THE ALMOST OTPS WE FELL FOR THAT DIDN’T QUITE MAKE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
There’s dozens of OTPs to love. Some we love for years with very little payoff (and then must see its resolution rushed if a show is cancelled!). Others we get to experience the ups and downs of. But what about those almost TV romances we love? Where would they have gone? Would we ship them if we could have? These all seem like fun questions to ponder, and so today, we do!
LIST | FAVORITE UNDERRATED AND SECONDARY TV HEROINES WHO STILL SHINE
THE ALMOST OTPS WE FELL FOR THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Talking about the almost TV romances that almost were. #CalltheMidwife #LittleWoman #JoMarch #Romance #TVCouples #NCIS #NickTorres #EllieBishop Share on XI’ll be honest, I don’t think about the TV (or film) relationships that almost were. Or I don’t much. I know there’s some that people wish for and others that they argue over as being a bad potential pair. Still, the idea of the almost couples is a fun one to contemplate, so today, let’s discover some of them.
ALMOST TV ROMANCES WE LOVE
Be aware, there are some show and/or film spoilers below
ANNIE AND AUGGIE from COVERT AFFAIRS (TV SHOW)
Ah, yes. A+A sitting in a tree… Well, not exactly, but you get the point. I struggle with my feels about these two because honestly, I loved them and where they start which is as the BEST of friends. Because of this, I did ship them together early on (I love what Auggie does for Annie and how he cares though I’m not entirely sure she’s best for him). However the more time wears on and I don’t “feel” that either of them love one another, I grew to respect them best as friends.
Then, the writer’s put them together, make us like them only to tear our hearts out and end the series in a rushed way to give one a happy end. I don’t know, it just feels as though we’re kind of cheated. I’m not mad that they don’t end up being a “thing,” more how the writer’s treat them.
SYDNEY CHAMBERS AND AMANDA from GRANTCHESTER (TV SHOW)
THIS ROMANCE. It consumed so much of the show and Sydney’s time. I think by and large, it wasn’t well liked. By the end, I did have some feelings towards them working out. They didn’t, obviously, but what annoyed me more is that part of Sydney’s eventual write off involves a “convenient” romance (meaning this is so we can see him ride off with a happily-ever-after). Honestly, it was just too much given all we’d gone through with him and his pining over Amanda. Much as I love someone getting a happy ending, I’d have rather seen Sydney leave to do some other work that didn’t include someone by his side… right now. almost tv romances
TOM HEREWARD AND TRIXIE FRANKLIN from CALL THE MIDWIFE (TV SHOW)
This was one of the more interesting connections and relationships from this show. I actually haven’t watched any episodes for years now (I spoiled myself about something and just couldn’t watch it at the time because of other things going on). I should jump back into the show as it always left me with this feeling of just how good this show is. Back to Tom and Trixie though. These two… they were an odd pair, but at the same time good for each other. I think Tom ultimately ended up with who he should, but Trixie goes through it. What made them so interesting is Tom being a minister and Trixie, well, being Trixie.
CHARLOTTE HEYWOOD AND SYDNEY PARKER from SANDITON (TV SHOW)
Didn’t these two have a thing in season one? A thing that was left in limbo at the end of the season, and then Theo James, who plays Parker, announced he wouldn’t be back for a second season? According to social media these two weren’t well liked which is all I have to go on since I never picked up this TV show. There was TOO MUCH drama around it at the time and I just wasn’t into it. However it may be something I watch eventually post all that drama, and maybe even something I can enjoy. Did you root for these two?
ANGUS MACGYVER AND RILEY from MACGYVER (TV SHOW)
This romance sneaks up on us… sort of. It’s one of those solid friendship relationships that encounters some tests that kind of pushes these two together. By the time the show ends, there’s a teaser that there’s more to their relationship even as Angus is in a relationship. The show ends with everyone happy but with the lingering looks. This is all we get though since unfortunately it never did receive the renewal nod. Do we think they could have been good together? I think so. almost tv romances
JOSEPHINE MARCH AND THEODORE LAWRENCE from LITTLE WOMEN (BOOK/MOVIE)
Ah, Jo and Laurie! These two were never a couple I really thought much about regarding “disappointment” of them not being together. I grew up on the 90s feature and felt happy for everyone. What I do remember is finding how the actor plays the Jo and Laurie reunion scene in the BBC miniseries (or is it the 2019 feature?) makes it seem like Laurie still regrets how things turned out and he still loves Jo in that way. Then came the alternate world book Jo & Laurie (which we know I enjoyed) and people on social media discussing how they were still bitter these two weren’t endgame.
No matter where you fall, I do have to admit, how Timothée Chalamet plays the declaration scene is really good. I was convinced even if the idea and opinion of most scholars or book addicts follows Jo, which is they’d kill each other. I think this is possible, yes, but I also think they could have grown together.
I did not know they were a THING or a wanna be thing until more recent times. Makes me now question if I should take a closer look at them as being a lost possibility.
THE ALMOST OTPS WE FELL FOR THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Talking about the almost TV romances that almost were. #CalltheMidwife #LittleWoman #JoMarch #Romance #TVCouples #NCIS #NickTorres #EllieBishop #WCTH #ElizabethThatcher Share on XCHRISTOPHER LASALLE AND SONJA PERCY from NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
This could-have-been love story ends terribly no matter how you look at it. There’s not only sadness seeing them say goodbye, but also for how one of the character’s story ends, too! It’s double sorrow.
TRACE RILEY AND ABBY from CHESAPEAKE SHORES (TV SHOW)
Feels like I’m the only one who shipped these two. I “get” the reasons some don’t like them, but at the same time, I think Abby is quite unfair to Trace and Trace is the one who gets 95+ percent of the blame for why they don’t work. There’s also rumors that Jesse Metcalfe chose not to return for the full show run because he didn’t care for how his character’s story was going, part of which was the writer’s treatment of this romance.
ELIZABETH THATCHER AND NATHAN GRANT from WHEN CALLS THE HEART (TV SHOW)
In our list of Almost TV Romances, this one caused a stir! I’ll best honest about this show. I gave it up a long time ago. In the beginning, it was good and there were things I loved about it that now the producers, creators, actors, whomever it may be, long since gave up on. For me, that kind of means they gave up trying and putting on what started out as being, a better historical epic. I’ve seen episodes here and there that I watched for the purpose of something I was writing, and I actually did meet Nathan. It even seems like social media was trending more towards Nathan and was in his corner, but prior to the big “Elizabeth makes a choice” season, I “knew” who she’d choose based on a: cast interviews, b: just the teasing with promotion, c: my years of watching too much tv and d: one episode logline talking about how she met the winner’s mother, so… yeah, that seemed a telling detail.
From the little I saw, and again, I didn’t see all the seasons, I preferred Nathan for Elizabeth and while I can respect the “why” of her choice (as well as writer’s wanting this), I think it’s also a choice that realistically would have possibly problematic highs and lows, too.
*Yes we know the landscape of this relationship has changed. But at the time, this relationship was one that didn’t make it.
NICK TORRES AND ELENOR BISHOP from NCIS
Here’s the thing about these two, it is entirely possible we could see them together again. Though honestly I didn’t know they did engage in a little thing until, well, you know-what-happens. Still I’m not totally wrecked by how this ends. I was sadder to see Bishop’s prior relationship go sideways, and additionally, I think NCIS‘ one grand on-screen love story was Tony and Ziva, and the similarities of agents dating makes it hard not to compare. Now, the current NCIS romance… well, that, for me, is a different story… and also a topic for another day.
ELIZABETH SWANN AND CAPTAIN NORRINGTON from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (MOVIE)
I used to know someone who really liked the Captain Norrington character. I didn’t really think about like or dislike of him either way, but he wasn’t a bad dude based on what I remember. He also had a thing for Elizabeth Swann who, unfortunately for him, had given her heart to Will.
What about you? Who are some of your favorite almost TV romances and OTP couple ships to love?? Or don’t love? Do you wish any of these would have been end game? Did you like any of these would-and-could-be couples? Comment all of your thoughts!
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