Zack Morris & Kelly Kapowski (Saved by the Bell)
This adorable, innocent couple was a low-stakes TV duo, and we were all convinced they’d end up together forever in the show, in classic feel-good 90s fashion. In reality, Mark-Paul Gosselaar has steadily booked TV gigs with recent roles like “Found” on NBC. He also starred in a Peacock “Saved by the Bell” reboot set 26 years later, starring Zack as the Governor of California.
In the reboot, Kelly Kapowski reappeared as well for the duration of the show, which lasted two seasons, and she’s stayed equally busy, playing a mom on the Netflix family show “Alexa & Katie” while also leaning into diverse projects spanning lifestyle and food, including a cookbook that shows people how to repurpose leftovers.
Buffy Summers & Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Buffy had no shortage of demons to deal with in her show (well, vampires if we’re being literal), but the goth fairytale love story was a side plotline that had us all hooked. Their love was intense and passionate, but marred by impossible timing, and the happiness never lasted. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s comeback has been major with an upcoming “Buffy” revival, a role on “Dexter: Original Sin,” and being one of the judges on Netflix’s reboot of “Star Search.”
David Boreanaz has had success but made a pretty huge pivot when he swapped vampire romance for military drama as a main character on “SEAL Team,” which lasted seven seasons on CBS. Both actors had success, and we can’t wait for the “Buffy” comeback!
Dylan McKay & Brenda Walsh (Beverly Hills 90210)
Brenda and Dylan embodied the vibe of teen romance—their dynamic was all about the brooding drama, the magnetic connection, and the always-about-to-get-in-a-fight energy. But we couldn’t look away, no matter how messy the polarizing relationship got.
In real life, they both had a tragic ending. Luke Perry died in 2019 after suffering from a stroke, and tributes from both “90210” and “Riverdale” castmates poured in. Shannen Doherty passed away in 2024 at 53 years old, after years of living with cancer. Before the world lost these stars, they reunited for the 2019 reboot of “BH90210,” dedicating the premiere episode to Perry.