10 Elite TV Love Triangles That Actually Made Sense (original) (raw)
Gavin Casalegno, Lola Tung, and Christopher Briney in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2
Image via Prime Video
Published Jul 20, 2025, 4:40 PM EDT
Jennie Richardson is a TV Features and Lists Writer for Collider, and a graduate student pursuing an MFA in Fiction Writing. In other words, she really loves stories.
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Like any television staple, the love triangle is often used as a way to bring drama to shows and get viewers invested. As a result, it can feel stale at times, especially when forced. Shows like Ted Lasso and New Girl hurt some of their best pairings by breaking up established relationships in favor of contrived love triangles. While teen dramas do love triangles best, some, like Never Have I Ever and Greenhouse Academy, started out strong with their central love triangles, but failed to stick the landing.
Still, though, when a love triangle is done well, it is a true delight to watch. It can leave viewers torn between two sides, or use the love triangle as a way to push the clear stand-out romance forward. Whereas some love triangles do feel forced, the best ones feel right for where the main character is at in their life and their relationships. These are the TV love triangles that actually made a lot of sense.
10 Jenna, Matty, and Jake
'Awkward' (2011–2016)
Jake Rosati, Jenna Hamilton, and Matty McKibben sitting at a pep rally together in Awkward.
Image via MTV
In the pilot episode of Awkward, Jenna (Ashley Rickards) admits that she's had a crush on Matty McKibben (Beau Mirchoff) for as long as she can remember. She's been elated since she got his attention at summer camp, and they've been hooking up ever since. The only problem is that Matty is ashamed to be seen with Jenna, so he continues to keep her a secret. At the same time, Jenna gets the attention of Matty's best friend, Jake (Brett Davern).
Love triangles are always messier and more fun when the two competing parties have a close relationship, because it raises the stakes and heightens the feelings of betrayal. Matty continues to keep his past with Jenna a secret even as she and Jake get closer, building up to the explosive reveal that they were once together. Jenna is ultimately torn between the guy that she loves, and a guy who is practically perfect but not for her, in a way that feels very natural.
Awkward
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Number of Seasons
5
Debut Date
July 19, 2011
9 Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah
'The Summer I Turned Pretty' (2022–)
Belly and Conrad in The Summer I Turned Pretty TSITP.
Image via Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty's central love triangle has been a topic of debate ever since the Jenny Han trilogy was released over a decade ago. It utilizes one of the best love triangle tropes, in which the main character is torn between their true love and the safer option. Belly (Lola Tung) has been in love with Conrad (Christopher Briney) for her whole life, but his grief over Susannah (Rachel Blanchard) hurts their relationship, allowing her to get closer to Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).
This love triangle is absolutely iconic, but it also makes a lot of sense. Belly gravitates towards Jeremiah when she's afraid of the strength of her feelings for Conrad, while Jeremiah tries to one-up Conrad with Belly because Adam (Tom Everett Scott) always pitted them against each other. Meanwhile, Belly and Conrad's love for each other continues to exist, no matter how much the two of them try to bury it.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Release Date
2022 - 2025-00-00
Network
Prime Video
Cast
Lola Tung
Isabel 'Belly' Conklin
Christopher Briney
Conrad Fisher
A love triangle between one girl and two brothers. A story about first love, first heartbreak, and the magic of that one perfect summer.
Directors
Erica Dunton, Jesse Peretz, Jeff Chan
Main Genre
Seasons
3
Executive Producer(s)
Gabrielle Stanton, Mads Hansen, Nne Ebong, Karen Rosenfelt, Jenny Han
8 Ted, Robin, and Barney
'How I Met Your Mother' (2005–2014)
Robin and Ted dancing while Barney talks to them in How I Met Your Mother.
Image via CBS
Although How I Met Your Mother certainly didn't stick the landing properly, it actually had a fantastic love triangle between Ted (Josh Radnor), Robin (Cobie Smulders), and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). Ted had always put Robin on a pedestal after falling in love with her at first sight, and he never really met her where she was. Barney, who'd vowed never to fall in love, befriended Robin and unexpectedly developed feelings for her.
The buildup of Barney and Robin's relationship was done really well, and it also created some really excellent and messy storylines, in which Ted felt betrayed by Barney. How I Met Your Mother managed to keep this love triangle going for most of its run, and it only rarely felt contrived. Ultimately, Ted's devastation about Robin and Barney's wedding was exactly what he needed to finally move on from her, paving the way for his romance with Tracy (Cristin Milioti).
How I Met Your Mother
Release Date
2005 - 2014-00-00
Network
A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.
Showrunner
Craig Thomas
Directors
Michael J. Shea
Writers
Chris Harris, Stephen Lloyd, Joe Kelly, Robia Rashid, Greg Malins, Chris Marcil, Phil Lord, Sam Johnson, Tami Sagher, Gloria Calderon Kellett
Main Genre
Comedy
Seasons
9
Producers
Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Pamela Fryman, Stewart Halpern-Fingerhut, Chuck Tatham, Kourtney Kang, Barbie Adler, Missy Alexander, Theresa Mulligan, Rachel Axler, Matt Kuhn
Creator(s)
Craig Thomas, Carter Bays
Story By
Carter Bays; Craig Thomas; Rob Greenberg
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video
7 Rory, Dean, and Jess
'Gilmore Girls' (2000–2007)
Gilmore Girls had a number of iconic love triangles, both for Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel). Still, there is no better love triangle than the one between Rory, Dean (Jared Padalecki), and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia). Rory's relationship with Dean is painted as the perfect first romance. He's head-over-heels in love with her, has a great relationship with Lorelai, and is pretty much the ideal boyfriend.
As Rory grows up, though, she starts to feel limited by her relationship with Dean. At the same time, she meets Jess, who shares all of her interests and can challenge her in a way that Dean does not. For a long time, Rory holds onto Dean, because she is afraid to let go of this great and safe relationship. She can't ignore her feelings for Jess, though, which leads to the unforgettable breakup scene at the dance marathon.
Gilmore Girls
Release Date
2000 - 2007-00-00
Network
The WB
A dramedy centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
6 Felicity, Ben, and Noel
'Felicity' (1998–2002)
Keri Russell as Felicity and Scott Speedman as Ben clasp hands and smile in Felicity Season 4.
Image via The WB
As of the pilot episode of Felicity, Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) has had a crush on Ben Covington (Scott Speedman) for pretty much all of high school. She finally gets the nerve to ask him to sign her yearbook at graduation, where he writes a surprisingly lovely message about how he wishes he'd gotten to know her better. Encouraged by this note, Felicity impulsively changes her college plans to follow Ben to the fictional University of New York.
After accepting that Ben just wants to be friends, Felicity starts to develop feelings for her RA and new friend, Noel (Scott Foley). This love triangle makes a lot of sense, because Felicity only develops feelings for Noel after having to accept that Ben wasn't an option. Once Felicity stops pining after Ben, he starts to see her in a new light,and then he really starts to fall for her. Felicity may have dragged out this love triangle for a little too long, but it was ultimately the perfect obstacle for Felicity and Ben's eventual romance.
Felicity
Release Date
1998 - 2002-00-00
Network
The WB
A young girl, fresh out of high school, follows her high school crush to college to be near him.
5 Elena, Damon, and Stefan
'The Vampire Diaries' (2009–2017)
Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) look at Stefan (Paul Wesley) in The Vampire Diaries.
Image via The CW
Before The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Vampire Diaries pitted two brothers against each other in a truly epic love triangle. Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) meet in the pilot episode of the show and embark on a typical teen drama first romance. They fall deeply in love, and they try to make it work in spite of a number of obstacles that come their way. All the while, Elena develops an unexpected close friendship with Stefan's brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder).
This is one of the best TV love triangles for a number of reasons. Stefan and Demon have a complicated history due to their first love triangle with Catherine (also Dobrev), as well as the fact that Stefan pushed Damon to feed after being turned. Elena's connection with each of them goes back to the night her parents died: Damon met her and erased her memory of the encounter, then Stefan saved her life. Ultimately, like so many main characters before and after her, Elena is torn between being practical and following her heart.
The Vampire Diaries
Release Date
2009 - 2017-00-00
Network
The CW
Cast
Elena Gilbert / Katherine Pierce
The lives, loves, dangers and disasters in the town, Mystic Falls, Virginia. Creatures of unspeakable horror lurk beneath this town as a teenage girl is suddenly torn between two vampire brothers.
Showrunner
Directors
Chris Grismer, Joshua Butler, Marcos Siega, Kellie Cyrus, J. Miller Tobin, John Behring, Jeffrey G. Hunt, Rob Hardy, Leslie Libman, Paul Wesley, Lance Anderson, Darren Genet, John Dahl, Wendey Stanzler, Jesse Warn, Garreth Stover, Geoff Shotz, Ian Somerhalder, Liz Friedlander, David Von Ancken, Kevin Bray, Mike Karasick, Brad Turner, Carol Banker
Writers
Brian Young, Michael Narducci, Holly Brix, Elisabeth R. Finch, Andrew Chambliss, Alfredo Septién, Bryan Oh, Jose Molina, Turi Meyer, Gabrielle Stanton, Shukree Hassan Tilghman, Bryan M. Holdman, Céline Geiger, Mike Daniels, Charlie Charbonneau, Alan B. McElroy, John Herrera, Andrew Kreisberg, Elizabeth Craft, Michael J. Cinquemani, Sarah Fain, Sean Reycraft, Nina Fiore
Seasons
8
Producers
Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, Leslie Morgenstein, Pascal Verschooris, Bob Levy, Caroline Dries, James L. Thompson III, James Patrick Stoteraux, Chad Fiveash, John Shiban, Trish Stanard, Barbie Kligman, Brett Matthews
Franchise
The Vampire Diaries
Story By
L.J. Smith
Streaming Service(s)
4 Louis, Lestat, and Armand
'Interview with the Vampire' (2022–)
Jacob Anderson as Louis and Sam Reid as Lestat in Interview with the Vampire series
Image via AMC
It's rare to find a true love triangle in which all the sides touch, but Interview with the Vampire perfectly pulled this off with Louis (Jacob Anderson), Lestat (Sam Reid), and Armand (Assad Zaman). While the complicated love story between Louis and Lestat is at the center of the series, Louis' relationship with Armand is the perfect addition to this story, especially in the present timeline. Even better is the twist that Lestat and Armand once shared a romance before Louis and Lestat even met.
The love triangle between Louis, Lestat, and Armand is an unconventional one, but it is the necessary piece that drives Louis' heartbreaking realization in the Season 2 finale. After 77 years in a serious relationship with Armand, Louis finally learns that Lestat was the one who saved his life at the trial, even though Armand took the credit. It is a fantastic moment that leads to both the dissolution of Louis' and Armand's relationship, as well as a long-overdue reunion between Louis and Lestat.
Interview with the Vampire
Release Date
October 2, 2022
Network
AMC
Cast
Jacob Anderson
Louis de Pointe du Lac
Based on Anne Rice's iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe's epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.
Showrunner
Writers
Jonathan Ceniceroz, Coline Abert, Eleanor Burgess, Ben Philippe
Franchise(s)
Immortal Universe
Seasons
2
Story By
Anne Rice
Streaming Service(s)
3 Jackie, Shauna, and Jeff
'Yellowjackets' (2021–)
Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor sit in front of a fire and smile in Jackie's death dream in Yellowjackets.
Image via Showtime
The tragedy of Jackie Taylor's (Ella Purnell) death in the Season 1 finale of Yellowjackets is particularly painful due to how preventable it was. Upon finding out that Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) and Jeff (Jack DePew) were having an affair behind her back, Jackie confronts Shauna, and their fight leads her to spend the night outside. The love triangle between Jackie, Shauna, and Jeff is a particularly interesting one due to the subtext of Jackie and Shauna's connection.
Jackie never really seemed to like Jeff all that much, but the conflict over Jeff acts as a way for Jackie and Shauna to explore the tension of their feelings for each other without actually saying it out loud. It is ultimately Shauna's betrayal that hurts Jackie enough to lead to her accidental death, and she continues to haunt Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) for decades afterward, even after Shauna and Jeff (Warren Kole) are married.
Yellowjackets
Release Date
2021 - 2026-00-00
Network
Showtime, Paramount+ with Showtime
Cast
Tawny Cypress
Taissa Turner
A wildly talented high school girls' soccer team become the unlucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the Canadian wilderness.
Showrunner
Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Jonathan Lisco
Directors
Benjamin Semanoff, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Deepa Mehta, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Liz Garbus, Scott Winant, Eva Sørhaug, Jamie Travis
Writers
Liz Phang, Sarah L. Thompson, Ameni Rozsa
Main Genre
Mystery
Seasons
3
Producers
Karyn Kusama, Jonathan Lisco, Drew Comins, Brad Van Arragon
Creator(s)
Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson
Streaming Service(s)
Paramount+ with Showtime
2 Joey, Pacey, and Dawson
'Dawson's Creek' (1998–2003)
Joey and Pacey in Dawson's Creek.
Image via The WB
No genre of TV show does love triangles as well as teen dramas, and Dawson's Creek truly perfected the love triangle with Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Joey (Katie Holmes), and Pacey (Joshua Jackson). Dawson and Joey's romance was set up as the show's main love story in Season 1, but the two never had the spark necessary to carry the series. Meanwhile, even though she and Pacey were always fighting, there always seemed to be a connection between them.
Joey and Pacey's love story felt very organic from the start, and it is still one of the best teen drama romances of all time. In Season 3, Pacey starts to fall for Joey after Dawson asks him to look out for her. The two become best friends, and then they enter a secret relationship. The reveal of their relationship is done so well, particularly in the episode, "The Longest Day." Dawson's Creek takes full advantage of the closeness of the three friends, showing the explosive nature of Dawson's feelings of betrayal.
1 Daisy, Billy, and Camila
'Daisy Jones & The Six' (2023)
Billy Dunne and Daisy Jones singing and playing guitar onstage together in Daisy Jones and the Six.
Image via Prime Video
The entire limited series of Daisy Jones & The Six builds up to the reveal of why the iconic band broke up, and this is inherently tied to the show's central love triangle between Daisy Jones (Riley Keough), Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin), and Camila Alvarez Dunne (Camila Morrone). Billy's marriage to Camila is a major part of his character, and his devotion to her and Julia (Naya Kodeh) has been central to his sobriety for years.
The connection between Daisy and Billy is the heart of Daisy Jones & The Six, and it fuels every one of their performances together. They are kept apart by both his marriage and their shared struggle with addiction, but they are true soulmates. As such, the love triangle makes a lot of sense, pitting Billy between a stable partner and the person who somehow understands him the most.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Release Date
2023 - 2023-00-00
Network
Amazon Prime Video
Directors
Scott Neustadter
Writers
Scott Neustadter
Seasons
1
Story By
Scott Neustadter
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video