Joss Whedon

Rupert Giles and Jenny Calendar — "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

Here is where we learned Joss Whedon would mercilessly kill of beloved characters just as they became interesting. Jenny and Giles were going to become more than co-workers when Angelus killed her, and left her dead body waiting amidst rose petals in Giles’ bed.

Wesley Wyndham-Pryce and Winifred "Fred" Berkle — "Angel"

These two were meant for each other, and we knew that from the end of Season 2 of "Angel." We suffered with Wesley when his chance at being with the woman of his dreams is trampled on as Charles Gunn swooped in and swept Fred off her feet. We watched him in his loneliness and self-loathing as he continued to lose all he held dear, including the trust of Angel. Finally, in Season 5, Fred — who was once again swept away from Wesley by the charming-but-evil Knox — lets Wesley know she’s interested in him, complete with a long-awaited passionate kiss.

By the end of the next episode, Fred was dead. By the end of the season, so was Wesley.

Zoe and Wash — "Firefly/Serenity"

Here was a happy married couple — something rare on a Joss Whedon production. We had to know one of them was doomed, because it’s Whedon’s life mission never to allow a couple to be happy for very long.

Xander and Anya — "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

As much as I’ve tried not to mention another Whedon creation, I can’t not mention the relationship of Xander and Anya.

What started out to be a casual fling for Xander with a pushy ex-demon, ended up being a mostly happy couple headed for the altar. On the day of the wedding, though, Xander reconsiders after having all his doubts brought to the forefront by a vengeful man-turned-demon hell-bent on destroying Anya. It worked, as Xander walks out on the wedding, leaving Anya devastated. The following season, the couple seemed to be on their way to reconciling, when the final Sunnydale apocalypse came and Anya ended up in pieces on the floor.