5 of the Best TV Couples from the 70s, 80s, and 90s

Most every television series had at least one romance, at least one couple the audience roots for. And while current series do a great job of bringing the romance, television in the 70s, 80s, and 90s created some of the most iconic couples ever, the ones who will simply never be forgotten. Here are my choices for the top five.

Charles and Caroline Ingalls, Little House on the Praire (1974)

Charles and Carolina Ingalls (portrayed by Michael Landon and Karen Grassle) displayed a loving and equal marriage in spite of the times. They weathered the loss of a child, tornados, near-death injuries, and their daughter's loss of sight. The ups and downs of life in Walnut Grove was never easy for the couple, but their dedication to romance and the strength of their union was unparallelled. They were a couple that could not be divided.

John and Olivia Walton, The Waltons (1972)

Playing a married couple during the Depression, Ralph Waite and Michael Learned brought magic to the screen as the deeply devoted John and Olivia Walton. Over the seasons, their struggles, mostly financial, served to strengthen rather than shred their union. And bringing up seven children, they never waivered on how they would raise them or their dedication to their family. This couple remains one of the most solid in television history.

Lee Stetson and Amanda King, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, 1983

When Scarecrow and Mrs. King debuted in 1983, Lee Stetson (Bruce Boxleitner) and Amanda King (Kate Jackson) were thrust together in a deadly situation that eventually led to the pair becoming spy agency partners. What developed over the next three seasons was a strong friendship that eventually segued into love, culminating in a marriage in the fourth season.

Though the series only ran for four seasons, watching the give and take between Lee and Amanda was like watching Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday or Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember. Jackson portrayed a strong, capable woman who tended to get into trouble at times but also managed to come to Lee's rescue quite often while Boxleitner's Stetson started out as a womanizer whose world slowly began to revolve around Amanda. It was pure magic.

Bobby Simone and Diane Russell, NYPD Blue (1993)

Detectives Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) navigated a tumultous, emotionally fraught relationship on NYPD Blue, the gritty copy drama that broke all the rules for television.

Their relationship was far from perfect with Diane struggling with alcoholism and trauma from her childhood and Bobby still recovering from the death of his wife. They came together only to break apart twice, but they were inevitably drawn back to one another, finally marrying at the end of season five. Unfortunately, their love story didn't have a happy ending with Bobby dying early in season six, leaving Diane to navigate a life without him. But their short relationship left a lasting impression, creating a love story hard to be beaten.

Leo Wyatt and Piper Halliwell, Charmed (1998)

This couple only added to the magic on an already magical series. Leo Wyatt (Brian Krause) and Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs) had a forbidden love story as she was a witch, and he was a Whitelighter in the fantasy series, Charmed. Because of what they were, they were not allowed to be together, but Leo and Piper fought for their love.

But their romance wasn't smooth sailing even once they were married. Always interrupted by their callings, they found moments of perfect harmony, and in the seventh season, Leo proved his devotion by giving up his powers for Piper. By the time the final season rolled around, there was no mistaking their love would last.

These five television couples will always have a place in my heart and are one of the main reasons why I can watch these series over and over again. There is nothing like the magic of love.