Wash didn't die, that was just a nightmare Zoe was having. They are still on Firefly and making babies much to Mal's dismay.
ReplyDeleteJohn and Aeryn--most epic romance ever! Mulder and Scully, Roslin and Adama--so cute together. Not sure about Buffy and Angel, Spike and Buffy were hotter. Don't get me started about Angel and Cordelia--gag. Oliver and Felicity--I'm still in the beginning of season 3 on Netflix and so far don't see the chemistry. Not in agreement on Doctor Who and River. It was a little cringe worthy, but there was some good moments. Maybe. Missing from your list: Sydney and Vaughn from Alias--curse you Melissa George! Peter and Olivia from Fringe. The ending to their story with their adorable daughter made me cry. Happy Valentines.
Great job, Mark. I loved this post. Agree with almost all of your points, except I am more of a Buffy/Spike shipper. Bu then, I always go for the bad boys...
ReplyDeleteGreat list. Kirk/Spock forever for me. Of course it's canon. So's Xena and Gabrielle.
ReplyDeleteAhh..John/Aeryn-epic romance. I'm also a Buffy/Spike shipper, I don't care if it's wrong, they were so messed up and perfect.
Jack/Ianto-oh yes. I love how there's a memorial plaque for Ianto in Wales. A plaque for a fictional person-never change fellow fans.
Mulder/Scully.oh yes.
Oh yes-Bo and all her loves from Lost Girl.
I will add Ichabod/Abbie from Sleepy Hollow, Twelfth Doctor/Clara, Liv from izombie/Major.
I'm also Buffy-Spike girl....
ReplyDeleteNot si-fi, but my #1 will always be Veronica and Logan
I'm with you Mallena, Sid and Vaughn all the way.
ReplyDeleteSooze
Love the inclusion of Roslin and Adama. Great characters in their own right (particularly Roslin), and their journey from rivals to lovers was so beautifully executed by the writers and actors. And it's nice to see a show that remembers that love and romance and even sex don't end at 50. Come to think of it, BSG had Ellen and Tigh, too.
ReplyDeleteOn the non-canonical slash side, I propose: Dean and Benny from Supernatural--my favorite human/vampire romance.