But, believe it or not, there have been some legendary couples that were originally not meant to be together by the writers of the show. Here is a list of 7 such couples. Brace yourselves.

1. Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl

Who wasn’t in love with the dramatic, teenage kinda love between Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) — two of the protagonists of the American teen drama television series Gossip Girl. The last few seasons, their romance took centre stage and we felt tingles running down our nerves despite their initial tumultuous courtship. Everything was so perfect, it seemed like the most natural pairing because considering both characters were major schemers and had a compelling dark side. But according to sources, their romance wasn’t the part of the initial plan. 

What? Really?

— Gossip Girl co-creator/writer Josh Schwartz told Vulture.

Well, we are glad it happened. 

2. Monica Geller and Chandler Bing – F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Can you even imagine F.R.I.E.N.D.S without the magical couple that Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) made? We. Cannot. Even! But turns out it was a tough call for the writers of F.R.I.E.N.D.S to play the Monica-and-Chandler card because not only pairing off sitcom characters is always a risky venture but they also already had one successful couple on the show — Rachel and Ross.

We’d already done a lot of drama between Ross and Rachel. And nobody wanted it to become the ‘Get Together and Break-up’ show.

— former Friends exec producer Scott Silveri told Vulture.

But at the end of Season 3, Ross and Rachel went into their legendary “break,” and timing wasn’t a problem anymore. Monica and Chandler quickly became a fan-favourite romance with viewers loving their chemistry and the rest, as they say is history.

Fun Fact: Joey and Monica were originally destined to be love interests.

3. Mr. Big and Carrie Bradshaw – Sex And The City

The enigmatic love story of Mr. Big (Chris Noth) and Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Sex and the City was both heartwarming and frustrating to watch. And remember the time when Aiden walked into Carrie’s life while we felt like something wasn’t right even though everything was so perfect with Aiden? 

Even though the show ended with Mr. Big proposing to Carrie, creator of the series, Darren Star wasn’t a big fan of the Mr. Big/Carrie Bradshaw ending up as a couple.

He told Kindles Single,

I think the show ultimately betrayed what it was about, which was that women don’t ultimately find happiness from marriage. Not that they can’t. But the show initially was going off script from the romantic comedies that had come before it. That’s what had made women so attached.

We don’t know how we feel about that, to be honest, but he does have a point.

4. Jack Shephard and Kate Austen – Lost

If you have seen Lost, you’ll very well be aware of the tumultuous yet enchanting relationship of Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) and Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly). But Kate, who seems to have a thing for the ‘bad guys’ and has an on-and-off relationship with Jack, was never meant to be. 

Why, you ask?

Because originally, Jack was supposed to be killed by the monster in the pilot, leaving Kate as the leader of the survivors in the first episode itself. However, ABC executives believed that this decision would generate feelings of betrayal and anger among audience members and managed to convince the creators not to do it and later, the writers compromised by killing off Oceanic Flight 815’s pilot, instead. 

Thankful, aren’t we?

5. Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate – Parks And Recreation

One of the most fun couples of Parks and Recreation has to be Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) and April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza).  April Ludgate — the most extreme, most uncompromisingly strange, non-compliant female character in the history of broadcast TV — along with her cutely thick musician husband, Andy, make for a couple that makes us feel perfectly gooey inside. 

Well, turns out, they weren’t meant to be together as well. According to the creator, Greg Daniels, the role of Andy Dwyer was merely supposed to serve as a device for Anne, played by Rashida Jones, to meet Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope. But after meeting Pratt, he was so impressed with him that the writers completely rewrote the character’s arc. Yay!

6. Xena and Gabrielle – Xena: Warrior Princess

After Xena (Lucy Lawless) saves Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor) from a band of warriors, Gabrielle is left in awe of the Warrior Princess’s abilities. That hints at the beginning of Gabrielle becoming Xena’s greatest ally, best friend, and soulmate.

But none of this was planned and Xena was originally supposed to die. She was originally introduced on Hercules as a dark, tragic figure counterbalancing the cheerful, completely non-conflicted Hercules. At the conclusion of a three-episode arc, everyone was so impressed that instead of killing the character, the already-planned Hercules spin-off series was remodeled for Xena.

 7. Phoebe Buffay and Mike Hannigan – F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Oh! We have another entry from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The weird yet entertaining couple of Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) and Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd) were not meant to be together, either. Apparently, Paul Rudd’s charm played the right cards this time and managed to alter the entire course of television’s most wildly successful and popular show. The actor made such an impression on honchos that he proved too difficult a character to drop.

No, I didn’t know that was the end of David. The plan always was kind of to bring him back.

Hank Azaria – who played the character of David (Phoebe’s intended love)- revealed to Huffington Post.

Well, no one is complaining!

Thank god for script changes, for we would not have had our favourite couples, create magic on television. Blessed be thy creators!