The Marvel Cinematic Universe has done a lot right. Whether it’s come to adapting the stories and characters of the comics, creating all new directions for them or just crafting entertaining movies and television. The MCU, by any metric, is a success.
However, there’s one element of the universe that has consistently appeared across all the movies and shows at a very inconsistent level of quality.
Starting with Iron Man and everything that followed, there’s always been a romantic subplot to be found in every Marvel project. These couples have been just as recognizable and important to the story as the villain or, of course, the hero.
Sadly, the romantic subplot can either be one of the film’s best elements or its greatest downfalls. There’s no mediocre in between.
There’s no hard and fast rule for why one MCU romance works and another doesn’t. Some of the greatest ones have been a creation of the movies (or TV shows).
They either involve a totally original character of the MCU or a pairing that no one in the comics had ever thought of before the movies. Likewise, some of the worst couples have been those that are pulled directly from the comic books. Yet on occasion the exact opposite has been true.
The only thing that’s true in determining the best MCU couples from the worst is how the various relationship portrays and impacts the characters in them as well as the story surrounding them.
So, here are the 10 Couples That Hurt The MCU (And 10 That Saved It).
Saved: Claire Temple and Luke Cage
The relationship between Claire and Luke almost certainly isn’t built to last. These two are not going to end up in a happily ever after type of situation.
However, their burgeoning relationship in Luke Cage and The Defenders was one of the highlights of either series.
Rosario Dawson as Claire is the unsung hero of the MCU, at large, but especially in the most contained universe of the Netflix series. There’s no one or nothing that Claire can’t have chemistry with or make interesting.
Before Luke Cage got his own series, he was already compelling, due in large part to his appearance on Jessica Jones season 1. However, Claire (and Luke’s relationship with her) added even more humanity to his character. There was a reason to care beyond the fact that Luke was the title character of the series.
The first season of Luke Cage is a bit of a mess. The first half is very strong and then everything falls apart with a very rote and expected conclusion.
The same can be said, in large part, with The Defenders. Luckily, Claire and Luke’s endearing romance manages to be a through line between both series. Even when everything seems hopeless, they’re a small beacon of happiness.
Hurt: Peter Parker and Liz
Spider-Man: Homecoming was, in addition to be a fantastic way to welcome Spidey into the MCU, a perfect representation of the high school experience.
Tom Holland’s Peter is so relatable, charming and familiar. Everyone was Peter Parker at one point or knew someone like Peter. The attention to detail in the high school setting also extended to the romance. Characters developed feelings for one another based on no other criteria than proximity.
If there’s one major failing of Spider-Man: Homecoming it is the “relationship” between Liz and Peter.
The two can barely be called a couple as they go on one date, where Peter abandons her because he has just learned her father is supervillain with plans for a huge criminal spree.
The problem with Liz and Peter is that the audience is hardly given a reason to care about them, outside the whole issue of her father being evil.
Peter has a huge crush on Liz seemingly for no other reason that she’s attractive and she’s in his immediate vicinity. Even more strangely though is Liz reciprocating Peter’s feelings when, from her perspective, he’s a flightly weirdo who never keeps his word or maintains his responsibilities.
It really is the best representation of a high school romance, in the sense that it makes no sense outside the confines of the school’s walls or to any outsider.
Saved: Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne
Scott and Hope aren’t together romantically, yet. However, their relationship is certainly heading down a non-platonic road. There’s no denying they’re a couple too. The two are partners, as Ant-Man and The Wasp, if nothing else.
It’s also their partnership that makes the Ant-Man corner of the MCU so refreshing. Even though Scott is the title character and the figurehead of the team, he’s not really the leader. It’s Hope who is really in charge.
The MCU does occasionally play with traditional gender roles in its couples. Yet for the most part, it is the women who are the supporting characters and love interests, no matter how strong or capable they might be in other arenas. The hero, because they have the fancy name or the suit, is the star and usually the one “in charge.”
This isn’t the case with Scott and Hope, though. Even before she suited up as The Wasp, Hope, with an assist from her father, was the brains and leader of Team Ant-Man. Scott was the lovable and powerful buffoon but not the brains. Scott is endearing, especially with Paul Rudd playing him, but he would be nothing without Hope.
This, sadly, atypical power dynamic between the two allows them to have their whole identity and place in the MCU. Even if everyone does tend to forget Ant-Man is a part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hurt: Elektra and Matt Murdock
The failure of Elektra and Matt’s twisted romance in the MCU is heartbreaking for several reasons. Though maybe not the most beloved of Matt’s many romantic conquests in the comics, there’s a lot to be explored between Matt and Elektra.
They can’t seem to quit each other but they’re also terrible for one another. Elektra and Matt are fascinating study of dysfunction.
Some of this did make its way into Daredevil and The Defenders. To the MCU’s credit, everyone did try very hard to make Matt and Elektra happen. It was just a little too much of a perfectly mediocre thing.
Elektra and Matt’s dark obsession with one another consumed the two Netflix series where the characters appeared, the exclusion of everything and everyone else. This would’ve been fine if the stories really pushed the envelope, but the Matt and Elektra were rather predictable. She’s evil, he can’t handle it. She’s deceased, he still can’t handle it.
Daredevil has always tried to give off the impression as being grittier and more realistic than the standard superhero story.
Yet with Elektra and Matt, the mission statement seems to have been to be as soap operatic and cliched as possible. The star-crossed lovers act, the passing and mysterious resurrection of Elektra, it’s all been done before (many times) and done better.
Saved: Peter Quill and Gamora
It’s true that because of Peter, and his feelings for Gamora, half of the universe’s population was destroyed in Infinity War. If Thanos didn’t upset Peter by revealing that he took the life of Gamora, Infinity War would’ve ended a lot of differently and without launching a thousand different, “I don’t feel so good” memes.
Yet putting aside Peter’s blunder, the only reason that moment works (at all) is because of the relationship that was built within the Guardians movies.
Although Peter was immediately attracted to Gamora, the Guardians movies didn’t rush their relationship. The two didn’t even have a full on-screen kiss (or presumably a kiss period) until Infinity War.
Gamora wasn’t inexplicably charmed by Quill’s rakish ways in Guardians Vol. 1, even though most action movie love interests would feel that way.
Star-Lord had to grow, mature and become a lot more approachable before Gamora considered a relationship with him.
Even after that it was slow burn throughout Guardians Vol. 2 and Infinity War.
The Guardians franchise is known and beloved for its wacky sense of humor and its sophomoric antics. However, the romance between Peter and Gamora has been the franchise’s emotional and heartfelt gooey center. It’s helped elevate Guardians to more than just a series of sci-fi sketches.
Hurt: Melinda May and Andrew Garner
The only thing remarkable about Agent May’s doomed love affair with her ex-husband Andrew is how quickly things went off the rails (with so much goodwill going into it).
Things started off very strong. In Agents of S.H.I.EL.D. season 2 it was revealed that the mysterious May had been married before to therapist Andrew Garner.
The relationship humanized May a great deal and created a great counterbalance to her character in Andrew. He was soft and sensitive where May was hard and callous. Andrew wasn’t the deepest of characters, but he wasn’t meant to be, he was just May’s love interest and a damn good one.
However, mid-way through their romantic rekindling, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. dropped a (silly) bomb.
Andrew wasn’t just a mild-mannered therapist. Andrew was secretly Lash, a homicidal Inhuman who was hunting and destroying others of his kind.
The twist completely changed Andrew’s personality, as well as restructured everything about May and Andrew’s relationship.
Andrew wasn’t the character he seemed be, harboring a dangerous and illogical hatred toward Inhumans.
Everything about May and Andrew’s seemingly adorable connection was all a lie to set up the big twist, which didn’t have nearly as much impact as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hoped.
Saved: Luke Cage and Jessica Jones
The plan surrounding Luke Cage’s inclusion Jessica Jones always involved him spinning off into his own series and into The Defenders. It’s probably for this reason that Luke Cage arrived into Jessica Jones more fully formed and interesting than pretty much any other character in the series, excluding Jessica (and maybe Kilgrave).
Whatever the reason, Jessica and Luke quickly developed a messy and fascinating romance that drove a lot of the action during season 1.
Jessica Jones had a lot to work with as Jessica and Luke eventually get married and have a child in the comics. Yet the series struck its own unique story for the two, that was about as far from domestic bliss as it’s possible to get.
The big crux of Jessica and Luke’s relationship in the first season of the series is that Jessica, under Kilgrave’s mind control, had taken the life of Luke’s wife. This dark secret lurks in the background while Luke and Jessica start to develop an undeniable and rather innocent link. It also eventually breaks them up.
The Defenders suggested the romance between the two is far from done. (Hence why Claire and Luke’s relationship isn’t long for this world.)
No matter what series the two do rekindle their love affair on, it can’t come soon enough. They are downright fascinating together.
Hurt: Trish Walker and Will Simpson
Luke and Jessica have some serious emotional baggage, but they end up working together quite well. The same can’t be said of the other major relationship of Jessica Jones season 1 between Trish Walker and Will Simpson. The two had a rocky relationship from the very start.
Their “meet cute” was Will, under Kilgrave’s mind control, attacking and attempting to take out Trish. Jessica and Trish worked together to prevent this from happening which freed Will from the supervillain’s control.
It became embelamtic of the relationship that would follow. Will and Trish started off innocent enough but slowly Simpson began to slip into madness. A madness that had nothing to do with Kilgrave.
Will began to blame Jessica for everything wrong in his life, which put him at odds with, not only Jessica, but her best friend Trish. Simpson grew abusive, creepy, and deranged becoming one of the most unlikable characters in a series whose main villain is a serial rapist who mind controls people into doing his horrible bidding.
Will wasn’t meant to be that likable or even all that sympathetic, but he was also totally unnecessary. One egomaniacal male villain who has an intimate history with a female character was enough for Jessica Jones. Will was just (bland) overkill.
Saved: Scarlet Witch and Vision
Most of Scarlet Witch and Vision’s relationship has been developed off-screen. They’re still one of the best couples in the MCU.
Scarlet Witch and Vision both entered the MCU in Avengers: Age of Ultron but it wouldn’t be until Captain America: Civil War where they really began to interact. Even then though Scarlet Witch and Vision’s interactions were more just hints about their real feelings, not anything substantial.
In Avengers: Infinity War, the two are a real deal couple and the heart of the movie.
Scarlet Witch and Vision’s romance gives the audience emotional stakes into Thanos’ quest to gain all the Infinity Stones. Since Mind Stone brought Vision to life, Wanda (and the audience) know that his demise is the key to Thanos succeeded. The Stone must either be removed or destroyed.
Scarlet Witch and Vision become even more important to the movie in the final act. When Wanda is forced, by Vision, to take his life to prevent Thanos from getting the Mind Stone (although Thanos just rewinds time to reverse that from happening.)
Still the act of sacrifice from Wanda and Vision allowed Infinity War to have a very personal and tragic story while hell was literally exploding all around them.
Hurt: Clint and Laura Barton
Avengers: Age of Ultron is an over-stuffed movie with a lot moving parts. The installment has its moments but its also full of mistakes and dropped balls. One of the biggest blunders is the movie’s big reveal that Hawkeye is a happily married man, whose wife and children live on some remote farm.
The intentions of giving Clint a wife and kids are noble. It fleshes out the character after he was a mind-controlled zombie for most of The Avengers and gives a human face to the heroes’ struggles. Yet the existence of Clint’s family causes way more problems than it solves.
Clint having a wife gives him a reason to fight. However, it also makes his willingness to go out into a warzone of superpowered people armed with nothing but a bow and arrow so incredibly foolish.
Clint protecting the world as an Avenger isn’t brave. It’s just idiotic. He should stay at home and be a dad to his kids, not abandon his family for life-risking missions.
However, the worst issue of the couple is Laura herself. The character is a total waste of actress Linda Cardellini.
All Laura does is be blandly supportive of her husband and vaguely concerned at times. She’s not a character but a plot device.
Saved: Phil Coulson and Melinda May
One of the great things about a TV show is that couples and character pairings can manifest in surprising ways that no one was expected.
The characters weren’t meant to get together from the start but because of the actors’ chemistry, the flow of the story or even just fan desires, certain characters can hook up. This is the case with Coulson and May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s wonderful.
From the very first episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., its obvious that Coulson and May have a long history. Yet it’s also obvious that history has never been romantic. They’re very close and loyal to one another but it’s nothing more than platonic.
Yet with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4, things slowly started to turn in a more dewy eyed direction. The old friends got closer and closer, until they eventually shared their first kiss.
There was a slight complication with the fact that May Coulson kissed wasn’t the real thing but an LMD. Even so that was just a minor hurdle in their epic relationship.
May and Coulson’s romance has been the definition of a slow build. It’s a relationship that was built on a strong friendship first and it serves a satisfying moment of happiness for the two long-suffering S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Hurt: Phil Coulson and Rosalind Price
May is Coulson’s most successful and interesting Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. love interest but she’s not the only one. Putting aside the cellist he mentions in The Avengers, the next big love of Coulson’s life was Rosalind Price.
Rosalind was introduced in S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3 as the head of ATCU. She started as Coulson’s uneasy ally and quasi-rival. Yet their bickering quickly turned to romance.
It’s common (TV) logic that everyone who argues, most secretly be in love. Despite their cliched origins there was something compelling about Rosalind and Coulson together. She managed to be Coulson’s equal and opposite, challenging him in very interesting ways.
However just as Rosalind was getting really compelling (and her romance with Coulson was heating up), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made the decision to take her life. S.H.I.E.L.D. stuffed Rosalind in the fridge so fast that most fans hardly knew what happened.
Rosalind was assassinated by Grant Ward, as an act of revenge against Coulson. It was an overall terrible move.
Coulson didn’t need any more reasons to want to go after Ward. Ward taking out Rosalind was totally unnecessary. It also retroactively made her relationship with Coulson manipulative. Their whole romance was about setting up its tragic end, not really about developing either of their characters.
Saved: Pepper Potts and Tony Stark
With Iron Man, the MCU did a lot of things right that they would continue to repeat in subsequent movies. This includes the central romance. Pepper and Tony are the first couple of the MCU literally and figuartively. Countless elements of their relationship can be seen sprinkled throughout the MCU with other couples.
Pepper and Tony have a rapid-fire, quippy wordplay between them. There’s a constant sense of push and pull, where neither truly ends up on top.
Pepper is right and in charge, just as much as Tony. They balance each other in the best way.
They’re also not perfect. Throughout their history in the MCU, there have been multiple break-ups and rekindlings. Tony frequently goes against Pepper’s desires for him to be just a “normal” billionaire playboy philanthropist (well except the playboy part). Yet Tony can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.
Yet even when the two are at odds there’s no MCU couple with more history or even chemistry than Pepper and Tony.
The two have been together from the very beginning and will continue to be a huge part of the cinematic universe as long as their two actors are willing.
Hurt: Colleen Wing and Danny Rand
It’s true that Netflix’s Iron Fist has been criticized enough. It’s been an almost insane amount of hRW really. However, there’s always time for a bit more trash talking about Iron Fist, especially when it comes to one of its most laughable elements. There is absolutely no reason that Colleen Wing and Danny Rand should be together.
Colleen and Danny are the two leads of Iron Fist. Despite the show’s many faults, it does believably sell the fact that the two care for one another. There’s just no reason their relationship needs or should be romantic.
Danny Rand is an entitled, arrogant little kid playing at being a superhero. Colleen is an accomplished business owner and a mature women with a dark past.
She shouldn’t see anything in Danny but another kid to save. However, for some reason, she’s charmed by him throughout Iron Fist and The Defenders.
Colleen is so impressive that it’s her character, not Danny, who should be the main character of Iron Fist. Putting her in a relationship with Danny just bumps her down to supporting role, even if she is still the female lead. It’s so annoying reductive.
The only good thing that can be said of Danny and Colleen’s relationship is that it makes more sense than if the MCU had gone the comic route and had no-nonsense Misty Knight hook up with Danny.
Saved: T’Challa and Nakia
The praises of Black Panther can’t be sung enough. The movie was triumph from multiple angles but one of its best elements was the central romance between T’Challa and Nakia.
The only people to really thank for Nakia and T’Challa’s romance are the cast and crew of Black Panther. Nakia does exist in the pages of the comic but she’s a disturbed and very one-dimensional character.
She grows unhealthily obsessed with T’Challa. Nakia believes T’Challa belongs to her and no one else. She’ll take out anyone who prevents their “happiness.”
In place of that regrettable story, Black Panther crafted a true partnership. Nakia and T’Challa were equals. Nakia had her own agency, ideals and thoughts. Very little of them had to do with T’Challa too.
Nakia managed to occupy a totally unique position in the MCU (and superhero movies in general). She has the exact same beliefs as the movie’s villain, yet she’s nowhere close to being the antagonist.
Nakia and Killmonger both believe that Wakanda can help the rest of the world and shouldn’t be isolated. (It’s their methods where they differ.)
It’s because of Nakia and her altruism that T’Challa eventually reverses Wakanda’s isolationism, leading to a much brighter MCU future.
Hurt: Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter
There’s so much to unpack with Steve and Sharon’s romance in the MCU. None of it is particularly that pleasurable.
Sharon made her MCU debut in Captain America: Winter Solider stealing glances at Steve and revealing herself to secretly be an Agent of SHIELD.
In Winter Solider, Sharon is a fine but rather unremarkable character. She’s the prototypical strong female character whose defiance and readiness to tussle is mistaken for a real personality.
It wouldn’t be until Captain America: Civil War where the connection between Sharon and Steve grew romantic and more than mildly icky. It is in Civil War where its revealed that Sharon is the grand-niece of the first woman that Steve ever loved, Peggy Carter.
Steve finds this out, suddenly, at Peggy’s funeral. Before the audience can even really process this information, the next scene of Sharon and Steve together involves him sticking his tongue down her throat.
There’s nothing incestuous about it. Sharon isn’t Peggy’s daughter. Steve and Peggy also never got beyond dancing either so there’s no way that Sharon could be Steve’s offspring.
Yet it’s still disturbing. Sharon probably grew up hearing stories about Steve and as an adult she’s hot for him? The relationship is just way too distracting to truly invest in or be interested in seeing them get together long term.
Saved: Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter
Of course, the central problem with Steve and Sharon being together is that it can’t help but be compared to Peggy and Steve.
Sharon has nothing on Peggy. Peggy is so much more than just the love interest of Captain America.
She’s an accomplished Army officer, she’s combat trained and has an incredible amount of moral fiber. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy could easily be the hero of the movie and very little would change. She’s just that impressive.
There’s a reason that Peggy is the only MCU love interest to be so popular and compelling that a whole TV show was crafted for her character. Agent Carter exists because Hayley Atwell is amazing and the tragic love story between Steve and herself was fantastically told.
In all honestly Captain America: The First Avenger is a rather paint-by-numbers origin story. The WWII setting gives it a unique look but nothing really happens that is too exciting in the movie– except for the romance between Peggy and Steve.
It’s the coupling of them and the role reversal of her being so much more experienced that gives First Avenger something totally original. Peggy and Steve make their movie.
Hurt: Thor and Jane Foster
The MCU doesn’t always stick the source material. Throughout the dozens of films, the MCU has changed certain elements of Marvel mythology and remixed certain characters and plots into one single entity.
When it comes to the relationship between Thor and Jane Foster though that’s almost entirely ripped from the page. Just like in Thor, Jane Foster was one of the first people that the God of Thunder met and they almost immediately fell for one another.
The MCU went in the wrong direction though by having Jane be not nearly as interesting, capable or fun to watch as her comic counterpart.
The MCU Jane is scientist with these supposedly strong goals and dreams. Yet they never really materialize in the movie itself. Jane just sort of ogles Thor while showing occasional moments of backbone, like slapping Loki.
Jane’s not an offensively dull character but she’s not remotely interesting either. This makes Thor’s weird devotion to her so very perplexing. Jane might look like Natalie Portman but there’s nothing that special about her.
Jane’s character comes directly from love interest central casting. She’s feisty enough to have a few choice lines but not enough to do anything of import.
Thor Raganork, the best Thor movie, even has Jane and Thor break-up off-camera and precisely no one, including Thor, seemed to care.
Saved: Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons
From the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot, it was obvious that Fitz and Simmons were going to end up together. The two even came pre-packed with their internet “ship” name, Fitzsimmons.
Yet predictability was no indication of quality. Fitzsimmons is the best romance, by far, in the TV half of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They might even be the best couple of the entire MCU.
The reason for Fitz and Simmons’ success is the amount of time that has gone into them.
Since they were obviously going to get together from the pilot, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been able to slowly and realistically build their relationship from friends to unrequited lovers to husband and wife.
When S.H.I.E.L.D. began Fitz and Simmons were inseparable. Their personalities were indistinguishable. Yet over time the series broke the two apart, established their own personalities and then brought them back together as one cohesive (married) unit. There’s a beautiful kind of symmetry in Fitz and Simmons’ relationship.
Their romance has also been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most consistent storylines. Even when the series was in the weeds of their never-ending Inhumans saga, Fitz and Simmons managed to be a respite.
It wasn’t always a happy break, as they’ve had their fair share of problems. Yet the journey of the two’s relationship has always been worth the investment, emotional or time-wise.
Hurt: Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner
The sun is going down, big guy and so is the audience’s eyelids watching these two seduce each other.
Of all of Age of Ultron’s missteps, the decision to put Black Widow and the Hulk into a love affair is the most confusing. Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo are very talented.
They’re the perfect actors for their respective roles. Yet even they couldn’t make their characters wholly pointless romance work or make a lick of sense.
Widow and Hulk’s romance did receive a bit of undeserved flack for a misinterpreted scene, where many believe that Natasha called herself a “monster” because she can’t procreate. (She doesn’t. She calls herself a “monster” because of her high body count as assassin.) Yet there were way more problems with them than just that one line.
The romance appeared in Age of Ultronwithout warning. There was not hint of it from The Avengers or any other MCU movie. Hulk also became Black Widow’s one and only subplot of the movie.
It was jarring to go from the Captain America series where Natasha is always in the thick of the action and is so calculating (without being cold) to Age of Ultron, where her primary concern is her man.
The idea of a beauty and a beast getting together has been done so many times, even in some of the other work of Joss Whedon (the writer/director of Age of Ultron). However, Hulk and Widow’s romance is one of the worst examples of the trope.
Do you agree with this list? What some of your favorite and least favorite MCU couples? Sound off in the comments!
