History Main / FanPreferredCouple

* There are numerous shipping sects for [[LauncherOfAThousandShips Negi]] in the ''MahouSenseiNegima'' fandom, but for a while, Negi/Asuna was the biggest one of them due to the ungodly amount of ShipTease they received in canon and many fans believing that Asuna was being set up to be the typical {{Tsundere}} love interest to the hero. Then certain revelations came out, and now Negi/Nodoka appears to be ahead by a slight margin, though other ships like Negi/Yue and Negi/Chisame aren't too far behind.

** Or, considering the fact that, for all intents and purposes, Elliot and Olivia are the OfficialCouple, Alex Cabot and [[LauncherOfAThousandShips Olivia Benson]].

* Roy/Riza of ''FullmetalAlchemist'' seems to be of the "set it up as fan-preferred for extra credit when it becomes official" variety, with many [[ShipperOnDeck other characters]] [[EveryoneCanSeeIt acknowledging it]]. The true Fan Preferred Couple of the series is Roy/Ed, which is unsurprisingly popular with slash fans (especially among anime fans), even with Ed being in an OfficialCouple too with Winry (in the manga at least).

[[ExampleAsThesis So]], you've just finished reading this book where along his inevitable journey to [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed save the world]], TheHero [[AliceAndBob Bob]] also finds his true love, [[AliceAndBob Sarah]]. Out of curiosity you type the title into Google to get a look at the reactions of fans like yourself, and...

Huh. Why is everyone obsessing over Bob's supposedly cute dynamic with [[AliceAndBob Alice]], the [[EnsembleDarkHorse throwaway florist]] from [[FirstGirlWins chapter one]]? What is it with all of this FanArt of them embracing passionately? Why are there so many threads dedicated to [[DieForOurShip seething hatred of Sarah]] and to citing [[ShippingGoggles meaningless bits of trivia as evidence of Alice and Bob's sweet, fluffy, legendary romance]]? Why does Sarah get only three votes in all of the polls of who Bob would be best together with, ''including yours''? What the [[GoshDarnItToHeck frack]]?

[[ExampleAsThesis So]], you've just finished reading this book where along his inevitable journey to [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed save the world]], TheHero [[AliceAndBob Bob]] also finds his true love, [[AliceAndBob Carol]]. Out of curiosity you type the title into Google to get a look at the reactions of fans like yourself, and...

Huh. Why is everyone obsessing over Bob's supposedly cute dynamic with [[AliceAndBob Alice]], the [[EnsembleDarkHorse throwaway florist]] from [[FirstGirlWins chapter one]]? What is it with all of this FanArt of them embracing passionately? Why are there so many threads dedicated to [[DieForOurShip seething hatred of Carol]] and to citing [[ShippingGoggles meaningless bits of trivia as evidence of Alice and Bob's sweet, fluffy, legendary romance]]? Why does Carol get only three votes in all of the polls of who Bob would be best together with, ''including yours''? What the [[GoshDarnItToHeck frack]]?

* ''TheCyantianChronicles'': In Campus Safari, Chatin has three suitors, Collin, Cisco and Twinky. There have been both forum and ShoutBox debates over which guy will get her in the end. As of September 2008, she hasn't made a choice but seems to be leaning toward Twinky. There's no debate on Cilke and [[spoiler:Chrome]] hooking up though; everybody likes that pairing.

* [[Comicbook/WonderWoman Wonder Woman]]/{{Comicbook/Batman}} is a popular pairing, and has been teased in both ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' and the comics themselves, but has never turned into an actual relationship.

** In ''Ocarina of Time'', both Malon and Ruto would have made far better candidates for Link's affections (Ruto was even technically engaged to him), but even official backstory regarding what happened after the game puts Link with Zelda (and in charge of the castle guard. And gives him dialogue).
** In ''Twilight Princess'', Midna clearly takes a shine to Link, who seems to reciprocate, but [[spoiler:on the verge of telling Link so (at least in the English version), she stops herself and instead simply destroys the Twilight Mirror]]. The fact that Midna fit with Link so well was probably an accident, since Link gets put with Zelda whether he likes it or not.
** There's also Marin from ''Link's Awakening'', who is AllJustADream of Link and/or the Wind Fish, and is stated to bear a resemblance to Zelda...

*BarrackObama and HilaryClinton is a surprisingly popular ''politics'' ship.

[[Other]]
*BarrackObama/HilaryClinton is a surprisingly popular ''politics'' ship.

* Nayuki in ''{{Kanon}}'' is the only girl without a potentially deadly problem stemming from their forgotten past (''her'' bad ending in the VisualNovel is just depression, not death or [[spoiler:staying in a coma]]). However, she also is much more mature, level-headed, and has a stronger relationship than [[OfficialCouple Ayu]] has with Yuuichi. Ayu's almost eyebrow-raising childishness and her lack of chemistry certainly don't help.

** Ryoga Hibiki is almost ''always'' paired with Ukyo Kunoji, much more frequently then Ranma Saotome is, though the popularity of this (and Shampoo/Mousse) is likely due to: A) it [[ShipMates not contradicting]] the OfficialCouple, B) it [[CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds making it easier for Ranma and Akane to get together]], C) Ryoga and Ukyo's {{Last Minute Hookup}}s in the manga [[StrangledByTheRedString not being all that popular]], or D) all of the above. Though the pairing of [[FoeYay Ranma and Ryoga]] is becoming somewhat more common in recent times, [[EveryoneIsGay despite]] the fact that neither of them are gay and both of them are [[ShipSinking shown]] to be quite disgusted with the idea (or even [[UnfortunateImplications homosexuality itself]]. Ryoga/Female Ranma is, perhaps in recognition of this, somewhat more common then outright boy/boy, despite the fact that series averts SuddenlySexuality (in other words, Ranma is no more inclined to desire boys as a girl then he is as a guy, once even getting turned on while a girl in the presence of a bunch of nude girls).

** Germany/Italy is the flagship couple of the series, and yet you'd be surprised at how many people prefer to pair Germany up with his [[IncestIsRelative brother]] Prussia or his neighbor/roommate Austria who's in an official couple of his own with Hungary.

* In the midst of ''FinalFantasyXIII'' hype, people speculated about how Sazh and Lightning complement each other pretty well due to their history in the military, devotion to their families, and loss of said families. Some people also point out Lightning's abusiveness towards Snow (which WordOfGod insists will develop into a healthier but ''platonic'' relationship), Hope is likely her ReplacementGoldfish for Serah, and the two other women seem [[LesYay attached already]]--so if Lightning was to be paired with anyone in canon it would be Sazh. Always followed by: "But interracial couples are too controversial so that probably won't happen!"
** Now that the game's actually out, it seems that large swathes of fandom have fallen for [[LadyOfWar Lightning]] and [[SquishyWizard Hope]]. Sometimes they age him up. [[{{Shotacon}} Sometimes they don't.]] This is also one of the most popular pairings in Japan, gaining the portmanteau ship name "hopurai".

* In ''TheDreamer'', although the official couple in the 18th - century is [[OfficialCouple Alan/Bea]], there are fans who prefer Alex/Bea, considering that Alan borders on MartyStu, and Alex doesn't.

** Then in the season finale, Robin and Don break-up. AndThereWasMuchRejoicing. Then the writers decided to tease [[StrangledByTheRedString Ted/Robin]] yet again. Cue massive threats from [[BirdsOfAFeather Barney/Robin]] and [[OfficialCouple Ted/Mother]] supporters to quit the show if TPTB actually go back to said pairing. However, recent episodes have led them to believe that ''some'' part of Barney will always love Robin, and Lily herself dropped that the only reason Barney wanted her and Marshall to have kids because "he had to say good-bye to someone he loved" - namely Robin, [[SoYeah so...]]

* In the ''{{Metroid}}'' fandom, there are [[FoeYay Samus/Ridley]] shippers. Yes, [[YouKilledMyFather that]] [[CompleteMonster Ridley]]. Then again, the closest thing to a {{Canon}} couple is [[MayDecemberRomance Samus/Adam]], SoYeah...

* In the ''DigimonAdventure02'' series, while Ken/Miyako (Ken/Yolei) wound up canon in the finale, there was very little actual development between the two other than Yolei mentioning her having a crush on him. Unsurprisingly, couplings of either with someone else usually have more fan support.

** The Carly/Freddie relationship is actually the closest thing to [[Canon canon]] on the show. He openly admits his love for her; she only gets jealous at the thought of him kissing her best friend, Sam; and they even get together in a highly promoted episode. Sam/Freddie seem to be the definition of this trope considering they have the largest fanbase and hardly any time spent together. (Of course, that doesn't stop the [[ShippingGoggles shippers]]. )

To reiterate: If there's merely "also a fanbase for" a pairing, or "some fans think that" it should get together, or it just seems to have ShipTease and chemistry in your eyes, then it's '''not this trope'''. This is not the place to vindicate those not-so-official, not-so-popular pairings by putting the stamp of "fan preferred" on them. Drive-by graffitis of "Pairing X was here" are deprecated and contribute to TropeDecay. Please, trope responsibly.

* Oh, ''HarryPotter'' fandom. Let's be honest: Every pairing possible, and a few that are impossible, had someone irritated that it didn't happen. The following cases are only the ''major'' ones:
** When Harry/Ginny became canon, there was an immediate backlash against it by fans who considered them to be StrangledByTheRedString and/or wanted Harry to end up with [[TheStraightWillAndGrace Hermione]], [[OddFriendship Luna]], or [[FoeYay Draco]] instead. Ditto for Ron/Hermione which came under fire from Harry/Hermione shippers (aka Harmonians) to such an extent that J.K. Rowling went to great lengths to [[ShipSinking sink]] any possibility of Harry/Hermione in-universe.

** Ryoga Hibiki is almost ''always'' paired with Ukyo Kunoji, much more frequently then Ranma Saotome is, though the popularity of this (and Shampoo/Mousse) is likely due to: A) it [[ShipMates not contradicting]] the OfficialCouple, B) it [[CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds making it easier for Ranma and Akane to get together]], C) Ryoga and Ukyo's {{Last Minute Hookup}}s in the manga [[StrangledByTheRedString not being all that popular]], or D) all of the above. The pairing of [[FoeYay Ranma and Ryoga]] is becoming somewhat more common in recent times, [[EveryoneIsGay despite]] the fact that neither of them are gay and both of them are [[ShipSinking shown]] to be quite disgusted with the idea (or even [[UnfortunateImplications homosexuality itself]]. Ryoga/Female Ranma is, perhaps in recognition of this, somewhat more common then outright boy/boy, despite the fact that series averts SuddenlySexuality (in other words, Ranma is no more inclined to desire boys as a girl then he is as a guy, once even getting turned on while a girl in the presence of a bunch of nude girls).

*The ''ScoobyDoo'' fandom is overwhelmed with Fred/Daphne supporters and a sizeable deal of Shaggy/Velma fans, mainly because these are almost always the pairs who end up together during "let's split up, gang" moments. There ''are'' some other shipping groups, but these two are the most popular ones by a huge margin.

** Not to mention the massive fandom that surrounded Taichi/Sora (Tai/Sora) that did a major WTF when Yamato (Matt) ended up [[StrangledByTheRedString marrying the latter]] and relegated Taichi to [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend his original relationship role]]. With that said, the dub pushed the pairing much more than the original, but many are still convinced that Taichi/Sora was [[RelationshipWritingFumble actually meant to happen]]. [[StatusQuoIsGood Divorce fics ensue]].