14. Eddie and Iris (The Flash)
Thanks to The Flash‘s inclusion of the futuristic newspaper from 2024, there was never any real doubt about the fact that comic book love interests Barry Allen and Iris West were going to end up together. However, at the beginning of the show, that couldn’t have seemed less likely. Not only had Barry spent his childhood hopelessly in love with her, but after he fell into a coma for nine months, Iris had fallen for the handsome, mildly-arrogant but kind-hearted detective Eddie Thawne.
Eddie should have been the stereotypical, annoying obstacle that was preventing our two fated protagonists from being together, but it was just impossible to hate him. Not only did he have a big heart and, like Barry Allen himself, was willing to put his life on the line to protect people, he treated Iris like royalty and truly loved her. Furthermore, it was clear that she was mad about him as well as she gleefully moved in with him and accepted his marriage proposal.
Overcoming the wrath of Iris’ father Joe, the beginning of her feelings for Barry and destiny itself, the couple were the first on The Flash to truly capture our hearts, and the show’s creative team deserves major credit for not turning Eddie into an unlikable caricature and for having Iris remain by his side, in spite of her discovery that she was supposed to marry Barry in the future.
The couple shared one beautifully tragic final moment together after Eddie bravely sacrificed himself to destroy the Reverse-Flash, setting Iris’ destiny as Mrs. West-Allen in motion. Meanwhile, we were all crying in the corner at his selfless deed. We miss you, Eddie.