What could be more romantic than a promise to remain together for eternity? For humans, this is merely a vow, but for vampires, it represents a distinct reality. Vampires are often romanticized on television, moving further away from their portrayal as blood-sucking monsters in folklore. They can now be depicted as devastatingly attractive, humanized beings with romantic entanglements that captivate audiences. Who doesn’t enjoy a touch of eternal weariness woven into their passionate love interests?
While vampires may be immune to aging, they are not immune to romantic tropes on TV, ranging from enemies-to-lovers to love triangles. Iconic couples can be found in teenage dramas like The Vampire Diaries or classic Gothic sitcoms like Dark Shadows, each leaving a mark on pop culture. Regardless of whether these couples faced tragic fates or happy endings, they all demonstrated that even vampires, despite their moral ambiguity, crave love beating through their undead hearts.
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Mick St. John and Beth Turner
‘Moonlight’ (2007–2008)
In 2007, CBS presented another dark rendition of Angel with a sweet romance at its core. Moonlight featured a 900-year-old vampire, Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin), working as a private investigator for supernatural crimes alongside reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles). The chemistry between the two actors brings charm, vulnerability, and yearning to their relationship, transforming it into an epic love story.
There is an unsettling aspect since Mick knew Beth as a child after saving her life and kept an eye on her to ensure her safety. However, the age-gap issue is common in most vampire-human romances, and if one overlooks this fact, their relationship develops organically and endearingly when they reunite as adults. Although they do not end up together in the show, the subtle yearning, anticipation, and flirtation that gradually evolve into love make this a memorable romance.
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Aidan Waite and Sally Malik
‘Being Human’ (2008–2013)
Romances between vampires and humans are common on television, but what about those between vampires and ghosts? An unlikely couple of this interspecies nature was formed in Being Human, where a group of vampires moved into a haunted house and navigated the absurdity of life from there. Vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer) and ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) were close friends for most of the show, but an alternate timeline altered our perception of their relationship forever.
Sally briefly traveled to an alternate timeline where she and Aidan were dating, creating the most natural and captivating bond we had witnessed amidst the darker tones of the supernatural drama. Prior to this moment, their friendship had flirtatious undertones that made viewers root for them secretly, but this brief payoff was something we never knew we needed. The sentiment of “what if,” combined with the heartache of it never materializing, makes their romance iconic.
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Spike and Drusilla
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
Spike (James Marsters) entered Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a sadistic punk-rock torturer but also wore his heart on his sleeve. In contrast to his harsh demeanor was Drusilla’s (Juliet Landau) almost childlike yet twisted behavior, making them an oddly sweet couple that seemed perfect for each other. Their romance was steeped in bloodshed and chaos, establishing them as the most dangerous couple on the show.
Their relationship ultimately ended when Drusilla realized Spike was developing feelings for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Nevertheless, they remained devoted to each other in their own toxic way. Heightened by Landau’s and Marster’s electric chemistry, there was something alluring about their shared thirst for power. While Spike’s relationship with Buffy was intense, it could not compare to his unforgettable first love.
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Barnabas Collins and Josette du Pres
‘Dark Shadows’ (1966–1971)
