Shows from the iconic Game of Thrones to the newest hits like Netflix’s Wednesday and Shadow and Bone have brought the fantasy genre into mainstream pop culture. While there is a lot to love about these fantastical storylines, there’s no denying the genre has an abundance of unhealthy relationships.
Some shows like House of the Dragon and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are known for having complicated couples that are more problematic than endearing. However, even series like Avatar the Last Airbender and The Witcher have relationships that prove more toxic than wholesome. These fantasy TV shows have some of the most problematic couples known to the genre.
10 Zuko & Mai
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a great series to escape into for its complex relationships and tumultuous politics. Among those complex relationships was the long-time romance between Zuko and Mai of the Fire Nation. Zuko and Mai had an attraction to each other from a young age and ended up being one of the few couples undoubtedly meant for one another
On the other hand, Zuko and Mai often had a hostile relationship that led to many quarrels due to their inability to properly communicate. They may not be the most problematic couple in fantasy, but they certainly had some growing to do before they could commit to anything long-term.
9 Wednesday Addams & Xavier
Wednesday
Wednesday had a couple of romantic subplots for the main character. While the first was meant to fail due to Tyler being the Hyde monster, Wednesday and Xavier had a more complicated relationship. Though it seems they have affection for one another, their relationship was often strained due to Wednesday’s defensive demeanor and her even suspecting Xavier as a killer.
While the season one finale showed promise for their future with Xavier gifting Wednesday a cell phone, he quickly became a suspected villain when Wednesday received a threatening text. As of now, this budding romance seems to be heading down a path of distrust and conflict.
8 Sam Winchester & Ruby
Supernatural
It’s a bit of a stretch to call Sam Winchester and the demon Ruby from Supernatural a couple. However, they did have a brief sexual relationship in which Ruby helped Same drink demon blood to fuel his psychic powers given to him by the demon Azazel.
Though Sam thought Ruby was trying to help him, and she may have even had the audience believing she had good intentions for a while, the demon was really molding him into an ideal vessel for Lucifer. There were many unhealthy relationships throughout this show, but this romance was entirely built on deception.
7 Yennefer & Geralt
The Witcher
Out of the many subplots throughout The Witcher, the on-and-off romance between Geralt and Yennefer is one of the most popular among fans. However, their relationship has proven to be one of the most problematic Netflix couples. Though they clearly love one another, their relationship has been more consistently hostile than loving.
They have both been cruel to each other throughout their long history together, with one being hurt or angered, and the other feeling justified in their response. Though the couple seemed to make amends for the good of Ciri at the end of season two, the future of their romance promises more complexity than affection.
6 God & The Goddess
Lucifer
The main character in Lucifer comes from one of the most complicated family situations ever seen on a TV show. While Lucifer follows the traditional plotline of the devil being kicked out of Heaven for disobedience, the relationship between his all-powerful parents is a fresh twist for the series.
This god and goddess have an epic conflict, as God loves his human creations more than anything, causing his wife to grow resentful. God sent her to Hell for wanting to extinguish Earth’s population, causing more resentment. These cosmic beings had such a problematic relationship that the goddess eventually started her own world away from all the pain her husband caused her.
5 Angel & Buffy
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Though Angel and Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are a beloved fantasy couple, their on-and-off relationship is extremely toxic. These two began as a couple that knew they couldn’t be together because she was a vampire slayer and him a vampire. However, their desires grew, and they eventually began a dysfunctional romance.
Their relationship was problematic due to their conflicting worlds, but it was also uncomfortable for many fans because Angel showed initial attraction to Buffy early on when she was only a young teenager. Age gaps are not unusual for fantasy TV, but this one was especially inappropriate in many viewers’ eyes.
4 Spike & Buffy
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The titular character in this iconic fantasy show couldn’t catch a break when it came to romance. Spike was originally introduced as an antagonist in the Buffyverse but eventually became a love interest for the slayer. And just like her relationship with Angel, this relationship was doomed from the start.
Though Spike eventually regained his soul like Angel, making him more emphatic, he had already done too many terrible things for Buffy to forgive. Their relationship had many complicated and problematic moments, with Spike even assaulting Buffy following her rejecting him.
3 Katherine & The Salvatore Brothers
The Vampire Diaries
Elena Gilbert was the main character in The Vampire Diaries and her involvement with the dark world of Mystic Falls would have likely never begun if it wasn’t for her vampire Doppelganger Katherine. While the vampire only showed interest in Stefan, their both having an obsession with her was their downfall.
Katherine’s manipulation of the Salvatore brother not only led to them both being turned into vampires but resulted in their father turning on them. Her toxic relationship with the two men left a lasting impact on these siblings’ relationship that withstood many decades.
2 Cersei & Jaime Lannister
Game Of Thrones
There were many terrible relationships in Game of Thrones, but many fans agree the romance between Cersei and Jaime Lannister was the most uncomfortable. Though it was disturbing that the two were twins with a sexual relationship, that was only a portion of the problematic romance.
Jamie and Cersei’s love for one another led to three illegitimate children while Cersei was married to Robert Baratheon, which aided in nearly extinguishing the house’s bloodline. Despite their relationship growing more complicated throughout the years, their inappropriate romance was so all-consuming that Jaime went back to King’s Landing in the final season to die with Cersei.
1 Rhaenyra & Daemon Targaryen
House Of The Dragon
Incestuous relationships are common in Game of Thrones and even more prominent in the prequel, House of the Dragon. Though Rhaenyra married Laenor Velaryon at a young age, the marriage only resulted in a strong friendship and three illegitimate children. Following Laenor’s fake death, Rhaenyra married her long-time love interest Daemon Targaryen, who was also her uncle.
Though this union strengthened Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne, her relationship with Daemon is often toxic. Not only is it hard to forget Daemon was outraged his brother named Rhaenyra his heir in Daemon’s place, but he’s also known to have a temper that isn’t even restricted from his queen wife.
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