I follow the TeenNick page on Facebook, and they often post throwbacks to "10 years ago... this couple kissed for the first time!" etc., which are usually cute, but recently they included a couple I never, ever shipped or even understood the appeal of. Granted I was 17 and watching a show made for 12 year olds because I had to know how it ended, but still. In reading the comments of a Tumblr post about this couple and various others, I decided to make my list of 5 relationships on our favorite tween shows that were forced and awful. WARNING: Controversial opinions below.
1. Sam & Freddie - iCarly
We're gonna start off with a fan favorite, because this was the one that kicked off my inspiration for this article. Was anyone actually asking for this? Or did y'all just go along with it once it became a possibility? Sam was HORRIBLE to Freddie, and I am NOT here for the "bullying means they like you!!" trope AT ALL. There was no chemistry between them until that random pity kiss, and it feels like the writers brought it up as a plot point again later down the line just because they were out of ideas. And the whole episode where Sam checks herself into a mental hospital over realizing she has feelings for him? That was Too Much. I didn't even freak out that hard when I realized I wasn't straight.
For the record, I was team Creddie.
2. Lily & Oliver - Hannah Montana
This one came out of literally nowhere. There was no buildup to it at all! At least Sam & Freddie had some buildup, even if it was forced. Rumor has it that the writers paired these two together because fans were speculating that Lily might be gay, which of course we can't have on Disney.
3. Ryan & Kelsey - High School Musical
This is the biggest case of forced heterosexuality in Disney history and I will fight y'all. Anyway, here's proof that Ryan and Chad should have been canon.
4. Geena & Zack - Unfabulous
I feel like we definitely just accepted this because we didn't know any better. Where did this come from? There was a little bit of buildup, I guess, but not enough to give anyone time to hardcore ship them before the series ended. By the way, this seems to be a trope: the male and female best friend of the main protagonist start dating randomly for no reason.
5. Quin & Logan - Zoey 101
Okay, I'll give credit to this one: the writers did write this well enough that I actually shipped it. However, in retrospect, it kind of seems like the writers just stuck them together towards the end of the series because they were the only two people in the main cast who didn't have a significant other.
That being said, props to Nickelodeon for not making Quin have to "change" in any way/get a makeover/etc. to make Logan fall for her. If nothing else, what they got right about this was that Logan fell for Quin exactly as she is, weirdness and nerdiness and all. Take notes, literally 95% of other show/movie writers.
What other ships do you feel like were too forced?
