Summary
Breakupsare never easy, but one thing that I’ve always found a little too easy was getting invested in the relationships of characters on my favorite TV shows. This can be a great experience as I get to feel the exciting highs of burgeoning romance, but sadly, this also means that I have to endure the devastating consequences of when things don’t work out, partners betray one another, or long-lasting love slowly and painfully comes to an end. It’s not easy being a TV fan, as more often than not, relationships end in tragedy on the small screen.
While I can think of plenty ofcouples who shouldn’t have ended up together, there were many others whose breakup left me feeling truly devastated. Some of theTV breakups that I’ll never be able to get overcame from series based around romance, but in other instances, this happened in my favorite sitcoms, as comedy characters often go through relationships quicker than they change their socks. I know it’s not always healthy to dwell on relationships that have come to an end, but these ones cut so deep I’m not sure I’ll ever fully recover.
8Mark Corrigan and Sophie Chapman
Peep Show (2003 - 2015)
In the realm of British comedy, I struggle to think of any character more tragically awkward than Mark Corrigan fromPeep Show. As one of thefunniest TV showsever made, I loved watching the ups and downs of Mark’s relationship with his hapless roommate Jeremy through all nine seasons of the cringe-inducing Channel 4 sitcom. But one relationship breakup I know I’ll never get over was the bitter end of Mark’s romance with his longtime love interest, Sophie Chapman, in the Series 4 finale, “Wedding.”
Mark’s desire to couple up with Sophie was a major theme of the earliest series ofPeep Show, but once he finally wore her down and she was prepared to marry him, Mark got cold feet. Not only did Mark tragically jilt his fiance at the altar by cowardly hiding in the church, but the after-effects of this betrayal were strongly felt throughout the remaining five series of the show. I watched with horror and hilarity as Mark never truly found “the one” after the devastating end of his relationship with Sophie, and his one-time fiance spiraled after their split.
Peep Show
Cast
Peep Show is a British sitcom that premiered in 2003, following the lives of two dysfunctional roommates, Mark Corrigan and Jeremy “Jez” Usborne, played by David Mitchell and Robert Webb, respectively. The show explores their misadventures, relationships, and struggles in contemporary London.
7Jonathan Levy and Mira Phillips
Scenes from a Marriage (2021)
The HBO miniseriesScenes from a Marriagewas a modern remake of Ingmar Bergman’s incredible 1970s Swedish miniseriesthat tracked the disintegration of the American couple named Jonathan and Mira. As a heartbreakingly poignant look at the dying throws of a difficult marriage, I felt like I lived through the trials and tribulations of Jonathan and Mira’s love unraveling in real-time. I’ll truly never get over this series powerful depiction of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and eventual divorce, as it felt like it echoed the universal challenges that I had also gone through in my own life.
With two incredibleperformances from Oscar Issacand Jessica Chastain,Scenes from a Marriage’scalculated narrative showcased the push and pull that happens as a relationship comes apart. I couldn’t help but relate to the way this couple pined to hang on to the good parts of their long-lasting love while gradually accepting that it was time to move on.Scenes from a Marriagewas an intense and often painful watch, but I also feel it was a compelling viewing that captured something innate about the human desire to risk untold heartache in the pursuit of love.
Scenes From a Marriage
A remake of the miniseries by Ingmar Bergman, Scenes from a Marriage stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain as Mira and Johnathan, an American couple whose disintegrating marriage is explored over the course of five episodes. The series explores a number of contradictory themes, such as love and hate, as well as monogamy and divorce. Nicole Beharie and Corey Stoll also star.
6Fleabag and the Hot Priest
Fleabag (2016 - 2019)
I immediately fell in love with the British comedy-dramaFleabagwhen it first aired in 2016 and quickly became a fan of everything its creator, writer, and lead star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, had done. The first series felt like it told a complete story perfectly, and then I was pleasantly surprised that Waller-Bridge actually managed to outdo herself with Series 2, which introduced an incredible will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Fleabag and the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott.) The fantastic chemistry between these two characters felt like it was unmatched on British TV, and I found myself rooting for their forbidden love.
Tragically, the final episode ofthe show ended with Fleabag and the Hot Priest admitting their love for one anotherbut accepting that he had chosen God instead of her. I found myself heartbroken as the two gracefully ended their almost relationship amicably, and it was gut-wrenchingly sorrowful to think how even when two people connect with each other deeply, there are times when the relationship is impossible. Through themes of regret, religion, and romance,Fleabagwas a comedy that made me feel deep emotions, and although I could accept their breakup, I’ll never get over it.
Fleabag
Created by and starring Pheobe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag follows its titular main character through her life in modern-day London. After the death of her best friend and the imminent demise of their joint business venture, the show deals with Fleabag’s grief over the loss, her struggle to maintain the business, and her complicated relationships with her immediate family. The show is known for its use of the fourth-wall break and is based on Waller-Bridge’s award-winning one-woman show which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013.
5Barney Stinson and Robin Scherbatsky
How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)
Like so many others before me,I was disappointed with the finale ofHow I Met Your Mother. Not only was seeing Ted end up Robin a predictable conclusion that anybody could have guessed based on the first episode alone, but it went against so much of the previously established story that it felt like a slap in the face. While Ted and Robin’s relationship was central toHIMYM, I realized they made Barney and Robin a far better couple once they were together at the end of Season 4.
Barney and Robin’s relationship helped break down Barney’s womanizing tendencies, and he came to find meaning beyond frivolous one-night stands. When Barney and Robin got married, I was truly happy for them, and it felt like an important moment of character growth for both of them. Not only was the tragic end of their relationship heartbreaking as a longtime viewer, but Ted later swooping in and ending up with Robin felt like the ultimate betrayal of the bro code.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
4Shiv Roy and Tom Wambsgans
Succession (2018 - 2023)
Successionwas truly one of the most well-written TV shows in recent years, and its complex character dynamics made for thrilling and often tragic viewing. One relationship that has always fascinated me was Shiv’s marriage to Tom and the unsaid conflict that was hidden just below the surface of their interactions. While it was clear they had real feelings for one another, a lot of the time, their individual desire for money and power got in the way of their ability to be happy together in their marriage.
The tragedy of their relationship was apparent even before they broke up, such as in Season 2 whenTom confronted Shiv about their open marriageand heartbreakingly said: “I wonder if the sad I’d be without you would be less than the sad I get from being with you.” Shiv and Tom officially split up in Season 4, which, in typical style for their relationship, was a blunt, no-nonsense affair without any drawn-out crying or emotional outbursts. As a fractured marriage from the very beginning, it was probably best they split, but it all felt so tragic I can’t get over it.
Succession
Succession is a Black Comedy and Satire television show created by Jesse Armstrong. It stars Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, and Kieran Culkin and follows the story of an aging conglomerate owner as he deals with his declining health and the sudden realization that one of his children will soon inherit his position and run his company.
3Phoebe Buffay and David
Friends (1994 - 2004)
WatchingFriends,I always felt like Phoebe was the odd one out of the group. Due to her tragic backstory, which included a difficult upbringing and even being homeless, she always seemed the one most deserving of a happy ending. Phoebe’s first real shot at love came when she got together with the scientist David, although their relationship was short-lived when he moved to Minsk to take up an important job. However,I always hoped that David would returnand the two would get their happily ever after.
Then, to my delight, David did return for a visit from Minsk in the seventh season, and although they didn’t get together, it proved she still held a candle for him. By the time Phoebe got together with Mike, it looked like David would be gone forever, but when he reappeared and proposed to her in a grand gesture in Barbados in Season 9, I thought they would finally be reunited. Sadly, although Phoebe should have ended up with David, she rejected his proposal, and a love story that had been promised since the beginning never came to fruition.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
2Lisa Simpson and Ralph Wiggum
The Simpsons (1989 - Present)
It may sound silly, but the tragic breakup of Lisa Simpson and Ralph Wiggum has been seared in my brain since I first watchedThe SimpsonsSeason 4 episode “I Love Lisa” many decades ago. This was the iconic episode where Lisa gave Ralph a Valentine’s Day card because she felt sorry he hadn’t received any, and he quickly found himself smitten with his fellow student. In a brave move of young love,Ralph invited Lisa to Krusty the Clown’s upcoming 29th Anniversary Special, where she told him live on air that she never liked him.
When Bart replayed the tape and was able to press pause on “the second his heart rips in half,” I couldn’t help but feel incredible empathy for Ralph’s dire heartache and humiliation. WhileThe Simpsonscontinued to air for decades since this episode aired, I never got over how brutal this breakup was, and I think about it every time Ralph appears on the screen.The Simpsonshas had countless emotional moments throughout the years, but I “choo-choo-choose” this one as the most poignantly sad.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
1Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler
Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022)
As a major fan ofBreaking Bad, I was delighted with how well the prequel seriesBetter Call Saulmaintained and often surpassed the quality of the original show. As I followedthe story of how the emphatic Jimmy McGill turned into the sleazy criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, I was surprised to see how invested I became in his relationship with his fellow attorney Kim Wexler. As the series continued through the seasons, Kim became one of theBreaking Baduniverse’s greatest characters, and I was worried about that her story would end tragically as she was not inBreaking Bad.
While I feared that Kim could meet an untimely death at the hands of the cartel, the fact that she and Jimmy simply split up and disconnected from each other’s lives was somehow more heartbreaking. Kimbroke upwith Jimmy in Season 6’s “Fun and Games,” as he said “I love you” for the first time, and she told him, “Together, we’re poison,” as she exited his life as a romantic partner. This breakup was the moment that truly turned Jimmy into Saul Goodman, and now, everyBreaking Badscene with Saul in it hits harder with this knowledge.
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
