Path to true love may start with your BFF

By Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., The Conversation

Updated 1102 GMT (1902 HKT) February 13, 2017

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It became clear this romance was doomed as soon as it turned out that a night of passion with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) would turn vampire-with-a-soul Angel (David Boreanaz) back into his evil self, Angelus. Buffy ended up with another vamp; Spike and Angel ended up with a spinoff. Here's a look at other TV couples we've cheered on.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Buffy and Angel, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' – It became clear this romance was doomed as soon as it turned out that a night of passion with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) would turn vampire-with-a-soul Angel (David Boreanaz) back into his evil self, Angelus. Buffy ended up with another vamp; Spike and Angel ended up with a spinoff. Here's a look at other TV couples we've cheered on.

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Dylan McKay and Brenda Walsh (Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty) were the "It" couple on "Beverly Hills 90210," helping the show become one of Fox's first hits. But there was friction between Doherty and other cast members, and that was it for romance

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Brenda and Dylan, 'Beverly Hills 90210' – Dylan McKay and Brenda Walsh (Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty) were the "It" couple on "Beverly Hills 90210," helping the show become one of Fox's first hits. But there was friction between Doherty and other cast members, and that was it for romance

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When Zooey Deschanel's Jess moved in with three guys in Fox's hit sitcom "New Girl," you knew she would end up with one of them. It soon became clear that she had a connection with Nick (Jake Johnson), but fans wondered how long before they would become a couple.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Nick and Jess, 'New Girl' – When Zooey Deschanel's Jess moved in with three guys in Fox's hit sitcom "New Girl," you knew she would end up with one of them. It soon became clear that she had a connection with Nick (Jake Johnson), but fans wondered how long before they would become a couple.

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Soaps never saw anything like Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis) and haven't since. The couple's wedding in 1981 broke ratings records, and "General Hospital" has brought them back off and on in the years since.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Luke and Laura, 'General Hospital' – Soaps never saw anything like Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis) and haven't since. The couple's wedding in 1981 broke ratings records, and "General Hospital" has brought them back off and on in the years since.

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Few sitcom couples have had the impact of Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). Their romance was the major driving force behind the early success of "Friends," solidifying NBC's dominance on Thursday nights in the 1990s. Ten wildly popular seasons meant that we saw them on again, off again and on again. Yes, they even had a child together.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Ross and Rachel, 'Friends' – Few sitcom couples have had the impact of Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). Their romance was the major driving force behind the early success of "Friends," solidifying NBC's dominance on Thursday nights in the 1990s. Ten wildly popular seasons meant that we saw them on again, off again and on again. Yes, they even had a child together.

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For four seasons on "Castle," writer Richard Castle and detective Kate Beckett solved murders both grisly and outlandish -- and fell for each other. They finally made it official with a wedding in 2014.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Castle and Beckett, 'Castle' – For four seasons on "Castle," writer Richard Castle and detective Kate Beckett solved murders both grisly and outlandish -- and fell for each other. They finally made it official with a wedding in 2014.

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At first, the popular teen soap "Dawson's Creek" paired Joey (Katie Holmes) with Dawson, but as the years went by, it turned out that Pacey (Joshua Jackson) was her true love.

Photos: Our favorite TV couples

Joey and Pacey, 'Dawson's Creek' – At first, the popular teen soap "Dawson's Creek" paired Joey (Katie Holmes) with Dawson, but as