


























© NL Beeld
0 / 27 Fotos
Elena and Damon, 'The Vampire Diaries'
- Their relationship was full of high expectations and disappointment, but there's also the hard truth: it is not okay for a teenage girl to date a guy who is hundreds of years older than her!
© NL Beeld
1 / 27 Fotos
Debra and Dexter, 'Dexter'
- Apart from the unsettling fact that Dexter is a serial killer, the situation took a significant turn when the siblings developed romantic feelings for each other, even though it later came to light that they were not biologically related.
© NL Beeld
2 / 27 Fotos
Chuck and Blair, 'Gossip Girl'
- The two seem perfect with their fiery chemistry and love of manipulation, but they consistently sabotaged each others' relationships and tried to control each others' lives. Remember when Chuck tried to trade Blair for a hotel?
© GettyImages
3 / 27 Fotos
Frank and Claire Underwood, 'House of Cards'
- While their moments of devious collaboration possessed a certain peculiar charm, there's no denying that theirs stands out as one of the most bizarre, savage, intricately warped, and manipulative relationships in the annals of television history.
© BrunoPress
4 / 27 Fotos
Buffy and Spike, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'
- The vampire slayer and the vampire were inherently destined for a toxic dynamic. It started with manipulation, escalated into acts of violence, and culminated in the ultimate act of sacrifice.
© NL Beeld
5 / 27 Fotos
Fitz and Olivia, 'Scandal'
- Fitz's marital status is merely a facet of the toxicity prevailing in this affair. The intense duo willingly jeopardize their own lives in pursuit of each other, even though their relationship consistently breeds unhappiness.
© NL Beeld
6 / 27 Fotos
Ross and Rachel, 'Friends'
- 'Friends' undoubtedly showcased several healthy relationships, yet this particular one did not fall into that category. For years, they actively interfered in each other's lives, ultimately leading to shared discontent and isolation. And as for the age-old debate, were they truly "on a break"?
© NL Beeld
7 / 27 Fotos
Barney and Robin, 'How I Met Your Mother'
- What a twist! Beneath the surface, this relationship was also defined by deception and manipulation, serving as the foundation for their repeated breakups.
© NL Beeld
8 / 27 Fotos
Ted and Robin, 'How I Met Your Mother'
- Though the whole show is centered around these two, they were essentially each others' second choice, and didn't want the same things in life. Plus, Ted asked Robin to get rid of her dogs—nope!
© NL Beeld
9 / 27 Fotos
Sam and Diane, 'Cheers'
- This duo serves as a quintessential illustration of a toxic TV relationship, marked by a cycle of countless breakups and reconciliations. Even when they managed to be together, their constant conflicts often obscured any semblance of harmony.
© NL Beeld
10 / 27 Fotos
Cookie and Lucious, 'Empire'
- This turbulent on-and-off relationship is filled with harrowing episodes, such as the chilling incident where Cookie attempted to smother Lucious with a pillow, and the jarring turn of events when Lucious abruptly chose to wed someone else at the last minute.
© NL Beeld
11 / 27 Fotos
Cristina and Burke, 'Grey's Anatomy'
- They were never happy just being with each other, as Burke was trying to mold her into something she wasn't, and Cristina was trying to get more out of him than just love—resulting in that brutal wedding day.
© NL Beeld
12 / 27 Fotos
Betty and Don Draper, 'Mad Men'
- At a distance, they projected an image of perfection, yet individually, they grappled with a multitude of problems. However, when they came together, their interactions often ignited toxic outbursts of anger, blame, and the pervasive presence of dry martinis.
© NL Beeld
13 / 27 Fotos
Walter White and Skyler, 'Breaking Bad'
- You should never guilt your wife into compromising her moral integrity. Their relationship, fraught with emotional intensity and instability, followed a distressingly predictable pattern.
© NL Beeld
14 / 27 Fotos
Leonard and Penny, 'The Big Bang Theory'
- The presence of jealousy and communication breakdowns exacerbates the reality that these two individuals share little in common and consistently contribute to each other's feelings of inadequacy.
© NL Beeld
15 / 27 Fotos
Tony and Carmela, 'The Sopranos'
- Tony's persistent infidelity was carried out without a hint of remorse, while Carmela seemed to deliberately overlook his criminal pursuits, even indirectly aiding and abetting his illicit activities.
© NL Beeld
16 / 27 Fotos
Carrie and Mr. Big, 'Sex and the City'
- Big refuses to commit, the two cheat on their partners with each other, and they generally make each other unhappy the whole way. And yet they still get married—even after he leaves her at the altar.
© NL Beeld
17 / 27 Fotos
Piper and Alex, 'Orange Is the New Black'
- Your romantic partner shouldn't land you in jail. Sorry ladies, but manipulation, even in the name of love, is still manipulation.
© NL Beeld
18 / 27 Fotos
Jim and Pam, 'The Office'
- Jim and Pam are iconic, but Jim kisses Pam after she turns him down, he buys them a house without talking to her, and started a company in another city without telling her...
© NL Beeld
19 / 27 Fotos
Brenda and Dylan, 'Beverly Hills, 90210'
- At its best, this hit show's central relationship was volatile. At its worst, it was destructive and harmful to more people than just themselves.
© NL Beeld
20 / 27 Fotos
Joey and Dawson, 'Dawson's Creek'
- In the company of Pacey, Joey experienced a sense of self-assurance and positivity. However, when she was with Dawson, he subjected her to scrutiny and judgment, leading her to feel inadequate and unworthy.
© GettyImages
21 / 27 Fotos
River Song and the Doctor, 'Doctor Who'
- This beloved couple's dynamic is difficult to fully embrace. River doesn't have a purpose outside of the Doctor, and it's clear he will never love her as much as she loves him.
© GettyImages
22 / 27 Fotos
Veronica and Logan, 'Veronica Mars'
- Logan is plain awful to Veronica when the series starts, threatening and bullying her, then later becoming self-destructive too. That's not exactly the recipe for a healthy relationship.
© GettyImages
23 / 27 Fotos
Luke and Lorelai, 'Gilmore Girls'
- Witty banter is lovable, but it does not make a healthy relationship alone. Lorelai didn't tell Luke about her repeated encounters with Chris, and Luke kept his surprise daughter a secret from Lorelai.
© GettyImages
24 / 27 Fotos
Ryan and Marissa, 'The OC'
- The classic tale of the privileged heiress enamored by the rebellious outcast seems like a recipe for disaster. Well, they were never happy, and they were more interesting apart than together.
© NL Beeld
25 / 27 Fotos
Daenerys and Jon Snow, 'Game of Thrones'
- The entire fanbase was cheering for this dynamic pair, and their eventual union left fans in a state of frenzy. However, it's impossible to ignore the fact that he is, in reality, her own nephew.
© NL Beeld
26 / 27 Fotos
© NL Beeld
0 / 27 Fotos
Elena and Damon, 'The Vampire Diaries'
- Their relationship was full of high expectations and disappointment, but there's also the hard truth: it is not okay for a teenage girl to date a guy who is hundreds of years older than her!
© NL Beeld
1 / 27 Fotos
Debra and Dexter, 'Dexter'
- Apart from the unsettling fact that Dexter is a serial killer, the situation took a significant turn when the siblings developed romantic feelings for each other, even though it later came to light that they were not biologically related.
© NL Beeld
2 / 27 Fotos
Chuck and Blair, 'Gossip Girl'
- The two seem perfect with their fiery chemistry and love of manipulation, but they consistently sabotaged each others' relationships and tried to control each others' lives. Remember when Chuck tried to trade Blair for a hotel?
© GettyImages
3 / 27 Fotos
Frank and Claire Underwood, 'House of Cards'
- While their moments of devious collaboration possessed a certain peculiar charm, there's no denying that theirs stands out as one of the most bizarre, savage, intricately warped, and manipulative relationships in the annals of television history.
© BrunoPress
4 / 27 Fotos
Buffy and Spike, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'
- The vampire slayer and the vampire were inherently destined for a toxic dynamic. It started with manipulation, escalated into acts of violence, and culminated in the ultimate act of sacrifice.
© NL Beeld
5 / 27 Fotos
Fitz and Olivia, 'Scandal'
- Fitz's marital status is merely a facet of the toxicity prevailing in this affair. The intense duo willingly jeopardize their own lives in pursuit of each other, even though their relationship consistently breeds unhappiness.
© NL Beeld
6 / 27 Fotos
Ross and Rachel, 'Friends'
- 'Friends' undoubtedly showcased several healthy relationships, yet this particular one did not fall into that category. For years, they actively interfered in each other's lives, ultimately leading to shared discontent and isolation. And as for the age-old debate, were they truly "on a break"?
© NL Beeld
7 / 27 Fotos
Barney and Robin, 'How I Met Your Mother'
- What a twist! Beneath the surface, this relationship was also defined by deception and manipulation, serving as the foundation for their repeated breakups.
© NL Beeld
8 / 27 Fotos
Ted and Robin, 'How I Met Your Mother'
- Though the whole show is centered around these two, they were essentially each others' second choice, and didn't want the same things in life. Plus, Ted asked Robin to get rid of her dogs—nope!
© NL Beeld
9 / 27 Fotos
Sam and Diane, 'Cheers'
- This duo serves as a quintessential illustration of a toxic TV relationship, marked by a cycle of countless breakups and reconciliations. Even when they managed to be together, their constant conflicts often obscured any semblance of harmony.
© NL Beeld
10 / 27 Fotos
Cookie and Lucious, 'Empire'
- This turbulent on-and-off relationship is filled with harrowing episodes, such as the chilling incident where Cookie attempted to smother Lucious with a pillow, and the jarring turn of events when Lucious abruptly chose to wed someone else at the last minute.
© NL Beeld
11 / 27 Fotos
Cristina and Burke, 'Grey's Anatomy'
- They were never happy just being with each other, as Burke was trying to mold her into something she wasn't, and Cristina was trying to get more out of him than just love—resulting in that brutal wedding day.
© NL Beeld
12 / 27 Fotos
Betty and Don Draper, 'Mad Men'
- At a distance, they projected an image of perfection, yet individually, they grappled with a multitude of problems. However, when they came together, their interactions often ignited toxic outbursts of anger, blame, and the pervasive presence of dry martinis.
© NL Beeld
13 / 27 Fotos
Walter White and Skyler, 'Breaking Bad'
- You should never guilt your wife into compromising her moral integrity. Their relationship, fraught with emotional intensity and instability, followed a distressingly predictable pattern.
© NL Beeld
14 / 27 Fotos
Leonard and Penny, 'The Big Bang Theory'
- The presence of jealousy and communication breakdowns exacerbates the reality that these two individuals share little in common and consistently contribute to each other's feelings of inadequacy.
© NL Beeld
15 / 27 Fotos
Tony and Carmela, 'The Sopranos'
- Tony's persistent infidelity was carried out without a hint of remorse, while Carmela seemed to deliberately overlook his criminal pursuits, even indirectly aiding and abetting his illicit activities.
© NL Beeld
16 / 27 Fotos
Carrie and Mr. Big, 'Sex and the City'
- Big refuses to commit, the two cheat on their partners with each other, and they generally make each other unhappy the whole way. And yet they still get married—even after he leaves her at the altar.
© NL Beeld
17 / 27 Fotos
Piper and Alex, 'Orange Is the New Black'
- Your romantic partner shouldn't land you in jail. Sorry ladies, but manipulation, even in the name of love, is still manipulation.
© NL Beeld
18 / 27 Fotos
Jim and Pam, 'The Office'
- Jim and Pam are iconic, but Jim kisses Pam after she turns him down, he buys them a house without talking to her, and started a company in another city without telling her...
© NL Beeld
19 / 27 Fotos
Brenda and Dylan, 'Beverly Hills, 90210'
- At its best, this hit show's central relationship was volatile. At its worst, it was destructive and harmful to more people than just themselves.
© NL Beeld
20 / 27 Fotos
Joey and Dawson, 'Dawson's Creek'
- In the company of Pacey, Joey experienced a sense of self-assurance and positivity. However, when she was with Dawson, he subjected her to scrutiny and judgment, leading her to feel inadequate and unworthy.
© GettyImages
21 / 27 Fotos
River Song and the Doctor, 'Doctor Who'
- This beloved couple's dynamic is difficult to fully embrace. River doesn't have a purpose outside of the Doctor, and it's clear he will never love her as much as she loves him.
© GettyImages
22 / 27 Fotos
Veronica and Logan, 'Veronica Mars'
- Logan is plain awful to Veronica when the series starts, threatening and bullying her, then later becoming self-destructive too. That's not exactly the recipe for a healthy relationship.
© GettyImages
23 / 27 Fotos
Luke and Lorelai, 'Gilmore Girls'
- Witty banter is lovable, but it does not make a healthy relationship alone. Lorelai didn't tell Luke about her repeated encounters with Chris, and Luke kept his surprise daughter a secret from Lorelai.
© GettyImages
24 / 27 Fotos
Ryan and Marissa, 'The OC'
- The classic tale of the privileged heiress enamored by the rebellious outcast seems like a recipe for disaster. Well, they were never happy, and they were more interesting apart than together.
© NL Beeld
25 / 27 Fotos
Daenerys and Jon Snow, 'Game of Thrones'
- The entire fanbase was cheering for this dynamic pair, and their eventual union left fans in a state of frenzy. However, it's impossible to ignore the fact that he is, in reality, her own nephew.
© NL Beeld
26 / 27 Fotos
You root for them, but these TV romances are incredibly toxic
These beloved relationships haven't aged well at all
© NL Beeld
We tune in to our favorite TV shows for the captivating drama and hearty laughter, often becoming deeply invested in the relationships portrayed. It's only natural to feel drawn to these characters who pull at our heartstrings. However, upon closer inspection, many of these romanticized relationships reveal themselves to be incredibly toxic.
Curious to know more? Click through to see your beloved on-screen romances from a fresh perspective.
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