# Happy, functional relationships, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 14, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973 "2008-10-14T23:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/41 "2008-10-16T20:25:31Z")
Jim and Melinda Gordon from Ghost Whisperer have the marriage I wish I did. It helps that Jim Gordon’s character is Super Husband™ and adorable, I’m sure. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/42 "2008-10-16T21:22:29Z")
Tim the Tool Man Taylor and Jill from “Home Improvement” were a good couple, as were Heathcliff and Claire Huxtable from “The Cosby Show.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/43 "2008-10-16T21:29:22Z")
In a wacky, sociopathic way, Nale and Sabine from _Order of the Stick_. “You people are **sick**!” “But our relationship is healthy !” Gretchen and Jeff Higgins, Julie Sims and Alex Mackay, Rebecca and Mike Stearns of Eric Flint’s 163x series. From the Honor Harrington series quite a few; Honor, Hamish Alexander, and Emily; Horace Harkness and Iris Babcock; Protector Benjamin and his wives; Cathy Montaigne and Anton Zilwicki; Eloise Pritchart and Javier Giscard; and others. Of the Belisarius series, quite a few as well. Belisarius and Antonia, Theodora and Justinian, Rana Sanga and his wife, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/44 "2008-10-16T22:23:07Z")
Definitely Paul and Jamie Buchman…and their respective parents. Ma and Pa Ingalls. The couples in “Love, actually.” Frank and Edna Babish (All in the Family.) oops, I meant Lorenzo. Mrs. Babish was on in Laverne & Shirley! Laverne & Shirley! Mike and Maggie Seaver. The Keatons. Denny and Alan. Coach and Christine. Mike and Gloria. Darren and Sam. Fred and Wilma. Barney and Betty. Hef and…uh, nevermind… Regis and Joy. Mork and Mindy. The final couple in any Danielle Steel book. Hmmm, now I want to start a thread about what TV shows you could guess by hearing just the first names of a couple! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/45 "2008-10-16T22:31:54Z")
Another vote for the Addamses. Wonderful proof from the mid-60s that kinksters can have full, loving relationships and raise healthy families. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/46 "2008-10-16T23:06:34Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Darren and Sam. Seriously? Because everyone I know spends every episode of Bewitched hoping Sam will regain her senses, turn whichever Dick is in the episode into a roach, and step on him. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/47 "2008-10-16T23:32:10Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > From the Honor Harrington series quite a few; Honor, Hamish Alexander, and Emily; Horace Harkness and Iris Babcock; Protector Benjamin and his wives; Cathy Montaigne and Anton Zilwicki; Eloise Pritchart and Javier Giscard; and others. Arg! You beat me to the Mayhew polymarriage! 😃 It’s pretty amusing when Honor is speaking to the Mrs. Mayhews, and they point out that without the unsung help of his three wives, it’s possible that Benjamin might not be able to do his job as protector, care for his children, AND figure out how to run the environmental systems that keep his house from being filled with toxic radioactive dust. Also, I’m not sure if Eloise Pritchart and Javier Giscard quite meet the OP after the events of At All Costs. If we’re throwing in non-romantic pairings as well, I’m voting for Anton “The Full Nelson” Zilwicki and Victor “Goldenboy” Cachet. From Babylon 5, John Sheridan and Delenn. Not only do they make a cute couple, but they have personally saved eachothers’ lives on numerous occasions. Londo and G’Kar is also a great pairing, except for the small detail that after hanging out together for nearly 20 years, they strangle each other to death. Do Ricky and Lucy count? Sure, they got into some fixes, but they always seemed able and willing to help eachother out of their predicament by the end of the episode. Bonus points for being a nontraditional pairing (Cuban husband and a white American wife). I’m trying to decide if the marriage of Horatio Hornblower and Barbara Wellesy count (since his relationships with Maria Hornblower and Marie de Gracay certainly don’t for various reasons). They had their problems (including, IIRC, Hornblower’s affair with Marie de Gracay), but their marriage does prove to be fruitful and long-lived (they are still happily married as of “The Last Encounter”, which takes place in the late 1840’s, with their son an officer in the British Army) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/48 "2008-10-17T00:37:56Z")
I took a scriptwriting class in college, and whenever anybody did a “family” story they always were divorced/fighting/hated each other. Whenever it was time to critique them I _ALWAYS_ said something about it. Their response was always “hey man, that’s real life” No it’s not. Not every marriage/relationship is a terrible doomed one filled with hate and remorse. Does it happen? Yup. Does the opposite happen? You betcha. So I fully agree with you that it gets very annoying that every screenwriter (especially recent ones) think that every family in America is some dysfunctional hate-filled shell of a life. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/49 "2008-10-17T01:00:10Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > (Caution: [[tvtropes.org](http://tvtropes.org)] will consume your mind. _It’ss bliiiiissss…_) oh yeah, it is… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/50 "2008-10-17T01:02:13Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Another vote for the Addamses. Wonderful proof from the mid-60s that kinksters can have full, loving relationships and raise healthy families. Yeah. That’s one of the things that always gave me hope, growing up, was seeing those two. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/51 "2008-10-17T02:39:45Z")
How about Amelia Peabody and Emerson Radcliffe from Elizabeth Peters mysteries? For that matter, Hugh Beringar and his wife (Alyce?) in Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael books seemed to have a good, happy marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/52 "2008-10-17T04:06:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Seriously? Because everyone I know spends every episode of Bewitched hoping Sam will regain her senses, turn whichever Dick is in the episode into a roach, and step on him. Yeah, but the way I picture it is awesome. Sam and me hangin’ out all day, living the dream. See, I have convinced her to use her powers all of the time, so I have a kickin’ wardrobe and a bod to go with it, unlimited travel…you get the picture. Then Darren & Larry come over and we get our drink on. Darren is none the wiser.. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/53 "2008-10-17T05:46:01Z")
Blondie and Dagwood ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/54 "2008-10-17T05:58:38Z")
Calvin and Hobbes:) and Calvin’s parents:) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/55 "2008-10-17T06:01:30Z")
Tom and Barbara [Good](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier marriage, fictional or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/56 "2008-10-17T09:41:12Z")
Clark Kent and Lois Lane , in the comics at least still happily married. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/57 "2008-10-17T09:59:17Z")
Judy and Bill from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still\_Standing\_(TV\_series)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_Standing_(TV_series)) Still Standing. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/58 "2008-10-17T12:37:45Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Tom and Barbara [Good](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier marriage, fictional or otherwise. [Even the policeman was nice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bomygz1Ygkk) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/59 "2008-10-17T13:20:28Z")
Peg & Al Bundy. The whole family was so dysfunction, yet they were so united. Heaven help anyone who attacked them. Steve & Marcy were a good couple until the Bundys corrupted them. Then Jefferson & Marcy were the poster children for functioning dysfunction. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-functional-relationships-please/467973/60 "2008-10-17T13:40:44Z")
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