Not all romantic relationships get their happily ever after. Some of them are downright bad from the beginning while others grow sour over time. Sometimes it's simply the case of being with the right person but at the wrong time. And other times, there's no big drama but the two people aren't a right fit.
The Arrowverse has introduced many romances over the years, yet when fans speak about them, they usually discuss the successful ones. Some Arrowverse couples weren't meant to be and in many cases, the audience noticed the sad truth even before the characters themselves came to the realization.
Ray And Kendra
Ray and Kendra got together when they were stranded in the past. They seemed happy but it was easy to predict their relationship lived on a borrowed time. Kendra's soulmate was always going to be Carter Hall, aka Hawkman. The two had an everlasting romance that ran for hundreds of years. Ray couldn't possibly compete with it. So when they came back to Waverider, the time ship, it was only a matter of time before the romance would fall apart. Luckily, it was a friendly breakup, and Kendra and Ray remained on good terms.
Felicity And Barry
Felicity and Barry could have been a great couple. But only if circumstances were different. By the time they met, both of them were destined to be with someone else - Barry with Iris, and Felicity with Oliver. Barry was just a temporary obstacle in Felicity's romance with Oliver, and everyone knew it. Still, there was an instant connection between them. They clicked on multiple levels, flirted a little, and even went on a date, sort of. But after sharing a kiss on the train, they decided they were better off as friends.
Iris And Eddie
Eddie seemed like a decent guy. On paper, there was nothing wrong with him. He loved Iris and his job as he wanted to protect people. But all comic book fans know that Iris and Barry are the ultimate couple in the comics. It was only a matter of time before they would get together. Eddie stood in the way of their happiness. So when he sacrificed his life to defeat Eobard Thawne in the first season's finale, it didn't come as a big surprise.
Felicity And Ray
Ray Palmer had exceptionally bad luck when it came to dating women who already loved someone else. He and Felicity got together in the third season of Arrow. Once again, just like Barry, Ray was a temporary hindrance on the way to Oliver's and Felicity's happiness.
They had a lot of things in common but even that wasn't enough to make the romance work in the long term. Felicity broke the relationship off in the end and once again, she and Ray remained friendly.
Nate And Amaya
Nate and Amaya were a sweet couple. The main problem was they came from two different time periods. Everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before they would separate. Amaya had to come back to her timeline to ensure her grandchildren would be born. This is exactly what happened in the end. Nate and Amaya were happy together but she made the choice she was always going to make and left him to be in her time. The only option for how they could have stayed together would be for Nate to leave his family and friends to be with her. But that wouldn't be fair to either of them.
Oliver And Sara
Felicity wasn't the only one who dated other people before she and Oliver settled down - he did too. One of his most significant romances was Sara Lance in the third season. Sara and Oliver were a great couple. They've been through a lot together, understood each other, and fought side by side. Unfortunately, once again, their romance had to be cut short because of Felicity. The excuse why they broke up felt somewhat random, but at least they remained great friends and continued helping one another.
Barry And Patty
Funnily enough, Barry had a lot more in common, character-wise, with Patty than he does with his now-wife Iris. Patty was smart, kind, funny, but also awkward around people. She and Barry hit it off and had a great time together. Unfortunately, the timing was once again all wrong.
Barry had a lot on his plate and Patty's job presented a danger for her. Pursuing another job was ultimately one of the reasons why Patty left Star City and Barry behind. Of course, the real reason was so that Barry and Iris could get together.
Oliver And Isabel
Oliver dated a lot of women on Arrow. Some of his romantic choices were questionable and the fans knew before Oliver did the romance wouldn't end well. That was also the case of Oliver's brief fling with Isabel Rochev. Isabel was hostile toward Oliver from the start. Yet he allowed himself to be fooled by a brief moment of supposed understanding. Oliver had no idea Isabel used to have a relationship with his dad, true. But he should have known trusting her was a bad idea, yet he did it anyway and almost lost his company forever because of that.
Oliver And Nyssa
However, despite Oliver's sometimes questionable romantic choices, one of his worst romances wasn't his fault. If it can be called a romance in the first place. Ra's al Ghul forced his daughter Nyssa to marry Oliver. Oliver and Nyssa went through the ceremony but neither of them was happy about it. The fans suspected these two would never get together for real, and they were right. However, they stayed somewhat close. Nyssa helped Oliver multiple times and she also taught his daughter Mia how to fight.
Moira And Malcolm
Finally, there's the curious case of Moira and Malcolm. From the moment it became a known fact that these two once had a fling, it was obvious their relationship wouldn't end well. Malcolm was too manipulating and Moira had her fair share of secrets. The only good thing that came out of their 'romance' was their daughter Thea, but overall, this relationship did more harm than good and it wasn't destined to have a happy ending.