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Give the People What They Want: Five Super (Un)Couples

Posted by Featherlite on August 10th, 2009 - Comments

Television writers walk a fine line when they have leads with chemistry. The banter flows with ease and what's not spoken can be a joy to behold. But what should they do with all that sexual tension? On one hand, fans continuously clamor for the duo to get together. On the other, the audience has no reason to tune in after they do.

Fans say that the couple deserves to live happily-ever-after but the truth is a little more complex. They really don't want the fairy tale; they want to want it. It's the interrupted kiss that generates the water cooler talk and the jealous brooding when one partner finds out the other has an unexpected date that really gets the internet humming.

With that in mind, let's look at five returning shows whose leads leave the audience wanting more.

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1. Olivia Dunham and Peter Bishop, Fringe. This out-of-this-world good guy didn't make a move on his FBI partner this year, giving her time to get her former fiance out of her head. Peter and Olivia have great chemistry but fans have the benefit of knowing that even if they don't get together this time, there is always the next reality.

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About the Author:
Deidre Gould is a Canadian writer who graduated from UCLA's screenwriting program in 2010. When she isn't watching procedural crime dramas, Deidre wonders when she became a sci-fi geek and how she can overcome her addiction to SPACE channel. In addition to contributing articles to TVOvermind, Deidre is busy working on "Fringe" recaps as well as her own television and movie scripts.

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Guest

Just had to comment that Mad About You is another show where, after the baby arrived, just wasn't interesting enough anymore.

Featherlite

I forgot about "Mad About You."nbsp; Yes, that is pretty much when I stopped watching as well.nbsp; That show had a good cast too.

Guest

Hello, y Canadian buddy and comrade in arms ;)
Great article, and an absolutely stunning picture of Bones and Booth.

You know me, all about wanting certain couples to get together...Fringe's Peter and Olivia, Booth and Bones (as a couple, not as a "here is the container, we have placed magazines and xxx dvd's in the room should you need some enticement" sort of thing ;)

I am loving the chemistry between Pete and Myka on Warehouse 13- but I think as a couple they are doomed to fail.
(Besides, I want Pete for myself)

Featherlite

Thanks, Pixie. Isn't that a fab photo? I grabbed it as soon as I found it.

Do you really want them to actually be together and be lovey-dovey and all smoochy for 60 minutes a week? Or do you want to watch the tension and the angst and be able to moan and grumble about how they should be together and come back next time for more? Personally, I think the grumbling is oodles more fun.

msgwenniepennie

Very nice! The writers definitely need a deft touch when handling these things. As you might have guessed, I think the writers of "Bones" could take a lesson (or 300) from the writers of "Burn Notice."

Featherlite

Precisely. We want them to get together. They want to get together. But they don't get together and we keep watching. No wonder BN got renewed again.

Buhcula

Is it always true that the couples can't work? Yeah the tension keeps you coming back but can't there be another thing too, please? The slow dance of attraction is great, realization and valuing of one's compatibility in the non-couple pursuits such as work and play, then could be the slow courting, then the decision to be friends or something else, with real discussion about how they are feeling without silly soap distractions...I want to see trust and love people! and then the slow savor of passion; these could take years. Smoldering is so much better than wham.
Or can the excellent working relationship develop into friends of such depth that the audience comes back for that; true character stuff.
In short, I want tv to be my escape, and to show me how to be better at relating to other people... now I am going to wave my wand fix that pesky world hunger problem.

Featherlite

Couples can't work and be happy. It's a rule, sorry :)

I completely agree on the smoldering vs wham.

Mandy

I liked Fi and Michael the first two seasons but now they're boring, putting them together would be a total bust.
Bones and Booth are so hawt there's no way they'll get together and not still remain popular and they'll keep the sexual chemistry.
I don't think Bones and Booth are going to get married but if they have a baby that'll be totally awesome.