The 7 Worst Lies TV Shows Told Us About Relationships

A TV show isn't watchable if there isn't some element of romantic drama.

In fact, the romances are often the primary draw that causes viewers to become deeply invested in the series. Action scenes and solid storylines are okay, but there's nothing like rooting for the couple that you need to end up together.

Unfortunately, TV show romances also set some pretty unrealistic expectations for real-life dating. We know they have to carry a whole series on their overly-dramatic backs, but still—we simply can't live with these lies anymore.

Keep scrolling for the seven worst lies TV shows told us about relationships.

1. The Person You Like Will Always Like You Back

In many TV shows, there's plenty of drama to go around in relationships. However, that drama rarely revolves around one character falling head over heels for someone that just doesn't feel the same way in return. If unrequited love is depicted, it often centers around a secondary character who the audience doesn't care about anyway. The protagonist, however, always gets what they want. And even if a secondary character does have feelings of unrequited love, their affections are usually returned by the end of the series. In reality, that's just not how it works. In fact, it's much more likely that the people we have feelings for never like us. Call us jaded, but we're not buying this storyline anymore.

(Gilmore Girls via The CW)

 

2. Having a Small Dating Pool Is Totally Normal

Why do TV characters fail to venture out of one tiny dating pool? Instead of moving out of their group and adding a new person to the mix, most characters will just date best friends and brothers of their exes, or even the exes of their best friends. What happened to girl code? Actually, what happened to human decency in general? This is not normal!

(The Vampire Diaries via The CW)

 

3. You Should Get Back Together With Your Ex

Keeping in line with the small dating pools, getting back together with your ex is also a totally normal occurrence in TV shows. In fact, it will often happen a few times. In reality, there are very few reasons to retry a relationship with your ex. If things didn't work once, they probably won't work again.

(Gossip Girl via The CW)

 

4. Weddings Usually Don't Go Well

Weddings are prime territory for TV show drama. While there's the occasional lovely ceremony—looking at you, Chandler and Monica—most weddings just function as an opportunity for something to go horribly wrong. Usually it revolves around an ex showing up to ruin the ceremony or one of the characters being unsure about their future life partner. We can't speak for everyone in the world, but we like to think that the majority of weddings have those wrinkles ironed out before the big day. Wedding interruptions aren't cool or sweet IRL. In fact, they're pretty traumatic and life-ruining.

(Grey's Anatomy via ABC)

 

5. Career Sacrifices for Your Relationship Are Romantic

Oftentimes, characters in TV shows will have big hopes and dreams, only to let all their plans fall by the wayside because they fell in love. Whether it's not going to college or giving up the opportunity of a lifetime, career sacrifices are always presented as super romantic. In reality, they're not. Jobs are pretty darn important, and giving up big opportunities will only breed resentment in your relationship down the line. Plus, who's to say you can't have both? The right person should want to stand by your side while you pursue your dreams, not force you to choose between a chance of a lifetime and a relationship with them.

(Friends via NBC)

 

6. On-and-Off Relationships Aren't That Bad

We know TV shows have to make their drama last through multiple seasons. And what better way to do that than to make your main characters break-up and reignite a few times along the way, before they settle into a loving relationship that supposedly lasts a lifetime? Unfortunately, that isn't often the case. On-and-off relationship take a huge emotional toll. With each breakup, the hurt between two people grows, making it even harder to reconcile the next time around. It certainly isn't impossible to break up a few times and still end up together, but it's definitely not the healthiest approach to your relationship.

(Glee via FOX)

 

7. Your High School Partner Is Definitely 'The One'

Many TV shows start in high school. As a particularly tumultuous time in your life, it makes sense. However, instead of growing with the characters, most TV shows present high school sweethearts as the ultimate match for each other. They go through a few ups and downs, only to end up together at the end of the series. Do we even need to explain why this is wrong? Ending up with your high school sweetheart isn't impossible, but it also shouldn't be the ultimate goal. There are tons of other people in the world, and odds are you'll realize most of them are way better than your high school ex.

(Gossip Girl via The CW)

 

Wondering which fictional relationships we actually admire? Click HERE for six TV couples who define healthy relationship goals.