12 Best Love Triangle TV Shows, Ranked (2024)

Love triangles have been used in books, movies, and TV shows for decades, and it's not always easy to pull them off, but some TV shows managed to create remarkable love triangles that improved the series. This trope is usually meant to create drama, with some series putting their main romance in a love triangle as a way to keep audiences invested and talking about the show. Although modern productions tend to avoid love triangles, some of them went all in and gave their viewers a reason to return to the show.

Incorporating a love triangle is risky, because of how overused the trope has been used in the past, it is becoming a tired trend since most shows have at least one. Although this trope is mostly common in teen dramas or romance, many different genres, including fantasy, supernatural, and even horror, took their turn at creating impactful romance with characters battling their feelings for a romantic partner, creating passionate discussions among its viewers. From dramatic confessions, fights, drama, and difficult choices, some love triangles became the most iconic feature of a TV show.

12 Steve, Nancy, And Jonathan

Stranger Things

Stranger Things is a science fiction drama that focuses on supernatural events in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and romance is not one of the main plots, although it does have some meaningful relationships. However, one of the most important romances is the love triangle between Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve. Although Nancy had great chemistry with both, the official love triangle ended in season 2, and it would've been enough to have a big impact on the show. However, this storyline made a comeback in season 4, and Nancy deserves a better Stranger Things ending than coming back to a concluded love triangle.

11 Ted, Barney, And Robin

How I Met Your Mother

Robin joined Barney and Ted's group initially in How I Met Your Mother because Ted saw her as a potential romantic interest. But their complicated relationship led Robin to pursue her relationship with Barney, the notorious bachelor. The two finally married in the final season, and the viewers were invested in their relationship and commitment. Although some scenes foreshadowed Barney and Robin divorce, their breakup was shocking, and even more so when Ted was reunited with Robin in the end.

10 Sookie, Bill, And Eric

True Blood

HBO's True Blood started with Bill and Sookie's romance, although he was a vampire and she was human. However, although their relationship was strong, his lies caught up to him, and Eric, a bad boy vampire, entered the picture. From that moment forward, True Blood had Sookie torn between the two vampires who tried to do everything to ensure her love. On top of the gory action, the love triangle between Sookie, Bill, and Eric added more drama and excitement. However, the finale left viewers disappointed as Sookie didn't end up with any of them, but a human that hadn't been a part of the show.

9 Logan, Jess, Dean, and Rory

Gilmore Girls

Throughout seven seasons and a miniseries, Rory has always had more than one love interest in Gilmore Girls, keeping the audience entertained. She found herself unable to resist love triangles, whether it was with Dean, Jess, or Logan. Although most of her relationships were toxic and problematic, as they all involved some sort of cheating, the drama the love triangles brought divided the audience into teams supporting either one of them. The revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, made it unclear who Rory ended up with, but she was pregnant. Later, a costume designer confirmed who Rory's baby's father was, proving that Logan could be her endgame.

8 Diana, Charles, and Camilla

The Crown & Real Life

The historical drama The Crown introduced one of the most ardent real love triangles in season 4: Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and Camilla. Charles married Diana despite being in love with Camilla, and the two tried to focus on their relationship, and failed. The love triangle concluded in season 5 with Charles' divorce from Diana, after many hardships and betrayals, but the actors' chemistry, exquisite acting, and beautifully executed scenes made viewers debate old history again.The Crownseason 6 followed Princess Diana's tragic death, and, by the end, it showed Charles getting his happy ending and marrying his current wife, now Queen Camilla.

7 Jeremiah, Conrad, and Belly

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty has relatable characters who had known each other since childhood. However, the love triangle turns two brothers against each other in their attempt to conquer Belly's heart. Although both Conrad and Jeremiah make great choices, with Conrad being the one she might end up with, the angst and pining between them, as well as the drama around it, has divided the audience into "Team Conrad" and "Team Jeremiah," and many of them have opinions about who Belly should end up with.

6 Olivia, Fitz, And Jake

Scandal

At the beginning of Scandal, viewers couldn't help but root for Olivia Pope and President Fitz, although he was married. The two had vibrant chemistry and their forbidden love made the affair even more interesting. Everything became even steamier when Jake Ballard was introduced, initially meant to look after Olivia. The two fell in love, and he could love Olivia in a way President Grant couldn't. The love triangle between them was one for the ages, with the audiences divided between Fitz and Jake. In the end, Olivia doesn't end up with any of them, but her last exchange with Fitz hints that they might find their happy ending together.

5 Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas

One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill knew how to deliver emotional stories, and the love triangle between Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke is iconic. It was obvious from the first season that Lucas and Peyton were endgame, but Lucas and Brooke also dated for a while. Although the two had amazing chemistry and struggled to make their relationship work, in the end, they broke up. One Tree Hill was about more than just romance, and the love triangle put a strain on Brooke and Peyton's strong friendship, but they were able to move past it. Lucas ended up marrying Peyton, before Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray left One Tree Hill in season 6.

4 Angel, Buffy, Spike

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was an iconic show that was ahead of its time, giving iconic quotes, fashion, and character arcs, but also romance. Although Buffy was a vampire slayer, throughout the show's seven seasons, Buffy fell in love not just with one, but two vampires. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was about more than just romance, and the love triangle is not very prominent because Angel got his own spinoff show and was no longer a main character, and also because her love affair with Spike was never meant to last. Buffy's heart always belonged to Angel, and, when Buffy finally saw Spike as a potential lover, he sacrificed himself.

3 Damon, Elena, And Stefan

The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries was a show filled with romance, which paired all kinds of beings. The most iconic pairing on the show was the love triangle between Elena and two vampire brothers, Damon, and Stefan. The two of them were both valid options for Elena, with Stefan proving to be more reliable, supportive, and a healthier option, but her connection to Damon was filled with passion and their chemistry was magnetic. Although Elena's relationship with Stefan was healthier, Elena ended up with Damon, and they had a happy ending. What makes the love triangle iconic is that Damon and Stefan previously fought over Katherine, and Elena was her doppelganger.

2 Jane, Rafael, And Michael

Jane the Virgin

At the beginning of Jane the Virgin, Jane was in a committed relationship with Michael, who was kind and supportive. Michael stayed by her side even when she discovered to be pregnant with Rafael in the most absurd circ*mstances, and the two seemed to be endgame. It all changed when Michael died, and Jane started a relationship with Rafael. The show was a satire of soap operas, and when Michael turned out to be alive, Jane was torn between the two. What made the love triangle amazing was that Michael and Rafael were good, kind people, and Jane choosing Rafael made sense, but fans were passionate about both of them.

1 Carrie, Mr. Big, and Aidan

Sex and the City

Carrie, Mr. Big, and Aidan's love triangle from Sex and the City is one of the most famous and debated topics. So much so, that even the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That... decided to put an end to it by making Aidan Carrie's true soulmate. Mr. Big and Carrie's relationship proved they were both perfect and terrible for each other, but Aidan was also a very solid, safe choice for Carrie. While that is a controversial decision for many, there's no question that the ardent questions about who Carrie will end up with between the two loves of her life created one of the most entertaining, compelling, and discussed love triangles of all times.