The moon when I'm lost in darkness and warmth when I shiver in cold

As Springsteen once reminded us, you can't start a fire without a spark and for these OTPs that's so not a problem

When it comes to fictional couples, I’ve always been a huge cheerleader for the big “C”: chemistry. This is a vital component that gets ignored more often than is forgivable — particularly onscreen. Comic book shows/movies (looking at you, Arrowverse and Marvel Cinematic Universe) insist on canon couples — pulled straight from the source material — who usually suck and blow due to bad casting decisions. How hard is it to pair the characters with the best chemistry and still tell a fantastic story?

I’m not against canonical couplings. When done well the couple have you in their corner almost immediately. It all comes down to how well written those pairings are in addition to how well they are cast. Chemistry isn’t something you can fake; either the characters have it or they don’t.

As millions of fans all over the world for generations can attest, we are happy to find couples who we believe in within a given book/film/show if those supplied by the author/director/showrunner don’t make our pulses race. In those instances, fan-designated couples are a better fit.

So in honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share a small list featuring some of the fictional couples whom I’m still falling for years later as they continue to inspire my creativity. They all have amazing chemistry yet not all are canon.

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables (books by L. M. Montgomery; miniseries trilogy created by Kevin Sullivan; and TV series created by Moira Walley-Beckett)

One of my very first OTPs, theirs is the love of a lifetime. Any boy who continues to hang around after getting a slate smashed over his head by the girl he has been teasing is a smitten kitten. She is just as stubborn as he is, which is why it took forever for her to figure out she had fallen for him, too. One of the few couples on this list to canonically get their happily ever after, Anne and Gil’s relationship is iconic for generations of readers, myself included.

Kara Danvers/Kara Zor-El and Barry Allen, Arrowverse

Supergirl and The Flash never got together onscreen. However, their sparkling chemistry and their undeniable connection from the first time they met, in the Supergirl season one ep “World’s Finest,” made it impossible not to want them to couple up. A huge plus: they make each other laugh. Kara and Barry are the ultimate superpower couple. They can save the world and still find time to enjoy a Big Belly Burger or host a game night with friends.

Norma Bates and Alex Romero, Bates Motel

NGL I’m giddy right now just thinking about these two. Their slow burn across three seasons ignites in season four when Norma and Alex become official in the best way: a marriage of convenience involving real feelings! Their bickering is sexy AF and the way in which their enemies to lovers romance blossoms feels real. Despite the danger that seemingly lurks around every corner of White Pine Bay, these two can't deny their attraction — even when they're screaming at each other.

James McGraw/James Flint and Lord Thomas Hamilton, Black Sails

The identity of the person who had captured the heart of fearsome pirate Flint was the best surprise. As far as I’m concerned, no one is a better fit for the man once known as James McGraw than Thomas. They met while McGraw was in the Navy and growing dissatisfied with the state of the world. Unfortunately, Lord Thomas’ forward thinking ultimately screws them. There is no denying how deeply in love James and Thomas are in the fleeting moments we’re able to see them properly together. That scene in the series finale still makes me swoon. You can’t see my heart eyes, but know they’re there.

Tomas Ortega and Marcus Keane, The Exorcist

Who doesn’t love a pair of hot priests? What about a pair of hot priests whose relationship is essentially ordained by God? While they never hooked up in canon, there is no way to ignore how the men light up every time they see each other — even when they’re fighting or just generally being stubborn. Complicated relationships are these guys’ forte, but somehow they remain devoted to each other even when the odds are against them. They would bring each other back from the flames of Hell, without a doubt.

Nick Burkhardt and Monroe, Grimm

Friendship between a Grimm and a Blutbad raises plenty of eyebrows. Though if you spend even a few seconds with Nick and Monroe, it’s not hard to see that there easily could be romance in store if they play their cards right. This pairing is not canonical, yet I so desperately wish it was. Nick deserves a lover and partner who accepts him for who he is. No one fits the bill better than Monroe. They have each other’s back, no questions asked. Their love is genuine; it’s right there from the off.

Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal*

For Hannibal, it was love at first sight. For Will, it was something far more complicated. Their twisted love story is one for the ages. Adapt. Evolve. Become. Will does just that under Hannibal’s tutelage — to the dismay of Will’s friends and colleagues. Watching the doctor and the empath become so entwined that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins, a torrent of emotion is unleashed for them and for us devoted Fannibals. Two come to mind when describing such a work of art: It’s beautiful.

Eve Polastri and Villanelle, Killing Eve (books by Luke Jennings and TV series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge)

Snarky. Headstrong. Not above physically wounding each other. This caustic pairing is oh so right. Their codependent relationship crosses the line into obsession; although honestly that’s part of its charm. Villanelle is the devil on Eve’s shoulder, but Eve has influence over Villanelle, too. It’s the push/pull of their dynamic that keeps the women in each other’s orbit. What terrifies everyone in their worlds is that Eve and Villanelle don’t want to walk away from each other; they want to run away together and leave everything else behind. (I’m willfully ignoring the series’ horrific dénouement as is Jennings.)

Natasha Romanoff and Maria Hill, Marvel Cinematic Universe

There are so many non-canon OTPs who have stolen my heart inside the MCU. Nat and Maria are at the top of that list (along with a certain magic/science duo). The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents barely share any screen time, but what they do share is enough to spark my imagination and as far as I’m concerned, their chemistry is undeniable. Tough, smart, and sexy in their own right, Nat and Maria also share a similar sensibility and sense of humor. Some of the best relationships start out as friendships, which is why I believe they get on so damn well.

Nicolò di Genova and Yusuf al-Kaysani, The Old Guard (graphic novels by Greg Rucka and film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood)

Some couples’ love is once in a lifetime. For Nicolò and Yusuf, theirs is as immortal as they are. No love burns as bright or as deep than that of Nicky and Joe (their chosen names in today’s world). You can practically see the adoration pouring out of them every time they catch each other’s eye — particularly when Joe is telling Nicky exactly how he feels about him while they are prisoners in an armored truck filled with hostile soldiers. And like a few other pairs on this list, Nicky and Joe would absolutely kill someone who did them harm. Right, Keane? (Writer’s note: My headline quote came from Joe’s soliloquy.)

Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser, Outlander (books by Diana Galbadon and TV series created by Ronald D. Moore)

Canonically, Jamie is verra much in love with and happily married to Clare Beauchamp Randall Fraser. I’m a huge fan of that pairing, in fact. However… ever since Jamie was reintroduced to Lord John while the Scotsman served time at Ardsmuir Prison, where John served as its governor, the scorching chemistry and enduring love that has ensued in the intervening years has been undeniable. Every moment between them is better than the last. Leave it to these two to make a game of chess feel like foreplay.

Amanda King and Lee Stetson, Scarecrow and Mrs. King

This is another of my very first OTPs that has endured the test of time. A rewatch a few years ago proved that the homemaker and the spy are just as delightful and charming now as they were back in the '80s when I first watched this show as a kid. From their meet cute through their wedding and beyond, Amanda and Lee have the allure of Doris Day and Rock Hudson or Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. The spy-jinks only add to their appeal, but it’s the quiet moments where they really shine.

Leia Organa and Han Solo, Star Wars

Here is the last of my very first OTPs. It really is a tossup which of the three came first, but it’s a moot point since I adore them all just as much today. Leia and Han are one of my favorite enemies to lovers stories; their chemistry fluctuates between spiky and tender with ease. They have what every couple on this list has: a true partnership. The pair treat each other as equals even when their squabbling. Over the years, they become less prickly with each other without losing who they are.

Zoey Clarke and Simon Haynes, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Remember that Whitney Houston song, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”? That’s pretty much how I feel about Zoey and Simon … onscreen anyway. They live rent free in my head and have done so since the show debuted in 2020. Adorable with a capital ‘A’, these two were vibing right from the off. You could practically see the sexual tension rolling off them. They get each other like no one else does. That kind of connection never dies, which is why as far as I’m concerned they will forever be serenading each other.

I’ve written fics about a number of the couples on this list. Links are included above where applicable. Happy reading!

Who are your favorite couples? Feel free to share your own picks!

*Yes, I did consider using a Will/Hannibal quote for my headline, but I decided to spread the love.