These lesiban and bi TV couples made us believe in love. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best canon sapphic relationships on the small screen.
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00:00 - Because I have all of these feelings.
00:02 Feelings for you.
00:05 - Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07 And today we're counting down our picks
00:09 for the best canon sapphic relationships
00:12 on the small screen.
00:13 Note that we're including non-binary characters as well,
00:16 and beware of spoilers ahead.
00:19 - I'm definitely nothing special.
00:20 - No, you are.
00:26 Number 20, Taissa Turner and Vanessa Palmer, Yellow Jackets.
00:31 In Yellow Jackets, a plane crash leaves a bunch of high school
00:35 girls stranded in the woods for 19 months.
00:38 It's a traumatic experience, with the troop eventually
00:41 resorting to desperate measures.
00:43 Amongst the survivors are Taissa and Van,
00:46 whose loving and supportive relationship initially
00:49 acts as a contrast to their teammates' petty squabbling
00:52 about boys.
00:53 - God, finally.
01:01 - While stranded, Van sleeps beside Tai
01:06 to keep an eye on her sleepwalking,
01:08 and Tai fights off a wolf in an attempt
01:11 to save an already badly mauled Van.
01:14 We know that the pair later parted ways
01:16 thanks to the show's modern day scenes,
01:18 but that's beside the point.
01:20 All we know is that we're totally here
01:22 for this uniquely complex queer representation.
01:25 - It's happening again, isn't it?
01:27 Sleepwalking?
01:31 Number 19, Emily Dickinson and Sue Gilbert, Dickinson.
01:37 LGBTQIA+ people have always existed,
01:41 a fact which Dickinson knows well.
01:44 As its title implies, the series follows the life
01:47 of poet Emily Dickinson, whose letters to her sister-in-law,
01:51 Susan Gilbert, are thought by numerous scholars
01:54 to have been romantic in nature.
01:55 The Apple TV+ series leans into this theory,
01:59 fully realizing the equally loving and tragic relationship
02:02 between the two women on screen.
02:04 - Your letter said you were dying.
02:06 - Well, I was dying of loneliness,
02:09 because you weren't writing me back.
02:11 - That's not what you wrote.
02:12 The pair fantasize about running away together,
02:15 but ultimately accept the hard truth
02:17 that their love will not be accepted in their lifetime.
02:20 Emily eventually encourages Sue to go through
02:22 with her marriage to Austin for the sake of stability,
02:26 while Sue wholeheartedly supports Emily's career as a writer.
02:30 But through the many moments they share,
02:32 their love for one another shines.
02:34 - When I'm with you, that is the only time I feel alive.
02:39 Number 18, Elena and Sid, One Day at a Time.
02:44 This modern reimagining of a 1975 sitcom
02:48 introduced audiences to the Alvarezes,
02:51 a Cuban-American family taking life one day at a time in LA.
02:55 Although the show covered a variety of topics
02:58 from immigration to mental illness,
03:00 its exploration of sexuality and gender identity
03:03 through Elena and Sid,
03:05 won the hearts of many non-binary
03:07 and Latinx sapphics across the globe.
03:10 - No, no, gay, me gay.
03:12 (audience laughing)
03:15 Oh, uh, me gay too.
03:17 (audience laughing)
03:18 The pair individually provided much needed representation
03:21 for both groups without ever feeling stereotypical or derivative.
03:25 They're endearingly dorky and unabashedly themselves.
03:29 - ♪ You set my heart on fire ♪
03:32 ♪ On that day when I didn't know if you were gay ♪
03:36 After all, they met through a club for feminist gamers
03:40 and spent their first official date
03:42 dressed as the doctor and his TARDIS from "Doctor Who."
03:45 What's not to love?
03:47 Number 17, Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn.
03:51 "Euphoria."
03:52 "Euphoria" has not been immune to criticism over the years,
03:55 but there's no denying that the relationship
03:57 between Rue and Jules is an unforgettable one.
04:00 Sure, the two have made their fair share of mistakes,
04:03 but it's clear through all of their turmoil
04:05 that they deeply care about one another.
04:07 - Just a blessing that's happened to me in a really long time
04:09 and I just don't want anything bad to happen,
04:13 so just please don't be mad at me, okay, Jules?
04:15 Individually, the pair are some of "Euphoria's"
04:18 most well-rounded characters,
04:20 having special episodes that highlight
04:22 their personal struggles with both themselves and each other.
04:25 And together, they're the show's heart.
04:28 The couple is also notable for being one of the few
04:30 to feature a sapphic trans protagonist in "Jules,"
04:34 whose transness is seen as important,
04:36 but never a point of contention between the pair.
04:38 - So they want to find flaws?
04:40 - Yeah, uh, most girls.
04:44 - But not Rue.
04:46 Number 16, Emily Fields and Alison De Laurentiis,
04:52 "Pretty Little Liars."
04:53 With A constantly on the prowl,
04:55 it's hard to believe that the characters
04:57 of "Pretty Little Liars" had time for romance,
05:00 but falling in love isn't always convenient.
05:03 - And if this is our last chance at freedom...
05:04 let's make the most of it.
05:11 Emily had a few relationships with women
05:13 over the course of the series,
05:15 but her romance with Alison became
05:16 one of the most interesting on TV.
05:19 Alison had been Emily's best friend and longtime crush,
05:22 who frequently flip-flopped between
05:24 returning her affections and spurning her.
05:27 - You've always protected me, Em.
05:29 - Ever since I met you, I knew I could count on you.
05:33 - So why did you always push me away?
05:38 The duo were caught off guard when a malicious setup by AD
05:41 resulted in her becoming pregnant with Emily's children.
05:45 The circumstance helped Alison confront her sexuality,
05:48 and the pair entered a relationship
05:50 to raise their children together.
05:52 The "Perfectionists" spinoff further revealed
05:54 that they were married, though they ultimately split.
05:57 Number 15, Susan Bunch and Carol Willick, "Friends."
06:02 A very early example of lesbians on mainstream television,
06:06 Susan and Carol's on-screen relationship
06:09 was certainly not without its issues.
06:11 The main and supporting cast of "Friends"
06:13 often made off-color jokes at the couple's expense,
06:16 many of which were played for laughs for the show's audience.
06:19 - Who are they?
06:20 - The blonde is my ex-wife,
06:23 and the woman touching her is her close personal friend.
06:28 (audience laughing)
06:29 But it's impossible to deny just how revolutionary
06:31 the pairing was on a broader scale.
06:34 Their wedding was reportedly the first
06:35 between two women on the small screen in the US.
06:38 Plus, their status as the primary caregivers
06:41 of Carol and Ross' son helped to normalize
06:44 the concept of queer parenthood for the straight viewers.
06:47 For the '90s, that was a pretty big deal.
06:50 Number 14, Alex Nunez and Paige Michaelchuck,
06:54 "Degrassi, The Next Generation."
06:56 - You know, what makes you think tonight is about you anyways?
06:59 - It's not.
07:01 It's about her.
07:02 (upbeat music)
07:05 There have been plenty of great queer relationships
07:08 on "Degrassi," including friends turned lovers,
07:11 Fiona and Imogen, but we think the show's
07:14 earlier sapphic relationship deserves a bit more love.
07:17 Initially adversaries, Alex and Paige came to know
07:21 each other better while working together at a movie theater.
07:24 Their friendship gradually developed into something more,
07:26 and Alex eventually confessed her feelings
07:29 to her new pal with a kiss.
07:30 Paige was initially taken aback,
07:33 but soon realized she felt the same way,
07:36 and the two became one of "Degrassi's" best couples.
07:39 Sure, they didn't always see eye to eye,
07:41 and ultimately parted ways, but their dynamic
07:44 when they were together was impeccable.
07:46 - Because I love you, you idiot.
07:50 So much it scares the crap out of me.
07:53 Number 13, Dani Clayton and Jamie Taylor,
07:57 "The Haunting of Bly Manor."
07:59 Mike Flanagan's follow-up to "The Haunting of Hill House"
08:02 was as much a love story as it was a ghost story.
08:05 - You said it was a ghost story.
08:06 It isn't.
08:08 - No?
08:09 - It's a love story.
08:12 Dani and Jamie meet at Bly Manor,
08:17 where Dani works as an au pair and Jamie as a gardener.
08:21 Unfortunately, there's heightened paranormal activity at the estate.
08:24 Dani is no stranger to ghosts,
08:26 as she has her own personal connection to one.
08:29 When she works up the courage to tell Jamie,
08:31 it only strengthens their relationship,
08:34 and their bond gives Dani the confidence she needs to finally move on.
08:38 - Look, I know what it feels like.
08:43 - It feels like you can't find your...
08:46 Although Dani is cursed to one day become the Lady of the Lake,
08:52 she and Jamie are afforded many blissful years together as a couple
08:56 before their tragic but inevitable end.
08:58 Number 12, Clark and Lexa, "The Hundred."
09:03 If you're a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, you probably love this ship.
09:07 - You want everyone to think you're above it all, but I see right through you.
09:12 Clark and Lexa met while at war with each other on a post-apocalyptic Earth,
09:17 but slowly came to realize that the Mountain Men
09:19 were a bigger threat to either of them than each other.
09:22 After teaming up against a common enemy, the pair became closer,
09:26 eventually recognizing that they had deeper feelings for one another.
09:30 They entered a complicated relationship, which tragically ended far too soon
09:34 when Lexa was accidentally killed by one of her own men.
09:38 In the following seasons, Lexa's physical form largely remained gone,
09:42 but she certainly wasn't forgotten.
09:44 - I loved her, Mom.
09:45 I know.
09:52 In the show's finale, the Commander was even revealed to be Clark's greatest love.
09:58 Number 11, Melanie Marcus and Lindsay Peterson, "Queer as Folk."
10:03 "Queer as Folk" was one of the very first TV shows to depict LGBTQIA+ people in a way
10:11 that was neither a condemnation nor a joke.
10:14 It paved the way for a great deal of other shows
10:16 to begin incorporating queer characters into their stories,
10:20 and its legacy still lives on today.
10:22 It also introduced us to Mel and Lindsay,
10:25 a couple who showed the ups and downs of the reality of being two women
10:29 in a committed long-term relationship.
10:31 - Well, now I'm in my 11th week.
10:33 A few days, I'll reach my second trimester.
10:38 From raising a family, to dealing with the biological fathers of their children,
10:42 to being persecuted for their sexuality,
10:44 these two show us that true love will always prevail.
10:47 - Don't think about it, just relax.
10:51 Number 10, Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins, "Grey's Anatomy."
10:55 - What are you doing?
10:56 - I'm, um... nothing.
10:59 In one of the longest airing medical dramas on television,
11:02 there's no shortage of couples getting together,
11:05 breaking up, and getting back together again.
11:07 But we have to admit that Calzona has by far been one of our favorites.
11:12 No one can forget their first kiss in the bathroom at Joe's,
11:16 or the first time they said "I love you."
11:18 - I love you.
11:19 While it wasn't always the easiest road,
11:22 we like to think that the journey was special and memorable,
11:26 and these two will always have a place in our hearts.
11:29 - Oh, please.
11:30 - Mother!
11:31 Number 9, Cassima Niehaus and Delphine Cormier, "Orphan Black."
11:36 - Hey, sorry, you just forgot this in the lab. Sorry.
11:39 - Thank you.
11:40 If you've never seen "Orphan Black,"
11:43 you are missing out on some great content,
11:46 not least of which is the beautiful relationship between Cassima and Delphine.
11:50 After meeting at the university where Cassima was doing her PhD,
11:54 these two immediately had some intense chemistry.
11:58 We knew we were in for the long haul when they started making crazy science together.
12:02 - Okay.
12:03 - Yes.
12:05 Between Cassima's respiratory illness and Delphine's secrets,
12:10 the two of them haven't always had an easy run of things.
12:13 But after everything they've been through, we know their love is true
12:17 and strong enough to hold against whatever the world throws at them.
12:21 (dramatic music)
12:27 - Follow the crazy science.
12:28 Number 8, Amanita Kaplan and Nomi Marks, "Sense8."
12:33 - Good?
12:33 (Nomi breathing heavily)
12:35 When we first met Nomi Marks and her kick-ass girlfriend Amanita
12:39 in the Wachowskis' "Sense8,"
12:41 in the Wachowskis' stunning Netflix show,
12:44 we were struck by the frank and honest portrayal of a cisgender and trans woman in love.
12:49 These two are the epitome of relationship goals.
12:52 They hold no secrets from one another, are a powerhouse in the world of hacktivists,
12:57 and have on occasion saved each other from evil secret organizations.
13:02 - You've led a lot of different lives.
13:04 So have you.
13:05 - Me? I've been working at the same bookstore since you met me.
13:08 Their relationship is one of the healthiest and strongest we've ever seen,
13:12 and we thank the Wachowskis every day for bringing them into our lives
13:17 and showing the positive side of alternative relationship dynamics.
13:21 - Will you marry me?
13:22 (Nomi and Amanita laughing)
13:26 - Absolutely.
13:28 (Amanita laughing)
13:29 Number 7, Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught, "Winona Earp."
13:34 As its title implies, Winona Earp is the primary protagonist of this show,
13:39 but it's the character's half-sister Waverly
13:42 who ultimately gave this show its dedicated LGBTQIA+ following.
13:47 - Waverly, I would never ask you to be someone you're not.
13:50 - Good, just don't ask me to be anyone at all.
13:52 In Winona Earp's first season, Waverly realizes that she is bisexual
13:57 and pursues a romance with her county's sheriff, Nicole Haught.
14:01 Nicole reciprocates Waverly's feelings, and the pair enter a relationship
14:05 that lasts throughout the rest of the show's four seasons.
14:08 The couple managed to avoid most of the tropes typical of sapphic relationships on TV,
14:13 with both characters making it to the end of the story alive and well.
14:18 In fact, the series finale is largely focused on their wedding.
14:21 We couldn't ask for better representation.
14:24 - I promise to stand by your side for all of life's adventures.
14:29 - Yes. Always pack a safety harness, just in case.
14:33 - Number six, Kelly and Yorkie, Black Mirror.
14:37 - We have to dance to this.
14:40 - With each other?
14:42 - Uh-huh.
14:43 The world has never looked more terrifying than in Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror,
14:48 an anthology series mapping out various scenarios in humanity's near future
14:53 where technology can either be an asset or a catastrophe.
14:56 In one of the show's few episodes that aren't entirely gloomy,
15:00 we're introduced to Kelly and Yorkie.
15:02 What follows is one of the most touching episodes of television to have ever been created.
15:07 - Wanna marry me instead?
15:10 Kelly and Yorkie are drawn to each other,
15:12 and we find out that although San Junipero is a simulated world,
15:16 they can't stop falling in love.
15:18 They bring out the bravery and honesty in one another,
15:22 and the ending of this episode makes us cry every single time.
15:25 - Ready?
15:28 [Screaming]
15:32 Number five, Willow Rosenberg and Tara McClay, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
15:38 - How long have you been practicing?
15:39 - Always.
15:41 A truly iconic couple, these two didn't even meet until the show's fourth season
15:46 when Willow attended a Wiccan meeting in college.
15:49 Due to TV censorship rules at the time,
15:51 their relationship was mostly alluded to through their use of magic,
15:55 but this did not at all hinder the sensuality that each of the actresses brought to the screen.
16:01 While we're never going to forgive the stray bullet that hit Tara and caused her death,
16:06 we are thankful for the existence of this couple
16:08 as one of the earliest representations of female queerness on a mainstream television show.
16:13 - Can we just skip it?
16:15 Can you just be kissing me now?
16:18 [Music]
16:26 Number four, Alice Piazzecchi and Dana Fairbanks, The L Word.
16:30 - I admit I'm attracted to you.
16:32 What happens when two best friends fall in love?
16:36 The L Word, a pioneer in TV for LGBTQIA+ characters, explores just one possibility.
16:44 When Alice and Dana, longtime friends, recognize their attraction to one another,
16:49 after deciding that they can't act on it and laying down some ground rules,
16:54 like never being alone together, they soon realize that they just can't fight their feelings.
16:58 [Music]
17:06 Even though it caused the breakup of an engagement and permanently altered the course of their lives,
17:12 we had never been so happy to see a couple get together.
17:15 - I'm sorry I couldn't hear you through the feathers, pillow queen.
17:18 Number three, Alex Voss and Piper Chapman, Orange is the New Black.
17:24 - It's a little cold out for a margarita, don't you think?
17:26 It might seem unbelievable, but when Piper ended up at Litchfield Penitentiary
17:33 and was reunited with her ex-girlfriend Alex, we were rooting for them right away.
17:38 Despite Piper having a fiancé, and despite Alex being the reason she's in prison in the first
17:44 place, the two work out surprisingly well. Alex isn't afraid to confront Piper and call out her
17:50 behavior, but we think that Piper needs her in her life.
17:53 - Ouch!
17:55 - Sorry.
17:57 - Don't...
17:58 Don't apologize, Alex.
18:00 As for Alex, she acts tough as nails, but when she lets her guard down with Piper,
18:06 we realize that she needs Piper as much as Piper needs her.
18:09 - I don't know the rules.
18:10 - That's the whole problem, isn't it? Rules aren't any fun.
18:16 Number two, Santana Lopez and Brittany S. Pierce, Glee.
18:21 - Will you marry me?
18:23 Glee might have had its trouble over its six seasons, but no one will disagree that the
18:28 one thing they got right was Britannia. Despite each of them starting out as minor characters,
18:33 their following grew until they ranked among the most popular figures and couples on the show.
18:38 - Still, I have to accept that I love you.
18:44 An important step in visibility, Santana's story about coming to terms with her feelings is one
18:49 of the most nuanced arcs on the show, and we'll never be able to listen to Fleetwood Mac's
18:54 landslide without tearing up ever again. When these two BFFs got together, we knew that despite
19:07 any hiccups in their relationship, they were in it for the long haul.
19:10 - Is that something you want to do?
19:12 - I do.
19:13 - I do.
19:14 - I do.
19:16 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
19:20 Carson Shaw and Greta Gill. A league of their own.
19:23 This relationship is a home run, on and off the field.
19:27 Ava and Beatrice. Warrior nun.
19:40 The only thing harder than loving a warrior nun is watching these two part ways.
19:45 - I love you.
19:54 Rose Solano and Louisa Alver. Jane the Virgin.
19:58 Louisa and Rose connected on the 4th of July, and let's just say there were fireworks.
20:03 - You never know when lightning's gonna strike.
20:06 And then she kissed me. And man, there were fireworks.
20:15 - It was also the 4th of July.
20:17 Ava Sharp and Sarah Lance. DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
20:21 Only Ava and Sarah could make us emotional about furniture.
20:24 - So we're talking about marriage.
20:32 Wow.
20:42 Annalise Keating and Eve Rothlow. How to Get Away with Murderer.
20:46 Annalise may not have always chosen Eve, but when she did, it was magic.
20:51 - I never loved anyone the way I loved Annalise. I loved her even when she didn't choose me.
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21:13 Number 1. Steph and Lena Adams Foster. The Fosters.
21:20 - Hi, I'm Lena Adams, the assistant vice principal.
21:22 - Hi, I'm Steph Foster.
21:24 With television's long history of killing off queer women, it has never been a more
21:29 important time for women who love women to be given positive representation. With its
21:34 pun-tastic title, The Fosters follows a married couple, Steph and Lena, who raise their foster
21:40 and adopted children. They might not always see eye to eye about everything, but they
21:45 are always able to move their problems.
21:47 - Kick off our shoes. Oh, oh. Just like that. And dance.
21:52 Their marriage is a strong, compassionate one, with plenty of love to go around. Despite
21:57 hitting roadblocks, these two are determined to make their family work, and are a great
22:02 example of a healthy, happy relationship that we should all aspire to emulate.
22:07 - No matter how hard life gets, or what challenges we face,
22:12 my love for you has only gotten stronger over this past year.
22:17 Did your favorite couple make the list? Let us know in the comments.
22:22 - Can we talk about something else?
22:23 - We don't have to talk at all.
22:28 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo, and be sure
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22:37 [Music]