Random TV Characters Who Ended Up With The Wrong Person (12 items)

(#9) Ann Perkins
- Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is considered one of the best TV comedies of the 21st century. But it's fair to say that when it came to Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), the series stumbles. Her character never really gels beyond "Leslie's friend." So, she has on-again, off-again relationships with both Chris Traegar (Rob Lowe) and Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), two characters she never seems to connect to.
It seems beyond random when Ann decides to have a baby and leave town with Chris in the show's final seasons. It feels more like a way to write off the departing Jones than a true ending for the character. Maybe Ann should have remained single and content.
(#4) Ryan Atwood
- The O.C.
The O.C. sets up its endgame couple from the pilot: Ryan (Ben McKenzie) is destined to be with Marissa (Mischa Barton). And despite a few hiccups, that's exactly what happens. Until, that is, Mischa Barton decides to leave the show.

In response, The O.C. writers kill off Marissa in the show's heartbreaking Season 3 finale. But, because Ryan can't end the series alone and heartbroken, he couples up with Taylor (Autumn Reeser), a character who reads as little more than a mild annoyance. No matter how hard the show tries to make Ryan and Taylor's relationship believable, it never manages to measure up to the bond between Ryan and Marissa.
(#7) Amber Holt
- Parenthood
Few shows are as emotional or richly layered as Parenthood. But it's not perfect - just consider the romantic fate of Amber (Mae Whitman). The series finale reveals she marries Peter (Scott Porter).

Even in the finale, Parenthood goes out of its way to illustrate the long-lasting and strong bond Amber shares with Ryan (Matt Lauria). But somehow these two never reunite romantically. Amber doesn't exactly end up with a bad partner, but it's hard to forget about all the potential she shared with Ryan.
(#2) Ted Mosby
- How I Met Your Mother
Few shows betray viewers in their finales quite like How I Met Your Mother does. After spending nine seasons building up Ted Mosby's (Josh Radnor) relationship with the titular Mother (Cristin Milioti), the series finale turns all of that inside out, in the span of about 10 minutes.
First, the show reveals that the Mother has actually been dead the whole time Ted is telling the story. Then, it becomes clear that the real reason he's talking to his kids is so he can get their permission to date Robin (Cobie Smulders) again.
It's a real slap in the face, especially after the HIMYM writers spend nine years establishing all the reasons that Ted and Robin can't sustain a long-term relationship together. This is the endgame that nobody saw coming (or wanted).
(#5) Emma Nelson
- Degrassi: The Next Generation
Most Degrassi viewers are all but positive that Emma (Miriam McDonald) is going to end up with Sean (Daniel Clark), once and for all. But this is Degrassi, after all, a show prone to making left-turn decisions that made absolutely no sense.

In Degrassi Takes Manhattan, Emma and Spinner (Shane Kippel) get drunk at Niagara Falls one night and decide to get married – despite being the only two characters in the entire show to have never had a romantic fling prior. They consider getting their marriage annulled - but then decide that maybe they're meant to be married after all. Because nothing is more satisfying for Emma's character arc than throwing out years' worth of emotional setup with Sean for a one-night fling with Spinner.
(#10) Elena Gilbert
- The Vampire Diaries
When The Vampire Diaries starts, it seems clear that Elena (Nina Dobrev) is supposed to end up with Stefan (Paul Wesley). But then Stefan's brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) emerges as a competitor, and it becomes increasingly apparent that the writers are throwing them together.
While Somerhalder and Dobrev have undeniable chemistry, Damon is hardly a great choice for a boyfriend. Prone to violent fits of rage and emotional abuse, Damon is the definition of a toxic romantic partner for almost his entire time on the series. Stefan, on the other hand, more or less remains the same good-natured and "nice guy" to Elena that he was when they first met.