10 On-Screen Couples Who Were Lowkey Toxic

10. Rory Gilmore & Dean Forrester (Gilmore Girls)

Rory and Dean began as a sweet first love, but it became rocky as Dean grew more insecure and Rory’s life expanded. Things hit their lowest point when the two had an affair despite Dean being married. It turned what started as innocent affection into one of the show’s most controversial storylines.

9. Mr. Big & Carrie Bradshaw (SATC)

Carrie and Big were glamorous and unpredictable, but their relationship was always chaotic. Big was emotionally distant, Carrie was anxious, and together they created a cycle of breakups, cheating, and mixed signals. They were exciting to watch, but they were never truly steady.

8. Owen Hunt & Cristina Yang (Grey’s Anatomy)

Owen and Cristina had passion and respect, but they wanted completely different futures. Owen dreamed of a family, while Cristina was fully committed to becoming one of the best surgeons of her era. Instead of accepting that, Owen kept trying to change her, turning their relationship into a constant struggle.

7. Mindy Lahiri & Danny Castellano (The Mindy Project)

Mindy and Danny started out adorable with their witty banter, but things shifted once the relationship got serious. Danny became controlling and pushed Mindy to give up the career she loved to become a full-time mom. What started as a cute rom-com pairing slowly turned into something that boxed Mindy in.

6. Ted Mosby & Robin Scherbatsky (How I Met Your Mother)

Ted and Robin always felt like they were pushing a relationship that never fully fit. Ted held onto the idea that they were meant to be, even when Robin clearly wanted something different. Years of mixed signals and sabotaged relationships later, their reunion felt more like repetition than fate.

5. Olivia Pope & Fitzgerald Grant (Scandal)

Olivia and Fitz had chemistry that lit up every scene, but the relationship was a storm of arguments and emotional blowouts. Fitz loved big declarations, Olivia fell apart under the weight of their secret affair, and together they created a dynamic that left both of them drained. It was dramatic to watch, but far from healthy.

4. Damon Salvatore & Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)

Damon and Elena had fire, but they also had plenty of complications. She developed feelings for him while with Stefan, and their connection often felt codependent. Damon constantly encouraged her to embrace a darker, riskier life, and the addition of the sire bond made the whole situation even more complicated. Passionate, yes, but messy too.

3. Aria Montgomery & Ezra Fitz (Pretty Little Liars)

Aria and Ezra tried to come across as a grand romance, but the red flags were flashing from the start. He was her teacher, which created an obvious power imbalance, and later, we learned he pursued her to gather material for a book about her missing friend. What looked romantic on the surface was really layered with deception and blurred boundaries.

2. Chuck Bass & Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)

Chuck and Blair had the chemistry, the style, and the drama, but the relationship itself was built on manipulation and emotional games. Fans love them for the chaos, but moments like Chuck trading Blair for a hotel are still hard to forget. Their love was intense, but it thrived on power plays more than anything healthy.

1. Ross Geller & Rachel Green (Friends)

Ross and Rachel are iconic, but their relationship was honestly a marathon of misunderstandings and jealousy. Every time things looked stable, another fight or insecurity popped up, usually tied to the never-ending “we were on a break” argument. They always circled back to each other, but half the time it felt like they were tearing everything else down in the process.