11 Younger TV Couples Who Warmed Our Hearts Over the Past 20 Years

It’s time to celebrate. Not only is it Valentine’s Day, but TV Fanatic is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

As part of the celebration, we wanted to showcase some of the most memorable TV couples from the past two decades.

There are way too many couples to highlight in one article. We’ll showcase them over the next few months, starting with the most memorable younger TV couples.

These 11 younger couples continue to warm our hearts, whether they appeared months or years ago.

They fought for their love, and many of us rooted for their happy endings, right along with them, making it even more satisfying.

Logan & Veronica – Veronica Mars

Logan and Veronica are the only younger couple on this list that we watched grow from teenagers into adulthood over 15 years, from 2004 to 2019.

LoVe never had it easy, but that’s partly why so many fans love them. Logan even stated, “No one writes songs about the ones that come easy.” That quote fits these two perfectly.

They started as enemies and experienced so much trauma as teens that it bonded them.

They only officially dated for part of a season before ending things to deal with their baggage, but Logan promised he would always be there for Veronica.

The fans wanted more LoVe, so they funded a Kickstarter campaign, and the Veronica Mars movie was well-received.

Veronica cleared Logan after he’d been accused of murdering an ex-girlfriend, and their reunion sex was hot. Did we mention how hot Logan looked in his military uniform?

The revival showed how much these two had grown, including that Logan wouldn’t let Veronica provoke them into backsliding.

I loved that the series showed their wedding, and didn’t just mention that they got married off-screen.

However, like fans everywhere, we hate that Logan was taken from us so abruptly. Couldn’t they have had their happy ending?

Spencer & Olivia – All American

In recent years, Spencer James and Olivia Baker were among the better-written younger couples. While they had instant chemistry, they built a strong friendship first.

The fans witnessed nearly three seasons of push-and-pull moments until the couple revealed their feelings and kissed in All American Season 3.

Things were never easy for these two, either, especially watching them hit rock bottom. Spencer struggled after his accident, and Olivia relapsed shortly after.

They couldn’t even be together until they got their lives back together, though they always supported each other.

Even after they reunited, they needed to grow as individuals, which made it especially rewarding when long-distance relationships work.

They learned how to balance Olivia’s writing dreams, Spencer’s NFL goals, and their love for one another.

I loved watching their relationship grow over the years. It was nostalgic seeing Spencer propose on the 22-yard line, Billy’s number.

Even a few wedding mishaps couldn’t stop this couple, as the entire West Beverly and Crenshaw communities stepped in to host them for a perfect wedding and celebrate their union.

Max & Lucas – Stranger Things

With all the violence and portals, so many of Stranger Things’ romances fizzled, except for Max and Lucas.

Like many Hawkins couples, their first kiss occurred at the Snowball dance.

Their high school romance began slowly with teenage angst.

Her brother disliked Lucas and tried to keep them apart. You had to respect Max for standing up to him.

They had their moments of immaturity when they played games, and Max wanted more out of life than boys, and Lucas thought he could win her back.

But when Vecna possessed Max, all bets were off.

Lucas knew how much he cared about Max, and reconciled, shortly before Vecna left Max temporarily dead in Lucas’s arms, devastated.

During Stranger Things Season 5, Lucas showed up to hold her hand while she lay in a coma. He couldn’t save the day, but he could support her.

By the time she woke up, it was clear that his love had brought her back.

We got a brief glimpse of their future, and Max and Lucas finally got to have that movie date like any other couple.

That was a hard-earned reunion moment, and we’re thrilled they got to experience it.

Haley & Nathan – One Tree Hill

Nathan Scott and Haley James Scott had one of the longest and most memorable relationships as they were together all nine seasons of One Tree Hill.

They had some of the sweetest moments, including when Nathan gave her a Cracker Jack bracelet or proved that he could surprise her when he kissed her for the first time.

Many fans were shocked to see the couple marry while in high school, but they were the epitome of true love.

Both their original beach wedding and their vow renewal were breathtaking and reiterated the theme that love lasts forever.

This didn’t mean Nathan and Haley never faced obstacles.

Being married young was more challenging than they anticipated, especially when Haley went on tour, and they had to manage a long-distance relationship.

They also faced issues when Nathan dealt with depression after getting into a car accident, and he didn’t know if he’d ever play basketball again.

They weathered these issues together and grew stronger. We loved witnessing their moments on screen, from their son’s birth to Nathan’s NBA draft.

Nathan and Haley had the kind of marriage many would love to have.

Dan & Serena – Gossip Girl

I shipped Dan and Serena from the beginning of Gossip Girl to the series finale. Something was captivating about the misunderstood rich girl and the new boy falling in love.

Over time, viewers learned that Dan and Serena had more in common than they realized. They were both desperate to be accepted and loved.

While Serena was pretty and popular, most people, including her family, didn’t pay much attention to her.

Dan practically worshipped Serena and wanted to be seen by her, which was why he became Gossip Girl. That way, he was always involved in her life. It may seem creepy, but it worked for them.

I appreciated how Dan said that he loved Serena because she could be with someone like him. To them, the class differences didn’t matter, but they mattered to the outside world.

Serena’s past often resurfaced, yet Dan rarely believed the lies, unlike her family. He fought to clear her name.

Their biggest problem was that one of them was always more interested than the other. Serena always loved Dan, and she felt betrayed by his tell-all book and by his dating her best friend.

They remained good friends and always understood each other better than anyone else.

It’s why, every time they broke up and reunited, you felt nostalgic and rooted in the belief that they would reconcile for good.

Their wedding seemed like the perfect ending to Gossip Girl, and I was relieved to learn they were still married in the Gossip Girl reboot.

Betty & Archie – Riverdale

There was something about Archie Andrew and Betty Cooper’s connection.

I’m a sucker for the best friends to lovers trope, and they had chemistry and angst in spades.

It was never the right time for them. Betty had a huge crush on Archie, but he didn’t think he was good enough for her, and by the time he changed his mind, she was dating Jughead.

Archie and Betty also showed up when it mattered, like when he helped Betty track down who was behind the Black Hood murders. They even shared a steamy kiss while undercover.

The lines became blurred because they were so close, and they pretended to date while faking Jughead’s death.

The two sizzled when Archie wrote her a song, and they shared a real kiss, but Betty didn’t want to begin a relationship built around a lie.

Barchie finally became canon during Riverdale Season 5, after the seven-year time jump. They started as casual, sexy hookups, but the couple soon realized their dreams were aligned.

They were finally more open with one another, and fans rejoiced when Archie asked Betty to try again.

The couple was finally committed to one another, though disasters and alternate universes tried to pull them apart.

We’re going to pretend Riverdale Season 7 didn’t happen, and Betty and Archie ended happily engaged. They earned that happy ending.

Clark & Lois – Smallville

There have been many versions of Lois and Clark over the years, but I’m partial to Smallville‘s version.

Tom Welling and Erica Durance had such a believable connection, and we fell for it through several seasons.

It was entertaining watching them evolve from bickering friends to close allies and ultimately romantic partners.

Initially, Clark couldn’t stand Lois, but he tolerated her because she was Chloe’s cousin and his mother had allowed her to stay at their house.

Over the course of their friendship, almost every one of their friends had remarked how perfect Lois and Clark were. They were the epitome of opposites attract.

Even though Lois seemed reckless at times, she cared deeply for Clark and kept him grounded. She helped him embrace his “hero” side, even when she didn’t know he was Superman.

I loved that he took Lois flying years before they actually dated while under a love potion, because flying around the world was their thing.

At Chloe and Jimmy’s wedding, Lois realized that she had feelings for Clark, but wasn’t ready to tell him. After Jimmy died, and Clark left out of guilt, the two learned how much they meant to each other.

Clark had difficulty believing that Lois could ever love him, and watching them learn to communicate through mishaps was half the fun.

By the time they got engaged and married, we could understand why they were soulmates.

Barry & Iris – The Flash

Like many other Superhero couples, Barry and Iris were destined to be together.

They were childhood friends and even raised together after Barry’s dad went to prison, leading fans to debate their dynamic.

Barry crushed on Iris almost as soon as The Flash began, but it wasn’t until a weekly villain kidnapped Joe that Iris confessed how much she needed and cared about him.

They had an angsty kiss, but Barry accidentally turned back time, and their relationship didn’t take off much until Iris confessed her feelings.

She wanted him to know she’d always be there, and her speech mirrored his initial confession to her.

While most of these couples featured a memorable wedding scene, WestAllen’s proposal scene was truly romantic and intimate.

It occurred during a musical crossover with Supergirl, and he proposed by singing “Runnin’ Home to You” and “Duet” to highlight how important she was to him.

Home was often the theme of WestAllen’s marriage. One of my favorite scenes featured Barry purchasing a loft for their first Christmas to symbolize he’d always return to her.

Barry and Iris also dealt with time travel, including meeting their future daughter and saving Iris’s life. This was all stressful, yet they still found time for romance.

WestAllen never gave up on each other, and this was most evident when Iris was trapped in the Mirrorverse.

Once Barry realized the truth, you could feel their commitment to each other across dimensions, and he brought her home.

Bay & Emmett – Switched at Birth

Emmett and Bay’s appeal on Switched at Birth was that they were high school sweethearts who understood each other.

Bay always felt misunderstood, and Emmett never fully fit in because he was deaf. They clicked immediately, and Bay even learned how to sign to better communicate with him.

They were very sweet at the beginning, as he painted her a sign for her birthday and told her he loved her.

We experienced all these firsts, but then it came out that Emmett cheated on her, and all the apologies couldn’t fix that.

It took a long time for Bay and Emmett to become friends again, and by an ironic twist of fate, when her next boyfriend cheated on her, she turned to Emmett for comfort.

They still loved each other, but Emmett refused to reunite until he knew Bay had forgiven him.

That didn’t come until Switched at Birth Season 3, when Emmett learned he’d been catfished and wondered if he’d ever find love again.

It was such a beautiful reunion, but a little bittersweet, since this time Bay cheated on her current boyfriend to reunite with Emmett. Love makes you do stupid things.

Bay and Emmett stood by each other through hard times, including his dad getting married and her covering for Daphne’s crimes.

They tried to make it through everything, but young love was challenging, and sometimes it was better to say goodbye while there was still some love.

Rachel & Finn – Glee

From the minute they sang “Don’t Stop Believing” in the Glee pilot, you could tell Rachel and Finn were destined to be together.

Journey seemed to be their artist, and the couple admitted they loved each other backstage right before performing a “Faithfully” duet.

Much of Rachel and Finn’s relationship centered on music, so we cherish their original songs and how their relationship evolved throughout high school.

They also got engaged young, but never got married.

Finn loved Rachel enough to set her free to chase her dreams in New York. Watching Finn run alongside the train as she left is one of their infamous moments.

They tried to stay together but ultimately broke up while Rachel was in an open relationship with Brody.

Every fan swooned when Finn declared they were endgame at Will and Emma’s wedding, and then he warned Brody not to hurt her and to stay away from her.

Their last scene was Finn helping Rachel with her Funny Girl audition, and it symbolized how well he knew her.

Rachel and Finn had one of the greatest love stories, and fans everywhere were heartbroken when Cory Monteith died.

Watching Rachel remember how much she loved Finn was like watching Lea Michele say a heartbreaking goodbye to Cory.

Scott & Allison – Teen Wolf

Almost everyone loves a young couple who were instantly drawn to one another, and one of them harbored a deep secret. That fit described Scott and Allison on Teen Wolf perfectly.

Their relationship seemed so happy and innocent as the two of them fell in love.

She didn’t realize Scott was a werewolf until she saw him transform when her father tried to kill him.

They tried dating secretly because Allison felt caught between her boyfriend and her father’s threats, but other forces were against them.

The pairing eventually tried to grow closer as friends, which helped them open up more and form an even stronger bond while leading their friends.

Scott and Alison’s relationship also ended in tragedy. Just as Alison had reaffirmed her love for Scott, she died tragically in his arms.

These two had often been compared to a young Romeo and Juliet, but this death still devastated Scott and fans.

Did your favorites make our list? Please comment below.

You made it to the end — and that means a lot.
We’re an independent site run by passionate fans, not studios or corporations. If you enjoyed this piece, please share it or leave a comment — it really does help.