19 Famous Relationships From TV Shows That Could Have Evolved Completely Differently

Some TV couples were never supposed to make it past the writers' room, yet they became the relationships fans still talk about years later.

From Ross and Rachel to Carrie and Mr. Big, these pairings often changed because of chemistry, audience reaction, or a last-minute creative pivot. In some cases, the original plan pointed in a completely different direction, which makes the final romances even more surprising.

Here are 19 famous TV relationships that could have gone very differently, and a few of them almost did.

1. Up until the last episodes of Gossip Girl, it was debatable whether Chuck and Blair would end up together.

While Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage always knew Chuck and Blair were destined to be together, the writers debated whether or not to make it happen during the final season.

The CW

2. While Ross and Rachel were destined to be together, the show's creators almost ended Friends without them finally getting together.

NBC

3. The creators originally intended for Monica and Joey to be together.

NBC

A few of these pairings were almost rewritten from the start.

4. Luke and Lorelai were almost never a couple in Gilmore Girls because Luke was initially going to be a woman named Daisy—Luke and Lorelai's relationship was built on the chemistry of Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson.

WB

5. Leslie was planned to date several different men throughout the duration of Parks and Recreation, and Ben was supposed to be just one of several boyfriends, not her spouse.

NBC

6. On Grey's Anatomy, George and Callie were briefly married; however, George was supposed to be with Dr. Bailey.

ABC

Then the casting chemistry changed everything.

7. Preston Burke was meant to be married when he met Cristina, so their romance would have never happened.

ABC

8. Jim Parsons originally auditioned for the role of Barney on How I Met Your Mother. Robin and Barney would have never been a couple if he had been cast because Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders' chemistry was the only reason they were made a couple.

CBS

9. Joey almost chose Dawson over Pacey in Dawson's Creek's legendary love triangle.

WB

10. While Buffy and Spike became a well-known relationship in later seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show's creators nearly included another love interest for Buffy: Xander.

WB

Some of the biggest TV romances came down to a last-minute decision.

That “Friends” crush reality check, where you tell your friend the truth, is basically the exact situation behind this AITA about a brutally honest confession.

11. Despite the fact that Carrie and Mr. Big wind up together at the end of Sex and the City, they weren't supposed to be together.

Creator Darren Star said he didn't envision Carrie ending up with anybody. He stated, "I think the show ultimately betrayed what it was about, which was that women don't ultimately find happiness from marriage."HBO

12. Xander was planned to come out as gay, and Tara and Willow would have never been a couple.

WB

13. Rick and Michonne would never have been together if the producers of The Walking Dead had followed the comic books—Rick's love interest in the comics is Andrea.

AMC, Skybound

14. Caroline ends up with Stefan in The Vampire Diaries, but it was originally planned for her to end up with Klaus.

The CW

That kind of switch can completely change a show's legacy.

15. Raven was intended to be Finn's mother in The 100; hence, their love relationship would have never happened.

The CW

16. While Seth and Summer were a popular pair on The O.C., Fox wanted the show's creators to kill Seth—the duo wouldn't have existed.

According to creator Josh Schwartz, Fox was hesitant to cast a nerdy guy as the other main character.

Fox

17. Brant Daugherty previously auditioned for Ezra and Toby on Pretty Little Liars, which means Ezria or Spoby would have been completely different—Brant went on to portray Noel Kahn.

Freeform

18. Spencer and Toby were made a couple on Pretty Little Liars because of Troian Bellisario and Keegan Allen's on-screen chemistry.

Freeform

19. While Allison and Scott ended their romance with a final "I love you" before her death on Teen Wolf, that moment almost didn't happen, and their relationship would have been completely different.

Crystal Reed said at PaleyFest, "I kept insisting on saying it...The moment I felt the most grief was when she said that."MTV

These near-misses are part of what made the shows so memorable.

Well, what do you think? How different would these shows be if these famous couples didn’t exist?

Would they be better or worse? We have to praise one thing, these shows are actually interactive.

When you think about it, the creators feel the audience’s pulse and change the script accordingly. It kind of alters their vision of the show, but it makes us happy knowing that we’ve actually created these couples.

Want more TV-set tension? See how Kaley Cuoco handled an A-list actress who overlooked her on “Charmed”.