The 20 best LGBTQ+ couples on TV

Killing Eve might have stumbled a bit in its final season, but there’s no question that Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer had palpable chemistry as Eve, a detective, and Villanelle, the ruthless assassin with whom she develops an attraction. They certainly make for a compelling and fascinating couple, though they don’t truly admit their desire until near the very end, after which Villanelle ends up dying (thus buying into the “bury your gays trope”). Even though their story doesn’t go out with a happy ending, viewers can still enjoy their cat-and-mouse dynamic, as well as see the tremendous talents of Oh and Comer put to good use.

Throughout its four seasons, Netflix’s Sex Education excelled at showing various relationship dynamics, particularly among its younger cast members. The bond between Ola and Lily, which starts to gel in the second season, is complicated, like so many of the other relationships in the series, but they still manage to talk about their difficulties in a remarkably mature way. Even though neither character was in the fourth and final season of the show, viewers could take comfort from the fact that the third season ended with their reconciliation, with the two gazing up at the night sky. 

Even though Nick and Charlie are the flagship couple in the Netflix series Heartstopper, Tao and Elle also deserve a lot of attention. From the beginning of the series, it’s clear that there’s something between them, though it takes quite a lot of stumbling (mostly on Tao’s part) before they finally come together as a couple. It’s particularly refreshing to see a trans character like Elle get a romantic plot rather than one centered on trauma and heartache. Yasmin Finney gives a remarkably honest portrayal hat captures the angst of a teen without coming across as contrived.

AMC certainly hit it out of the park with their adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which focuses on the vampire Louis (Jacob Anderson) as he relates his story to the cynical reporter Daniel (Eric Bogosian). It becomes clear that the most important relationship in Louis’ immortal life is the powerful, vain, and beautiful Lestat (Sam Reid). Theirs is a volatile and tragic pairing, but Anderson and Reid have an electric chemistry. Unlike the earlier film version of Rice’s novel, the series doesn’t attempt to hide the sexual nature of their relationship, and it’s clear that, despite everything, they are immortal soulmates.

When Netflix’s Sex Education begins, Eric and Adam are far from friends; in fact, Adam is something of a bully. Eventually, however, they end up being a couple, and Eric’s emotional openness proves to be an oasis for Adam, who’s had to endure his father’s coldness his whole life. Their relationship proves to be an important interlude for both of them, allowing each young man to discover new things about himself and what he wants out of life. Even though this particular couple doesn’t get together, it’s still clear that their relationship has changed them both for the better and in ways that will affect the rest of their lives.

Even though Grace and Frankie were the main characters in the show that bore their name, their ex-husbands, Sol and Robert, were also highlights of the Netflix show. They broke up with their wives in the series opener to begin a relationship with one another, and the subsequent seasons showed them coming to terms with their identities as gay men of a certain age. Sol and Robert might be opposites in many ways, but somehow, they manage to make it work, surviving everything from health scares to community theater. These two characters are a timely reminder that love knows no age.

Shameless is particularly adept at depicting how poverty forecloses on one’s agency and ability to change one’s circumstances. Even so, it’s possible to find happiness even in the darkness, as the relationship between Ian and Mickey shows. Each of them is a bit of a tortured soul. Their relationship has more than its fair share of ups and downs — this is Shameless, after all — but they do eventually end up getting married, finally achieving a sort of happily-ever-after that is so often denied to LGBTQ+ people both on television and in the real world.

Buffy has slowly become a true LGBTQ+ fan favorite, thanks to its empowered female protagonist, snappy dialogue, and, of course, the relationship between Tara and Willow. This was one of those on-screen relationships that was a real game changer, as it showed the extent to which the major networks might be willing to give LGBTQ+ their time in the sun. Theirs was indeed a bond of love, even if it is somewhat marred by the fact that Tara ends up being killed, leading the relationship as a whole to lean a bit too much into the “bury your gays” trope so common in television.

Glee was one of those shows that truly reveled in giving new representation to LGBTQ+ people, and one of the most beloved couples was Santana and Brittany. Of course, they’re teens, so they have to go through some on-and-off periods, and both have their issues and struggles to overcome to make their relationship work. However, fans of the show always had a feeling that they would be one of those series couples that made it through to the end, and they were not disappointed. Like Blaine and Kurt, they finally got their happy ending.

Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series showcase the director’s ability to imbue horror with a heart, and this is particularly true of The Haunting of Bly Manor. Drawing on the works of Henry James, it follows a young au pair who goes to care for a pair of children and finds the mansion where she works haunted by ghosts. The story's true heart is the romance between au pair Dani and Jamie, who manage to forge a love even amid the ghostly happenings around them. Theirs is a romance that is a little tragic, to be sure, but it’s also all the more poignant for that.

Few LGBTQ+ couples have been as important or as analyzed as Brian and Justin from the groundbreaking American version of the series Queer as Folk. Theirs was a volatile relationship from the beginning, in no small part because Brian is a bit of a jerk and has no desire to settle down. However, it’s clear that their love can weather almost anything, and while they don’t end up getting married, they do get their own sort of happy ending. At the end of the day, their love will not and cannot be contained by the conventions of straight society. 

The series Fellow Travelers left little to the imagination in terms of its depiction of gay sex, and Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey give remarkable performances as Hawk and Tim, two men who forge an unexpected bond during the height of the Cold War. The two come together and split up several times over the decades as they weather the various conflicts and divisions that convulse the US. Each time they think they are done with one another, they manage to find their way back into one another’s arms. Their relationship thus mirrors the broader trajectory of LGBTQ+ rights in America, with all of the heartbreak and joy that entails.

In some ways, it’s quite surprising to see a heartfelt gay love story in a series like The Last of Us, which takes place in a world ravaged by a fungal epidemic that has turned most humans into zombies. However, that’s what happens during the episode, which focuses on the strange yet touching relationship that emerges between Bill and Frank. There’s an instant connection between the two men, who carve out an oasis of peace and joy amid all the darkness. What’s more, both Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett deliver fantastic performances that are sure to be seen as some of the best in their career.

When it first began, it was hard to fathom that the HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death  would be a poignant love story between gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet and rakish (and emotionally damaged) buccaneer Ed Teach. However, there was undeniable chemistry between the two, thanks in part to that which also exists between actors Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. This fun and irreverent show about gay pirates also featured many other LGBTQ+ couples of various sorts, but it was really the bond between Ed and Stede that was the heart and soul of the show. While Our Flag Means Death was canceled prematurely, viewers at least got the chance to see their heroes get the happy ending they deserved.

Though Love, Victor is a spin-off of the teen romance film Love, Simon, it is its own phenomenon, focusing on teenage Victor as he comes to terms with his sexuality and falls in love with the soulful but troubled Benji. Their relationship is certainly volatile, and during the series’ three seasons, they have their fair share of highs and lows. Through it all, though, it’s clear that they truly are meant for one another, no matter how hard things might get. When, at long last, they finally get their happily-ever-after, it’s impossible for even the most hard-hearted viewer not to swoon.

Modern Family more than lives up to its title, and it provides a fascinating and hilarious look at the changes taking over the institution of the family in the 21st century. The show also features a gay couple, Mitch and Cam, who, though in some ways quite stereotypical, are also fully developed characters. They might bicker, fight, and pick on each other, but underneath it, they seem to love one another. They also build a good life for themselves and their daughter, Lily, and stand out as one of the 21st century’s most noteworthy examples of an on-screen couple.

Captain Raymond Holt was never very forthcoming about his personal life, but one thing that was clear throughout the history of Brooklyn Nine-Nine was that he truly loved his husband, Kevin Cozner. Like all couples, they had their fair share of ups and downs, but it was just as clear that they were truly soulmates. By the time the series begins, they have already been together for quite a long time, and though they might appear to be a puzzle to outsiders, they have still managed to build a life for themselves. As such, they are a remarkable exemplar of gay life for a middle-aged couple. 

Schitt’s Creek was charming right out of the gate but also successfully built on its characters and their personalities. When David met Patrick, there was an instant attraction, and it only grew stronger until they actually began dating. They’re a true swoon-worthy couple, for who could forget the time that Patrick serenaded David with an acoustic version of “Simply the Best?” Their wedding proved the perfect way for the show to end, and the stage was set for them to build their lives together in Schitt’s Creek. It’s easy to see why they remain two of the most beloved characters on TV.

From the moment that Blaine serenaded Kurt with a rendition of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” it was clear that they were one of the couples that would last the duration of the show. Indeed, they went through quite a lot as a couple, and there were times when it seemed like they wouldn’t make it. Eventually, however, they find a way to be together and end up getting married. Their bond is one of the most touching in the series, and it’s clear how much they love one another. Moreover, their bond was and is a reminder to LGBTQ+ youth that they, too, can find happiness. 

Netflix managed to create a bona fide hit with Heartstopper, the beloved teen romance based on the series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman. The series follows the romance between shy Charlie and more outgoing Nick, who go from being best friends to boyfriends, with all of the complications that entails. It’s clear, however, that the two truly do love one another, and they each bring something unique to the table, with Nick being able to provide the love, shelter, and support that Charlie needs. They are, without question, one of the sweetest couples on TV, and it’s a pleasure getting to watch their relationship mature and deepen.