TV Series That Give Us #RelationshipGoals

No relationship is perfect. But for viewers tuning in for just 30 minutes to an hour, they can seem like they are.

Some comedies, like Amazon’s Catastrophe, Fox’s New Girl, and Hulu’s recently ended The Mindy Project, prove that the perils of dating, marriage, and parenting are far from the bill of Norman Rockwell–hued goods many of us were sold as children. The humor in those series, however, is something that critics clearly appreciate: Catastrophe is Certified Fresh at 100% for each of its three seasons; New Girl’s review count has dipped as its seasons have gone on, but dedicated critics have kept its score high; and Mindy has an 87% Fresh Tomatometer score.

Meanwhile, shows like NBC’s This Is Us, ABC’s black-ish, and former NBC series Friday Night Lights remind us that some couples do get relationships with marks almost as high as their Tomatometer scores if they’re willing to put in the work. Even teen dramas, like former Fox series The O.C. and Glee, are known for their devotion to the intricacies of relationships. And then there’s Homer and Marge Simpson, who have been going strong for decades and seem to have not aged a day.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve gathered a list of TV shows that offered the best portrayals of coupledom in all its funny, messy, emotional, complicated glory.

The series are arranged first by Tomatometer score, then alphabetically where the show does not currently have a series score.

Which is your favorite TV couple and why? Tell us in the comments!

Catastrophe (2015)
98%

#1

Synopsis: During a business trip in London, an American named Rob meets Sharon, an Irish teacher with whom he shares incredible... [More]

Starring: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Ashley Jensen, Mark Bonnar

Directed By: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Richard Allen-Turner, Jon Thoday

Jane The Virgin (2014)
100%

#2

Synopsis: Jane Villanueva, the daughter of a teen mother, grew up determined not to repeat her mom's mistakes. Jane is studying... [More]

Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Justin Baldoni, Yael Grobglas

Directed By: Jennie Snyder Urman, Ben Silverman, Gary Pearl, Jorge Granier

Friday Night Lights (2006)
97%

#3

Synopsis: "Friday Night Lights" centers on the rural town of Dillon, Texas, where winning the state football championship is prized above... [More]

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Aimee Teegarden, Brad Leland

Directed By: Peter Berg, Jason Katims, Brian Grazer, David Nevins

The Fosters (2013)
97%

#4

Synopsis: Stef, a dedicated police officer, is in a relationship with Lena. The two have built a close-knit family with Stef's... [More]

Starring: Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Noah Centineo, Hayden Byerly

Directed By: Jennifer Lopez, Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige, Joanna Johnson

black-ish (2014)
92%

#5

Synopsis: Dre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has it all: a great job, a beautiful wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids and... [More]

Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner

Directed By: Ken Whittingham, Anton Cropper, Kenya Barris, Courtney Lilly

Outlander (2014)
89%

#6

Synopsis: After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland... [More]

Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin

Directed By: Ronald D. Moore

You're the Worst (2014)
95%

#7

Synopsis: "You're the Worst" is a modern look at love and happiness told through the eyes of two people who haven't... [More]

Starring: Chris Geere, Aya Cash, Desmin Borges, Kether Donohue

Directed By: Stephen Falk

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
94%

#8

Synopsis: The detectives of Brooklyn's 99th Precinct -- hotshot Jake Peralta, overachiever Amy Santiago, tough-as-nails Rosa Diaz, sweetheart Charles Boyle, devoted... [More]

Starring: Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero

Directed By: Dan Goor, Michael Schur, David Miner, Luke Del Tredici

New Girl (2011)
95%

#9

Synopsis: After going through a rough breakup, awkward and upbeat Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moves in with three single guys. Intelligent and... [More]

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris

Directed By: Liz Meriwether, Jake Kasdan, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope

This Is Us (2016)
93%

#10

Synopsis: The Pearson family's generational story unfolds in this emotional drama. In moments of love, joy, triumph and heartbreak, revelations emerge... [More]

Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz

Directed By: Dan Fogelman, Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak, John Requa

Parenthood (2010)
88%

#11

Synopsis: The four grown Braverman siblings -- Adam, Sarah, Crosby and Julia -- share the joys, heartaches and headaches of parenthood... [More]

Starring: Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, Craig T. Nelson, Lauren Graham

Directed By: Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Jason Katims

Parks and Recreation (2009)
93%

#12

Synopsis: Leslie Knope, a midlevel bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her... [More]

Starring: Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza

Directed By: Greg Daniels, Michael Schur, Howard Klein, David Miner

The Mindy Project (2012)
86%

#13

Synopsis: Mindy Lahiri is a successful, skilled doctor, but when she leaves the office, all bets are off. She aspires to... [More]

Starring: Mindy Kaling, Ed Weeks, Ike Barinholtz, Beth Grant

Directed By: Mindy Kaling, Matt Warburton, Howard Klein, Charlie Grandy

Modern Family (2009)
85%

#14

Synopsis: Told from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, the series offers an honest, often-hilarious perspective of family life. Parents... [More]

Starring: Ed O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sofía Vergara

Directed By: Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Danny Zuker, Paul Corrigan

Downton Abbey on Masterpiece (2010)
86%

#15

Synopsis: This British drama series follows the lives of the Crawley family and its servants in the family's classic Georgian country... [More]

Starring: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Brendan Coyle

Directed By: Julian Fellowes

Grey's Anatomy (2005)
84%

#16

Synopsis: The medical drama series focuses on a group of doctors at a hospital in Seattle, including several who began their... [More]

Starring: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kevin McKidd

Directed By: Shonda Rhimes, Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers, Krista Vernoff

Glee (2009)
70%

#17

Synopsis: Optimistic teacher Will Schuester heads up McKinley High School's glee club -- New Directions -- a place where ambitious and... [More]

Starring: Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Chord Overstreet

Directed By: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto

Bewitched (1964)

#18

Synopsis: Samantha falls in love with New York ad exec Darrin Stephens and marries him in the first episode of the... [More]

Starring: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead

Cheers (1982)
87%

#19

Synopsis: Laid-back Sam Malone, a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, owns and runs Cheers, a cozy bar in... [More]

Starring: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Shelley Long

Desperate Housewives (2004)
72%

#20

Synopsis: Behind the facade of a postcard-perfect subdivision live four women whose lives are anything but idyllic. Klutzy Susan is divorced... [More]

Starring: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria

Directed By: Charles Pratt Jr., Marc Cherry, Tom Spezialy, Michael Edelstein

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

#21

Synopsis: Considered to be one of television's classics, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" centers on the personal and professional lives Rob... [More]

Starring: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam

Family Matters (1989)

#22

Synopsis: Policeman Carl Winslow has enough to deal with on the job. But when he gets home, he still has to... [More]

Starring: Reginald VelJohnson, Judyann Elder, Darius McCrary, Kellie Shanygne Williams

Directed By: Thomas L. Miller, Robert L. Boyett, Michael Warren, William Bickley

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

#23

Synopsis: Will Smith more or less plays himself in this good-natured NBC sitcom. As the show's popular theme song explains, fictional... [More]

Starring: Will Smith, James Avery, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro

Directed By: Quincy Jones, David Salzman

Fresh Off the Boat (2015)
94%

#24

Synopsis: Based on chef Eddie Huang's best-selling memoir of the same name, "Fresh Off the Boat" takes a humorous look at... [More]

Starring: Randall Park, Constance Wu, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler

Directed By: Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar, Keith Heisler, Matt Kuhn

Friends (1994)

#25

Synopsis: Three young men and three young women -- of the BFF kind -- live in the same apartment complex and... [More]

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc

Directed By: Kevin S. Bright, David Crane, Greg Malins, Wil Calhoun

Gilmore Girls (2000)
85%

#26

Synopsis: Set in a storybook Connecticut town populated by an eclectic mix of dreamers, artists and everyday folk, this multigenerational drama... [More]

Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Keiko Agena

Directed By: Jamie Babbit, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Gavin Polone

Gossip Girl (2007)
84%

#27

Synopsis: High school is over for the privileged former students at an exclusive prep school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, but... [More]

Starring: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford

Directed By: Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Leslie Morgenstein, Bob Levy

How I Met Your Mother (2005)
83%

#28

Synopsis: Ted has fallen in love. It all started when his best friend, Marshall, drops the bombshell that he plans to... [More]

Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris

Directed By: Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Pamela Fryman, Stephen Lloyd

I Love Lucy (1951)

#29

Synopsis: Lucy Ricardo is the wacky wife of Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo. Living in New York, Ricky tries to succeed in... [More]

Starring: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley

Moonlighting (1985)
89%

#30

Synopsis: After being cleaned out by her no-good manager, model Maddie Hayes is about to sell one of her few remaining... [More]

Starring: Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis, Allyce Beasley, Curtis Armstrong

The O.C. (2003)
67%

#31

Synopsis: This modern soap opera mines the intertwined lives of the Cohen, Cooper and Nichol families for drama, with a contemporary... [More]

Starring: Peter Gallagher, Benjamin McKenzie, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody

Directed By: Josh Schwartz, Doug Liman, McG, Dave Bartis

The Office (2005)
81%

#32

Synopsis: This U.S. adaptation -- set at a paper company based in Scranton, Pa. -- has a similar documentary style to... [More]

Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer

Directed By: Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Roseanne (1988)
76%

#33

Synopsis: Explore life, death and everything in between through the relatable, hilarious and brutally honest lens of the working-class Conner household,... [More]

Starring: Roseanne, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Lecy Goranson

Directed By: Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Tom Werner, Bruce Helford

Sex and the City (1998)
70%

#34

Synopsis: A sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw, and her three friends -- Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda -- explore Manhattan's dating scene, chronicling... [More]

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Directed By: Darren Star, Michael Patrick King

The Simpsons (1989)
85%

#35

Synopsis: This long-running animated comedy focuses on the eponymous family in the town of Springfield in an unnamed U.S. state. The... [More]

Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith

Directed By: James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean

thirtysomething (1987)
83%

#36

Synopsis: Sensitive, introspective adults or self-absorbed, whiny yuppies? That debate still rages around this drama series about a group of close-knit... [More]

Starring: Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield, Patricia Wettig

Directed By: Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

The Wonder Years (1988)

#37

Synopsis: "The Wonder Years" tracks life in the turbulent late 1960s and early '70s through the eyes of the increasingly less... [More]

Starring: Fred Savage, Jason Hervey, Olivia d'Abo, Dan Lauria