The 10 best TV love triangles of all time ranked, from The Summer I Turned Pretty to The Vampire ...

These romantic disasters hurt so good. The 10 best TV love triangles of all time ranked, from The Summer I Turned Pretty to The Vampire Diaries

These romantic disasters hurt so good.

The 10 best TV love triangles of all time ranked, from The Summer I Turned Pretty to* The Vampire Diaries*

These romantic disasters hurt so good.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is an SEO timely writer at **. She joined the team in 2025.

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Published on August 20, 2025 01:30PM EDT

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Justin Baldoni, Brett Dier, Gina Rodriguez on 'Jane the Virgin'; Christopher Briney, Lola Tung, and Gavin Casalegno on 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'; Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, and Paul Wesley on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Credit:

Greg Gayne/The CW Network/Courtesy Everett; Amazon MGM Studios; Justin Stephens/The CW

Everyone loves a good romance, but a love triangle? That's where the *real *drama is.

A reliable, age-old trope, love triangles have long fueled some of TV's juiciest storylines and fiercest fandom debates. Somehow, the inherent tension between the brooding bad boy and the sweet (and safe) bestie never gets old.

It's what made fans obsess over Veronica's pull between Logan and Piz on *Veronica Mars*, or Zoe's tug-of-war with Wade and George on *Hart of Dixie*. And in the age of social media (especially TikTok), love triangles like the one on *My Life with the Walter Boys* — with Jackie caught between brothers Cole and Alex — have taken on a life of their own, inspiring "shipping" wars and fan edits.

So, which TV triangles reign supreme? Read on for **'s ranking of the 10 best TV love triangles of all time.**

10. Olivia, Jake, and Fitz (Scandal)

Tony Goldwyn as Fitz, Scott Foley as Jake, and Kerry Washington as Olivia on 'Scandal'.

If you've ever watched *Scandal *(2012–2018), chances are you've picked a side in Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) tangled love life. Whether you were passionately Team Jake (Scott Foley) or fiercely loyal to Team Fitz (Tony Goldwyn), this triangle divided the fandom and continues to spark heated debates.

Since all seven seasons dropped on Netflix in June, *Scandal* has found new life with fans old and new, reigniting the "Olitz vs. Olake" discourse. Just last week, one X user opined, "Fitz and Olivia were really insufferable. And no, it wasn't love, just plain lust." Meanwhile, another argued that Jake was "weird" and untrustworthy. All these years later, the audience remains split.

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Washington previously explained Olivia's dilemma to EW: "She definitely feels pulled in the direction of both of them in very different ways for very different reasons… They bring out very different parts of her."

Where to watch *Scandal*: Netflix

9. Sookie, Bill, and Eric (True Blood)

Alexander Skarsgård as Eric, Anna Paquin as Sookie, and Stephen Moyer as Bill on 'True Blood'.

John P. Johnson/HBO

The stakes weren't just life and death on HBO's *True Blood *(2008–2014), they were love and *blood*lust.

At the center of the supernatural drama was Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), torn between two *very *different vampires: Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), the complex Southerner, and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård), the ancient Viking with a bad attitude and worse intentions.

Sookie's romance with Bill got a head start, as he saved her life and bound her to him through blood. For a while, things seemed perfect between the pair, but then Eric arrived and changed everything. Sookie and Eric's enemies-to-lovers dynamic was captivating, and their undeniable chemistry led to some of the show's steamiest scenes.

In the end, however, Sookie shocked viewers by picking neither of her undead suitors. Fans were displeased, but showrunner Brian Buckner stood by Sookie's choice to end up with another man entirely — one whose face we never see — at the end of the series.

"That was the thing we were pretty leery of because you immediately alienate everybody who likes the other guy," he said. "So we chose to have it Sookie marries any man, because it doesn't really matter who it was. It's a story of Sookie overcoming her own demons so that she can lead a life that she wanted without giving herself up."

Where to watch *True Blood*: HBO Max**

8. Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke (One Tree Hill)

Hilarie Burton as Peyton, Chad Michael Murray as Lucas, and Sophia Bush as Brooke on 'One Tree Hill'.

Andrew Eccles/The CW

High school drama hit peak chaos with *One Tree Hill *(2003–2012) and its infamous love triangle between Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush), and Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton). Lucas was dating Brooke, but he and best pal Peyton ended up having a secret affair.

What made this love triangle hit so hard wasn't the scandalous nature of romance, but the emotional wreckage it left behind. Brooke and Peyton's friendship was broken, and Lucas didn't exactly help; in fact, he only made things worse by bouncing between the two girls.

But in true *One Tree Hill* fashion, the trio eventually repaired their bond. Lucas and Peyton were endgame, but they honored Brooke by naming their daughter Sawyer *Brooke* Scott.

"I got really lucky with my character. I got a full-circle story," Burton told EW upon her exit from the series in 2009. "It was, 'Lucas and Peyton: Are they going to be together? Are they *not* going to be together?' And as we saw in this week's episode, my character got everything she ever wanted."**

Where to watch *One Tree Hill*: Hulu

7. Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah (The Summer I Turned Pretty)

Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad, and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah on 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

*The Summer I Turned Pretty* (2022–2025) has Gen Z in a chokehold with its messy love triangle between Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and the Fisher brothers — the brooding Conrad (Christopher Briney) and golden boy Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).

It's a classic setup, but what makes this triangle one of the greats is how it weaves together childhood crushes, first love, heartbreak, and grief, all while letting the relationships change in real time across multiple summers. Whether you're Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah (there's merch for both), fans have flooded TikTok and X with fan edits and passionate debates over who deserves Belly's heart.

Creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han (who also penned the bestselling novels on which the show is based) recently told EW that, while the series finale will offer a "satisfying" ending, heartbreak is inevitable.

"A successful love triangle is one where, no matter what happens, people are going to be devastated and heartbroken," Han warned. "Because if the answer feels really clear and easy, then there's no real conflict. No matter what you do, someone's going to be hurt by it."

Where to watch *The Summer I Turned Pretty*: Prime Video

6. Jane, Michael, and Rafael (Jane the Virgin)

Justin Baldoni as Rafael, Brett Dier as Michael, and Gina Rodriguez as Jane on 'Jane the Virgin'.

Greg Gayne/The CW Network/Courtesy Everett

Only *Jane the Virgin* (2014–2019) could pull off a love triangle that includes accidental artificial insemination, a faked death, memory loss, and two weddings — and *still *make it feel emotionally grounded.

When we first met Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez), she was dating Michael Cordero (Brett Dier). But one medical mix-up later, she became pregnant with the baby of Rafael Solano (Justin Baldoni), a Miami hotel heir. What started as an awkward twist of fate quickly evolved into a push-and-pull, with both men vying for Jane's affection.

Just when it seemed settled, Michael "died," only to return with no memory of his and Jane's relationship. By the time he *did* remember, it was too late for them. The series ended with Jane marrying Rafael, satisfying audiences like any good telenovela should.

Where to watch *Jane the Virgin*: Prime Video

5. Buffy, Angel, and Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

(L-R) David Boreanaz as Angel, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, and James Marsters as Spike on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'.

It's been literal decades since *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997–2003) wrapped its seven-season run, but fans are *still* fiercely divided over the show's iconic love triangle.

Was Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) meant to be with Angel (David Boreanaz), the soulful vampire with the barrel chest? Or was Spike (James Marsters), the bleach-blonde bad boy, her perfect match?

Angel was Buffy's first great love, but Spike offered something different: a raw, explosive connection. Each relationship reflects a different phase of Buffy's life, which is partly why the fanbase still argues about it like the finale aired last night.

Gellar revealed her preference during the show's 2017 reunion with EW, saying, "Spike understood a different part of who Buffy was. But for me, as Buffy, I think Angel."

Where to watch *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*: Hulu

4. Felicity, Noel, and Ben (Felicity)

(L-R) Scott Foley as Noel, Keri Russell as Felicity, and Scott Speedman as Ben on 'Felicity'.

Yeah, Keri Russell's hair dominated the discourse, but The WB's *Felicity* (1998–2002) still gave us one of TV's most quietly powerful love triangles.

The series followed Felicity Porter (Russell), a thoughtful, impulsive teen who ditches her Stanford plans to follow her high school crush, Ben Covington (Scott Speedman), to college in New York City. What she didn't plan for? Catching feelings for her cute and reliable RA, Noel Crane (Scott Foley, making his second appearance on this list).

From the start, it was a classic heart vs. head situation. Ben was the dreamboat who inspired Felicity to take risks, while Noel was the steady, supportive guy who showed up when it mattered.

Fans picked sides fast — and they've *never* stopped, even years after (spoiler!) Felicity chose Ben. In fact, Foley told EW in 2016 that people still approach him to say they were "always Team Ben," while Speedman joked that no one ever claims to be Team Noel.

Where to watch *Felicity*: Hulu

3. Kate, Jack, and Sawyer (Lost)

(L-R) Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, and Matthew Fox as Jack on 'Lost'.

ABC/REISIG & TAYLOR

On the mysterious island at the center of *Lost* (2004–2010), Kate (Evangeline Lilly) found herself torn between Jack (Matthew Fox), a responsible and compassionate doctor, and Sawyer (Josh Holloway), a roguish con man with a complicated past.

And, as the season wore on, the love triangle welcomed a new challenger in Elizabeth Mitchell's Juliet Burke, resulting in, as EW put it at the time, a "kind of four-dimensional love tetrahedron."**

Their tangled relationships created a fairly toxic love story, one that many fans think stretched the boundaries of the trope too thin. Still, with all due respect to Jack, it was Sawyer's dalliances with both ladies that gave the show some of its most memorable moments. He's just that good of a hang.

Where to watch *Lost*: Hulu

2.** **Joey, Pacey, and Dawson (Dawson's Creek)

James Van Der Beek as Dawson, Katie Holmes as Joey, and Joshua Jackson as Pacey on 'Dawson's Creek'.

*Dawson's** **Creek* (1998–2003) delivered one of the most unforgettable love triangles of all time. What started as a sweet coming-of-age story between Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and her childhood best friend, Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), took a turn when Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), Dawson's sarcastic best friend, unexpectedly emerged as a real contender for Joey's heart.

At first, it seemed like Joey and Dawson were endgame, but as the seasons unfolded, she started going in a different direction. In fact, her chemistry with Pacey was so palpable that creator Kevin Williamson straight up *rewrote *the series finale to give the undeniable lovebirds their due. How's that for destiny?

As one of the foremost series from the golden age of teen soaps, *Dawson's Creek*'s sun-kissed, slow-burn romance will forever be iconic.

Where to watch *Dawson's Creek*: Hulu

1. Elena, Damon, and Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)

(L-R) Ian Somerhalder as Damon, Nina Dobrev as Elena, and Paul Wesley as Stefan on 'The Vampire Diaries'.

Bob Mahoney/The CW

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for: What show gave us the best TV love triangle of all time? Well, that title goes to *The Vampire Diaries* (2009–2017).

Throughout the long-running supernatural teen drama, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) is caught between kind-hearted vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and his dangerous older brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder).

Damon's arrival on the show ignited one of, if not the most fervent, love triangles on TV. Fans were instantly divided, passionately rallying behind Team Stefan or Team Damon across social media, fan sites, and beyond.

"We have a very passionate fandom that has very passionate opinions about things like whether Elena should be with Stefan or Damon," co-creator Julie Plec said in a 2012 interview with EW.

That's what you call an understatement.

Where to watch *The Vampire Diaries*: Peacock

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