TV Friendships That Were More Important Than Any Romantic Relationship

Every TV show has at least one major romantic relationship between the protagonists that fans root for and support, but often the more important relationships on our favorite TV shows are the friendships between characters.

You see these friendships blossom between characters over seasons and years, and you can't help but feel like you know them, and you care about them far more than any boring old romance. Bromances and female friendships are what we really care about.

Dwight & Jim, The Office

Dwight Shrute and Jim Halpert the office still
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB

Pam & Jim were the endgame, but by the end of the series, you probably realized that the real couple you were rooting for all along were Jim & Dwight because their bromance was better than any other relationship on the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Blair & Serena, Gossip Girl

ADVERTISEMENT
Blair Waldorf Serena Vanderwoodsen
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Look, you might not fully agree with this one, but hear us out. Yes, Blair and Serena were not always kind to one another and had a tumultuous friendship, but when it came down to it, they were always there for each other and there to help in whatever capacity they could. That's what real friendship is, regardless of all the other stuff.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nick & Schmidt, New Girl

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
New Girl Nick & Schmidt lying down
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Nick and Schmidt were proof that opposites do attract, because as different as they were, their friendship spanned decades. And even if it took a lot of effort for Nick to open up, everyone knew how much they loved each other.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jake & Charles, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Jake Peralta Charles Boyle Brooklyn 99
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nbcbrooklyn99
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nbcbrooklyn99
ADVERTISEMENT

We all love Jake & Amy together, there's no denying that, but Charles Boyle and Jake Peralta's friendship is the real Brooklyn Nine-Nine relationship that proves love is real, and you can't convince otherwise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, & Miranda, Sex and the City

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
sex and the city four women
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

When you think of female friendships, it's nearly impossible to not think about the women of Sex and the City. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte were always there to support each other through marriages, divorces, babies, and career changes, and they never judged.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cory & Shawn, Boy Meets World

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Boy Meets World cory and shawn
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Cory Matthews and Shawn Hunter were the original '90s bromance that you were shipping before you even knew what the term "bromance" meant. They made it from kindergarten to adulthood together, so sorry Topanga, but we're here for Cory & Shawn.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joey & Chandler, Friends

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ffriends joey and chandler early season still
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

The entire premise of the show Friends is that Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, Joey, Monica, and Chandler were the best of friends, just trying to navigate their lives together, but if you don't agree that Joey and Chandler were the best duo, you're wrong.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meredith & Cristina, Grey's Anatomy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Meredith Grey Cristina Yang greys
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

McDreamy and every other man that Cristina and Meredith brought into their lives took a backseat to their relationship because when you find your person, no one can replace them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ilana & Abbi, Broad City

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
abbi and ilana promo photo broad city
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

The fact that Abbi and Ilana are best friends in real life is obviously a huge factor in their characters being such good friends onscreen, and whether it's on our TV or on our Instagram feed, we're here for their friendship.

ADVERTISEMENT

Leslie & Ann, Parks and Recreation

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
leslie knope and ann from parks and rec
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

They supported each other, they gave each other much-needed advice, they loved each other, and they even admitted they would've made a great couple if they hadn't both been attracted to men. Leslie and Ann were the couple on Parks and Rec that we were always rooting for.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seth & Ryan, The OC

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ryan atwood seth cohen the OC
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

The Orange County–born nerd and the rugged troublemaker from Chino isn't a friendship you'd think you'd be supporting, but Seth Cohen and Ryan Atwood were the best relationship on The OC.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rory & Lane, Gilmore Girls

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Lane Kim & Rory Gilmore in the gazebo
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Rory Gilmore was undeniably one of the worst protagonists of the 2000s, but her friendship with Lane Kim was amazing. No matter who had dropped out of Yale or who was having twins with a guy from their band, they were always there to support each other.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rosa & Amy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Rosa and Amy Brooklyn Nine Nine
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nbcbrooklyn99
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nbcbrooklyn99
ADVERTISEMENT

Even though Rosa loves to tease Amy as much as anyone else in the precinct, and even though she gives off a cool exterior, Amy and Rosa's friendship represents the kind of female support everyone needs in their life.

ADVERTISEMENT

JD & Turk, Scrubs

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
JD and Turk on scrubs
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Never afraid to show their love for one another, JD & Turk were the real reason you watched Scrubs, and the fact that the actors are such good friends IRL makes it that much better.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jane & Petra, Jane the Virgin

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jane and petra jane the virgin
Photo Credit: Instagram
Photo Credit: Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

It took them a few seasons to come around to one another, and they certainly had their fair share of ups and downs, but in the end, Jane Villaneuva and Petra Solano were the ultimate friendship.

ADVERTISEMENT

Karen & Jack, Will And Grace

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Karen and Jack from will and grace
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

They weren't the characters that the show was named for, but Karen & Jack should've been who Will & Grace was named for because they were easily the best friendship on the show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Taystee & Poussey, Orange is the New Black

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
OITNB Poussey & Taystee
Photo Credit: Instagram / @neinmfnein
Photo Credit: Instagram / @neinmfnein
ADVERTISEMENT

Easily the best duo in Litchfield prison, Taystee and Poussey's friendship was a key relationship on Orange is the New Black from the very first season. They went through their trying times, and we can't even talk about Poussey's death, but their friendship transcended that.

ADVERTISEMENT

Elena & Bonnie, The Vampire Diaries

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
elena and bonnie TVD
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

If you have a friendship that can withstand someone being turned into a vampire and someone realizing they have supernatural witch powers (along with so many other things along the way), then your friendship is basically indestructible, so shoutout to Bonnie and Elena.

ADVERTISEMENT

Buffy & Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
buffy the vampire slayer willow and buffy
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

Even if you weren't alive when the show was on air, you probably know about the strength that is Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg's friendship because it was amazing throughout all seven seasons of the series.

ADVERTISEMENT

Betty & Veronica, Riverdale

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
riverdale betty and veronica sitting on bed
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
Photo Credit: Movie Stills DB
ADVERTISEMENT

There's murderous cults, teenagers in prison, and floating babies that were never really explained, but through all that, Betty and Veronica have managed to survive living in Riverdale thanks to each other—at least for now.