Those of you who watched How I Met Your Mother last night are aware of the sitcom’s latest revelation (SPOILER ALERT): Barney and Robin have officially parted ways. I, however, won’t be breaking out the Kleenex anytime soon. Why? Because the break-up was, well, an awesome move on the writers’ part.
Let’s face it: As much as we loved the idea of our Barney becoming a warm-and-fuzzy relationship guy, it’s become fairly obvious that HIMYM is just not the same without the suit-wearing, tall tale-telling cad we’ve grown to know and love. And Robin just isn’t the same when tied down to relationship-heavy plot points. So, as I quietly celebrated the end of that short-lived era, I began thinking about other TV break-ups that weren’t too hard for me to swallow.
A few examples: I was pretty stoked when Ugly Betty’s Henry and Betty separated — a zit-plagued prepubescent is less awkward than that relationship — and didn’t really bat an eyelash when Jack and Kate ended their relationship on Lost. (Or have they really?) And who didn’t pivot in celebration when Ross and Emily finally broke up on Friends?
Your turn, PopWatchers. Which TV break-ups have you championed? And which were just too-hard to do? (Worst break-up ever: The Office’s Michael and Holly. No?)
Photo Credit: Friends: Rex USA/Everett Collection; Mother: Cliff Lipson/CBS
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Foreman and Thirteen on “House.”
I enjoy them individually (though I DO wish Foreman would lighten up), but as a couple they had whatever the word is for “opposite of chemistry.”
On top of that, “House” is SO NOT a show about the chemistry-free romance between two secondary characters, so anytime devoted to “Foreteen” was screentime not devoted to Hugh Laurie or Robert Sean Leonard.
If any Glee character is going to go away, I REALLY hope it’s Emma. She makes me sick. I might stop watching this show just because of her.
Nooo! I love Emma! I respectfully disagree.
Thank you! Emma’s doe-eyed, mildly retarded act has worn thin on me too. She can go now.
Sorry but i absolutely love emma no offense
Emma drives me crazy too. The only thing she’s good for is to sit there and get bashed by the amazing Sue.
Oh, i’m so glad i’m not alone on this. She borderline ruins the show for me. She looks like a cartoon character and her voice drives me up a wall. I can’t stand any of the scenes with her and Shu because I just don’t buy that there could be all of this smoldering sexual tension with a character like that. Sorry Emma!
I’m sorry, but I completely disagree I love Emma. But as for Will’s wife Terri, I can’t stand her! Talk about someone who gets on my last nerve.
Cannot STAND Teri… so I’m an Emma fan.
Don’t touch to my lovely Emma!
I like Terri too, she’s craaaaazy! I hope she’ll be back soon!
Emma is terrible. Every episode that she HASN’T been in has been that much more entertaining. For example. this past Wednesday’s. Everyone else on the cast is way more appealing than her.
I completely agree, Fourteen doesn’t/didn’t work at all. They had no chemistry. Together they were oil and water. Totally unbelievable.
Also, while it hasn’t happened yet, I’m currently championing (and I’m sure I’m not alone) the breakup of Will and Terri Schuester on “Glee.”
Terri is so one-dimensionally beastly that it’s not even fun to watch her and it’s difficult to figure out why they’re even together. Seriously, would any “Glee” fan be terribly unhappy if Terri went away?
Hear hear!
Agreed!
The sooner the better!
We can only hope…
Yes! The horrible fake pregnancy storyline must be stopped with a divorce!
I completely agree! The pregnancy plotline is ridiculous
Yeah, it’s taking way more than simple suspension of disbelief to accept that even an inattentive and never-there husband could go for this many weeks (months?) without ever seeing that his wife is wearing a fake pregnancy pad, and Will is not a never-there or inattentive husband. I love Glee, but I’m starting to feel insulted that the writers think they can just keep dragging it out like this without acknowledging it in some way.
Totally agree!
I don’t even care if Will and Emma don’t get together, as long as Terri goes away!
Agreed. Love the actress though, but so hate the character.
Oooh, I disagree. I love Emma. I think she’s fully, completely adorable. That scene where she endured chalk dust on her nose for a whole 10 seconds was priceless…
I have hated Terri since the first time she showed up on screen. She’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I already love Glee, but the show will have definite improvement when they no longer have to devote time to this whiny wench.
Agree, that’s why the writers set up this plot to begin with. Fake pregnancy, lying wife makes it easy for Shu the good guy to leave her.
if ever a relationship needed to be ended, it’s theirs.
Agree. Can’t stand Terri either, but the show probably has to make her hate-able because if they didn’t, it would make Will unlikeable too for flirting with another woman while married.
Gah, is it weird that I actually feel bad for Terri BECAUSE she’s so one-dimensional and beastly? I hate the writers for the way they’ve written her and creating this obvious set-up where Emma is Will’s one true love but Terri is the harpy keeping them apart and creating this ugly and rage-inducing pregnancy storyline that makes no sense I just… flames. Flames on the side of my face.
I concur.
I totally agree about the pregnancy story line being insulting. And, Terri needs to go.
See, I actually stopped watching Ugly Betty when Henry and Betty broke up.
Same here
Exactly the same for me. I stopped watching Ugly Betty when Christopher Gorham left.
I loved Henry and Betty! They had great chemistry, it was SUPPOSED to be awkward because THEY are awkward.
I loved Henry and Betty together, and second Kaley’s comment.
Funny, I was happy when Henry left Betty for Tucson because it finally left the door open for the amazing Gio. But after a knock-out set up for a Betty-Gio romance, they quickly dropped the ball on that one. That’s when I stopped watching.
Livia you are so right!! I was more shocked when they started season 3 and Betty didn’t chose going to Rome with Gio… it was a no brainer and she messed it up. I loved Gio and it was a big mistake. Ratings started falling down until this day.
Holly & Micheal was heart-breaking. I’m still hoping to see her return in the end. I’m not sure what to think of Robin & Barney. I liked love-struck Barney (he was so sweet), but I have to say it was really funny when “old” Barney returned to the bar at the end.
I totally agree.. Michael deserves to be happy, Holly was his perfect match, and the fact that the writers did that still pisses me off.
Michael deserves to be happy!?!? are we watching the same show?
The writers didn’t do that, Amy Ryan couldn’t stay on the show. Her contract wasn’t for that long. But here’s to hoping they’ll end up together in the end, he does deserve to be happy even after he did to Pam’s mom lol
The episode where they broke up was rerun last night and I always pretend that it can turn out differently…I loved Holly!
I agree about Michael and Holly, they were such a great match! I was so upset when Michael met her new boyfriend… And I love Barney and Robin together, but the show just isn’t the same without the old Barney…
I feel that same way! I wish they would’ve gotten together in the last minute of the series finale or something so that the show could’ve stayed the same.
I’ve been a big Barney/Robin fan all along, but I totally thought it was a mistake for the writers to put them together so early. I always thought it should be the last big reveal of the series — Ted does a voice over talking about how our future/his past works out, and they flash different pictures of those years, including a picture of B&R’s wedding or something like that. Alas, probably not now.
George and Izzy on Greys. Hated it.
What was the point?! In the end it only made me hate them both.
George would still be alive today if he stayed with Callie. (Better and more storylines.)
Couldn’t agree more, Nemo.
Sorry, I meant MENO.
Just keep swimming…just keep swimming…
George + anyone = no chemistry…glad he’s gone
I feel like I’m the only one who liked them together, and I saw it coming from season 1! It was def hinted at, and I bet it was Shonda’s intention to have them end up together, til the backlash ruined that plan.
Oh I agree with this one! Worst couple ever!
But I’m sad to see Barney and Robin break-up… I hope they’ll find their way back together (maybe in the final episodes of the show… because I agree, their single selves are way more entertaining, but I do believe they truely love each other).
I still think Robin might be the mother.
Robin can’t be the mother, Emily. If you watch the pilot episode of HIMYM, Ted states to his kids about meeting Robin, “…and that’s how I met your Aunt Robin.” She was written off as the mother in the very first episode.
Unless that’s just what they WANT us to think, KM.
Yeah, there HAVE been some hints along the way. Robin always says that she wants to travel the world and can’t stand babies, but she lived in Japan for about 3 months and hated it, and she got all mushy over a baby sock. It’s a looooooong shot, but you never know!
Seriously, people… Robin’s not the mother, give it up! All along Ted has referred to her as Aunt Robin. And they’ve already told us that the mother was in Ted’s class (or his mistaken class). And that she was at that one St Patty’s day party. It’s not Robin!
agree…George and Izzie were not meant to be together!
George & Izzie = Worst. Grey’s. Couple. Ever. They were perfect and hilarious as best friends and then it was ruined. Plus, it turned a lot of viewers against their individual characters…not cool!
IT WORSE DECISION EVER. They were best friends… a one night stand we could handle but they whole, I Love you George.. I’ll ruin your marriage was just so */%*
Izzie and Dead-Denny were the worst for me, followed closely by Izzie and George, and now Lexie and Mark. *Vomits*
never got the Izzy and Dead Denny thing. How does knowing someone for such a short time = soul mates?
Def. George and Izzie! After initially LOVING Grey’s, I was starting to lose interest and when George and Izzie got together that turned me off the show for good. They were too much like brother and sister! GROSS!
I agree. I also hope that Alex doesn’t forgive Izzie and take her back. In fact, I think Izzie is a completely self-centered bitch who deserves to die alone.
Buffy Summers and Riley Finn from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To quote another Whedon show, the wrongness of that relationship was just so large.
Also, Carrie and the Russian on Sex and the City.
And Rory and Logan from Gilmore Girls.
Yes to Rory and Logan – just, ugh. Agree on Buffy and Riley, since I’m a Spike-girl, myself.
And as for Carrie, apart from whathisname from Northern Exposure (mind’s gone blank) and Big, didn’t lose any sleep over any other relationship that ended, even if Carrie did!
I wish that whole last season had never happened. The show would’ve been better off if it had ended when Amy Sherman-Palladino left… it was a sad shadow of its former self for that tortured final season.
Aidan…
Nothing worst than the horrible marriage of Lorelei and Christopher on GG. Even worst than Rory and Logan.
You are so right.
Oh, dude, I totally forgot about that.
O’d forgotten that too. The quickie wedding in France (um, in reality this would take some organising but hey!) was like something straight out a bad daytime soap. So beneath the show; a cheap shot.
I’m still trying to forget that season happened. Ugh
i’m still so angry about that
The charactors had such a great chemistry up until they got married. It was wierd to watch.
TOTALLY agree…
Ugh, yes! I kept waiting for that break up. On the other hand, I was heartbroken when Luke and Lorelai broke up.
YES! I hated Chris and Lorelai together! In the same show, though, I cheered when she broke up with Digger. He was annoying!
I felt so manipulated! First, they had Lorelai and Luke behave like they NEVER would have done, and then they make us sit there and deal with Lorelai with Christopher. I stopped watching and returned for the finale. I did really like Logan and Rory, though. I thought they both matured during the relationship and were there for each other – until the final episode, and again I felt like they’d manipulated the story instead of letting it move naturally. Oh! And I hated that Rory being with married Dean stuff too.
Does anyone else see that as a big fat middle finger to the CW for not renewing her contract? It’s basically, “oh, you’re not going to let me finish up my baby/brainchild? Well, go ahead and have fun with it, and while you’re at it, I just broke up Lorelai and Luke and screwed everything up six ways to Sunday! Mwahahahaha!”
High five, Brooke!! Never watched Gilmore Girls, but you hit the nail on the head with Buffy/Riley and Carrie/Russian dude. I even rewatched that season of Buffy not too long ago and could barely make it through the whole thing because of that relationship. Just ick.
I could not stand Alexander Pertrosky or whatever. He was just not the right man for her and they had no chemistry. Plus he did slap her her.
sorry, loved the russian
Did you especially love it when he hit her? Yeah, that’s a man I want to be with!
Oh, please. He accidentally bopped her nose. You make it sound like he purposely beat the snot out of her.
The Riley and Buffy breakup was the BEST! It set the stage for my Spike and that’s all that mattered.
Um, excuse me, but that would be MY Spike!
Nope. He’s MINE!
Weird. I always rooted for Buffy/Spike to break up because she was so horrible to him. I always thought Spike could do better.
um… MY Spike. tee hee
I am not one to get too overly emotionally involved in a TV show but Buffy has long been the exception. Even to this day when I see the guy who played Riley I always say…”there’s Buffy’s interim boyfriend.”
After seeing how adorable Spike and Buffy were together in the episode where anything Willow says comes true…who didn’t champion Spike as the one true love of Buffy?
Sure, Angel was tall, dark and brooding…but my God was he ever full of angst! Spike was just as dangerous but with a dash of rebellion and loads of sex appeal!
I did like Angel with Kate (the girl police detective 1st. season of Angel.) Wish he and Lila would have gone there but hated Angel and Cordy hooking up.
Ugh, Riley was so boring and annoying. I am so glad he and Buffy finally broke up. It perfectly set up some major SPIKE time. Best. Evil. Hottie. Ever. Spike could have sexual tension with a wall, though. I thought he would make a great couple with just about everyone (oddly enough, not Anya though. That was just weird and unnecessary.)
YES! Riley couldn’t get on that damn helicopter fast enough!
I’m so glad to see that I’m not the only one who didn’t like Riley.
Spike was SO fine! And to think Spike was supposed to be a short-term character and killed off. Very glad that Whedon recognized the fans’ response to Spike and decided to keep him.
did rory and logan end up breaking up? i can’t remember.
Logan proposed, Rory said she wasn’t ready for that, & he said it was either all or nothing, so he broke up with her when she wouldn’t marry him.
I always thought that Rory should have gotten back together with Jess – in the later episode when he finally had his act together.
YES!!! I loved how the writers got Jess to grow up without changing who he was. One of the few high points of last two seasons.
Carrie and the Russian were awesome, until they ruined his character to facilitate the ridiculous Big infatuation. Here’s hoping Michael can be her White Night again! (I know – I couldn’t help it – sorry)
It was a bad joke Em, but an fun bad joke! Carrie and Aleksandr were fine together, and then the writers make him all evil. And frankly, I think Big treated Carrie like dirt time and time again; it was like watching a child continue to touch a hot oven. Oh, wait. A child would learn not to do that, wouldn’t she?
Totally agree about Rory and Logan! He was sooo not right for her, if only because he is everything Lorelai hates! Dean and Rory also needed to break up the second time around – been there done that.
I think Carrie & Aidan was waaaay more offensive than Carrie and the Russian. I like my men to have some backbone, thank you very much, and Aidan’s wimpiness and tolerance for her cheating, not marrying him, whatever, proved he was never going to be strong enough to be the guy a woman like Carrie would love for the rest of her life.
Never thought of it like that Amver, always thought Aidan was perfect for Carrie, butyou’re right, he was a bit of a wimp!! Sweet though.
I liked the 2nd Aidan, not the first hippy Aidan. But the Russian was the WORST. What is there to love about someone who is so remote emotionally? And not to mention OLD.
I thought the worst was Berger. His and Carrie’s relationship was the only one in that series that made me feel really bad for her character. Generally in her relationships on the show, Carrie tended to make bad decisions and was often unlikable (no matter how likable she could be in other situations on the show) but Berger just treated her like crap and made her seem incredibly sane.
I thought Rory and Jess breaking up was so sad! I still think he is her soul mate…
We need a Gilmore Girls movie in which Rory & Jess get back together and live happily ever after! I will accept nothing less because Jess really was her soul mate. Couldn’t have cared less when Rory & Logan broke up.
Berger and Carrie were exponentially worse than Carrie and Aleksander, IMO. The best thing about that relationship was the end of it, when Carrie spent an entire episode busting out her breakup Post-It and trying to score weed.
I agree about Carrie & the Russian!
I agree with all of those. Buffy needed to end up with Spike, Carrie and Big were perfectly messed up for each other and in my head Rory and Jess got back together after the show ended.
I am rooting for Will to dump Terri’s ass by sectionals.
Foreteen. Just all bad.
Ethan and that one girl from the Class. Yes, I’m still a Ethan/Kat shipper.
I Loved the class, I was so upset when it went off the air with no closure. I wanted Ethan and Kat together too.
Veronica and Duncan on Vmars
Agreed! Veronica and anyone that wasn’t Logan.
I don’t know. She was pretty cute with Piz too. I definitely preferred her with Logan but I still liked her with Piz.
I was waiting for someone to say that! Thank you! And even more I hated Veronica and Piz!
Buffy and Riley.
Don and Betty. RACHEL COME BACK!
Brenda and Jax
Dawn and Lee
So agree with you about Buffy and Riley. I don’t know anyone who liked that relationship.
Glad someone mentioned a soap couple. I also hated Brenda with Jax and couldn’t wait for them to break up.
I liked Riley. It’s obvious he was ill equiped to handle the awesomeness that was Buffy. However, I thought in the end he was a good person that was flawed by machismo. Poor guy. In a way I don’t see how he was much different then Angle who wouldn’t stay human because Buffy would be stronger than him and ultimately ran away from her.
I am the only person who like Buffy and Riley. He was sweet in my opinion.
Ha! Yes! Brenda and Jax were so lame. I so preferred her with Sonny.
Yes, Brenda and Jax. But I hate Sonny now.
Since we’re talking GH. I will quit watching if Nik and Liz hook up! Okay..I won’t quit watching, but I will not be happy!!
Yes, I loved Sonny and Brenda! That was back when Sonny was well written. His character is really lacking substance right now.
Agree toatally!
don and betty definitely are/were a great couple!
agree…I hope they fix that
I kno don was a horrible husband but he was really trying to change and she just lives him for henry so sad. I felt like my own marriage had fallen apart. I really hope they do fix it.
Most recently, I was glad when Andy and Angela broke up on The Office. Although I wish the writers hadn’t made Angela quite so unlikeable during the love triangle plotline–I still can’t stand her!
I was glad when they broke up too – liked Andy too much (his character grew on me and changed from the early introduction). Hope he gets together with Erin.
I think Andy deserves to be with someone who cares for him, but Erin just strikes me as too young for him. But it’ll be interesting to see where it goes, if anywhere.
Yeah, I thought Andy and Angela were just wrong for each other. He needs someone normal, and I want Dwight and Angela to get back together. They were so incredibly weird it was awesome to watch.
Oh god yes, that relationship was painful to watch from day 1, it was like she could barely even tolerate him, much less love him.
Dawson and Joey on Dawson’s Creek. That girl was so definitely supposed to be with Pacey, that watching her with mopey-ass Dawson was just painful.
agree on the Dawson/Joey break up! I have come to hate the scenes where she and Dawson try to be romantically invovled- its not pretty. Joey + Pacey forever.
I’m so glad someone else said this! I was just thinking that the Dawson and Joey scenes which seemed so right in the first season are just so boring after seeing the chemistry between Joey and Pacey.
Agree with this one. I remember being so happy when Joey and Dawson finally got together at the end of Season One. But while I didn’t stay on once they got into college, I was very happy that she chose Pacey over Dawson.
I actually hated Pacey… he so got on my nerves… Actually all the characters in the show did. I wonder why it made it out of the first season
Nate and Blair on Gossip Girl (both times) …
Serena and everyone she dates on Gossip Girl (is it a rule that since Blair and Chuck’s relationship is so epic that all of Serena’s relationships post-first time!Dan are a bore?) …
Dexter and Lila on Dexter …
Rory and Logan on Gilmore Girls …
Matt and Daphne on Heroes (although less of a break up and more that she died, which was also very welcome) …
Peter and everyone he gets with on Heroes …
Ted and Robin on How I Met Your Mother (we knew it wasn’t going to happen and it was cute and all, but it was such a relief when it ended) …
Six and Tigh on Battlestar Galactica (I mean… come on!) …
Lee and Dee on Battlestar Galactica (Glee should take note in regards to Finn and Quinn – couples whose names rhyme are bad) …
Don and most of his affairs on Mad Men
Totally agree on Lee and Dee – he was the worst husband ever.
Dee really has no self-respect considering how she threw the fantastic Billy to the curb to try and get in with Apollo, who so clearly was into Starbuck since forever.
Dee married a man who was obviously in love with another woman, and she was surprised he was a terrible husband? She decided she wanted him, and she went after him with a chilling determination. I still blame her for Billy’s death (and yes, I know the actor wanted out of his contract, but my emotions don’t recognize logic).
Not to mention Lee and whatsherface (Shevon or something) – the prostitute from that lametastic episode that I couldn’t even stomach the first time I saw it on BSG. So glad when she called him out on crafting that pathetic pretend relationship.
OOOOH, I forgot all about her!!! That was very painful…Lee stooped really low with that one.
I agree about Rory and Logan. Every week, I was hoping that would be the week. I was so happy that she didn’t marry him.
Ditto on Nate and Blair.
I loved Dexter and Lia!
I may have been the ONE guy hoping Pam would cheat on Jim while she was in New York (The Office)
With Harry Crane, no less!
What is wrong with you!?! JAM forever
And I the one girl that continually waited for Pam and Jim to break up because of NY. Kudos to the British version for passing on the gooey love story.
Agreed–The gooeyness of that couple pushed me away from the show, and I used to LOVE it. Sad.
The british version didn’t pass on the gooeyness. it was just subdued. Tim and… what’s her name do get together. Which was very satisfying.
Well, clearly YOU’RE going to hell, haha.
They are adorable. If you hate them you are bitter!!!!!!!!!
Seriously?! That is just crazy-Jim & Pam are the best! I am so thankful that the writers of The Office have not subjected us to the obligatory & overly ridiculous plot devices usually thrown at a couple on tv. Their relationship seems real & I love it!
No plot devices?? Just because it looks like a documentary doesn’t mean you can’t see the same-ass plot lines they use for all women on TV: love, boyfriend, wedding, baby. This has all happened in what? two or three seasons. I can’t stand it! Do something different!
Plus both Jim and Pam’s characters have become so unlikable in the past few seasons. ESPECIALLY Pam. She’s such a selfish brat, plus it isn’t helped by Jenna Fischer’s often sub-par acting.
Dwayne and Kinu on A Different World. Dwayne and Whitley forever!
omg, lol.. I hated Kinu. Almost forgot about that!
Me too!!!!
ah! such a good one! whitley and dwayne were amazing together!
yes. amazing recall skills on this one.
Don’t forget Whitley and the politcian. Loved how that ended with her dumping him at the altar for Dwayne.
OMG I can’t believe you brought that up! Too good!! I loved how Whitley never got Kinu’s name right — Nookie, Kiki, Nunu, whatever. Dwaytley 4-EVA!
That. Is. Awesome.
I see what you mean about bringing Barney and Robin back, but i thought their relationship was still amusing… It didn’t feel to me like they’d run out of jokes yet. But maybe they just didn’t want to wait till they only had crappy jokes left to THEN break them up, which would be clever. I still wish they hadn’t done it though. it was hilarious to watch that couple.