What’s more romantic than a promise to stay together for eternity? For humans, this is just a vow, but for vampires, it’s a pretty distinct reality. More often than not, vampires are romanticized on TV, veering further and further away from the blood-sucking monsters in fables. Now, they can be devastatingly gorgeous, humanized creatures that have romantic entanglements we can fawn over. And who doesn’t love a little bit of perpetual weariness woven into their steamy love interests?
Vampires may be immune to aging, but on TV, they are not immune to romantic tropes, from enemies-to-lovers to love triangles. Some of the most iconic couples can be found in teenage dramas like The Vampire Diaries or classic Gothic sitcoms like Dark Shadows, each making its mark on pop culture. Whether the following couples had doomed fates or happy endings, each of them proved that even vampires, no matter how morally ambiguous, need love beating through their undead hearts.
10
Mick St. John and Beth Turner
‘Moonlight’ (2007–2008)
In 2007, CBS gave us another deliciously dark rendition of Angel and a sweet romance at the center of it. Moonlight saw a 900-year-old vampire, Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin), working as a private investigator for supernatural crimes alongside reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles). The two cast members give this relationship the charm, vulnerability, and yearning it needs, turning it into an epic love story.
Now, there is a creepy factor involved, since Mick knew Beth as a child after saving her life, then surreptitiously keeping tabs on her to make sure she was safe. But the age-gap issue tends to be around with most vampire-human romances, and if you ignore that fact, their relationship evolves organically and endearingly when they meet again as adults. While they aren’t endgame in the show, the quiet yearning, anticipation, and coyness that slowly build into love are what make this a memorable romance.
9
Aidan Waite and Sally Malik
‘Being Human’ (2008–2013)
Romances between vampires and humans are commonplace enough on TV, but what about between vampires and ghosts? An unlikely couple of this interspecies nature was briefly forged in Being Human, where a group of vampires moved into a haunted house and navigated the absurdity of life from there. Vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer) and ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) were firm friends for most of the show, but an alternate timeline changed the way we would perceive their relationship forever.
Sally temporarily traveled to an alternate timeline where she and Aidan were dating, and it was the most natural, enticing bond we had seen, contrasting the heavy, dark tone of the rest of the supernatural drama show. Before this, their friendship certainly had flirty undertones, and we may have secretly rooted for them, but this was an ephemeral pay-off we never knew we needed. What makes their romance iconic is the sentiment of “what if” and the heartache of it never panning out.
8
Spike and Drusilla
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
Spike (James Marsters) may have joined Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a sadistic, punk-rock torturer, but he also came in with his heart on his sleeve. Contrasting his harsh, metallic attitude was Drusilla’s (Juliet Landau) almost childlike yet twisted behavior, making them a sickeningly sweet couple we couldn’t help but think were perfect for each other. Their romance was rooted in bloodshed and chaos, becoming the most dangerous couple in the show.
While they eventually broke up when Drusilla realized Spike was slowly falling for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), they were weirdly devoted to each other in their own toxic way. Heightened by Landau’s and Marster’s electric chemistry, there was something seductive about their shared power-hungry bloodlust. So, even though Spike’s relationship with Buffy was a whirlwind, it couldn’t compare to his unforgettable, passionate first love.
7
Barnabas Collins and Josette du Pres
‘Dark Shadows’ (1966–1971)
‘Til death do us part holds no candle to Barnabas (Johnathan Frid) and Josette (Kathryn Leigh Scott) in the original Dark Shadows. Their romance may have only been depicted through flashbacks when delving into Barnabas’ backstory, but it is still so pertinently felt throughout the show. Frid’s tortured performance conveys the power of their relationship, especially since their iconic love story is pervaded by tragedy and longing.
They fell in love and planned to marry when a woman, obsessed with having Barnabas to herself, placed a curse on Josette to fall in love with another man. After her husband died, she and Barnabas tried to rekindle their love when the witch interfered again, causing an accidental fight between Barnabas and Josette that led to the latter falling off a cliff. Years later, it is thought that she committed suicide, but Barnabas carries the onerous truth, shaping his life until he finally learns to move on through Josette’s ghost.
6
Klaus Mikaelson and Camille O’Connell
‘The Originals’ (2013–2018)
It may have been Caroline (Candice King) in TVD who first revealed a sweeter side to powerful, ruthless vampire hybrid Klaus (Joseph Morgan), but it is his relationship with Camille (Leah Pipes) in The Originals that wholly exposes all his vulnerabilities. Initially, Klaus simply sees the bartender and psychology student as a means to get to an end, but her persistence gradually batters down his walls. She constantly sees the good in him, even when he cannot.
It is gripping to see such a prominent villain let his guard down, but it is a romance doomed to tragedy, considering how many enemies Klaus has made. One such enemy eventually caused Camille’s demise, leading to a gut-wrenching farewell we certainly were not prepared for. Though we know Klaus had to get his karma, there is no denying this romance was memorable in every sense, from its innocuous conception to its crushing heartbreak.
5
Eric Northman and Sookie Stackhouse
‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)
Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric’s (Alexander Skarsgård) pairing in True Blood may have started on rocky grounds as Eric essentially manipulated Sookie into being connected to him by tricking her into drinking his blood, but once this deceit was overcome, they had a tantalizing relationship. The mind-reading barmaid with a strong moral compass and the ruthless vampire with a personal vendetta often clashed throughout the show, conjuring a steamy will-they-won’t-they relationship. But whenever they did, it was electric (and contributed to True Blood‘s reputation as a sexy HBO series).
The two may not have been endgame, but it was a romance that captured the essence of the show: the conflict between vampirism and humanity. That included prejudices from either side and themes of morality, but this relationship also brought an emotionally and sexually charged spin to things. Even though they didn’t last, their bond and love for each other were everlasting, as Eric continued to embody the role of a protector for Sookie whenever she needed.
4
Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore
‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)
First off, apologies to all Stelena fans. Second, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) being Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) endgame in TVD isn’t the only reason Delena is iconic. Elena was introduced to the supernatural world via the Salvatore brothers, first striking up a romance with Stefan (Paul Wesley). But soon enough, she was embroiled in a relationship with Damon, one that was infinitely more fiery, scintillating, and probably toxic.
Throughout The Vampire Diaries‘ many seasons, they jumped into countless romantic tropes that made their relationship feel more fun, including the love triangle, the forbidden crush, enemies-to-lovers, and an on-and-off-again relationship. Mix in vampiric elements of intimately exchanging blood and sire-bonding, and you get the ultimate supernatural steamy love story. Delena is iconic because, despite everything pulling them apart, sometimes even themselves, they always find a way back to each other.
3
Leslie “Laszlo” Cravensworth and Nadja of Antipaxos
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019–2024)
Funnily enough, we haven’t really delved into vampire relationships that really outlast a human lifespan, but Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) from What We Do in the Shadows prove love can last centuries and still stay fresh. They are the resident vampire couple of the three vampires, one energy vampire, and their human familiar who live in a New York City flat. But they are also responsible for some of the most comedic episodes in the show.
Over the centuries, their marriage has been marked by obligatory spats, shared musical endeavors, attempts at infidelity, constant mischief, and proclamations of their undying love (literally). It is impossible not to fall in love with their love, made extravagant by their raunchy and dramatic personalities, but grounded by years of knowing each other inside and out. Laszlo and Nadja are who you aspire to be when you say “I love you forever” to your partner: lively, knowing, and enduring.
2
Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac
‘Interview with the Vampire’ (2022–)
If Laszlo and Nadja are the epitome of love blossoming in perpetuity, then Lestat (Sam Reid) and Louis (Jacob Anderson) from Interview with the Vampire are the complete opposite. The story of their relationship is narrated in retrospect by Louis, who divulges his experiences of dealing with the violence and abuse that plagued their alluring romance. As charming and tantalizing as their love is on the surface, toxicity lived at the crux and only grew like fungus as the years went by.
While it may not be the healthiest depiction of romance, it is certainly iconic. This was the first adaptation that openly accepted a romantic relationship between the two men, allowing it to bite into the gritty elements of their whirlwind bond. Reid and Anderson also cement the allure of this intoxicating romance, balancing charisma with the heavier themes to create this Gothic, unwieldy, yet hypnotizing effect that gripped us into their toxic haze as they did each other. It may not be the romance we should look up to, but it isn’t one pop culture is likely to forget.
1
Buffy Summers and Angel
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
There’s already a note of tragedy implied in a vampire-human relationship, where one is certain to outlive the other, but Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer take “we can’t date because of interspecies differences” to a whole new level. As the title notes, Buffy is a Slayer who falls for the very creature she is supposed to slay, leading to a heartfelt romance that kicks up the stakes of the series. However, as part of Angel’s curse, he loses his soul when he finds happiness with Buffy, transforming into the heartless and bloodthirsty Angelus, who becomes a major antagonist in the series.
In one of the most gut-wrenching moments in TV history, Buffy is forced to slay the vampire she loves to save others. Though Angel is revived, it was an irrevocable turning point in their relationship, one that forced them to recognize that any chance at a happily ever after between them is doomed. Shortly after, Angel leaves the series in hopes of giving Buffy a normal life: even his final act on the show is tragically selfless and in devotion to her. Their larger-than-life teenage emotions that first brought them together, combined with the utter devastation of losing one another, make Buffy and Angel the most memorable TV vampire couple of all time and set the benchmark for vampire romances to come.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
- Release Date
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1997 – 2003
- Network
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The WB
- Showrunner
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Joss Whedon
