What are some classic “will they or won’t they” relationships in fiction that actually came down firmly on the two titular characters not getting together.
Sam and Rebecca from Cheers. For that matte, ultimately Sam and Diane never really ended up together.
Alex and Elaine were implied to have had sex in an episode of Taxi, but they never even officially dated. Their “will they or won’t they” relationship was pretty subtle by sitcom standards, though.
Obligatory:
Would Mal and Inara be considered a “won’t?” The end of Serenity left it a possibility, but not a definitive.
Jack Burton and whatever the girl’s name was in Big Trouble in Little China
Lost in Translation.
Sam and Diane is the first example I thought of, actually.
Raj and Howard.
Well, not yet, anyway.
mmm
Luke and Leia.
Although it would’ve turned out really creepy if they had.
I’m not sure what we’re supposed to think about Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon on The Mentalist. There’s no suggestion of any chemistry beyond friendship and a working relationship, and I’d be happy if it stayed that way if only to buck the trend, but then there was that moment in the recent season finale…
Sounds like you are including people who did get together at one time, as long as they still had the dilemma later. In that case, I post the poster child, the one that totally shocked me:
Winnie and Kevin. You know the show.
Don’t know if Joel Fleischman and Maggie O’Connell from Northern Exposure count, but I think they would.
Waaaay back, the '70s UK comedy Man About the House (remade as Three’s Company in the US) had a will-they-won’t-they between Robin and Chrissy. Chrissy eventually married Robin’s brother.
Chakotay and Janeway from ST: Voyager.
Gracie Law.
Will & Grace.
Along the same lines; Jack & Liz from. Sure they were briefly married, but they’ve never actually had sex, Tina Fey says they never will, and in any event the show’s really moved away from the
Bert and Ernie (on screen, at least)
That was very enigmatic.
They kind of had kids didn’t they? Lizard kids granted, but they still technically boinked.
Janeway and Paris.