Love triangles are one of the most abused tropes on television. From Dylan, Kelly, and Brenda in Beverly Hills 90210 to Robin, Barney, and Ted in How I Met Your Mother, the love triangle is the go-to way to introduce conflict into any relationship, especially one that might be going stale.
Netflix's original shows have given audiences some of the most memorable love triangles in recent years. Shows like Sex Education and Never Have I Ever are perfect examples of how this trope is still relevant and practical, providing some spice into the romantic lives of everyone's favorite couples.
Javier, Sofía, and Raúl - Control Z
Mexican series Control Z is a Netflix revelation. Mixing mystery with a healthy dose of soapy fun, the show is one of the best entries in the overcrowded teen mystery genre. And because no teen show is complete without a love triangle, series protagonist Sofía finds herself torn between sweet and reliable Javier and sociopathic but charming Raúl.
Audiences know that Sofía should stay away from Rául, but the chemistry between the actors is so explosive that most concerns go out the window. Control Z might not be as widely known as fellow Spanish-language juggernauts Who Killed Sara? and Élite, but it's still a worthy teen whodunit, bolstered by a compelling love triangle.
Marcus, Ginny, And Hunter - Ginny & Georgia
Ginny & Georgia wasn't a critical darling when it premiered, but audiences quickly embraced it. The show became a success for Netflix, and a second season is already on the way. One of the best parts of the first season was the relationships between Ginny and her two potential love interests, Marcus and Hunter.
There's much debate among fans about who's better for Ginny on Ginny & Georgia between Marcus and Hunter. She has an immediate and undeniable connection with Marcus, but Hunter shows his love in many ways, creating a more thoughtful and respectful relationship with her. Season 1 ends with Ginny leaving, thus ending her relationship with both boys, but season 2 might change that.
Harvey, Sabrina, And Nicholas - Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
The relationship between Sabrina Spellman and Harvey Kinkle is an iconic part of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. However, the Netflix adaptation introduced a new love interest that shook things up considerably. Harvey and Nicholas Scratch are each good for Sabrina in different ways, and the series does a perfect job exploring her relationship with both of them.
The show ends with Sabrina staying with Nick in the Sweet Hereafter, delight many fans and enraging others. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina showed that an adaptation can keep things fresh by going against canon and experimenting with its characters.
Adam, Eric, And Rahim - Sex Education
Eric Effiong is one of Sex Education's best characters. His arc in season 1 is about coming to terms with his sexuality and standing up to his bully, the confused and lonely Adam. The two end up hooking up in the last episode, but their affair abruptly ends when Adam goes to military school.
Season 2 introduces Rahim, an openly gay student whom Eric begins dating. Adam's return complicates things, and thus a love triangle forms. The show avoids clichés by allowing Eric and Adam enough time apart to grow as people. And even though they end the season as a couple, Rahim will return in season 3, so things might not be entirely over with this love triangle.
Samuel, Marina, And Nano - Élite
Season 1 of Spanish mega-hit Élite introduced a love triangle between brothers Samuel and Nano and wealthy rebel Marina. She tends to fall for the bad boy and instantly clicks with Nano, falling for him despite her growing feelings for sweet Samuel.
The love triangle is the driving force throughout the season. And even though things end badly for everyone involved, the relationship was a crucial reason for Élite's success, cementing it as one of the best and most addictive teen shows in streaming.
Sam, Miguel, and Tory - Cobra Kai
Few expected Cobra Kai to be such a massive success when it premiered in 2018. Alas, the show wowed critics and audiences, becoming a critical darling and even scoring a surprising Emmy nomination in 2021. A big reason for the show's success is its central storylines, and a standout is the love triangle between Sam, Miguel, and Tory.
Sam and Tory become enemies almost immediately, their opposite backgrounds pitting them against each other. Things further complicate when Miguel starts dating Tory after his breakup with Sam. The feud keeps escalating, and things will get worse now that Miguel and Sam are back together. Season 4 will probably feature another fight between the two, and fans can't wait to see who will win.
Mal, Alina, And Kirigan - Shadow And Bone
It seems that every YA adaptation needs a love triangle. The Hunger Games had Peeta, Katniss, and Gale, and Twilight had Edward, Bella, and Jacob. Shadow and Bone honors this noble tradition with Mal, Alina, and General Kirigan.
Shadow and Bone improves on many of the criticisms from the source material. Fans of the books found problems with Mal's cruelty towards Alina and the imbalance of power between her and Kirigan. Most of these issues weren't present in the Netflix adaptation, allowing for a more immersive story that satisfied fans of the books and newcomers alike.
Ben, Devi, And Paxton - Never Have I Ever
The best love triangles are the ones that no one sees coming. Netflix's groundbreaking Never Have I Ever features one of the best and most unexpected triangles with Ben, Devi, and Paxton. Indeed, most fans saw Devi and Paxton's relationship from a mile away, but her dynamic with rival-turned-love-interest Ben surprised more than one.
The Ben-Devi-Paxton relationship is one of the show's best parts and crucial to its success. And even though season 2 ends with Devi and Paxton becoming a couple, things might not be over between her and Ben. Fans will have to wait until 2022 to learn how this love triangle develops.
Otis, Maeve, And Isaac - Sex Education
Love triangles usually divide a fandom. For example, some Twilight fans were Team Edward and others Team Jacob. However, the entire fandom of Sex Education is in agreement that Isaac is the worst. He is a manipulative young man who goes out of his way to get Maeve's attention.
Otis and Maeve's relationship has gone through its fair share of problems, but season 2's final episodes hinted they might finally get together. The final moments even have Otis proclaim his love for Maeve via voicemail, only for Isaac to delete it before she can hear it. If season 3 doesn't get Otis and Maeve together at last, fans will probably riot.
Diana, Charles, And Camilla - The Crown
One of the most infamous real-life love triangles in history left a mark that the English monarchy will never wipe away entirely. Prince Charles' ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles while married to Princess Diana remains a subject of intense interest for the media. Two separate projects tackled the affair in 2020, including Netflix's The Crown.
Season 4 revolved around Charles and Diana's deteriorating marriage, with the shadow of Camilla looming large over them. The show painted a tragic but objective painting of how different Charles and Diana were and why their union ultimately failed. Critics lauded the show's treatment of the storyline and the cast's performances, and The Crown ended up receiving a staggering 24 Emmy nominations.