Some people seem to think that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s immense success is mostly due to the superhero action that takes place in these films. While there certainly is some truth to that, since MCU fans seem to adore seeing superheroes and supervillains throw down, the reality is that these films have a lot more going for them. After all, one of the MCU’s greatest strengths is the franchise's ability to get viewers to really care about the characters outside their various adventures.
In the modern movie industry, many studio heads and producers seem to care a lot more about their ability to create action-packed trailers than anything else. As a result, the vast majority of blockbuster films fail to put enough effort into creating onscreen relationships for viewers to care about. Fortunately for fans of the MCU, the series has managed to buck that trend several times. However, that in no way means that all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s couples have worked.
In order for an onscreen couple to be considered for possible inclusion on this list, they first and foremost need to be associated with an MCU project, either cinematic or on the small screen. For the purposes of this list, romantic pairings that never got past the flirtations phase were in the running. On top of that, it has to seem like the power brokers behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe would prefer their fans forget all about the couple in question.
Here are 20 Couples The MCU Wants Us To Forget.
Daisy Johnson and Grant Ward – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Far and away the longest-running Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has seen several characters come and go. For example, during the first few seasons of the show, Grant Ward was among the most important characters, since viewers were shocked when he betrayed his fellow agents. Prior to his villainous nature coming to light, however, Ward and Daisy Johnson had obviously developed feelings for one another.
In fact, even after Ward joined HYDRA, Daisy, who was known as Skye at the time, still found it hard to deny her attraction for him. As a result, this pairing arguably was the most fascinating couple in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. history, so it would be too easy to feel like the show is missing something if you continue to think about them.
Danny Rand and Colleen Wing – Iron Fist and The Defenders
When it comes to the television side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the vast majority of the shows have been quite good. One of two very notable exceptions to that, Iron Fist was a huge disappointment and even though its second season was better than the first, that wasn’t saying an awful lot.
Arguably the central storyline of that show, and a less important aspect of The Defenders, Dany Rand and Colleen Wing’s relationship never really worked. This is because viewers never could feel a strong connection between the characters even though they often spoke about caring deeply for one another. On top of that, the show’s version of Danny Rand was so unlikable that having him date a much more interesting character like Colleen Wing just felt wrong. Obviously, that is not the kind of emotion MCU producers want to invoke.
Darcy Lewis and Ian Boothby - Thor: The Dark World
There were a lot of reasons to be disappointed in Thor: The Dark World. Though it's far from the biggest issue with the film, we still can’t ignore the fact that Darcy Lewis and Ian Boothby’s flirtation was a nuisance.
Clearly meant to serve as comedy fodder, Darcy threw out one line after another that failed to make most audience members laugh. Whenever her character’s attraction for her assistant was brought up, it was more likely to induce an eye roll than a laugh. This was made all the worse by the fact that the movie’s action was paused as Jane and Thor looked at Darcy and Ian kissing. It is a relief that this couple is unlikely to be seen again.
Matt Murdock and Karen Page – Daredevil
When two stars of a major series become a couple, it can be a make or break scenario. While this pairing didn't really work, at least Matt Murdock and Karen Page’s almost-relationship didn’t ruin Daredevil as a whole.
In fact, when they first began to eye one another, it was a positive thing as the tension that existed between them felt very real. However, once Murdock’s superhero alter ego made him unreliable and she began to worry about his safety, the whole thing became a drag. This is especially galling since Karen also regularly put herself at great risk. Even though she didn’t have any superpowers, we understood her concern for Murdock, but it still became old really quickly.
Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter – Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War
One of the best examples of an MCU movie setting up a romantic relationship that viewers cared deeply about was Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers's bond in the first Captain America film.
Though it was sadly never meant to be since Steve was frozen in ice for decades and by the time he woke Peggy was an elderly woman, it is still clear he continued to harbor a flame for her. That is why it is so creepy that the only other woman that Steve has become involved with is Peggy’s great niece, Sharon Carter. Aside from that strangeness, Sharon and Steve have barely even shared any scenes and he has bigger fish to fry.
Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios – Daredevil and the Defenders
Just like Catwoman and Batman or Jean Grey and Scott Summers, Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios are a pair of warriors who have fallen for and challenge one another. They're by far the most entertaining couple from all of the Netflix Marvel series.
Elektra’s askew morals made it seem like she and Matt could never work with one another. Despite that, they lit up the screen together whenever they shared it and when we last saw them together, at the end of The Defenders, their story didn’t seem complete. After all, Matt survived that falling building, so Elektra could’ve too.
Nico Minoru and Alex Wilder – Runaways
The two Runaways couple to appear on this list, this time around we are going to look at a short-lived pairing among the teenaged group. The two characters who at various times have taken a leadership role in the teenaged group, Nico Minoru and Alex Wilder developed a connection during the early stages of the Runaways’ formation. However, when Alex withheld information from the rest of the group, it put all of that to rest.
Once Nico got involved with Karolina Dean, not only did that negate any real possibility of reconciliation for her and Alex but it also became obvious that she is much better with her new love. In fact, now that we’ve seen what it is like when Nico is happy with someone else, it's all the more obvious that she and Alex lacked any real chemistry.
Thor and Sif – Thor and Thor: The Dark World
Sif’s feelings for Thor was an appreciated undercurrent of all their shared scenes in the Thor movies. Of course, she was never able to outright express her true feelings for her comrade and leader after he fell for Jane Foster. However, once those two broke up, it should have been prime time for Sif to slide in and see if she could get involved with the god of thunder. Instead, she didn’t appear in Thor: Ragnarok at all and this compelling storyline was completely dropped.
Jaimie Alexander, who played Sif, had busy schedule made her involvement in that film impossible, and the Russos. Despite that, we’re sure they would prefer it if all of us forgot they fell short of expectations.
Tony Stark and Christine Everhart – Iron Man
The film that started it all, Iron Man introduced moviegoers to Tony Stark, a billionaire with loose morals who was leading an irresponsible life. The fact that Happy Hogan allowed Christine Everhart to interview Tony because she was attractive was bad enough. However, when Tony and Christine spent the night together and Pepper was left to show the interviewer the door, it painted Mr. Stark in a very negative light.
Of course, Tony has grown an awful lot since then and his early misdeeds are an integral part of his story. Despite that, it still doesn’t seem like the folks at Disney would want to remind viewers of where their most recognizable Marvel hero began.
Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
A series that has improved immensely since its debut, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has become a great sci-fi show. Among the biggest reasons for the show’s success, it has introduced a long list of fantastic couples including Simmons and Fitz, Coulson and May, and Mack and Yo-Yo. Another example: Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter were a pair of agents with a long history and seeing them overcome all of their drama and get back together was a delight.
Unfortunately for fans of this series, the decision was made to give Morse and Hunter a spinoff series. That could have been great, but their spinoff never hit the air. As a result, writing Morse and Hunter out of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a huge misstep that producers likely don’t want fans to remember.
Peggy Carter and Daniel Sousa – Agent Carter
Agent Carter’s premature end was a huge disappointment. The show was mostly focused on the titular character’s efforts to save the day while working in a world that judged her gender. Peggy Carter kicked butt and it was awesome. On top of her law enforcement efforts, it also was a lot of fun to see Peggy develop a relationship with Daniel Sousa, a male agent who almost instantly saw the best in her.
It is too bad that we never got to see this couple’s relationship continue to grow. That said, since Sousa isn’t likely to be seen again and most MCU fans are much more aware of Peggy’s connection with Cap, it's like Marvel wants us to forget about her time with Daniel.
Leslie and Frank Dean – Runaways
Runaways is a show that deserves a much larger fan base. Focused on a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are a part of a villainous group, the show splits its focus between the youngsters and their parents. Two members of the elder generation, Leslie and Frank Dean, never seemed to make a very good couple due to the high levels of mistrust between them.
However, even if they were marvelous together, it seems likely that Frank’s character may have disappeared due to some backstage allegations against the actor who portrayed him.
Daisy Johnson and Lincoln Campbell – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
When Skye was first introduced in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s pilot, fans knew next to nothing about her and she also was unaware of many aspects of her upbringing. All of that came to an end, however, when she learned that she was an Inhuman, her name at birth was Daisy Johnson, and she got to meet her mother. Duringthis period of great upheaval in Daisy’s life, she became romantically involved with another Inhuman named Lincoln Campbell.
Largely brought together due to their mutual efforts to keep Inhumans safe, the truth of the matter is that Daisy and Lincoln’s relationship wasn’t organic. For that reason, we are not only happy that his character was written out but the show’s producers and many fans may want to forget all about him.
Matt Murdock and Claire Temple – Daredevil
Matt Murdock and Claire Temple appear on this list for reasons unlike any of the other couples. Claire saved Matt from a garbage heap, which, admittedly, doesn’t sound like a great beginning for a romance. However, when she nursed him back to health and the two discussed their passion for helping others, their affections for one another grew and they even locked lips.
They were separated for a time after that, and while they were apart Matt developed feelings for Karen Page and Claire got involved with Luke Cage. However, when Matt and Claire saw each other again in The Defenders, they acted like they barely knew each other. That only makes sense if you forgot they were ever involved, to begin with.
Bruce Banner and Betty Ross – The Incredible Hulk
The one MCU movie that has been all but forgotten, The Incredible Hulk has had very little impact on the franchise’s later films. Mark Ruffalo has taken over the titular role since, but it is a shame that some things from The Incredible Hulk are gone.
The film had done a good job at setting up Bruce Banner and Betty Ross’ love. The one person that could put Banner at ease in that film, Betty was portrayed as a strong woman who was unwilling to be dominated by her father and chose to love a complicated man. Once the MCU introduced these two as a pair, we really should have gotten more of them.
Jessica Jones and Luke Cage – Jessica Jones
Here's the final couple from the Netflix Marvel series on this list. At this point we have to ask, what is up with all the times those shows failed to pay off romantic relationships? Seen together during the first season of Jessica Jones, these two superpowered beings made a fantastic pair. After all, Luke seemed to break down Jessica’s defenses with relative ease and comic book fans will know that in that medium they ended up getting married.
Yet for some reason, when the first season of Jessica Jones ended the decision was made to almost entirely ignore that these two ever were a couple in the MCU. This was not received well by fans, and Marvel may hope that mistake has been forgotten.
Thor and Jane Foster – Thor and Thor: The Dark World
The Thor trilogy has had mixed results, but fans of the series can rest assured the last film was fantastic. Oddly enough, it also happened to be the first movie in the series that didn’t include an appearance from Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Thor’s main romantic interest in the previous two films.
Some viewers cared deeply about Thor and Jane’s relationship, while others disliked it. Either way, it seems obvious that producers would love all of us to forget about them as a pair. After all, if you liked them together then you are bound to be disappointed that they will not be seen together again. On the other side of the spectrum, why would anyone want viewers to remember a couple they disliked?
Jemma Simmons and Will Daniels – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As is the case with most sci-fi series, if you just describe some Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. storylines they sound very goofy. For example, at one point Jemma Simmons was sucked into an artifact known as the Monolith and found herself transported to a faraway planet where she met an astronaut named Will Daniels. Isolated from everyone else, including the man she loved, a frightened Simmons started up a short-lived relationship with Daniels at that time.
Brought together as more of a plot device than anything else, this couple ended when Daniels passed away and then became possessed by an evil Inhuman known as Hive. Considering Hive is a long-gone villain that never amounted to much and Simmons' love story with Fitz is a show highlight, it is unfortunate that she ever got involved with anyone else at all.
Medusa and Black Bolt – Inhumans
At the end of the day, there are several reasons why the powers that be behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe could want us to forget about Medusa and Black Bolt from Inhumans. Right off the hop, the show that they appeared in is the MCU's most notable failure.
When the two characters shared scenes, it felt like there was no connection between them, in large part due to the constant scowl that adorned Black Bolt’s face. All in all, the only reason why this couple isn’t taking our top spot is that MCU may get its wish, since many viewers have already forgotten Inhumans ever aired.
Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff – Avengers: Age of Ultron
Despite the talented people who were involved, several aspects of Avengers: Age of Ultron just felt off. The most obvious reason for this is tht Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff didn’t work as a couple. How did they expect viewers to care about them as a pair when the vast majority of their relationship happened off screen?
If that weren’t enough of a reason to put this pairing in the rearview mirror, they also seemed really weird together. After all, the first hints of their relationship came when Romanoff managed to calm Hulk down mid-battle. Weirdly enough, she did this by talking to the being she suddenly was attracted to like he is a child. When they were reunited in Infinity War, it was like they were coworkers and nothing more.
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Which MCU couple do you want to forget? Let us know in the comments!