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

(#12) Veronica Mars
- Veronica Mars
Fans will probably debate who the titular sleuth of Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) should end up with for years. You're either Team Logan (Jason Dohring) or Team Piz (Chris Lowell). Logan is presented as the more passionate, but dangerous choice, while Piz is the sweeter, nerdier alternative. The series ends with Veronica dating Piz - but in the follow-up movie, she ditches him for Logan after all.

But Piz is continually presented as a caring and understanding romantic partner. He trusts Veronica entirely and remains respectful even while ending their relationship. Yes, Piz is the safer choice for danger-seeking Veronica, but he's also arguably the better one.
(#3) Rory Gilmore
- Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls fans are understandably upset with how Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is handled throughout the show's 2016 Netflix revival. But nothing is quite as frustrating as learning that Rory is still involved with Logan (Matt Czurchy), an entitled man-child who spends almost his entire relationship with Rory in the original series manipulating and taking advantage of her. That pattern continues in the revival as well. Logan tries to keep Rory on the back burner, ready for him whenever he has the time to give her attention.

This is very different from how Rory's other main love interest, Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), acts around her. He's constantly respectful and caring. Most viewers think Jess and Rory will eventually end up together, given the open-ended nature of Rory's pregnancy at the end of the revival. But until new episodes come out, you'll have to stomach the idea of Logan truly being Rory's final onscreen love interest.
(#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.
(#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).
(#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.
(#1) Jackie Burkhart
- That '70s Show
Yes, That '70s Show ends with Jackie (Mila Kunis) and Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) together. Sure, Fez spends several seasons pining for her, but out of the many love interests Jackie has throughout the series, her relationship with Fez is the least exciting.
That's especially true when comparing her scenes with Fez to her various romantic moments with Hyde (Danny Masterson) and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher). Both of those men have their fair share of flaws, of course, but their banter and romantic chemistry with Jackie is off the charts. Meanwhile, Jackie's scenes with Fez in the final episodes not only feel awkward, but strangely forced.
In a perfect world, That '70s Show would have Jackie and Hyde end up together, with Kelso being the best man at their wedding. But unfortunately, the series chooses to go a much less satisfying route.