With science fiction TV shows, most people want action, scope, and epic space battles. It may seem like there’s no room for love, but inevitably most science fiction TV shows will have a relationship that is good or bad for the show. The impact a romance has on the show is subjective, but it’s clear that every single couple on a science fiction TV show has an impact. No matter how major or minor the characters, an ongoing or fresh relationship changes a show.
Sometimes you might wonder why a couple is together on a show in the first place. This thought is the result of the show runners, producers, or writers falling into a TV trope trap. Whether you realize it or not, a couple often hurts a science fiction TV show because of a couple of common reasons. One: controversy. Fans and viewers have never wanted person A and person B together, so they begin a relationship. Two: a couple gets together because it’s convenient to move the plot in a specific direction.
It’s often necessary for television shows to throw couples at you - new or established - to propel storylines, whether the relationship makes sense or not. Despite their complex plots and far-fetched premises, not even science fiction shows are immune to this.
This list contains couples in science fictions shows that followed one of the above tropes, made fans happy or angry, or that surprised no one when it happened.
Here’s 10 Couples That Hurt Sci-Fi Shows (And 10 That Saved Them).
Hurt: Troi & Worf (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
After Deanna Troi and William Riker split, Worf eventually entered the picture as a romantic partner for Troi. Troi and Worf as a couple seemed too forced, with fans questioning why.
Their interactions had no chemistry; they were better suited as friends.
Worf always appeared apprehensive around Troi, not wanting to dishonor Riker and constantly feeling his love was completely wrong. At times, you could tell he clearly didn’t want to cause trouble with Riker.
Troi and Worf as a couple hurt Star Trek: The Next Generation, but a better, more positive relationship for Worf would have been K’Ehleyr, his son’s mother.
Saved: Aeryn & John Crichton (Farscape)
In Farscape, Aeryn Sun is a cold and unemotional soldier forced to adapt to cultural misunderstandings. She thinks her emotions are defects that hinder her ability to do her job. John Crichton, on the other hand, shares his feelings and opinions regardless of the fact he’s thrown into a situation beyond his control.
Even from the very first episode, the attraction between Aeryn and John was there. Both of these heroes by themselves have achieved so much, but as a team, they were unstoppable.
Aeryn and John talk a lot. They have a real relationship, from friendship to fights to awkward conversations and more. They had each other’s backs through every obstacle the universe could throw at them.
Hurt: Lex Luthor & Lana Lang (Smallville)
As a couple in Smallville, Lex Luthor and Lana Lang had an intense relationship with many complications. They started as friends, and Lex even helped Clark get closer to Lana.
Over the first 4 to 5 seasons, Lana slowly began to trust Lex. She confided him, and he helped her cover up an evil deed. But they hurt the show with their relationship.
The moral of this bad couple was that if a guy wanted to do nefarious things to get a girl, it would work.
For example, Lex hired a hypnotist to break Clark and Lana up so she’d be free to date Lex. Lana attempted to seek revenge multiple times, drawing her character into a darkness she never really came back from.
Saved: Zoe & Wash (Firefly)
Zoe and Wash from Firefly were complete opposites, but they were also completely solid. Zoe was the don’t-mess-with-me soldier while her husband Wash - the pilot - was just plain silly.
They had a relationship any couple could aspire to: they stayed married through thick and thin, which made them emotionally close. Wash didn’t like Zoe going out on crazy dangerous missions, but he understood why she was loyal to the rest of the crew.
The couple was consistent, steady, and had satisfying conversations and scenes when they were alone and around others. Malcolm Reynolds could have learned a thing or two about relationships from Zoe and Wash’s.
Hurt: Jack & Kate (Lost)
Many fans of Jack and Kate believed that they were fated to be together, but because of Sawyer, things didn’t go so smoothly.
From the beginning there were sparks between Jack and Kate, but she seemed drawn more toward Sawyer because he was more similar to her.
Why should Jack waste his time when he saw Kate clearly had feelings for Sawyer?
They do declare their love for each other, but it’s such a confusing relationship through Lost’s six seasons. That’s how love triangles (and quadrangles if you add in Juliet) tend to go.
Saved: Adama & Laura Roslin (Battlestar Galactica)
In the reboot of Battlestar Galactica, one couple lit up the universe despite conflicted beginnings. Roslin butted heads with Adama on many occasions, but during a moment on New Caprica, she admits her desire to build and share a cabin in the mountains with him.
During initial episodes, it never seemed like Adama and Roslin were made for each other, but many scenes clearly showed the tension between them was more than frustration, anger, or confusion. They were always there for each other. The classic “will they or won’t they” relationship between them culminated into Roslin’s declaration of love for him.
It was something Adama always knew. His response was, “About time.”
Hurt: Will & Katie Bowman (Colony)
Colony is a show about an alien invasion and mainly focuses on the Bowman family. Husband and wife Will and Katie Bowman have different methods of surviving the suddenly dystopian-like new world.
Katie is toxic in the marriage: sneaking around, becoming involved in a rebel group, and getting recruited to watch her husband for potential intel on his task of finding the rebel group and its leader. All this happens early in the first season!
Is the marriage that strong he could forgive all the lies?
Will suspects what’s going on, but stays with Katie, despite her actions nearly costing him his life.
Saved: Olivia Dunham & Peter Bishop (Fringe)
Olivia Dunham was the intelligent and tough-as-nails agent, and Peter Bishop the genius smart-aleck who often got himself into trouble with shady people. Sounds like a perfect match.
Over the course of Fringe’s 5 seasons, their love generated subplots to many fascinating story arcs. Even after Olivia knew Walter Bishop’s secret about his son, Olivia grew closer to him. And Peter had always had feelings for Olivia, even before he expressed them. The on-screen chemistry between them almost made Fringe a romance rather than a science fiction show.
Plus, it helped that the fate of the world hinged on their love for each other.
Hurt: Kiera & Carlos Fonnegra (Continuum)
Continuum involved advanced technology, time travel, and corporate crimes. The show ran for 4 seasons and starred Rachel Nichols as Kiera Cameron and Victor Webster as Carlos Fonnegra.
Cameron is blasted back in time from 2077 with a group of terrorists, managing to wiggle her way onto a police force. She’s partnered with grizzled cop Fonnegra, and they become an amazing crime-fighting couple. Professionally, it worked, but it became apparent that Fonnegra had developed feelings for her. At that point, their relationship hurt the show.
He became a classic lovestruck man, and even though when he learned the truth, it barely did anything to faze him.
He struggled somewhat when the truth was unearthed but reverted to protecting Kiera in hopes she’d profess her feelings back.
Saved: Scully & Mulder (The X-Files)
When it comes to love in TV shows, the most often used cliché is “will they or won’t they.” The partnership of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from The X-Files defined this cliché perfectly.
From their first meeting, their chemistry is obvious. He’s charming and conspiratorial, and she’s the typical scientist meant to provide skepticism. However, their professional relationship hindered a more personal one. Because of all that, The X-Files created more suspense with their platonic relationship.
Eventually, they finally gave in during the ninth season. The fans got what they wanted. Scully and Mulder ended the show in bed, wondering and thinking about their future together, and the new seasons explored that even more.
Hurt: Martha Jones & Micky Smith (Doctor Who)
The marriage of Martha Jones and Mickey Smith hurt Doctor Who a little because it threw shadows over the continuity of the show.
The two-part Doctor Who mini-series “The End of Time” has Martha and Mickey working together as freelance alien hunters. However, if you recall, she had feelings for the 10th Doctor in the Doctor Who series and was engaged to Tom Milligan. This was shown in the episode “The Sontaran Stratagem", and it was suggested Martha had been happy with her first fiancé.
Martha’s on-screen interactions with Tom Milligan were sparse, but completely tossed out when she was shown on her honeymoon with Mickey.
It’s not known what really happened with the relationship to Milligan, but pairing Jones and Smith together seemed like a convenient way to plot the end of their characters for the new Doctor.
Saved: Troi & Riker (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Deanna Troi and William Riker had a history together before the events The Next Generation began. They remained extremely amicable from the very first episode, but fans wanted them to be more.
While the show was mysterious about their past relationship, the romance eventually blossomed again through the series. It might have been nice to see this more on screen, but the subtlety of their friendship kept everyone guessing if they’d end up together again. They were likable characters with amazing chemistry played by two fan-favorite actors.
They finally did get married in Nemesis. Even now in 2018, years after The Next Generation aired (including movies), Riker and Troi are better suited as a couple than Troi and Worf.
Hurt: Oliver & Chloe (Smallville)
Although Chloe and Oliver eventually married in Smallville, one significant event nearly caused them to remain at odds.
At one point in the show, Davis Bloome, aka Doomsday, ran away with Chloe. She knew the League had plans to capture him, then dispatch Bloome, and she wasn’t on board with that, so she helped him escape. On the other hand, Oliver had no qualms about carrying out the mission.
It took some time, but they both eventually got over that difference in season nine to begin their relationship.
Oliver being okay with eliminating someone should have made Chloe cut him from her life.
A better use of their relationship may have been just to stay as friends, with Chloe as the point person for group of heroes and Oliver the billionaire Green Arrow.
Saved: Clark Kent & Lois Lane (Smallville)
Across comics, TV, and movies, one couple was always right for each other: Clark Kent and Lois Lane. In Smallville, this is even more apparent.
At first, Clark and Lana Lang were in a relationship, but Lana was surrounded by drama all the time. Clark really didn’t need her angst in his life; she slowly grated on fans nerves. Then a welcomed change happened when Lois Lane arrived in season 4.
The show ran for many more seasons, but Lois provided the foundation for Clark to embrace his Superman side. The relationship evolved in the way that it should: with a slow mutual respect turning into requited love.]
Hurt: Doggett & Reyes (The X-Files)
When John Doggett and Monica Reyes basically took over The X-Files in season 8 and 9, fans didn’t expect a dynamic like Mulder and Scully, but they expcted sort of chemistry between the characters.
It seemed like the writers tried too hard to recapture the magic Mulder and Scully had, but their relationship took years to foster.
Doggett and Scully worked all right together, but when Reyes was brought in, you could see hints of the show pushing Doggett and Reyes together.
The new Agents didn’t work together. Perhaps one of the reasons The X-Files wasn’t renewed for season 10 was that viewers had no desire to see Doggett and Reyes in a personal or professional relationship.
Saved: Audrey Parker & Nathan Wuornos (Haven)
Haven, based on Stephen King’s The Colorado Kid, had one of the better sci-fi couples too keep the show going. With flimsy plots and story arcs and silly supernatural premises, the love and devotion of Audrey Parker and Nathan Wuornos literally transcends space-time.
From the couple’s first meeting, Wuornos and Parker immediately held an attraction that was subtly explored in the early episodes. Their relationship bloomed when Wuornos admitted his feelings for her.
Maybe it was the connection of tragedy or the shared experiences of the towns’ Troubles. Whatever it was, their love was real, consistent, and impenetrable.
Theirs was a relationship of purity and selflessness.
Hurt: Seven of Nine & Chakotay (Star Trek: Voyager)
In Star Trek: Voyager, Seven of Nine had many crew members woo or fall in love with her. Most notable was The Doctor’s feelings for her throughout the show. What really hurt the series was when she started dating Chakotay.
During a holodeck version of Voyager, Seven of Nine started a romantic relationship with the First Officer. In the program, Chakotay fell madly in love with her and dated her several times.
Seven’s affection for Chakotay in the simulation was due to damaged implants, so The Doctor removed them.
Seven continued to have feelings for Chakotay, and they started dating for real. With an odd, computerized beginning, it’s a wonder Star Trek fans didn’t call for the writers’ heads.
Saved: Nomi & Amanita (Sense8)
If you want to watch a relationship based on support, loyalty, and unwavering love, then watch Sense8’s Nomi and Amanita.
When you first meet them, the couple are insanely happy and healthy. Everything bad that happens to them is because of things outside their control. Nomi has her own issues as a sensate, but she is able to keep going is because of Amanita. She’s extremely supportive and does not question anything Nomi tells her, even when Nomi admits she has other people in her head.
Individually, they are strong, but the trust and strength between them makes them infinitely stronger together.
Hurt: Amanda & Kyle (Kyle XY)
The show Kyle XY only lasted three seasons but managed to create a confusing romance between the main characters Kyle and Amanda, the girl who lived next door.
The biggest issue was no chemistry existed between the actors.
Amanda had a boyfriend at first, then a female clone like Kyle appears (Jessie), and Amanda becomes extremely jealous of Jessie.
Kyle did continue to choose Amanda over Jessie through season 2 and 3, but their compatibility was just not there. It would make sense for Kyle to become involved with Jessie since they were alike, but Amanda had been there since season 1, so they kept Kyle chasing after the wrong girl.
Saved: Michael & Maria (Roswell)
Their beginnings were just as strange as many of the plots of the show. Michael kidnapped Maria and stole her car. It’s an odd way to start a love affair, that’s for sure. The couple’s relationship was the antithesis of the other main characters'.
Michael and Maria had a passionate, often explosive relationship that was way more believable than Liz and Max’s.
They had more ups and downs than other character couples in the show, but never gave love a fair chance until the very end. The chemistry between the actors was so strong that it put any other couple on the show to shame.
What’s your favorite sci-fi couple? Let us know in the comments!
