Most of the time, television shows get it right when it comes to pairing off main characters and introducing suitable love interests. However, when a series ends abruptly, loose ends aren't always tied up for these characters, specifically where their love lives are concerned. Other times, shows go on for far too long and love interests are unable to reprise their roles for a character's happy ending.
There are certain couples that didn't get the screen time they deserved, whether that be because of a main couple's overshadowing or because they were just completely underutilized and later became fan favorites. When one of these couples doesn't get to live happily ever after, it's up to the audience to decide what their fate is post-show. Here are some couples fans love but were not endgame.
Slater & Jessie (Saved By The Bell)
Jessie Spano and A.C. Slater's relationship on Saved By The Bell was never the fairytale romance of their peers Kelly and Zack. Instead, they were opposites that seemed to sometimes attract, but ultimately decided they were better off as friends.
In the reboot, Jessie is unhappily married and Slater is still single, but it's clear that all these years later they still have plenty of chemistry. They've also done a ton of growing up since their days as students at Bayside, opening the door for a rekindling of teenage romance. They might not be together yet, but fans can hope that they find their way back one day.
Haley & Andy (Modern Family)
Modern Family ended its run 11-year run last year and tied up some loose endings for all the Dunphy characters. For Haley, the eldest child of Phil and Claire, that meant getting back together with her high school boyfriend Dylan and giving birth to twins.
Many viewers were disappointed that she never rekindled her Season 6 romance with Andy, a man who seemed to be the perfect match for her. Haley and Andy played off each other's fun-loving goofiness well, and together they seemed like they could be the next Claire and Phil.
Angel & Cordelia (Angel)
Buffy and Angel were all the rage in the early days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but by the time Angel's own spinoff came around, it paved the way for new relationships for the iconic vampire.
Cordelia and Angel's friendship is what really brought the two together, and built a foundation so strong that romance feelings eventually were revealed. However, the two never got a chance to truly be happy, and she died (well, transcended) before their romance could ever be fully fleshed out.
Jackie & Hyde (That '70s Show)
Jackie began That '70s Show is in on-again-off-again relationship with Michael Kelso. They were a fun pair, but not a good match. At the end of the show, Jackie was in a relationship with Fez, even though the two had no chemistry and seemed to get together in a very out-of-the-blue storyline.
Jackie and Hyde dated during a majority of the middle of the series and together made each other better as humans. He brought out the best in her, and she allowed him to be himself without feeling any sense of judgment. Jackie and Hyde just clicked, and their relationship should've been the one that lasted.
Alex & Jo (Grey's Anatomy)
Alex Karev could be a real jerk in the early days of Grey's Anatomy, but he grew into a loving pediatric surgeon that was deserving of a romantic partner who understood him and would stay by his side.
Enter intern Jo Wilson in Season 9, who proved to be the perfect match for Karev. The two were able to be vulnerable with one another and work through personal traumas, creating a meaningful foundation and mutual love and respect. When Alex left Jo via letter to get back together with his ex Izzie, fans were not only disappointed but deeply confused.
Neal & Sara (White Collar)
Con-artist Neal Caffrey played by Matt Bomer always struggled with lasting love, but his chemistry with Hilarie Burton's Sara Ellis showed viewers that he was surely capable of it.
Their love was short-lived, given that she felt like he betrayed her in a way they could never come back from. Despite jealously and their deep connection, the two decided they were better off as friends, even though their characters deserved far better closure as far as their romantic relationship was concerned.
Sam & Diane (Cheers)
Bartender Sam and uppity Diane's chemistry was what made the first few seasons of Cheers so appealing and hilarious. The electricity and love-hate dynamic between Ted Danson and Shelley Long was what enemies-to-lovers fans' dreams were made of.
Once the show got the two together, though, they weren't sure how to make things last, and they ended up splitting up. Diane left the show midway through its run but returned for the finale. They decided to try their relationship again, only to end it because they didn't think they were meant to be, something that didn't make sense for their characters given their feelings for one another.
Rory & Logan (Gilmore Girls)
When Rory said no to Logan's marriage proposal at the end of Season 7, she was fresh out of college and still trying to figure her life out. She wasn't sure she wanted to have the rest of her life planned out then and there, but unfortunately, Logan's offer was all or nothing.
The 2016 revival saw the pair reunited, but not in a relationship. They were having an affair as Logan was due to marry Odette, a French woman who he seemed to only be with to make his family happy. When Rory learns that Odette has moved in with Logan, she realizes they have to put a stop to their ongoing romance, even though they are a far better match. Though the series ends with Rory pregnant with potentially Logan's baby, fans never got to see them get their happily ever after.
Alexis and Ted (Schitt's Creek)
When Alexis and Ted first dated in Season 1 of Schitt's Creek, they were completely incompatible. She was still a spoiled ex-socialite, and he was a veterinarian with hilariously unfunny puns.
They started over by becoming friends and coworkers while Alexis worked toward her own personal goals accomplishments. Ted always believed in her, and she grew into the person he deserved to be with. Their breakup in the last season is heartbreaking knowing that their love is so strong, they are just in different places of their lives.
Barney & Robin (How I Met Your Mother)
Ted might have loved Robin first, but Robin clearly loved Barney more once the two started a romantic relationship on How I Met Your Mother. The two saw each other as equals, took the good with the bad, and never stopped loving one another even when they were apart.
The final and ninth season of the series was all about the events leading up to Barney and Robin's big day, only for them to announce their divorce a third of the way through the finale episode. Barney ends up becoming a father, while Ted finds his way back to Robin, making the entire series -- and the growing the pair did together, seem like a waste.