Worst TV Couples of All Time: ‘Riverdale,’ ‘Tell Me Lies’ and More

From High School Musical: The Musical: The Series to Riverdale, not every TV couple can stick the landing when it comes to selling a believable love story.

Fans of the iconic Archie Comics were in for a wild ride when The CW adapted the story into a teen drama. The series, which premiered in 2017, followed a group of friends who came together to uncover the dark secrets that exist within their town. Along the way, the core four characters ended up in various love triangles.

According to creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, he wanted to introduce a cohesive story that didn’t make the audience root for a divide in the friend group.

“It was much more important for me to have Betty and Veronica be real friends, not bitchy frenemies,” he explained to The Wrap in 2017. “The truth is, Archie, Betty and Veronica will all have romantic story lines that don’t lock us into the love triangle — not at all during season 1, at least.”

Meanwhile, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series had its own set of issues with the relationship at the center of the show. Viewers were meant to fall in love with Ricky (Joshua Bassett) and Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) — until the duo got back together in the first season finale. Since rekindling their romance, Ricky and Nini couldn’t get to a place that felt right for them and ultimately parted ways.

During season 3, Nini made the move to California following Rodrigo’s offscreen success in her music career. Ricky, for his part, faced his feelings for Gina (Sofia Wylie) after several seasons of uncertainty.

“My evolving thought is that Ricky and Gina are really in love for the first time together because they’ve experienced some of the world. They’ve gotten a little pushed down. So much happens and it’s beautiful to be able to write this relationship — no holds barred,” creator Tim Federle exclusively told Us Weekly in August 2023. “I remember we had this thing in the writers room where we always tried to answer the question, ‘But why Ricky for Gina?’ Because E.J. is this amazing guy — who I think the audience will see is starting to land in a really good place in his life. And what we said is, ‘Ricky always makes Gina laugh.”