# "Will they or won't they" relationships which were a "they won't" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606 "2012-05-31T01:44:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/61 "2012-05-31T18:11:36Z")
They did. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/62 "2012-05-31T18:23:34Z")
I thought they just kissed…though I haven’t seen that episode in a while. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/63 "2012-05-31T18:26:29Z")
No, they schtupped. While under artillery fire. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/64 "2012-05-31T18:46:02Z")
It was pretty subtle though, being the early '80s. All they showed on screen was kissing and they never actually used the word “shtup,” so it was left ambiguous for the naive and easily flustered. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/65 "2012-05-31T18:50:25Z")
The Tenth Doctor and Rose. The stupid half-human clone doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/66 "2012-05-31T19:24:16Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > The best resolution of a “will-they/won’t-they” relationship has to be the second to last episode of **the Mary Tyler Moore Show**. After growing closer and coyly flirting with each other for the whole run of the series, Lou Grant & Mary Richards finally went out on a date together. > > There are the usual run of sitcom complications, until in the final moments, the two lean in and kiss each other…then each of them giggle, followed by gut-busting laughter from the pair. The implication being they had become much too good friends to attempt to begin a romance. > > Ed Asner once said in an interview that he suggested an alternate ending to that episode - the two begin kissing, the lights fade out, and from out of the darkness Mary cries “Oh, Mr. Grant!!!” Unfortunately, the network wouldn’t go for something that suggestive. Confused-I thought that the Gavin McLeod character was the one she had some UST with (he specifically stated at one point that he was in love with her IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/67 "2012-05-31T19:27:34Z")
Codex and Zaboo on the The Guild. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/68 "2012-05-31T20:18:36Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Confused-I thought that the Gavin McLeod character was the one she had some UST with (he specifically stated at one point that he was in love with her IIRC). He was married, I believe. There’s no way that in the early '70s there was a “will they?” possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/69 "2012-05-31T20:37:22Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It was pretty subtle though, being the early '80s. All they showed on screen was kissing and they never actually used the word “shtup,” so it was left ambiguous for the naive and easily flustered. I believe the term they were avoiding usage of was “slaked.” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/70 "2012-05-31T21:10:48Z")
Rebecca of York and Brian de Bois-Guilbert in _Ivanhoe_. They shoulda. And, I suppose, a little of Rebecca and Wilfred too. Aragorn and Eowyn? But did anybody really think maybe they would? Finally, there is basically no Trollope novel without one of these, but I can’t look up specific instances just now. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/71 "2012-05-31T21:20:23Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > This may not fit the category precisely, but… > > Kevin Arnold pined away for Winnie all through _ **The Wonder Years** _, but in the last episode, he reveals that they split up and he married someone else. Already mentioned in post #11. It PISSED me off when they weaseled out of them getting together. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/72 "2012-05-31T22:29:48Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > 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. In the American _Three’s Company_, I’ve read stories that both Suzanne Sommers and Joyce DeWitt each thought the series would wind up with their respective characters marrying Jack. As far as I can tell, neither John Ritter nor the producers ever for a moment thought he’d end up with either of them, and of course, he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/73 "2012-05-31T22:36:07Z")
Spongebob and Patrick…I think. If it happens, _don’t tell me!_ I’m only halfway through the series! ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/74 "2012-05-31T22:42:09Z")
Carmela Soprano and Furio Giunta (and also her and Father Intintola, although that romance is less in the books than a fling with Furio). ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/75 "2012-05-31T22:56:48Z")
Not exactly “classic”, but Casey and Dana from the 2-season Aaron Sorkin series SportsNight. Also Dan and Rebecca, sort of, but that one was A) less prominent to begin with and B) left a little more open to interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/76 "2012-06-01T00:07:35Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Jack Burton and whatever the girl’s name was in Big Trouble in Little China Wow. Didn’t take long to beat me to it. (Gracie Law) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/77 "2012-06-01T01:17:17Z")
Brandy and Frank in **University Squared** (the college iteration of **Liberty Meadows** ). It sort of resolved the other way in the syndicated strip. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/78 "2012-06-01T01:47:34Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Umm…they had a baby together, so I think it was pretty much “they did.” Yep, In the second movie, they have a committed relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/79 "2012-06-01T01:56:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > They did - and then inexplicably announced it to the entire bar for no reason - but it didn’t really take. Oops, my mistake. For some reason I don’t remember that. All I remember is that Joel went back to New York on his own, so I assumed nothing had happened. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606/80 "2012-06-01T02:14:48Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > In _Dawson’s Creek_, Joey ended up with Pacey, not Dawson. Yeah, but Joey and Dawson did sleep together at the beginning of season six, so that’s a they did. Mary and Marshal from **In Plain Sight**? The expectation was not so much because there was chemistry between them, but because the leads in cop/fbi type shows that aren’t ensemble cast setups usually do. And they never did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-or-wont-they-relationships-which-were-a-they-wont/623606.md?page=5)