“Big-ass relationships” thrive on stakes—whether existential, social, or emotional. The most memorable ones balance audience wish-fulfillment with genuine obstacles, and often reflect the anxieties or hopes of their era. From Shakespeare to streaming, these 25 arcs show that romance isn’t just subplot: it’s the main event.

: The "king of the world" romance that still has people arguing about whether there was room on that door.

“I’m the only one who can make you feel safe, Mulder.” Belief + science = the ultimate partners-to-lovers arc.

– The X-Files