Love For Dummies - The Top 50 Fictional Relationships Thread

[Positronic Brain]

So, how did I reach these astonishing and exciting results?

I got lists from 10 fellow tyrants (including me) - which presented a problem because the spread in entries was too wide for this sample. In retrospect, I should have narrowed the category to just games or TV or movies. The result is that everybody's Top 3 made it into the list, since just being in the Top 3 guaranteed you enough points for a spot in the Top 50. Also, lots of ties, and the top entry only has four votes.

On the other hand, at least everybody's favorite made it in.

Anyway, we had 170 nominees. Ties in points were broken by number of mentions - if that wasn't enough then we had a tie, but I'd order them according to the number of works at AO3. I didn't want to use AO3 as a tiebreaker because it's not the fault of many of these old ships that young kids these days have no taste for the classics.

Anyway, here are the full entries - while they are numbered, I didn't bother checking for tie breakers below 50, so some of these places after 50 might be wrong.

Spoiler: Full list

#	Ship	Highest	Points
1	Gomez Addams/Morticia Addams	4	122
2	Wesley/Buttercup	4	119
3	Eleanor/Chidi	4	112
4	Clark Kent/Lois Lane	4	109
5	Scott Free/Big Barda	4	106
6	Peter Parker/Mary-Jane Watson	4	95
7	Elly/Fei	3	92
8	Garnet	2	67
9	David/Patrick	2	64
9	Korra/Asami	2	64
9	Max/Chloe	2	64
12	Cecil/Rosa	3	63
13	Lufia/Hero	2	62
14	Maxim/Selan	3	61
15	Utena/Anthy	2	58
16	Jake Peralta/Amy Santiago	2	54
17	Jim/Pam	2	52
18	Homer Simpson/Marge Simpson	2	51
19	Edelgard/Byleth	2	50
20	Kermit/Miss Piggy	2	49
21	Shovel Knight/Shield Knight	2	48
22	Michiru/Haruka	2	46
23	Sheridan/Delenn	2	45
24	Han/Leia	2	44
24	Leslie/Ben	2	44
26	Fran/Balthier	2	40
27	Celes/Locke	2	39
28	Tidus/Yuna	2	38
29	Paul/Hugh	1	35
29	Kaguya Shinomiya/Miyuki Shirogane	1	35
29	Rena/Yuki	1	35
29	Wilbur/Eliza	1	35
33	Johnny/Moira	1	34
33	Primrose/H'Aanit	1	34
33	John Smith/Jane Smith	1	34
33	Suekichi/Aya	1	34
37	Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane	1	33
37	Anju/Kafei	1	33
37	Walle/Eve	1	33
37	Howan/Himeko	1	33
37	Yota/Ai	1	33
42	Sophie/Howl	2	32
42	Solid Snake/Otacon	2	32
44	Sawyer/Juliet	1	32
44	Vimes/Sybil	1	32
44	Nick Charles/Nora Charles	1	32
44	Yuko/Momo	1	32
44	Yu/Yoko	1	32
49	Ava/Sarah Lance	1	31
49	Takeo Goda/Rinko Yamato	1	31
49	Oskar/Eli	1	31
49	Christine/Sophie	1	31
53	Dayakka/Kiyoh	1	30
53	Chandler/Monica	1	30
53	Max/Milia	1	30
53	Foxy/Diana	1	30
53	Yamada/Kase	1	30
53	Andy/April	1	30
53	Lan/Nynaeve	1	30
60	Masayoshi/Goto	1	29
60	Luz/Amity	1	29
60	Kitty/Red	1	29
63	Elizabeth/Mr. Darcy	1	28
63	The Monarch/Dr. Mrs. The Monarch	1	28
63	Sawako/Kazehaya	1	28
63	Arizaphale/Crowley	1	28
63	Magrat/Varence	1	28
68	Aer/Nevirii	1	27
68	Alex/Luna	1	27
68	Mitch/Cam	1	27
68	Thursday Next/Landen Parke-Laine	1	27
68	Sheryl/Ranka/Alto	1	27
68	Hannah/Baker	1	27
74	Victor Nikirofov/Yuuri Katsuki	1	26
74	Nathan/Elena	1	26
74	Kichi/Shinobu	1	26
74	Agatha/Gil/Tarvek	1	26
74	Simon The Digger/Nia Teppelin	1	26
74	Steve/Diane	1	26
74	Bob/Linda	1	26
81	Ludmilla Cake/Lupine	1	25
81	Nana/Kaouru	1	25
81	Alana/Marko	1	25
81	Ennis/Jack	1	25
81	Phil/Claire	1	25
81	Frank Doyle/Sadie Doyle	1	25
81	Nico/Karolina	1	25
81	Hubert/Ferdinand	1	25
81	Zidane/Dagger	1	25
90	Picard/Q	1	24
90	Ash/Elisabeth	1	24
90	Roseanne/Dan	1	24
90	Makoto/Protagonist	1	24
90	Eric/Shelly	1	24
90	Dorothea/Petra	1	24
90	Princess Bubblegum/Marceline	1	24
97	Leloo/Korben	1	23
97	Noa/Alphonse	1	23
97	Miles/Keiko	1	23
97	Tron/Rock	1	23
97	Leela/Fry	1	23
97	David/Darlene	1	23
97	Garak/Bashir	1	23
97	Yuu/Touko	1	23
97	Cyclops/Emma Frost	1	23
106	Gideon/Harrow	1	22
106	Shawn/Juliette	1	22
106	Phil Dunpy/Claire Dunpy	1	22
106	Shinji/Kaworu	1	22
110	Shizuku/Seiji	1	21
110	Sokka/Suki	1	21
110	Romeo/Juliet	1	21
110	Jonathan Hart/Jennifer Hart	1	21
110	Sachiko/Takako	1	21
110	Doc Brown/Claa	1	21
116	Baren/Luthien	1	20
116	Guybrush/Elaine	1	20
116	Suabru/Minato	1	20
116	Will/Kara	1	20
116	Adol/Dogi	1	20
116	Jonny Quest/Jessie Bannon	1	20
116	Joe Bradley/Princess Ann	1	20
116	Mario/Bowsette	1	20
124	Shirayuki/Zen	1	19
124	Alan/Ellie	1	19
124	Raymond Holt/Kevin Cozner	1	19
127	Garlon/Ce'Nedra	1	18
127	Iruma/Ameri	1	18
127	Tara/Willow	1	18
127	George Bailey/Mary Bailey	1	18
127	Harry/Sally	1	18
127	Rick Hunter/Lisa Hayes	1	18
127	Fang/Vanille	1	18
127	Diddy/Dixie	1	18
135	Claire/Jamie	1	17
135	Herman/Lily	1	17
135	Homura/Madoka	1	17
135	Saru/T'Rina	1	17
135	Joseph/Caesar	1	17
140	Deunan/Briareos	1	16
140	Charlie Allnut/Rose Sayer	1	16
142	Johnny/Li. Johnny	1	15
142	Luke/Mara	1	15
142	Pfil/Pamila	1	15
142	Gon Freecs/Killua Zolydek	1	15
142	Alphys/Undine	1	15
142	Luigi/Daisy	1	15
142	Link/Zelda	1	15
149	Carrot/Angua	1	14
149	Duck/Fakir	1	14
149	Joe/Toru	1	14
149	Ranma/Akane	1	14
149	Peter Warne/Ellie Andrews	1	14
149	Raz/Lili	1	14
149	Finn/Poe	1	14
156	Bob Belcher/Linda Belcher	1	13
156	K/Joi	1	13
156	Eliza/Amphibian	1	13
156	Robin Hood/Maid Marian	1	13
156	Harley/Ivy	1	13
161	Wanda/Vision	1	12
161	Mario/Peach	1	12
161	Taran/Eilonwy	1	12
161	Steven Universe/Connie Maheswaran	1	12
161	Fanny/Edmund	1	12
166	Doctor/Rose	1	11
166	Koichi/Yukako	1	11
166	Reenzaburo/Makie	1	11
166	Loki/Loki	1	11
166	Fitz/Simmons	1	11

Or in case you prefer a Drive sheet, here you go.

 

[Positronic Brain]

Acknowledgments

Thanks to everybody who sent a list. Torzelbaum, Johnny Unusual, q3, Kishi, Solitayre, Kirin, Issun, Rascally Badger and Beta Metroid - without your votes and punctual write ins, this thread would not have happened. Thanks for your help, I hope I did your ships justice.

To my editor, Lambda Expression, for keeping my lap warm as I typed most of these. Probably the quality of the writing would have been much, much better if my editor wasn't a cat, but my lap would have been colder so it all evens out.

To all the writers and creators who have made these ships happen, or to have the potential of happening, or who have sunk them thoroughly - I have ideas! Have your people call my people. But if the cat picks up the phone please insist to talk to somebody else as she doesn't take notes.

To Talking Time, for giving me a space to do something silly like this. It is a lot of work, but in a month that has been particularly stressful it has brought a bit of joy and routine every day. Thanks for rescuing me from boredom and chaos.

And to you. Yes, you. Thanks for reading.

 

[Positronic Brain]

Epilogue

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. What can we learn from all these relationships? What's the truth behind love and relationships? How can we sum up love in a way that makes sense to us dummies?

Love is what makes you smile in the mornings. Like I did when pondering what to write for that day's entries. Thanks for letting me experience it.

And it also makes me write cheesy stuff. Oh well.

*bows*

 

[Torzelbaum]

*applauds*

Thanks for doing this, Pos.

Here's my list:

Spoiler

1. Gomez Addams / Morticia Addams, The Addams Family (TV show and movies)
2. John Smith / Jane Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
3. Westley/Buttercup, The Princes Bride (1987)
4. Vimes/Sybil, Discworld book series
5. Maxim/Selan, Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals
6. Dayakka Littner/Kiyoh Bachika, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007)
7. Kitty Forman/Red Forman, That 70's Show
8. Magrat/Verence, Discworld book series
9. Lufia/Maxim's descendent, Lufia & the Fortress of Doom
10. Simon the Digger/Nia Teppelin, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007)
11. Ludmilla Cake/Lupine, Discworld book series
12. Eric/Shelly, The Crow (comic book and movie)
13. Miles O'Brien/Keiko O'Brien, Star Trek TV shows
14. Phil Dunphy/Claire Dunphy, Modern Family
15. Jonathan Hart/Jennifer Hart, Hart to Hart
16. Mario/Bowsette, the Internet (I guess?)
17. Scott Free (Mr. Miracle)/Big Barda, DC Comics media
18. Tara/Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
19. Herman Munster/Lily Munster, The Munsters
20. Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Mary Jane Watson, Marvel media
21. Johnny Dangerously/Lil, Johnny Dangerously
22. Carrot/Angua, Discworld book series
23. Robin Hood/Maid Marian, every type of media (I guess?)
24. Superman (Clark Kent)/Lois Lane, DC media
25. Fitz/Simmons, Agents of SHIELD

And some of my thoughts and comments about a few of my picks.

6.

Spoiler

"The purest expression of love I know is Dayakka from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Faced with the power that has essentially conquered the universe and knowing that the power behind an attack is based on your fighting spirit he calls his attack - 'I've-Got-The-Best-Wife-In-The-Universe Swing!'

I mean if you’re not willing to declare your love to the universe at large and actually weaponize it against the forces of evil then what are you even doing with your life?"

15.

Spoiler

You have to have history together if you want to solve a mystery together.

16.

Spoiler

The pairing which Nintendo is too cowardly to acknowledge but which I gladly embrace like they embrace each other.

19.

Spoiler

"My life was nothing until your sweet presence breathed the breath of love into my soul..."

21.

Spoiler

She knows his last name is an adverb but she still loves him.

23.

Spoiler: YouTube video

 

[Kirin]

Great list PB, thanks for running!

I’ll post my full vote tomorrow when I’m on a real computer. Meanwhile last comments:

I actually didn’t have Westley/Buttercup on my final list despite adoring their movie, because I feel like despite it being the fulcrum that drives the entire plot and theme of the story, we barely see any of their actual relationship. It’s just basically given as an axiom that their love is the greatest love ever. We do briefly get to see them work together in the fire swamp, but other than that we just don’t get enough to really *feel* the relationship. Also while I love them as actors in general I’m not sure Cary Elwes and Robin Wright really had a lot of chemistry. Anyway, not trying to be down on the folks who did vote for it or anything, it’s a great *symbolic* relationship, just explaining why I left it off.

Totally voted for Mortician and Gomez though, they’re relationship goals.

Also having just glanced at the full list I’m already kicking myself for forgetting both Luz/Amity and Fitz/Simmons.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

My list

1. Kaguya Shinomiya/Miyuki Shirogane (Kaguya-Sama: Love is War)
2. Garnet (Steven Universe)
3. Wesley/Buttercup (The Princess Bride)
4. Nick Charles/Nora Charles (The Thin Man)
5. Takeo Gōda/Rinko Yamato (Ore Monogatari!!)
6. Homer Simpson/Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)
7. Superman/Lois Lane - I think a lot this one works in many iterations. I can't imagine another woman for Superman, tease as they might. It's not like Spider-Man, who would work well with Gwen or MJ. And whether it's a love triangle with two people or a marriage, it always works. It helps that even in the Golden age, Lane is a strong character (even if it did dip into some sexism). It got much worse in the Silver Age where Lois is ONLY pining for Supes but in the original comics, no one ASSUMED Superman was going to save them but she was still brave enough to go anywhere and try anything.
8. The Monarch/Dr. Mrs. The Monarch (The Venture Bros) - I liked the Venture Bros. from the beginning but I was shocked how invested I was in the love life of The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend. They might be evil but their love is pure.

9. Gomez Addams/Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)
10. Victor Nikiforov/Yuuri Katsuki (Yuri!! on Ice) - When is the movie happening? I really liked this romance sports anime, though it's weird how far they go to make them clearly gay and in love with each other and never actually say it. It's not being coy, that's being annoying.
11. Frank Doyle/Sadie Doyle (The Thrilling Adventure Hour "Beyond Belief") - This is basically Nick and Nora Charles except even more alcoholic and with monsters.

12. Princess Bubblegum/Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time)
It took the last episode to cement the canonical element though it had made big hints thats where we were heading. I'm glad they got a special to explore their romance, too.
13. Turonga Leela/Philip J. Fry (Futurama)
Fry is dumb but they really do sell him as a romantic soul who sees Leela as someone he loves and wants to be like because she is so cool. Very Big Barda/Mr. Miracle but with more friction and a much longer road.
14. Jake Peralta/Amy Santiago (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
15. Mr. Miracle/Big Barda
16. Joe Bradley/Princess Ann (Roman Holiday)
I need to rewatch this one.
17. Raymond Holt/Kevin Cozner (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
These two ultra-straightmen love each other in a professional and courteous way.

18. George Bailey/Mary Bailey [nee Hatch] (It's a Wonderful Life)
We get to see this one from a rocky courting (where George, whom we love, acts like a complete ass for a while) to a comfortable happy marriage and it's great all the way through.
19. Spider-Man/Mary Jane Watson
20. Charlie Allnut/Rose Sayer (The African Queen)
I need to see this again.
21. Gon Freecs/Killua Zolydek (Hunter X Hunter) - Never canonical but it was there between these ultra-powerful 12 year olds. In many ways, both are archetypes; he's the never say die and never think things through optimist in the Goku mold and he's a cool assassin killer, the kind every shonen battle show crew needs for some antihero vibes. But when the show becomes a two hander down to these two, their friendship becomes something deeper and really the crux of the series. Killua sees a world of hope outside of his destiny to become an assassin and how to be brave in the face of stronger opponents thanks to Gon. In turn, Killua ends up moving heaven and Earth to save his friend and pull him out of a very dark place, and even there finds Gon inspires him to make bold and moral moves (which is ironic because Gon is, in some ways, kind of amoral). The anime ends with them parting ways but I hope they get back together and get married. Plus I think one of the collectible items on Greed Island can give them kids... though if Gon is anything like HIS dad...

22. Peter Warne/Ellie Andrews (It Happened One Night)
I NEED TO SEE THIS AGAIN! The ur-text for all romantic comedies, particularly will they/won't they.
23. Bob Belcher/Linda Belcher (Bob's Burgers)
Not sexy but really sweet... when Linda isn't being absolutely annoying.
24. Steven Universe/Connie Maheswaran (Steven Universe) - It was there but I like that because they are kids and the series ends with Steven ready to move on, we will never know if they get together. I hope so.
25. Koichi Hirose/Yukako Yamagishi (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) this is like, a ridiculously unhealthy relationship but also... kind of into it, despite that. Maybe it speaks to my own weird stuff.

Thanks great but... she's also a stalker who kidnapped you and threatened to kill you when you didn't reciprocate.

 

[Positronic Brain]

My own list

1. Elly/Fei
2. Sheridan/Delenn
3. Superman/Lois Lane
4. Scott Free/Big Barda
5. Spider-Man/Mary Jane Watson
6. Korra/Asami
7. Max/Chloe
8. Edelgard/Byleth
9. Hannah/Baker (Her Name In The Sky)
10. SHovel Knight/Shield Knight
11. Nico/Karolina
12 . Makoto/Protagonist
13. Yuu/Touko (Bloom into You)
14. Gideon/Harrow (Gideon the Nint)
15. SoKka/Suki
16. Jonny Quest/Jessie Bannon
17. Tidus/Yuna
18. Rick Hunter/Lisa Hayes
19. Celes/Locke
20. Cecil/rosa
21. Luke/Mara Jade
22. Finn/Poe
23. Solid Snake/Otacon
24. Taran/Eilonwy
25. Doctor/Rose

I made the list before I started counting the votes - if I had waited one week I'd remembered that the Nemesis duology of novels existed and I'd kicked #8 (from a novel I think only I have read) down the list to make room for that duology's ship. Imagine an awkward teenage first crush but your crushee is basically the Huntress and you're the moral analogue and power equivalent of Superman. So goooood.

 

[Kirin]

Argh, now I also can't believe I forgot Yuuri/Viktor.

Anyway, my list:

*01. Paul/Hugh (STisco)
*02. Korra/Asami (The Legend of Korra)
*03. Ruby/Sapphire (Steven Universe)
*04. Utena/Anthy (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
*05. Morticia/Gomez (The Addams Family)

06. Max/Milia (Macross/Robotech, Macross 7) - In the original series, they have an unbelievably fast rivals-to-lovers arc, but then they settle down and have a family that stretches across the whole franchise. In Mac7 they're middle-aged and separated, stressed out by their jobs and differences in parenting style, but a few Galaxy-threatening battles later they get their groove back.

*07. David/Patrick (Schitt's Creek)

08. Aziriphale/Crowley (Good Omens) - A classic angel/demon pair, who would thwart God and Satan themselves just to be able to keep hanging out with each other.

09. Sheryl/Ranka/Alto (Macross Frontier) -TBH, OT3, IMO.

10. Agatha/Gil/Tarvek (Girl Genius) - This one also.

11. Alana/Marko (Saga) - What happens when star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of a war get together but the war doesn't stop; it's hard to settle down and raise a family when almost everyone from both your species want you dead.

12. Picard/Q (ST:TNG,Pic) (from Meagan) - Hilariously, my partner suggested this one just days before it was essentially canonized by the end of STicard S2. Talk about three decades of pay-off. But really it was always clear why Q keeps coming back.

13. Tron/Rock (MegaMan Legends) - If she could just learn that blowing things up isn't the best way to his heart they could make a great team.

*14. Celes/Locke (FFVI)
*15. Blathier/Fran/..Ashe? (FFXII) - The fanfic additions crept in...

16. Beren/Luthien (Middle Earth) - A classic.

*17. Eleanor/Chidi (The Good Place)

18. Fang/Vanille (FFXIII) - Canonical lesbians in my Final Fantasy? Yes please.

19. Saru/T'Rina (STisco) - Kind of refreshing watching adult characters who are so unsure but oh-so-earnest about this whole relationship idea

*20. Cecil/Rosa (FFIV)

21. Luigi/Daisy (Mario franchise) - Second fiddles gotta stick together

22. Ranma/Akane (Ranma 1/2) - All the classic anime pairings I could've picked have some problematic elements, but this one less than most.

23. Eliza/Amphibian (The Shape of Water) - Requisite monsterf*cking entry, but with class

24. Wanda/Vision (MCU) - These two were never given time to be believable in the movies, but on TV they were a delight

25. Loki/Loki (Loki) - Mostly I just wanted to write "loki/loki(loki)", but also, getting a canonical self-cest (almost) relationship onto major TV is an accomplishment.