frightening chemistry on tv.

[burntcopper]

Some couples have it. Some utterly fail, even when the writers are trying desperately. Some aren't supposed to have it and the writers and producers desperately try to ignore it. And we're not talking the people who make a minorly slashy comment once a season, we're talking characters who you keep giving the 'Please, stop *doing* that. My brain hurts.' plea as you fumble for the fire extinguisher.

So, come on nominate for categories, people.

Those who have it (and were meant to have it) :

John and Aeryn (Farscape)
Lilah and Wesley (Angel)
Nine and Rose (Doctor Who)
Shane and Carmen (L Word)
Starbuck and Apollo (Lee and Kara) (BSG)
Servalan and Avon (Blake's Seven)
Mal and Inara (Firefly)
Veronica and Logan (Veronica Mars)
Stuart and anyone (QAF)
Jack and Original!Jack (Torchwood)
Duncan and Amanda (Highlander)
Simon and River (Firefly)

Those who have it (and weren't meant to) :
Sadly, all characters written by the BBC post about ... 1995, possibly earlier, are disqualified from this category because the writers and actors have fully admitted that they do it on purpose. And then giggle. Loudly. And yes, you may include characters who had jokey asides made about it in later seasons.

Kirk and Spock (Star Trek)
Clark and Lex (Smallville)
Dean and Sam (Supernatural)
Jack and Daniel (SG-1)
Bodie and Doyle (Professionals)
Chloe and Lana (Smallville)
Abby and Connor (Primeval)
Nick and Stephen (Primeval)

Those who fail miserably no matter how hard the writers try :

Clark and Lana (Smallville - actually, any male and Lana)
Veronica and Piz (Veronica Mars)
Gwen and Jack (Torchwood)
Abby and Stephen (Primeval)

Comments

[derryderrydown.livejournal.com]

Those who fail miserably no matter how hard the writers try :

Gwen and Jack.

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Gwen and Jack (Torchwood)

Which is so sad, seeing as Gwen and Rhys have it in spades... and I kind of think they wanted it to be the other way around. And, argh, it so is not!!!

*breathes into paper bag*

[delle.livejournal.com]

have it and meant to:

Michael and Nikita (La Femme Nikita)

Roslin and Adama (BSG)

have it and weren't meant to:

Sam and Josh (West Wing)

Matt and Danny (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip)

don't have it but were supposed to:

Danny and Jordan (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip)

Matt and Harrie (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip)

Charlie and Amita (Numb3rs - and I love them as a couple, I do! but the chemistry just isn't there)


(looks over my list - I wonder if Aaron Sorkin should be writing slash...)

This is all American TV - altho I completely agree with you about Rose and Doctor, esp. Nine.

re: sorkin

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

...have you seen the stage version of A Few Good Men? I've never seen the film, but the Kevin Bacon and Tom Cruise characters - I saw it with the Barrowman as Bacon and Rob Lowe as Cruise and me + mates were sniggering something chronic during their first scene together at how slashy the lines were.

[alyse]

Have it and weren't meant to:
Abby and Connor, Primeval
Nick and Stephen, Primeval

Didn't have it and were meant to:
Abby and Stephen, Primeval

Thankfully, the writers have actually realised what wasn't working in one case, so Primeval season 2 forgot all about the Abby/Stephen and went Abby/Connor. And possibly Nick/Stephen, although it's not entirely clear whether that was deliberate or not ::g::

[duplicate-helix.livejournal.com]

Simon and River were brother and sister.

Are you sure you don't mean Simon and Kaylee?

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

Simon and River were brother and sister.

...and they definitely had it! :-)

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

didn't say the chemistry was appropriate chemistry - they were always, always written as ridiculously close and co-dependent.

[duplicate-helix.livejournal.com]

Those who fail miserably no matter how hard the writers try:

Ten and Martha (Dr Who)
Veronica and Piz (Veronica Mars)