I'm a sucker for a good romance story and I wanted to take some time to talk about some of my favorite couples in fiction.
Scott Pilgrim/Ramona Flowers
A very recent couple I’ve really come to like when it comes to my favorite couples in fiction, Scott and Ramona are one of the most grounded couples here as they are pretty flawed people. What makes them a great couple is how they overcome their flaws and learn to be better people by dealing with Ramona’s 7 Evil Ex’s in animated ways. In my opinion the game handles it well with the true ending having Ramona basically accept Nega Scott and Scott’s flaws therefore the two making each other better for it.
Edward Elric/Winry Rockbell
Probably the most realistic couple here, a great case of childhood friends becoming a great couple. You have Ed, joining the military to fix his and his brother Alphonse’s bodies, and you have Winry, a girl who has every right to avoid the military given what happens to her parents. Despite this being something that could easily create a rift between them, both Ed and Winry have great character arcs that not only make them great characters, but ends up paying off for their relationship in one of the best endings to any anime in my opinion.
Inuyasha/Kagome Higurashi
Who knew that a girl from the future would fall for a half demon/human boy from Feudal Japan? It’s definitely one of the more unique pairings for sure, it really helps that they’re involved in what I think is the best love triangle ever. And it’s a great love triangle because you feel sympathy for everyone involved, especially Kikyo who is easily the most tragic character in the series. You see the love blossom between Inuyasha and Kagome as the series goes on, both learning to deal with the other and growing side by side while making each other better in the long run.
Belle/Beast
When I think of classic romance this is the couple I think of. Pretty much the embodiment of Disney romance in all the best ways in what I argue is still Disney’s very best movie, it is the quintessential fairy tale romance to me. The girl who wants more in life and the beast who believes he can’t be loved, Disney truly was firing on all cylinders when they made this classic. I guess the only thing I could say would be Belle could have been more involved in the action, but given that it’s about the beast learning to love it makes sense that it’s him who takes charge.
Aladdin/Jasmine
If Belle and Beast are the ultimate classic couple then these two are a big subversion to Disney couples. Aladdin being the loveable street rat with a heart of gold that wants to be more than just a street rat, who tricks and lies to get what he wants at first but we’re not talking about that, and Jasmine being the princess that wants to take control of her life was something that was very refreshing back then. I love that Jasmine does not take Aladdin’s shit, figuring him out pretty quickly to hilarious effect. I can’t talk about these two without mentioning Genie, who not only steals the show but helps Aladdin come to terms with who he is and not be ashamed of it to show his love to Jasmine.
Rapunzel/Eugene Fitzherbert
The modern day version of Aladdin and Jasmine, I really enjoy these two as much as I do Aladdin and Jasmine. Rapunzel and Eugene are more active comedic and action wise, plus having a movie and a show helps out. Like Jasmine, Rapunzel sees Eugene for who he is instead of his Flynn Rider persona, and Eugene having some of the most character for a Disney love interest. Plus Eugene having Maximus as a frienemy is just all sorts of hilarious.
Usagi Tsukino/Mamoru Chiba
I couldn’t finish this without talking about what has become my favorite couple and love story in fiction. And I’m strictly speaking about the manga version as the anime hilariously made Mamoru look foolish. A love that transcends time and space, essentially spanning three lifetimes, the story of Usagi and Mamoru has everything you’d want in a great love story. From the tragedy of the star crossed lovers Serenity and Endymion to their modern day reincarnations in Usagi and Mamoru to their future counterparts in Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion, these two go through hell from beginning to end. And while some people will say that their relationship seems cheap because of destiny or fate and it’s predetermined, they both go through absolute hell, especially Usagi with her watching him be brainwashed and killed multiple times, to be together. It’s also one of the few times we see a fictional couple actually go through a marriage ceremony. And it’s why seeing them get married is the best ending to the greatest love story ever told, overcoming time, space, and all manners of evil thrown their way.