DIGEST Special Edition: 50 Greatest Couples

[Contessa Donatella]

This special print edition is jam-packed, full of great pictures. One of its co-editors is Mark McGarry. When I lived in Brooklyn, I new him, liked him, he was a really great guy, at that time he worked for Mimi at WEEKLY. He was a good solid soap journo. I was pleased to see his name on his masthead. Now, about their countdown, here are the 50 in order. I'm sure there are many here to disagree about. Their #1 is sadly totally predictable. Someone posted yesterday asking me who was #1. I replied, Who do you think? They guessed it, of course, but I continue to ask the question: Can a couple truly be iconic if it begins with a violent rape?

Might as well count them down. Then we can disagree in earnest.

50 Sprina 49 Bill & Katie 48 Ethan & Theresa 47 Nina & Cliff 46 Patrick & Marty 45 Lance & Lorie 44 Roman & Marlena 43 Bob & Kim 42 Thorne & Macy 41 Liam & Steffy 40 Bianca & Maggie 39 Lucas & Sami 38 Jason & Sam 37 Clint & Viki 36 Cruz & Eden 35 Mac & Rachel 34 Duke & Anna 33 Justin & Adrienne 32 Jack & Mary 31 Bo & Nora 30 Jack & Phyliss 29 Lucky & Liz 28 Hayley & Mateo 27 Phillip & Beth 26 Alan & Monica 25 Ridge & Taylor 24 Jack & Carly 23 Mason & Julia 22 Greg & Jenny 21 Jack & Jennifer 20 Jason & Liz 19 Doug & Julie 18 Sonny & Carly (LW) 17 Robert & Holly 16 Patch & Kayla 15 Stone & Robin 14 Neil & Drucilla 13 Tad & Dixie 12 John & Marlena 11 Holden & Lily 10 Nick & Sharon 9 Todd & Blair 8 Ridge & Brooke 7 Jesse & Angie 6 Josh & Reva 5 Frisco & Felicia 4 Sonny & Brenda 3 Bo & Hope 2 Victor & Nikki 1 Luke & Laura

And, there you have it. My first objection: AW Steve & Alice, where the hell are they? My next objection: SFT: Are you kidding? NO ONE?! My last objection, I've already stated, that Luke & Laura began with a violent rape. I just can't get past it. Also where is Jeff & Penny? And, you can't tell me that Doug & Julie don't belong in the TOP TEN! Also, if there is to be only one LGBTQ+ couple represented, to me it would NOT be Bianca with Maggie.

Now, it's your turn. Tell me what do you think?!

[BigMAnOnDeck]

Where is the hell is Roger and Holly?

[Faulkner]

Recency bias and pandering, of course. Cruz & Eden and Mac & Rachel being that low (and Todd/Blair being that high or Liam/Steffy being mentioned at all) is silly, but so are these lists.

L&L are undeniably tops—even if it confirms something weird about how our society views or dismisses violent sexual assault against women. Our views on heterosexual romance has been traditionally tinged with male violence against women, from movies with heroic male partners slapping women to the “take me!” ethos of romance novels, even from female creators. It’s an uncomfortable reality but I’m glad at least they didn’t attempt to whitewash L&L out of existence, as media outlets have been pressured to do with problematic yet still popular old content. 

Roger and Holly were much more honest and unwavering about the reality and lifelong consequences of rape—I think calling them a “couple” almost cheapens their unique dynamic.