The 20 best TV bromances

Bromances don’t get much more bromantic than the one shared between Sherlock and Watson in the BBC series Sherlock,  a thoroughly modern updating of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are perfectly matched as Holmes and Watson, and from the moment they meet, it’s clear that their friendship and bond are bound to be real and deep. Together, they achieve just the right kind of balance, with Watson providing Sherlock with the conscience and empathy that he so conspicuously lacks for much of the series. The acting styles of Cumberbatch and Martin are likely perfectly complementary.

Futurama has the distinction of having been resurrected several times, and it has since become something of an American institution in its own right. As hilarious as it is, the series is also notable for its many meaningful friendships and relationships, and there’s no question that Bender and Fry are the key bromance. Even though one is a robot and the other is a human, somehow, they manage to make their friendship work. They seem to get one another to the extent that none of the other characters do, and their bond is one of the most enduring.

From the moment they met on the Wall as part of the Night’s Watch, it’s clear that much joins Jon Snow and Sam Tarly. Each brings something unique to their relationship, which persists throughout their time together. While Jon is a born leader (though he is reluctant to admit it), Sam is very much a bookworm, and he uses his subtle mind to help Jon ascend first to the position of Lord Commander and later to help Jon face down the White Walkers. Theirs is a bromance that literally reshaped the fate of a continent. 

MASH was one of those rare TV series that was uproariously funny and remarkably sincere. Of the many duos in the show, arguably one of the best is BJ and Hawkeye. Theirs is a true meeting of equals, and they just seem to get one another. Though they get much pleasure from tormenting Frank and Charles, their bond goes deeper, and they help one another through some very difficult times. In the series finale, it’s clear that their parting takes a lot out of each of them, and it is one of the most wrenching in the entire series. 

The best TV bromances thrive on a pairing of opposites, and they don’t get much more opposite than Magnum and Higgins in Magnum, P.I. Tom Selleck and John Hillerman are perfectly matched as the private investigator and the majordomo for the house where Magnum stays. While Magnum very much enjoys breaking the rules and thrives on being casual, Higgins is the epitome of pomposity and stuffiness. Despite their many differences, however, the two men have a remarkably functional working relationship, and it’s great fun to see them clash.

Each Star Trek  iteration has its unique cast of characters, but it has yet to replicate the uniquely strong bond that was established between William Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. The two actors have astonishing chemistry, and it’s apparent in almost every scene they share. In all of the ways that matter, they are brothers. Likewise, it is evident how much they respect one another, which is a key part of why their bond can endure so many of the things that come their way.

Hugh Laurie gave one of his most memorable performances as the titular Gregory House, the curmudgeonly, cynical, but brilliant doctor, in House. While House can be quite acerbic and prone to turning others away, Wilson always sticks by him. Their relationship endures no small number of crises during the show, but each of them seems to realize that the other has their back no matter what might happen. It’s thus fitting that the very last scene of the series has House and Wilson riding on motorcycles as they make their way across the country.

Happy Days definitely deserves its place as one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1970s, thanks to indelible performances from the likes of Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. Indeed, the bond between their two characters — Richie Cunningham and Fonzie (or "The Fonz") — was one of the most endearing parts of the series. As with many great bromances, theirs is a meeting of complements. Richie provided a sort of earnest stability. Fonz gave Richie an older male role model who didn’t always play by the rules and was essentially the very definition of cool. 

BoJack Horseman is one of those series that epitomizes black comedy, and it often injects its bleak (and very cynical) drama with notes of levity. The bond between BoJack and his roommate/squatter Todd takes many twists and turns throughout the series, making them so compelling to watch. In the beginning, Todd is one of the few who sees the good in BoJack, even as BoJack proves reluctant to return the favor. Among its many other strengths, BoJack Horseman shows how friendships can change and how sometimes it is necessary to let go to build a healthier future. In fiction, as in life, sometimes things aren’t perfect.

Throughout its four seasons, Succession was one of the most gripping and dramatically rich shows on television. However, it did have its lighter moments, particularly those involving Tom and Greg, who continued to labor on the outskirts of the tight-knit Roy inner circle. Theirs was very much a bromance born out of necessity and out of each man’s desperate desire to be accepted and loved. It was also one with a distinct power dynamic, as Tom seemed to go out of his way to flaunt his power over the younger man, even as Greg constantly sought Tom’s approval.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia thrives on pushing the boundaries of acceptability. Even though it is almost relentlessly cynical, there are still some genuine relationships in the show, particularly between Mac and Dennis. For all that the latter might sometimes get impatient with the former, it’s clear that their friendship is bound to endure. If anything, the show has repeatedly shown that, when it comes right down to it, they are codependent, even as each of them also brings something unique to their very strange (and often dysfunctional) relationship.

Parks and Recreation is, in many ways, the epitome of feel-good TV, emphasizing the various employees of the parks department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Two late additions to the series, Ben and Chris, are the perfect bromance coupling. Whereas Rob Lowe’s Chris is a bundle of energy and optimism, Adam Scott’s Ben is much more restrained, with a methodical approach to his job that makes him endearing and exasperating. Like so many other bromantic couples, however, they manage to find a way to work together despite their different philosophies and approaches to their job.

Game of Thrones had very big and important things to say, mostly about the nature of power and the lengths people will go to gain and hold onto it. Amidst all this, viewers got to see the lovely bromance that developed between Tyrion Lannister and Varys, the former the lesser son of a great house and the latter a eunuch and noted spymaster. As relative outcasts in their society, Tyrion and Varys managed to forge a true bond, as each appreciated the other’s commitment to making the Seven Kingdoms a more just place for everyone.

Brian and Stewie have long been some of the best characters in Family Guy. In many ways, they are an obvious odd couple, particularly since Brian is, by all appearances, the only person in the house who can hear what Stewie is saying. Throughout the show’s run, they have gone on many adventures — invoking the Road to… films starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby — and this has helped cement their bond. Each of them excels at telling the other the truth, forcing them to become (at least marginally) better people.  

If there’s one show that captures much of what makes being a nerd so much fun (and vexing), it would be The Big Bang Theory. As with so many other sitcoms, much of the series’ appeal comes from the relationships and bonds among its characters, including the central friendship of Leonard and Sheldon. There’s no doubt these two get on each other’s nerves — they each seem to know just the right thing to say or do to get under the skin — but they ultimately understand one another better than anyone else. For this reason, they become as close as brothers, earning themselves a solid place in the pantheon of great TV bromances. 

Supernatural began as a story about two brothers hunting down monsters, but it soon became something much more, particularly once Castiel joined the series in the fourth season. It soon became clear that there was a particularly strong bond between this angel and the elder of the two Winchester brothers. Dean seems able to elicit emotional responses from Castiel (whose angelic nature usually prohibits such things), so it’s no wonder many in the Supernatural fandom have celebrated their friendship and the close bond they established throughout the series.

Donald Faison and Zach Braff have great chemistry as Turk and JD, a pair of doctors who are the bromantic heart of the long-running sitcom Scrubs. There’s an easy intimacy between the two characters that is impossible to deny, particularly since they seem to understand one another so well. True, they’re particularly well-known for the many antics they manage to get into, but it’s also clear that these two men dearly care for one another. Their friendship, forged over many years, is clearly very important to both of them, and, just as importantly, they make no effort to keep their bond secret. 

True to its title, Friends was very much about the bonds among a group of 20-somethings living in New York during the 1990s and early 2000s. From the beginning, it was clear that the bond between Joey and Chandler was special. Like all the best on-screen pairings, they worked so well because they were complements. Chandler’s high-strung nature (and chronic cynicism) meshed well with Joey’s more carefree (and somewhat empty-headed) approach to life. It certainly helped that Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry had a chemistry that was just as compelling and electric as that between any romantic couples that emerged on the show.

Throughout its run, Boy Meets World was a key part of ABC’s TGIF programming block. While much of the show focused on the romance between Cory and Topanga, the bond between Cory and Shawn was similarly pivotal to the show’s enduring appeal. Part of this stems from the astonishing chemistry between Ben Savage and Rider Strong, who both captured the essence of their characters. However, it was also evident in their storylines. The two were only inseparable and there for one another through the good times and the bad, solidifying their reputation as true best friends.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those shows that is the very definition of comfort viewing, focusing on the zany goings-on of the titular precinct. Human relationships are key to this story, and of particular note is the bond between Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle. These are two men who dearly and sincerely love one another. Though they might have differences, they always find a way to keep their friendship intact. Theirs is a relationship based on respect, which helps to explain why it is one of the most endearing (and enduring) in the entire series.