Engaging character dynamics make up a huge amount of a television series’ entertainment value and dramatic pull, with some of the best shows ever made thriving off the back of central duos who define their series’ appeal to legions of fans around the world. It is easy to envision the likes of Tom and Jerry‘s feuding stars or the Winchester brothers in this regard, but there have been plenty of iconic girl duos in television as well.
From mother-daughter pairings like Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) in Gilmore Girls, to workplace BFFs like Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) in Grey’s Anatomy, these depictions of comraderie and compassion between women are among the best ever put to screen in any medium. They also offer ample proof that a well-written friendship between two characters can be just as rewarding as any romantic plot when executed well.
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Cher Horowitz and Dionne “Dee” Davenport
‘Clueless’ (1996–1999)
A coming-of-age teen comedy series based on the film of the same name, Clueless follows the life of Cher Horowitz (Rachel Blanchard), a rich and popular high school girl from Beverly Hills, and how she navigates high school life, friendships, and the toils of adolescence. Created by Amy Heckerling, who also directed the original film, the sitcom Clueless focuses more on Cher’s friends and her dynamics with them.
Of Cher’s friendships, her relationship with Dionne “Dee” Davenport (Stacey Dash) occupies the most prominent space in the show’s narrative and remains central to this slice-of-life 90’s story. Dionne and Cher are very tight-knit friends and equally popular, but Dionne differs in aspects that define Cher. Dionne is well-spoken but also straightforward, refuses gender labels, and is less keen on using her popularity for anything. And yet, they complement each other, resulting in an enviable female friendship that becomes the key highlight of the show. —Maddie P
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Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles
‘Rizzoli & Isles’ (2010–2016)
Based on the novel series of the same name by Tess Gerritson, Rizzoli & Isles offers all the comforting cliches of crime television mixed with a more contemporary touch that makes for one of TNT’s best television series. It focuses on the collaboration between a Boston homicide detective, Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon), and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) as they use their combined expertise and use their differing personalities to solve murders.
While critics were initially harsh on the series, their response did improve as the seasons went on, and the reception from the general audience was always solid, largely because of the titular duo’s chemistry. Bad-ass and brilliant, the duo is a crime-fighting tour de force throughout Rizzoli & Isles’ seven seasons, with many fans even buying into a romantic link between the characters on account of their strong bond and sense of loyalty to one another.
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Ruby and Beth
‘Good Girls’ (2018–2021)
While television’s new age has seen many female-led series thrive, it has also seen some excellent shows with such a focus become somewhat underappreciated. While it ran for four seasons, Good Girls can be considered in that class, with the crime-comedy drama following three suburban mothers as they seek to combat their financial issues by carrying out a heist on a supermarket store, only to find themselves in an ever-worsening set of circumstances when their plan backfires.
While the trio is excellent, the series takes a keen focus on the bond between Beth (Christina Hendricks) and Ruby (Retta), with their shared desperation and depression an integral element throughout the four seasons. Their friendship and unwavering support of one another is the crux of the show, making them one of the most touching female duos television has ever seen.
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Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer
‘One Tree Hill’ (2003–2012)
One Tree Hill follows half-brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty), as they navigate high school and the complexities of brotherhood. As they grow older, their mutual hatred transforms and evolves, alongside their love lives. While Lucas and Nathan are the lead characters, One Tree Hill would not exist without the friendship of Peyton (Hilarie Burton), Nathan’s girlfriend, and her best friend, Brooke (Sophia Bush).
From high school rivalry to deeply supportive sisterhood, Peyton and Brooke’s friendship forms the central theme of One Tree Hill, making it one of the most popular teen dramas of the 2000s. Together, they have weathered all kinds of challenges and emotional storms, including personal struggles and complicated love lives. Even when they face a rocky road in their friendship, they always find a way back to each other, becoming an iconic TV duo and a strong example of female friendship, loyalty, and understanding. —Maddie P
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Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge
‘Riverdale’ (2017–2023)
As a camp and pulpy series rich with adolescent angst and overly dramatized depictions of high school politics, many of Riverdale’s defining duos are complicated romances or loaded rivalries. In the case of Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), however, they are sort of all of the above as well as occasional BFFs that are also, sometimes, mortal enemies.
While their shared romantic interest in Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) is used both as a wedge between the two characters as well as a commonality they share, the two girls form something of a bond throughout the series after Veronica arrives as the new girl in Riverdale at the start of the series. While Riverdale takes some overly ambitious narrative leaps, the tumultuous relationship between Betty and Veronica is always an enticing focus.
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Issa Dee and Molly Carter
‘Insecure’ (2016–2021)
Modern, pointed, and revealing of the experience of many African American women in America, Insecureran for five critically lauded seasons that explored a wonderful friendship in the midst of today’s society. Issa Rae, who also co-created the series, co-stars as a charity worker hoping to improve the lives of Black youths while navigating a tumultuous period in her relationship. Always supporting her is Molly (Yvonne Orji), a successful corporate attorney who experiences difficulties in her romantic life. Together, they navigate societal and racial issues prevalent in America.
Deftly balancing comedy, drama, and social commentary, the HBO series thrives off the back of its two central stars and the authenticity and immediacy of their bond. Able to pulverize stereotypes with wit and spirit, Insecure is sure to endure as a timely hit series that, in addition to containing contemplative comedy, also boasts one of the best examples of female friendship the small screen has seen in recent years.
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Lucia Greco and Mia
‘The White Lotus’ (2021–)
The White Lotus has a show with a great ensemble full of fun and fascinating characters, but few hold a light to the lovable Mia (Beatrice Granno) and Lucia (Simona Tabasco). They start with Lucia having arranged a way for her to make some money off an American tourist, while Mia has a harder time engaging in being an escort.
As The White Lotus plays out, while the girls swindle men from their money, they grow closer and find ways to get the future they want. Lucia seduces the concierge, Valentina (Sabrina Imacciatore), to get a spot playing piano at the White Lotus Hotel, and Mia manages to trick a man into paying her tons. The two then walk away, likely the best off, and with their friendship still strong.
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Rebecca Bunch and Paula Proctor
‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ (2015–2019)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend contains many great friendships, but the one that truly takes the cake is the first friend Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) makes in West Covina, Paula (Donna Lynne Champlin). A musical romantic-comedy series, the show follows Rebecca Bunch, a successful though depressed woman in New York who, on the cusp of landing her dream job in a prestigious law firm, uproots her life and moves to California following a chance encounter with her high school boyfriend who she becomes determined to win back.
The thing is, Rebecca’s reasons for getting Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III) are to chase after a happier version of herself, being a younger version. Given that Rebecca’s mother was emotionally unavailable, Paula becomes the much-needed older sister, and Rebecca helps Paula feel reinvigorated by life, reconnecting her with the surrounding community.
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Melissa Schemmento and Barbara Howard
‘Abbott Elementary’ (2021–)
A modern sitcom that has won over fans and critics alike through its first two seasons, Abbott Elementaryhas excelled as a hilarious and timely comedy series with an astute awareness of class divides and contemporary issues that befall people in the modern day. Set in a school with a predominately black student base, it follows a group of passionate teachers who strive to overcome all obstacles in their way to ensure their students are given a chance to succeed once they graduate.
As the two oldest teachers, Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) and Barbara Howard (Sheryl Le Ralph) are skeptical of the newer teachers, whose enthusiasm and belief that they can single-handedly fix Abbott is a tad off-putting. Their friendship, defined by humor and compassion in Abbott Elementary, lands as an emotional core of the series, which is set to expand with Season 3 releasing early in 2024.
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Anne and Diana
‘Anne with an E’ (2017–2019)
Adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery‘s 1908 classic children’s literature, Anne of Green Gables, Anne with an E tells the story of the titular protagonist, a bright, teenage orphan, who is adopted by an elderly brother-sister duo. The three-season-long series explores how Anne’s life dramatically changes when she is brought into the Cuthbert home and how she develops friendships and relationship dynamics with everyone in her life.
Even though the focus of the underrated period drama is on Anne (Amybeth McNulty), Anne with an E is also about Anne’s friendship with Diana Barry (Dalila Bela), which makes for an integral element of the series. In this coming-of-age drama, Anne and Diana are kindred spirits, bonding on shared imagination, fantasies, books, nature, and adventures. As the girls navigate the challenges of growing up in the 19th-century Canadian town, it evolves into a lifelong friendship, where they remain a positive influence on each other. —Maddie P
