16. Alex (Justin Chambers) & Jo (Camilla Luddington), Grey's Anatomy
If Jo could just finally get over Alex and Meredith's friendship, these two would be perfect together. And doesn't Alex deserve that by this point?
15. Teddy (Kim Raver) & Henry (Scott Foley), Grey's Anatomy
Oh, Teddy and Henry's love story was so tragic (she married him so he could get health insurance and managed to fall in love in the process, just for him to die), but it felt like too much like a retread of Izzie and Denny to rank any higher.
14. Cooper (Paul Adelstein) & Charlotte (KaDee Strickland), Private Practice
Coop and Charlotte were Private Practice's most solid relationship, which was all the more surprising considering they met through a dating website. But they stood together through everything—and we mean everything (a surprise kid on his end, a brutal rape on hers)—and proved that sometimes love wins in Shondaland.
13. Cyrus (Jeff Perry) & James (Dan Bucatinsky), Scandal
OK, hear us out: Yes, Cyrus pimped James out to prove the Vice President's husband was secretly gay. And yes, James' involvement in everything eventually got him killed. But they truly loved each other, however demented their relationship became. Cyrus has never been the same since James' murder—and neither have we.
12. Addison (Kate Walsh) & Sam (Taye Diggs), Private Practice
Yeah, she wound up with Jake and he reunited with Naomi, but you'll never convince us that these two didn't belong together. Their chemistry was so off-the-charts high, it's a shame their deep shared history stood in the way of a happy ever after.
11. Richard (James Pickens Jr.) & Adele (Loretta Devine), Grey's Anatomy
Richard's shameful affair with Ellis aside, he and Adele loved each other deeply. How else would you explain their reconciliation in season three? Watching Richard care for Adele while Alzheimer's slowly stole her away, until she finally ceased to recognize him, was simply devastating.
10. Olivia (Kerry Washington) & Fitz (Tony Goldwyn), Scandal
Liv and Fitz are epic love story that's slowly turning toxic. Or maybe it was always toxic and we're just now realizing?
9. Cristina (Sandra Oh) & Burke (Isaiah Washington), Grey's Anatomy
Look, he may have left her at the altar, but he returned for her swan song and gave her a freaking hospital! For Cristina, there would've been no happier ending.
8. Alex (Justin Chambers) & Jane Doe (Elizabeth Reaser), Grey's Anatomy
She helped him realize he could be more than the selfish person he'd been, but he also wisely knew he wasn't equipped to give her the care her mental health required. That said, that cold, hard truth didn't make their goodbye hurt any less.
7. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) & Ben (Jason George), Grey's Anatomy
Bailey and Ben aren't one of Shondaland's super dramatic couples, but sometimes being very in love and supporting one another is more than enough. Plus, he empowers her to be Chief and that's sexy.
6. Olivia (Kerry Washington) & Jake (Scott Foley), Scandal
When they were good, they were very good. Jake would've walked off the face of the Earth for Liv. It's a shame that was never enough for her.
5. Connor (Jack Falahee) & Oliver (Conrad Ricamora), How to Get Away With Murder
Through Oliver, Connor has grown and matured to the point that he's standing strong by his man through his HIV diagnosis. Their honest exploration of healthy love life in spite of the diagnosis is refreshing and powerful. Plus, their sex scenes? Meow.
4. Callie (Sara Ramirez) & Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), Grey's Anatomy
Pour one out for Calzona, the greatest lesbian relationship that maybe ever was on TV. We're still holding out hope that these two realize they belong together.
3. Mark (Eric Dane) & Lexie (Chyler Leigh), Grey's Anatomy
These two were meant for each other, which is what made their deaths in season eight's plane crash all the more tragic. We still get choked up thinking about it.
2. Izzie (Katherine Heigl) & Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Grey's Anatomy
This was the first time Grey's Anatomy took our hearts out of our chests and stomped on them. We'll never recover from how much these two loved each other and how painful it was when Izzie had to say goodbye. And don't even think of playing Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" when we're around. Seriously.
1. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) & Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Grey's Anatomy
Did you expect anything less? These two are gold standard of Shondaland couples. The couple all other Shondaland couples aspire to be. In 12 seasons, Meredith only ever dated one other person. ONE. Find one other prime-time soap that can boast the same about their main character. We dare you.

