Summary
-
Dawson’s Creek
‘s Joey and Jack may be forgotten by viewers, but their relationship paved the way for exploring Jack’s sexuality. -
Brenda and Stuart’s engagement on
Beverly Hills, 90210
was short-lived and easily forgotten. -
Willow and Kennedy’s relationship on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
was overshadowed by Willow and Tara’s, making it overlooked by many fans.
Teen romance is often a roller coaster, and that’s especially true on ’90s teen dramas, where characters pass each other secret notes, break up loudly in corridors outside classrooms, and occasionally make out with vampires. It’s no wonder the world of TV drama was a whirlwind for ’90s kids, and many relationships from the period’s most prominent series remain popular to this day.
The best ’90s teen dramas feature some of the best and worst couples to ever appear on television, from Boy Meets World‘s Corey and Topanga to Dawson’s Creek’s Joey and Pacey. Of course, with so many relationships and love triangles unraveling, these ’90s teen dramas were bound to produce some forgettable and obscure couples as well. Although the ’90s was hailed as the golden age of television, viewers may have forgotten some of its romances over time.
9 Joey & Jack (Dawson’s Creek)
A coming-of-age drama following Capeside friends Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes), Dawson’s Creek dealt with everything from mental health and death to sex and gender over the course of its six seasons. Dawson’s Creek season 2 kicked off with Joey and Dawson tentatively dating before Joey’s co-worker, Jack, (Kerr Smith), kissed her. Joey left Dawson to figure out her own identity and started dating Jack, who was later revealed to be gay. Joey and Jack’s relationship was volatile but short-lived enough that it’s often forgotten by viewers. However, the pair paved the way for writers to explore Jack’s sexuality, which felt groundbreaking at the time.
8 Brenda & Stuart (Beverly Hills, 90210)
In and among the star-studded scenery of Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, 90210 followed a group of friends as they journeyed from high school to college and eventually into the adult world. The 24-year-old business empire heir, Stuart (David Gail), met main character Brenda (Shannen Doherty) after they were set up for a blind date. The date went exceptionally well — so much so that Stuart spontaneously proposed soon after. The pair became engaged, but after a handful of episodes, the marriage was canceled. Stuart left the show in the same season, sealing this relationship’s fate as one bound to be forgotten.
7 Willow & Kennedy (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
One of the most influential and controversial shows of its time, Buffy The Vampire Slayer boasted a lot of TV firsts, including the first long-term lesbian relationship on the small screen. But while Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and fellow witch Tara (Amber Benson) were the first lesbian couple on the show, they were quickly followed by another after a stray bullet took Tara’s life. After the First Evil began hunting down potential Slayers, Kennedy (Iyari Limon) fled to Buffy and met a newly single Willow. The pair hit it off, but their relationship was overshadowed by Willow and Tara’s. To this day, it’s still overlooked by many fans.
6 Brian & Delia (My So-Called Life)
A one-season runner starring Claire Danes as Angela Chase, My So-Called Life hit screens in 1994. While the main focus of the show was Angela’s obsession with heartthrob Jordan (Jared Leto), a couple of other teen relationships unraveled in the background. Despite her crush on Jordan, Angela’s next-door neighbor Brian (Devon Gummersall) secretly loved Angela, even as a budding romance between him and classmate Delia (Senta Moses) briefly bloomed. The relationship was mostly a plot device to drive tension between Angela and Brian, making it the most forgettable one of the show.
5 Lisa & Will (Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)
The iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air introduced the world to Will Smith in a hilarious (and occasionally heartbreaking) sitcom where the actor pretty much played himself. Sent away from his Philadelphia neighborhood, Will found himself living in Bel-Air with his rich extended family. With four teens in the house, there were plenty of relationships throughout the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. One sometimes gets forgotten: Lisa Wilkes’ (Nia Long) romance with Will. Lisa was a confrontational character introduced to settle Will down. Their relationship lasted an entire season, and they almost got married. However, the wedding got called off, and Lisa disappeared from the show permanently.
4 Lindsay & Nick (Freaks and Geeks)
Freaks and Geeks only ran for one season, but it quickly became a cult classic. It followed a group of misfit teens played by a star-studded cast that included Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Jason Segel, and Seth Rogen. Cardellini and Segel famously dated in real life, but their on-screen relationship is typically forgotten. The pair played Lindsay and Nick, who had a short romance on the show. It ended after Lindsay realized that Nick was too smothering and smoked too much pot.
3 Zack & Tori (Saved By The Bell)
Saved By The Bell followed Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) as he led his gang of high school friends on a series of misadventures, much to the annoyance of their long-suffering principal. While this show had its fair share of drama, some of its couples slipped under the radar. Tori (Leanna Creel) would have made an interesting character independent of Zack, but her sloppy introduction came after they had already filmed the graduation episode.
Creel was added as a love interest for Zack, and her episodes were aired throughout the Saved by the Bell‘s final season. The problem was that Zack was already in a relationship with Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen), so it appeared as though he was seeing both women without their knowledge. This made them one of the worst Saved by the Bell couples, and viewers were happy to pretend they didn’t exist.
2 Sabrina & Josh (Sabrina The Teenage Witch)
A triumph for Melissa Joan Hart, who played the titular Sabrina Spellman, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was based on the Archie Comics series before Riverdale made it cool. Sabrina had three key relationships throughout the show, and one proved more forgettable than the others. Josh Blackhart (David Lascher) was Sabrina’s college boyfriend. They met in the coffee shop he managed. A kiss with Josh ended Sabrina’s relationship with Harvey, but their romance never amounted to much. He eventually moved away, never to see Sabrina again. It left many viewers wondering if there was a point to the character or relationship.
1 DJ & Nelson (Full House)
The writers of Full House packed the heartwarming ’90s drama with light-hearted humor and found-family tropes, making the emotional moments all the more painful. Clocking in at eight seasons, Full House featured a number of relationships throughout its run. Among the most significant was the romance between DJ (Candace Cameron Bure) and Steve (Scott Weinger). After he left the show, DJ entered a relationship as dull as it was forgettable. Nelson (Jason Marsden) was a nice guy, but after Steve’s heartbreaking exit, this newcomer’s clueless privilege ensured he would never measure up. DJ also never seemed to care for him much, making them another forgettable ’90s couple.