History Main / LikeAnOldMarriedCouple

** Also Han and Chewie. And Threepio and Artoo.

-->'''Phoenix:''' (after Edgeworth withholds some info) Why didn't you just say so in the first place?
-->'''Edgeworth:''' You're the one who screamed "HOLD IT!" and cut me off!

* Shasta and Aravis in ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy''. They end up getting married [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments "so as to go on doing it more conveniently."]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': Han and Leia. Of course, they ''are'' married, but when they reunite after having not seen each other in years, they slip back into this mode in seconds.
-->'''Han:''' I was just trying to be helpful!\\
'''Leia:''' When has that ''ever'' helped?\\
'''Han:''' ''[opens his mouth]''\\
'''Leia:''' And ''don't'' say [[Film/ANewHope the Death Star]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** [[ThoseTwoGuys Bucky and Pronk Oryx-Antlerson]], Judy Hopps' noisy neighbors, argued like this for at least half of their screen time (limited as it was), though their arguments are mostly childish exchanges along the line of [[NoYou "No, YOU shut up!"]]. According to co-producer Jared Bush, [[WordOfGay Bucky and Pronk actually are a married couple]]!

* ComicBook/BoosterGold used the phrase (in #36 of his ongoing title) to describe his own relationship with ComicBook/BlueBeetle (Ted Kord), after Vril Dox II assumed they were lovers. (This was rather a broad-minded assumption on Vril's part, but only because [[spoiler:Ted had been transformed into a chipmunk at the time]]).
* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and [[ComicBook/XMen Nightcrawler]] act as a married couple and parents, sometimes for Kitty and Piotr (with Dad-Wolverine being hard when Piotr hurts Kitty or wishing that his "daughter" remains on the team)
* ''ComicBook/{{Bone}}'' gives us the Two Stupid Rat Creatures, Smelly and Stinky. Pretty much every time they appear they spend most of their panel time bickering with each other like idiots. The fact that one of them is hopelessly determined to eat a quiche dosen't help.
-->'''Purple Rat:''' If we keep him for ourselves we can do whatever we want with him.\\
'''Brown Rat:''' Does that include baking him into a quiche?\\
'''Purple Rat:''' '''NO, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT!'''
* In their neverending quest to include as many HoYay tropes as they possibly can without kissing on-panel, [[Comicbook/XMen Professor X and Magneto]] spend seemingly more time doing this than they do actually battling.
-->'''Magneto:''' I generated a pocket wormhole.\\

* Used in a deleted scene of ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', between [[AllWorkVsAllPlay Naveen and Tiana]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'', late in the film the fairy knight Roland realizes that [[spoiler:his ex-fiancée the fairy princess Marianne and the seemingly "[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold evil]]" Bog King]] have fallen in love because they start arguing like a couple. He says in a very shocked way "Are you actually having... a ''lover's tiff?''"

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'':
** Timon and Pumbaa do not show much of this in the films but its very evident in their own series as they frequently bicker with each other. Apparently, their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" does not protect them from having such bicker spats.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Storks}}'': Junior and Tulip quickly get into this, though they also argue like a newly married couple when they are dealing with the baby.

* ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': Han and Leia. Of course, they ''are'' married, but when they reunite after having not seen each other in years, they slip back into this mode in seconds.
-->'''Han:''' I was just trying to be helpful!\\
'''Leia:''' When has that ''ever'' helped?\\
'''Han:''' ''[opens his mouth]''\\
'''Leia:''' And ''don't'' say [[Film/ANewHope the Death Star]].

* ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar'': [[TheStoic Asher]] and [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Eliza]]. Respectively sixteen and fourteen.
* ''Literature/AYellowRaftInBlueWater'' by Michael Dorris: The relationship of Christine Taylor and her brother Lee's high school friend Dayton Nickles when she comes back to the Indian reservation when she contracts a terminal illness.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': The entirety of Harry Dresden and Karrin Murphy's professional relationship and friendship is rooted in this trope. Jim Butcher once mentioned to a fan that he even thought their eventual hookup was due to this trope, as Harry loved annoying Murphy even in the very first book long before either of them realized they had feelings for each other.

[[folder:Theater]]
* In the final scene of ''Theatre/TheMoonIsBlue'', when Patty suddenly starts arguing with Don about spending so much money on gambling, he tells her: "Will you kindly shut up? We're not married yet." She smiles, realizing what he's just said.

* Kitten and the Emperor in ''WebAnimation/IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice''. Magnus lampshades it in episode 16:
-->'''Kitten:''' ''[wondering whether the Emperor would tell him the history of the universe]'' I'm much unsure if he'd actually want to tell me. I mean, if he never told you, why would he tell me?\\
'''Magnus:''' Well, he DOES seem to like you despite being grumpiness incarnate. He relies on you to listen to his boundless complaints and to inform him about, to quote, "stupid shit". I'd even say he trusts you. He certainly trust you more than he trusts me or any of his other sons for that matter. Actually, are you sure you're not his wife or something?\\
'''Kitten:''' No, of course not, but... Really? You think so??\\
'''Magnus:''' Indeed, stepmother.\\
'''Kitten:''' First of all, quiet you!

* The Reaper and Bryony in [[http://catenamanor.com/?p=102 this]] ''Webcomic/{{Catena}}'' strip. Literal WordofGod.
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' had it PlayedForLaughs with Moloch commenting on Violetta and Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080926 here]]. With IronicEcho when Tarvek reflects it on Violetta and Moloch himself (she had some interest in him, though it's not clear how much reciprocated) [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425 later]].

'''Penny:''' I want a divorce.\\

* Shasta and Aravis in ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy''. They end up getting married [[CrowningMomentOfFunny "so as to go on doing it more conveniently."]]

* This is how Creator/RobertDowneyJr described the relationship between his character and Watson in ''Film/SherlockHolmes''.

** Exhibit uh... 807:

* In ''Literature/{{Boundary}}'' the two linguists are described as this by several characters. They end up getting a RelationshipUpgrade at the end making then the [[BetaCouple Gamma Couple]]

* In the final scene ''Theatre/TheMoonIsBlue'', when Patty suddenly starts arguing with Don about spending so much money on gambling, he tells her: "Will you kindly shut up? We're not married yet." She smiles, realizing what he's just said.

* In their neverending quest to include as many HoYay tropes as they possibly can without kissing on-panel, [[Comicbook/{{X-Men}} Professor X and Magneto]] spend seemingly more time doing this than they do actually battling.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Doumeki and Watanuki of ''Manga/XxxHolic'' behave like this around each other, much to the amusement of Yuuko (and [[YaoiFangirl the readers]]).
* Tsubasa and Misaki from ''Manga/AliceAcademy'' would often pair up in couple events. They both scoff at the notion that they might be going out, but their peers noted that they're practically married already. They eventually got together for real, though.
* [[OneManArmy Levi]] and [[BrainyBrunette Hanji]] from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' seem to have this going on. They're implied to have known each other for quite some time and they're almost always teasing one another. (Something most people would get roundhouse kicked for if they tried that with Levi.)
* In ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'' there's ''France and England'', who've known each other since the very beginning of time and probably have a thousand romance tropes under their belt. Not to mention, almost every time they're seen together they are bickering.
* [[spoiler:After consummating their love for one another]] Guts and Casca from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' begin acting like this toward one another throughout the entire Griffith rescue operation, with them both getting miffed and jealous toward one another, but are clearly seen being very caring and sentimental toward each other (with some SlapSlapKiss action in-between, especially from [[{{Tsundere}} Casca]]). Judeau and Pippin take this as a good thing and play it for the laughs. Griffith, judging from they way he is [[KubrickStare staring at the couple from underneath his helmet]] and seeing that [[spoiler:he had been through the hideous ordeal of being tortured for a year only to come back to see a change in authority, power, and affection between Guts, Casca, and himself]] [[GreenEyedMonster doesn't seem very pleased with this]]...
* [[HoYay Hotsuma and Shusei]] of ''Manga/BetrayalKnowsMyName'' are super harmonic and gentle with each other but they do bicker quite often and ''Luka'' (yes, that [[TheStoic Luka]]) calls them out on it at one point. [[BerserkButton They're not amused.]]
* ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'' (the dub, at least): Max and Rey describe Tyson and Kai this way. The amount of SlashFic those two inspired back in the day makes this about ten times funnier.
* In ''Manga/Brave10'', Rokuro acts the nagging wife to Yukimura's [[HandsomeLech lazy lech]] of a husband. Taken up a notch during [[spoiler:the exile arc of the sequel, where Rokuro starts dressing like a housewife and [[{{Slapstick}} beating Yukimura with a broom]] for being a drunk who's in the way of his cleaning.]]
* Yuu and Nao from ''Anime/{{Charlotte}}'' are very much this trope, and it even gets [[LampshadeHanging discussed]] by Yusa and Joujirou at one point.
* ChildhoodFriends and HeterosexualLifePartners Liszt and Chopin from ''Manga/Classi9'' are roommates and often fondly bickering about their way of playing the piano. They're usually paired in duets when playing in public because it helps with Chopin's [[PerformanceAnxiety stage fright]] and Liszt has fewer chances to stay in his [[SplitPersonality demonic form]] long enough to hurt someone or himself.
* Lelouch and C.C. from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' have a constant back and forth going on, usually involving C.C. stealing his credit cards to order ridiculous amounts of pizza among other things. In addition, [[InnocentCohabitation they share Lelouch's room]], [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed possibly his bed]], and C.C. is constantly seen wearing his clothes.
** Lelouch and Suzaku also have quite a bit of this, especially when they were kids, and in the audio dramas for both pairs.
* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'':
** Heiji and Kazuha. They are ChildhoodFriends who bicker with each other, but do love each other, even if they have a very hard time confessing to each other.
** The same goes to Shinichi in Ran; when [[spoiler:Conan was reverted to Shinichi for a day in ''Desperate Revival'',]] their classmates just referred to them as married.
* In episode 2 of ''Anime/DigimonSavers'', Marcus is trying to tell Yoshi to leave, but she refuses, so they get into an argument. Then Kristy walks past:
-->'''Kristy:''' ''[to Marcus and Yoshi]'' Stop arguing like an old married couple.\\
'''Marcus and Yoshi:''' [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend We're not a couple]]!
* While Izaya and Namie's relationship in ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'' began with hostility, they maintained a working relationship because of their confidence in the other's skills. Soon, they're comfortable enough to hang out together outside work (e.g. Namie cooking dinner for Izaya, and having meals together). Even though their interactions consist of mostly trying to annoy one another in some way, they probably know each other better than anyone else.
* ''Manga/DragonBall'':
** Bulma and Vegeta do this infrequently in some episodes and the movies too. It's pretty funny watching them snip at each other.
** Goku and Vegeta also get a good share of bickering in, mostly while exploring Buu's body in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'' and during the battle against Omega Shenron in ''[[Anime/DragonBallGT GT]]''.
* ''Anime/{{Free}}'' has Haruka and Makoto. The latter is frequently seen taking care of Haru, saying exactly what he thinks and knowing just how to convince him of something. The occasional bickering, while quite mild, is also present. In recent episodes though their [[HeterosexualLifePartners relationship]] starts to show signs of slipping into [[HoYay other territories]].
* Kyo and Yuki are called out on this (word for word) by Shigure in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. They're both displeased with the comment.
* ''Manga/HighschoolOfTheDead'': It takes awhile for them to get there, but it's clear that Hirano and Saya are made for each other. By chapter 29, it's gone beyond the point where EveryoneCanSeeIt, to the two of them practically being Alice's foster parents.
* In ''Anime/{{K}}'', Saruhiko and Misaki, whenever they're not at each others' throats. The audio dramas add a lot more of this between them.
* In ''Manga/KarakaiJouzuNoTakagiSan'' has an adorable "rivalry" with his cute classmate, with them each trying to get the other to react or blush. They aren't quite at the point of being an OfficialCouple, but the rest of their class thinks of them as such.
* Not {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in the animanga itself, but Yamamoto and Gokudera from ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' do act like this
* In the ''Manga/LoveHina'' manga, when Keitaro decides to get a job, he suits up and all the girls laugh at him. Naru however, does up his tie, leading Kitsune to make this exact comment about them. [[HeIsNotMyBoyFriend Denials follow.]]
* ''Manga/LovelyComplex'': Koizumi and Otani are accused of acting like this - after they're already together, surprisingly, but they still both get embarrassed.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Konata]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Kagami]] from ''Manga/LuckyStar'' are pretty good examples of this. Much of their dialogue consists of verbal jousting, and the barbs get quite vicious on occasion. You just ''know'' that both would happily give every organ in their body to the other if they had to.
* In ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce'', [[LadyOfWar Signum]] and [[RobotGirl Agito]] have a heated argument over Signum's decision to cut her hospital stay short, which ends with a mixture of affection and pouting. Apparently, five years were enough time for them to start acting like a married couple (even though the bond between a Lord and her Unison Device is pretty much just that).
* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Kouji and Sayaka were like this. Once while they are arguing -and fighting- in the background, Shiro is fortune-telling. He notes the cards tell his brother and Sayaka are destined to be together forever.
* Since the very moment they met, the interactions between Hachiman and Yukino from ''LightNovel/MyTeenRomanticComedySNAFU'' are basically the former making fun of the latter and explaining why his view on life is wrong as he tries to defend himself from her arguments. They have no problem acting like this in front of everyone who, one way or another, conclude that the two get along just fine.
* ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'': From the moment Jean and Nadia find Marie, they become an almost familial unit - with the two of them essentially acting as her guardians. Though Jean and Nadia's relationship takes time, between spats and [[NotWhatItLooksLike misunderstandings]], to where they become comfortable with each other.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has one with the villains; both Deidara and Sasori and Kakuzu with Hidan bicker to one another like, as fans put, this trope. However, they take it in two different ways; Deidara and Sasori, being artists, bicker about their type of art (apparently often), even when the situation at hand has ''NOTHING'' to do with it. Kakuzu and Hidan, on the other hand, already hate each other, so all they need is one reason, and they're very likely to go off on one another and spend a pointless amount of time doing so.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
** Shinji and Asuka. The above RunningGag about Nadia and Jean was [[ShoutOut parodied]] by Toji about them.
--->'''Toji:''' Uh oh, look out! The newlyweds are fighting!
** Shinji and Asuka ''double'' on this score in the LighterAndSofter manga spinoffs. There, Asuka's rage level and Shinji's ExtremeDoormat level are both turned down, so there's [[VitriolicBestBuds more arguing and more friendship]] at the same time. They're always together, care for each other deeply, and... never stop griping at each other. (Add to that Asuka crushing on Shinji, Shinji not noticing, and that being the cause of Asuka's more canon-Asuka-ish moments.) It's still Toji who jokes about it; he refers to them as "the newlyweds" more often than he actually uses their names.
** When Kaji arrives late and somewhat disshelved for a wedding, Misato first criticizes him for his tartiness, then for not having shaved recently, before finally correct his loose tie. When Ritsuko comments on this behavior between them, pointing out that they act much like a married couple, Kaji is amused, Misato is not.
* ''Manga/{{Noragami}}'':
** Yato and Hiyori act very much like a goofy husband without a job and his nagging wife, with Yukine acting as their surrogate child. They argue a lot, but it's clear how much they care about each other.
** Kofuku and her Shinki Daikoku also aren't married, but they surely seem like it since they have been together for centuries and they get along very well despite him getting fed up with all the trouble she causes as a poverty god.
* ''Manga/PandoraHearts'':
** Gilbert and Alice have the tendency to act like this. All the time. They can hardly have a serious conversation without making some sarcastic retort to the other. [[BigBrotherMentor Oscar]] even made the comment that "They get along well enough to bicker".
** Elliot and Leo also have the tendency to bicker over various things, and some of these bickerings may escalate to an outright fight with a lot of fighting and throwing of various nearby objects. Despite this (more like [[OppositesAttract because of]]), they're still best friends.
* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': While the relationship between Captains Gotoh and Shinobu is [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship strictly professional]], they fit the trope to a tee. Their bickering rarely goes beyond snarking, and they relate as if they've known each other their entire lives. This is best seen in ''"The [=SVU's=] Longest Day"'' in the OVA continuity, and the entirety of the ''[[Heartwarming/{{Patlabor}} "Two in Karuizawa"]]'' episode in ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity.
* Sayaka and Kyouko, of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' evolved from bitter rivals to this by the time of [[AllThereInTheManual the Drama CDs]] and TheMovie. They could be argued as VitriolicBestBuds, but that's certainly [[LesYay not how the fandom sees it.]]
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': This observation is what gets Ranma and Akane engaged. Even their classmates notice.
-->"Ooo! A lovers' quarrel!"\\
"Practically married already."
* ''Manga/SoulEater'':
** Maka and Soul. They are very comfortable around each other, they live together, have the occasional lover's spat and SnarkToSnarkCombat and can read each other well. Arachne even comments on of the fights they had as entertaining.
** Black☆Star and Tsubaki are all but HappilyMarried. They are even raising a kid together!
* Mentioned about Yusuke and Kuwabara in ''Manga/YuYuHakusho''. Botan even has an ImagineSpot dedicated to it.
* Dazai and Chuuya from ''Manga/BungouStrayDogs'' are former partners. [[FoeYay They throw insults and claim to dislike each other]]. They still manage to battle the common enemy together perfectly well, however, and their banter can be seen more as a version of this trope between snarky, jilted ex-lovers more than anything.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': In [[http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/advice-and-trust-nge.8768/page-40#post-2351274 chapter 5]] Shinji and Asuka stage a fight during lunch break so that [[SecretRelationship nobody suspects they are together]]. However they are not very good actors and rather a fight between two friends that do not get along well it seems an argument between two persons have been married for years. When Touji says so, they blush profusely and shout in unison "It's not like that!" Of course, their synchronized reply only reinforces the effect.
-->'''Touji:''' Oi, oi, what's this? A quarrel between husband and wife?
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': According Touji, Shinji and Asuka not even are married and already behave like a married couple:
-->'''Asuka:''' Shinji! Listen to me, dummkopf!\\
'''Shinji:''' ''[surprised]'' What is it, Asuka?\\
'''Asuka:''' Hikari told me about AXL's Game Center! It sounds fun! I want you to take me there, okay?\\
'''Shinji:''' I don't know if...\\
'''Asuka:''' Stop being so hesitant! You're getting on my nerves!\\
'''Toji:''' ''[to Shinji]'' Not yet married, and she's already henpecking you...
* ''Fanfic/EscapeFromTheHokagesHat'': While out on NotADate, Naruto goes on rant to Hinata about how the ramen stand they passed was substandard and not worth their time. Hinata gives him a smile, lightly pats his hand and tells him he is very knowledgeable. Naruto pouts at being humored.
* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': As soon as they met, [[TheHero Shinji]] and [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] bickered. They were attracted to each other, argued constantly, opened up each other and talked about personal issues... and as soon as Shinji moved in the [[HomeBase base]] Asuka started to spend her whole free time in his home, sleeping in his bed, using his shower... and Shinji cooked for her. When he left for a week Asuka stayed the whole time in his home... and that was BEFORE they [[spoiler:got together]] and long before they [[spoiler:got engaged.]]
* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': Asuka and Shinji already argued like an old married couple before becoming one. In chapter 12 their bickering is hilarious.
* In ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'': After getting together, Shinji and Asuka's arguments are less violent and hurtful. Asuka starts sounding like a wife nagging her husband, and Shinji like a husband pretending to listen to her.
* In ''Fanfic/PrisonIslandBreak'', VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog and Shadow are cellies. At first they hate each other but their relationship evolves to this, especially since they have to spend every night in the same room together.
* In the Pokemon fanfic ''Fanfic/TravelsOfTheTrifecta'', Brandon says that Paul and Conway act like an old married couple when he hears them bickering.
* Q and Eve Monneypenny in the ''Film/SkyFall'' fic, ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/554771 so you were never a saint]]''. Eve constantly fusses over his appearance and frequently crashes to his house to cook or watch TV with him. In the MI6 HQ, they are either bickering or ranting about their work to each other, to Bond's amusement. Despite this, they are not in a relationship.
* -Hilariously- inverted in ''FanFic/TheSecondTry''. After [[spoiler:being told the secret, Misato mutters]] Shinji and Asuka used to bicker LikeAnOldMarriedCouple before, but now that they ARE one, they act like new-found lovebirds. Shinji and Asuka explain that is -partially- because they are hormone-driven teenagers again... without BelligerentSexualTension separating them.
** The "Hey, look, the newlyweds are fighting!" line from Toji is revisited, and Shinji and Asuka both try hard to act like they did the first time, except Toji notices that the two of them are [[{{Corpsing}} having a hard time containing their laughter]].
* In the first episodes of ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Shinji and Asuka combined [[BelligerentSexualTension constant bickering]] with [[SnarkToSnarkCombat a huge helping of snark]]. At the same time they were very close, and Shinji teased Asuka constantly because he loved getting her angry:
-->'''Shinji:''' You know, if you flashed the class, I bet you could kill half the male population.\\
'''Asuka:''' Toji's an idiot and Rei's a liar.\\
'''Shinji:''' Toji's been hospitalized and you never denied that quote from Rei.\\
'''Asuka:''' Alright, she’s a horrible exaggerator! Happy now?\\
'''Shinji:''' No! This shirt was brand ''new''.\\
'''Asuka:''' Gah! Why must you take her side?\\
'''Shinji:''' I'm not. I just enjoy winding you up, or have you not figured that out by now?
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSinbad'' (1996). Sinbad and Maeve are arguing.
-->'''Caipra:''' Alright you two, that's enough. Stop acting like an old married couple.
* During the ''Series/AshesToAshes'' GrandFinale, Shaz mentions that she's amazed that Chris and Ray never tied the knot.
* A memorable scene in ''Series/BabylonFive'' had Londo and G'Kar[[note]]Mutually-hostile Ambassadors from mutually-hostile governments[[/note]] arguing, to which a newcomer to the station remarks, "I wonder how long [[FoeYay they've]] been married."
** Of course, jokes about G'Kar and Londo being a married couple go all the way back to the first season, in a weird form of EveryoneCanSeeIt.
** Doctor Franklin and Marcus Cole tended towards this when working together, most particularly when they were undercover in a SmithicalMarriage.[[note]]This leads to a Fanon joke that, while G'Kar/Londo is not supported by canon, Franklin/Marcus ''is.''[[/note]]
** Also Captain John Sheridan and his exec Commander Susan Ivanova, who had worked together even before he was stationed at Babylon 5. Because she's his NumberTwo (and also [[LikeBrotherAndSister his best friend]]), they go back and forth like this a lot, especially when she's playing CommanderContrarian. Unlike many examples of this trope, however, there is ''no'' risk of this relationship turning romantic; Sheridan is desperately in love with [[{{Ambadassador}} Delenn]], and in any case he and Susan acknowledge openly and comfortably that there's absolutely nothing of that sort between them anyway (in the middle of a bickering match that could easily make new viewers think they [[LikeBrotherAndSister actually are siblings]]). This doesn't stop them from interacting like they've been married for decades, though.
* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'':
** Raj and Howard are called out on this multiple times, most notably by Leonard's incredibly blunt scientist mother who asserts that Raj is afraid of women and Howard has unresolved Oedipal issues, so it's not surprising they've formed "an ersatz homosexual marriage."
** When Leonard wanted time alone [[LongDistanceRelationship to Skype]] with his girlfriend, Sheldon patiently waited at Penny's apartment. They were both doing their own things, reading on the couch and chair and Penny mentioned how it feels like they are an old married couple (they are friends but no one can annoy each other the way the other can). They get into a mock fight where Sheldon demanded she get a treat, Penny asked for a divorce and Sheldon said to get the treat on the way to the lawyers office. They both briefly laugh over their "argument."
** Leonard and Penny tried to hang out as merely friends and found that they had a lot of [[{{UST}} unresolved issues]] between them that caused them to argue. It really surfaced when they went to a bar and both of them tried to chat up other people, leading to embarassing secrets being discussed openly.
* Series/{{Bones}} and Booth argue about everything, but [[EveryoneCanSeeIt no one doubts that they love each other]]. They are aware of it, too; they're just terrible at timing.
* ''Series/BostonLegal'' has Denny Crane and Alan Shore, who make more jokes about their own HoYay than the rest of the cast put together. When Denny catches Alan doing their OnceAnEpisode balcony routine with another man, he reacts as though Alan were cheating on him. [[spoiler:In the finale, they actually do get married and literally become an old married couple, which is to say they are "old" (Denny is 75) and married]].
* Detectives Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' fulfill the ''constantly-bickering-yet-have-{{UST}}'' part of the trope, but it's also reinforced in more subtle ways. In particular, both frequently give off the vibe of having spent so much time together and gotten to know each other so well that they've picked up on all sorts of weird little bits of trivia and character tics about the other apparently without even realizing it; Peralta, for example, knows all about Santiago's "special routine" for brushing her teeth, while Santiago is aware that Peralta's grandmother called him "pineapples". In one episode, they pretend to be a bickering couple to get the drop on a couple of crooks, leading to this exchange when they finally drop the act:
-->'''Peralta:''' ''[To Santiago]'' Nice work.\\
'''Santiago:''' Thanks. You too.\\
'''Crook:''' I'm sad y'all arrestin' me... but I gotta say, I'm glad you're back together.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** Angel and Spike in ''spades'', especially during Season 5 of ''Angel''. They argue over absolutely everything, but for some reason always hang out. This scene basically sum it up.
--->'''Spike:''' Least I got company, eh? You and me. Together again. Hope and Crosby. Stills and Nash. Chico and the man.\\
'''Angel:''' Yeah, are we done?\\
'''Spike:''' Never much for small talk, were you? Always too busy trying to perfect that brooding block-of-wood mystique. God, I love that.\\
'''Angel:''' Not as much as I love your nonstop yammering.\\
'''Spike:''' The way you always had to be the big swingy, swaggering around, barkin' orders.\\
'''Angel:''' Never listening...\\
'''Spike:''' Always interrupting.\\
'''Angel:''' And your hair, what color do they call that? Radioactive?\\
'''Spike:''' Never much cared for you, Liam. Even when we were evil.\\
'''Angel:''' Cared for you less.\\
'''Spike:''' Fine.\\
'''Angel:''' Good. ''[silence]'' There was one thing I liked about you.\\
'''Spike:''' Really?\\
'''Angel:''' Yeah, I never told anybody this, but... I liked your poems.\\
'''Spike:''' ''[with feeling]'' ''You'' like Barry Manilow.
** Buffy and Spike had shades of this themselves during seasons 4 through 5 of Buffy. It wasn't until later it escalated to [[BelligerentSexualTension something more than friends]].
* It has been noted [[EveryoneCanSeeIt by several observers]] that the frequently-bickering-yet-[[{{UST}} intensely-close friendship]] that ''Series/{{Castle}}'''s Richard Castle and Detective Kate Beckett have become embroiled in is like, well, they're already married (or at least in a relationship). In one notable example, a suggestion that they brainstorm from the perspective of a married couple ended up with the two of them arguing like a married couple about ''being'' a married couple.
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}''. Three words: Sam and Diane.
-->'''Sam:''' You know -- while we're talking about ''problems'', you wanna know what ''really'', REALLY bugs me about you?\\
'''Diane:''' Fine!\\
'''Sam:''' The way you eat ''pretzels''! ''[{{beat}}]''\\
'''Diane:''' ''Pretzels''!\\
'''Sam:''' Yeah, that's right -- ''three'' bites! Not ''two'', not ''one'' like the rest of us -- but THREE BITES!\\
'''Diane:''' Do you want to know ''what "bugs" me about YOU''?!\\
'''Sam:''' Oh, I'd love to. What?\\
'''Diane:''' THE COLOGNE YOU ALWAYS WEAR IS TOTALLY WITHOUT ''NUANCE''!!!
* Partners Jay Halstead and Erin Lindsay on ''Series/ChicagoPD'', and they've only been working together for a relatively short time. She never lets him drive and he complains that he feels like a house husband, he beats up a guy who catcalls and rudely flirts with her, and they argue a lot, especially about Erin's father figure (and their boss) Voight. Heck, they even argue about their maybe-not-so-professional relationship.
-->'''Jay:''' Did you see the look on his face?\\
'''Erin:''' Yeah. So?\\
'''Jay:''' So?\\
'''Erin:''' We haven't done anything.\\
'''Jay:''' Don't I know it.\\
'''Erin:''' Would you just spit out whatever fit is that you're trying to spit out?\\
'''Jay:''' Okay. Maybe this last month I don't wanna be the guy you use to get a rise out of your father figure.\\
'''Erin:''' You wish I was using you.\\
'''Jay:''' Oh, I'm serious. You have issues, you need to work them out. Work them out without me.\\
'''Erin:''' I repeat, we haven't done anything. And if you wanna keep it that way--\\
'''Jay:''' Hey, that'd be great.\\
'''Erin:''' ''[annoyed]'' All right, perfect.\\
'''Jay:''' Fantastic.\\
'''Erin:''' You done?\\
'''Jay:''' I was done long before this conversation started.\\
'''Erin:''' Really? Then shut up.\\
''[and then later on...]''\\
'''Erin:''' Dinner at The Purple Pig? It's got the dump.\\
'''Jay:''' Those things suck.\\
'''Erin:''' I don't think so.\\
'''Jay:''' Besides, you just told me to shut up and that we're done.\\
'''Erin:''' No, you told me we were done. But a girl's gotta eat.\\
'''Jay:''' ''[annoyed]'' Now you're hungry.
* ''Series/CovertAffairs'': Annie and Auggie, definitely. It's lampshaded in the season 2 episode "Half a World Away". Auggie is in Turkey, not answering his phone, and Annie is getting ''very'' worried [[spoiler:with ''good reason'']]. Cue the random stewardess Auggie is with at the time getting an unexpected phone call:
-->'''Annie:''' ''[annoyed tone of voice]'' Hi, can I talk to Auggie, please?\\
'''Franka:''' It's for you. I think it's your wife. She sounds rather upset...
* ''Series/DarkAngel'': Alec and Max in Season 2. Alec loves teasing her while Max gets royally pissed off by even being around him. They argue and spark off each other constantly yet somehow spend a lot of time together. Some fans speculate it was [[BelligerentSexualTension heading towards a romance]] if the show hadn't been canceled.
-->''[on ropes trying to steal the same famous baseball]''\\
'''Max:''' Read my lips, pretty boy. Get a life, get a job, and stop sticking your nose into mine! ''[pushes him]'' Don't make me kick you ass!\\
'''Alec:''' You know, this whole 'tough chick act' is really unbecoming. "I'm gonna bounce you on your ass." "I'm gonna smack your bitch head". It's so unfeminine.\\
''[Max kicks the ball out of his hand and triggers an alarm]''\\
'''Alec:''' Great. Now look what you did.\\
'''Max:''' ''[kicks him]'' God, I hate you!
* Lucien and Jean in ''Series/TheDoctorBlakeMysteries'' are mistaken for husband and wife on several occasions. They don't always bother to correct this.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** This will almost always happen if two or more incarnations of the Doctor meet each other, but special mention goes to the Third and Second Doctors, who appeared together twice onscreen, and bickered as if it was the end of the world.
** Creator/JonPertwee and Creator/PatrickTroughton probably liked doing that so much, that every time they met each other at a convention, they would pretend to hate each other and (drumroll please!) bicker like an old married couple.
** The [[Creator/TomBaker Fourth Doctor]] and Romana in the classic series. True for [[TheNthDoctor both of her]], as Romana I's book-smart personality clashed with the Doctor's street-wise nature and Romana II... well... [[RomanceOnTheSet yeah]].
** The [[Creator/ColinBaker Sixth Doctor]] and Peri seemed to do this a lot. Every episode with them has them exchanging insults and arguing about the stupidest things.
** The [[Creator/DavidTennant Tenth Doctor]] and Donna Noble. There had to be a reason why everyone kept mistaking them for married. It's ironic since Donna is the only long-term female companion in New Who so far who ''isn't'' hot for the Doctor.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead Forest of the Dead]]", one of several arguments between the Doctor and River Song is interrupted by a character remarking that they're "squabbling like an old married couple". [[TimeTravelRomance Unknown to the Doctor, but not to River,]] ''they are'', in fact, married.
** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E4TheTimeOfAngels The Time of Angels]]": The first time Amy Pond met River, she eventually asked if River and the Doctor were married.
** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens The Pandorica Opens]]":
--->'''The [[Creator/MattSmith Eleventh Doctor]]:''' You graffitied the oldest cliff face in the universe!\\
'''River:''' ''You'' wouldn't answer your ''phone''!
** The like-an-old-married-couple-factor is taken to the next level in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E13TheBigBang The Big Bang]]". [[spoiler:When the Doctor saves River from a constant time-loop, he teleports into the TARDIS and saves her life that way]]. The following dialogue occurs:
--->'''The Doctor:''' Honey, I'm home!\\
'''River:''' And what sort of time do you call this?
** And now added onto the list of girls who argue provocatively with the Doctor, [[RoboShip we have the old girl herself]], in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife The Doctor's Wife]]".
--->'''The Doctor:''' You are ''not'' my mother!\\
'''[[spoiler:TARDIS]]-Idris:''' And ''you'' are not my child!
** "[[DoctorWhoS13E4TheAndroidInvasion The Android Invasion]]" gives us Kraal MadScientist Styggron and his colleague Chedaki, who do ''nothing'' but snark and snip at one another throughout the story.
* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'': Carson and Mrs Hughes have been working together for years as TeamMom and TeamDad. They bicker a lot, but show a great affection toward each other. They used to be JustFriends, until Mr Carson proposed to her in Series 5 (TheyDo).
* ''Series/{{Fargo}}'': The hitman pair of Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench. Their actors were specifically told to interact like an old married couple, and the arguments witnessed between them (coupled with their obvious ease around each other) certainly give off that impression.
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
** In the episode "Bla-Z-Boy", Frasier becomes upset that he's been living with his father for 8 years, and 26 if his childhood is included. Things come to a boil when Daphne mentions that the two could be considered common law spouses. After Frasier snarks at Martin an umpteenth time, Roz muses, "Just like an old married couple!", which makes Frasier absolutely ''fume''. This ends up causing a bit of friction over the episode, since Frasier isn't particularly thrilled with the implication that the most significant relationship he's ever had or is likely to have is with his father.
** Also, Martin and Daphne on a constant basis. While their relationship is strictly father-daughter/doctor-patient, whenever they argue they really do sound exactly like an old married couple. Beautifully played with in the episode "Three Valentines". When Daphne and Martin find themselves having dinner together on Valentines Day, Daphne starts talking about their relationship, and how she enjoys looking after him, and it's almost like Martin is her ... then breaks off. It eventually turns out that she was thinking "It's sort of like you're my pet". Cue them arguing ... like an old married couple.
** And Frasier and Niles, of course, do this constantly, what with the nitpicking, unwarranted commentary, and the barrage of swiftly and pitch-perfectly thrown insults so easy and practiced that it's almost a reflex. Whenever they don't sound like [[Franchise/HarryPotter Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger]], they sound like [[Series/ILoveLucy Fred and Ethel Mertz,]] to the point of DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything.
* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': Will invoked this about his bickering with Jazz. Jazz's response, naturally, "Oh, now I'm 'old'?!"
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': One of the biggest running gags of the show is Joey and Chandler arguing like this. This is [[UpToEleven taken up to eleven]] when they get a chick and a duck, often treating the said bird-pets like their own children.
-->'''Joey:''' Anyways, I gotta go change. I'm meeting some of the cast for drinks. [[note]] He's an actor, so he obviously has cast-mates.[[/note]]\\
'''Chandler:''' Excuse me?\\
'''Joey:''' What?\\
'''Chandler:''' I stayed home from work today while you were at rehearsal so somebody would be here with ''our'' chick.\\
'''Joey:''' Hey, who was up from 2 o'clock this morning until 5 o'clock this morning trying to get her back to sleep?\\
'''Chandler:''' You don't think I get up when you get up?\\
'''Joey:''' Oh, here it comes!\\
'''Chandler:''' Yes! Here it comes! I'm stuck here all day, and then you come in and spend ''two'' seconds with us, and then expect to go ''gallivanting'' with you friends?! Well, I don't think so, mister.\\
'''Joey:''' Hey! I need to relax, okay? I was working all day.\\
'''Chandler:''' And you don't think taking care of our chick is "work"?\\
'''Joey:''' That's not what I said, okay? I just meant—\\
'''Chandler:''' I know what you ''"meant"''!\\
(''{{beat}}'')\\
'''Chandler:''' Have you noticed that ever since we got this chick, we've been fighting a lot more than we used to?\\
'''Joey:''' I don't know. Maybe we weren't ready to have a chick.\\
'''Chandler:''' I'll sure want them someday, though.\\
'''Joey:''' I know. I know.
** Also, Chandler and Monica at times. [[spoiler:Interestingly, they ''actually'' went on to become a couple]]. A hilarious scene has them seriously discussing how to organize their [=CDs=] while Rachel, who has actual romantic problems, almost explodes with frustration.
-->'''Chandler:''' Well, if we're gonna do that, we should come up with some kind of order. Y'know, alphabetically or by genre?\\
'''Monica:''' Hmm, I don't know. We really have to talk this through.\\
'''Rachel:''' Oh my God! You guys have such problems! I feel so terrible for you!
* Lenni from ''Series/{{Ghostwriter}}'' gets pissed off at her dad after he remarks that she and the boy she's working on a school project with are acting "like an old married couple."
* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'':
** In the episode "Happy Birthday, Baby", Lane witnesses one of Rory and Jess's arguments and even says as much. Jess is noticeably pleased.
--->'''Jess:''' Hey.\\
'''Rory:''' Hey.\\
'''Jess:''' I got the video for tonight.\\
'''Rory:''' What'd you get?\\
'''Jess:''' ''Film/AlmostFamous''.\\
'''Rory:''' No, not again.\\
'''Jess:''' I can't help it, I'm addicted.\\
'''Rory:''' Fine, but if I'm going to spend two hours sitting there watching Kate Hudson commit suicide again, then we are ordering Indian food.\\
'''Jess:''' Oh, come on.\\
'''Rory:''' Hey, last night when we watched ''Film/EdWood'', we got burgers like you wanted to.\\
'''Jess:''' Okay, fine -- tonight, Indian food, but tomorrow, ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' and Thai food.\\
'''Lane:''' That's so cute. You’re like a really sweet old agoraphobic couple.\\
'''Jess:''' Thank you very much.
** Ironically, Jess's uncle Luke and Rory's mother Lorelai have the same dynamic, much to the amusement of the other characters.
* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' has Blaine and Kurt, who, in their own words, are "like a fabulous old married couple".
* ''Series/TheGoodies'' had an episode in which Tim and Bill bickered about dinner in this fashion, complete with snarky hissing and turning their backs on one another. Context: Tim was giving a gourmet meal to a guinea pig. ([[ItMakesSenseInContext It Makes Sense In...uh...]]further...[[BuffySpeak contexty...things...]])
-->'''Tim:''' ...Ruddy 'ell!\\
'''Bill:''' ''Surely'' you're not resentful toward a little kindness for one of our dumb friends?\\
'''Tim:''' The only dumb friend I've got is you!\\
'''Bill:''' Well, ''thank'' you, after I make supper for you--\\
'''Tim:''' Look, we can hardly afford to feed ourselves, and you start giving four-course meals to ''flaming guinea pigs''!\\
'''Bill:''' ''[turns his back]'' Temper, temper...\\
'''Tim:''' Well, since when have we eaten that well!\\
'''Bill:''' Since when indeed, yes...what did we get last time ''you'' cooked supper, eh? ''[Tim turns his back as well] A bowl of corn flakes!'' Yes, and [[LethalChef they were burnt]]...\\
'''Tim:''' Well, better than your soggy lettuce and potato peelings...\\
'''Bill:''' ''[turns back around, snapping]'' On the money you give me, you're very lucky to get anything at all, I can tell you! ''[turning his back, hands on hips]'' Oh, I've a good urge to go back to mother's...\\
'''Tim:''' Well, go.\\
'''Bill:''' I shall.\\
'''Graeme:''' ''Now listen!''\\
'''Bill and Tim:''' ''AND YOU KEEP OUT OF THIS!''\\
'''Graeme:''' Tim, you are being very, very silly!\\
'''Tim:''' Oh, you always take sides with ''him'', don't you...
* In the new ''Series/HawaiiFive0'', Steve and Danny have this in spades. They spend nearly every minute of screentime bickering and it has been lampshaded by other characters several times. ("How long have you two been married?"/"Are you talking to your wife?") They even managed to bicker while confronting a serial killer who had a hostage on a clifftop (though the argument is partially staged as a ploy to distract the criminal).
-->'''Danny:''' ''[talking to the criminal]'' Listen to me. I know what’s it like to have someone you love walk away from you.\\
'''Steve:''' ''[to Danny]'' What are you doing?\\
'''Danny:''' What?\\
'''Steve:''' What are you doing? The guy’s clearly a psychopath; you’re trying to make friends with him? You’re trying to connect?\\
'''Danny:''' He’s standing right here in front of us!\\
'''Steve:''' Danny you’re a cop, not a therapist.\\
'''Danny:''' Hey, hey, I've been trained for this kind of thing, okay!\\
'''Steve:''' What, to bore people into submission?\\
'''Danny:''' ''[to the criminal]'' Don’t listen to him, okay? His idea of communication is he drops a witty one-liner and shoots you in the face!\\
'''Steve:''' You know what? Maybe I should just shoot this guy, so he doesn't have to listen to you talk!
** Also notable is the "Sexy Eyes" [[FanNickname cargument]]:
--->''[Steve turns on the radio; "Sexy Eyes" is playing]''\\
''[[[{{beat}} pause]], in which Danny's face is a CMOF all on its own]''\\
'''Danny:''' Are you serious?\\
'''Steve:''' What?\\
'''Danny:''' You’re not going to change this?\\
'''Steve:''' What's wrong with this?\\
'''Danny:''' You're going to leave this; you’re not going to do something about this?\\
'''Steve:''' It's okay.\\
'''Danny:''' It's okay?! Alright, listen. I know you have been trained to endure torture, okay, but this is unbearable! This is not right. Songs this bad make stable people wanna kill other people, understand?\\
''[Danny turns the radio off]''\\
''[{{beat}}]''\\
'''Steve:''' I think it's kind of catchy... ''[turns it back on]''
** In the season four episode "Kupu'eu", Danny tries to start an argument with Joe White about the shocks on his car (the two are traveling down a dirt road at the time). Joe invokes the trope by name while asking if that's all Danny and Steve do in the car.
** In the season five premiere, Steve and Danny [[http://www.cbs.com/shows/hawaii_five_0/video/1_k03DWc_0x3QcNdKes0NouV3AOaISoG/hawaii-five-0-issues/ go to therapy]]. It was ''technically'' part of the mandatory psych evaluation, but it ends up looking more like marriage counseling.
* Dr. House and and his [[HeterosexualLifePartners bromantic best friend]] Dr. Wilson in ''Series/{{House}}''. They even live together for the better part of season 6 and for a few episodes in season 2.
-->'''House''': Please have an answer to this question: what's for dinner?\\
'''Wilson''': You STILL haven't done the dishes?!
* Lily and Marshall in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''. In one episode, where the couple remains in the bathroom after their friend Ted and girlfriend Victoria don't realize they are home after staving of their anniversary vacation, Lily says that her and Marshall seem like an old married couple...
-->'''Lily:''' ''And we're not even married yet!''
* ''Series/ICarly'': Freddie and Carly act like this, but more the "familiar and comfortable with one another" side than the bickering one.
* ''Series/InspectorLynley'': The eponymous Inspector Lynley and his partner Sergeant Barbara Havers, at least once they've got comfortable with each other. By the end of the program, they practically ''are'' married--it's just not sexual. [[UnresolvedSexualTension Yet]].
* In ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'', roommates Mac and Dennis are described this way InUniverse.
* A ''Series/LawAndOrder''[=/=]''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' crossover has one of the Baltimore detectives theorizing that Briscoe and Munch were "married in a former life."
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', "One Shot One Kill": Kate is bickering with [=DiNozzo=] about his driving.
-->'''Gibbs:''' Brings back memories.\\
'''Kate:''' Memories of what?\\
'''Gibbs:''' Marriage.
** Tony and [=McGee=], in "Guilty Pleasure".
--->'''Ziva:''' You know what, you two? I have actually heard of this. You two are having a seven-year bitch.\\
'''Tony:''' Itch, and yes, we are.\\
'''Ziva:''' You two are like a married couple.
--->'''Gibbs:''' No they're not--[[CrowningMomentOfFunny they're still speaking]].
** Tony and Ziva themselves can be like this.
** Gibbs and Jenny Shepard often resembled this too. She stole his coffee, he used her glasses, and they generally acted comfortable around each other, though they also had amazing arguments.
** Oddly, Gibbs and FBI's Tobias Fornell also qualified as this sometimes. That's what happens when you share an ex-wife...
* [[HeterosexualLifePartners Sam and Callen]] from ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' are frequently referred to as a married couple, both by their teammates and by various guest characters.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'':
** Shawn and Gus. So married, they're legally domestic partners.
** Shawn and Lassiter occasionally fall into this trope in the later seasons.
* ''Series/RoyalPains'' has Divya and Evan set up on a "kiss and make up date" by Hank.
-->'''Divya:''' Here's an idea--let's have dinner, but absolutely no conversation.\\
'''Evan''': Yeah, like we're married.
* [[HeterosexualLifePartners J.D. and Turk]] on ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''. For instance, when Dr Cox sees J.D. welcoming Turk and Carla back from their honeymoon:
-->'''Dr Cox:''' Ghandi, Mrs. Ghandi...Carla.
** They even do it to themselves:
--->'''Turk:''' When Sam gets older I teach him about sports and stuff, and you're in charge of Izzy's emotional crap. We agreed, that's how we'd raise our kids.\\
'''J.D.:''' "Our kids"? Turk, we're not married.\\
'''Turk:''' Dude, we're a ''little'' married.\\
'''J.D.:''' I know, I love it.
** This hasn't escaped Carla's notice either, for that matter.
--->'''Carla:''' Tell me my husband loves me more than he loves you.
--->'''J.D.:''' It's about the same.
--->'''Carla:''' ''[sighs, smiling]'' I'll take it.
* The NotThatTheresAnythingWrongWithThat TropeNamer episode of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' has the reporter who thinks Jerry and George are a gay couple include the line "The two bicker about the cleanliness of a piece of fruit like an old married couple." in her article about Jerry.
* In ''Series/SevenDays'', Frank and Olga needed to infiltrate a cult holed up in a country house. Their superiors suggest they go in as husband and wife. Some arguments ensue, and we get...
-->"Sounds married to me"
* John and Sherlock of ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fit this trope perfectly. Their constant bickering over silly things, like whose turn it is to buy the milk and where Sherlock puts his experiments, comes off very much like a married couple--especially because they're flatmates, partners-in-crime-solving ''and'' HeterosexualLifePartners. It's one of the reasons they're constantly MistakenForGay. Mrs. Hudson even refers to one of their quarrels as "a little domestic."
* The titular Series/SiskelAndEbert.
** While not nearly as often, there were a few times where Ebert and Richard Roeper had this (though the generational gap made it seem more like a father/son disagreement). Also happened a few times after Roger left with Roeper and Michael Phillips.
* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Lois and Clark are all over this for ''years'' before they actually even admit having feelings for one another.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' seemed to have an old married threesome:
** Kirk and [=McCoy=].
** The BelligerentSexualTension between [[HoYay McCoy and Spock]].
** Kirk and Spock would be the most obvious example, especially in the movies.
* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': Sheppard and Weir. Their bickering about intergalactic space vampires and a mythological city comes across like arguing about washing-up duty.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** Daniel Jackson and Jack O'Neill. This does help in at least three cases to help prove the identity of one of them:
*** In "Holiday", an old alien scientist switches bodies with Daniel, so Daniel has to convince the others that he really is trapped in an old man's body. O'Neill asks what color Daniel's sister's dress was when they went out last time. Daniel retorts that he doesn't have a sister, and if he did, he'd never let her date Jack.
*** In "Crystal Skull", Daniel is stuck out-of-phase and cannot be heard or seen except by his grandfather Nick. Daniel has Nick repeat everything he says exactly. Jack is being his usual smart-ass self and comments on how Daniel has "lost a lot of weight". Daniel absently comments, "Jack, don't be an ass." Nick, of course, repeats the phrase verbatim, prompting O'Neill to realize that only Daniel would say that.
*** In "Fragile Balance", a teenager claiming to be Jack O'Neill (actually, a clone) arrives to the [=SGC=] and tries to prove he is who he says he is. Then arrives Daniel, prompting this exchange.
---->'''O'Neill Clone:''' Daniel! Will you tell them who I am? Please?\\
'''Daniel Jackson:''' Okay. Love to. Who are you?\\
'''General Hammond:''' This boy claims he's Colonel O'Neill.\\
'''Daniel Jackson:''' This is a joke, right?\\
'''O'Neill Clone:''' Daniel!\\
'''Daniel Jackson:''' Sounds like him, at least the loud grating part.
** Daniel and Vala. When those two get started, it's best to just sit back and get ready to laugh, a lot.
* Series/StarskyAndHutch tend to bicker like this a lot.
* During the RashomonStyle episode of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', Bobby calls Sam and Dean out on this as they try to paint each other in the worst possible light. They don't really try to deny it:
-->'''Dean:''' No, see, married couples can get divorced. Me and him? We're like, uh, Siamese twins.\\
'''Sam:''' It's ''conjoined'' twins!\\
'''Dean:''' See what I mean?
** Called out again in the episode "Pac-Man Fever":
-->'''Dean:''' Sounds like something you should read about. In a book. At home.
-->'''Sam:''' I'm not leaving until we find out whatever is doing this.\\
'''Dean:''' Whatever. ''[stalks off]''\\
'''Charlie:''' You guys fight like an old married couple.
* [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Glitch]] and [[PapaWolf Cain]] of Creator/SyFy's ''Series/TinMan'', starting pretty much immediately after they meet. And that's not where the HoYay ends, either.
* All three presenters on ''Series/TopGear'', but particularly [[VitriolicBestBuds Jeremy Clarkson and James May]].
* ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'':
** Damon and Bonnie embody this trope literally, especially in Season Six when they were trapped in a Prison World for four months with just the two of them as a company. They went grocery shopping, ate dinner, and breakfast together. '''All''' they did was ''argue''.
--->''(Damon and Bonnie shopping. They fight for control of the cart)''\\
'''Bonnie:''' We need strawberries. Eggs, milk, and ooh-- candles.\\
'''Damon:''' I know it's been a while, but you couldn't do magic as an anchor, so I'm curious what momentary lapse of reason makes you think you can do it now.\\
'''Bonnie:''' You know, when this all started, you '''sucked''' at making pancakes but now they're somewhat edible. Milk. There's no reason to be Peter Pessimist. We have proof we're not alone.\\
'''Damon''': First of all, don't nickname. That's my thing. And this proof ... this mysteriously filled in crossword, could very easily have been you.\\
'''Bonnie''': I didn't. '''Fill. It. In.'''\\
'''Damon''': No, you don't '''know''' you filled it in. You also don't '''know''' that you talk in your sleep--- eggs.
** Damon and Elena in the early seasons, ironically until they actually got together.
* Josh and Donna on ''Series/TheWestWing''. At one point they spend an entire episode arguing over whether their anniversary is in February or in April (the anniversary of when she came to work for him, that is).
** POTUS and Leo also act like this on occasion. (Both actors admitted to this in interviews, but each claimed that the other was the wife.)
--->'''Bartlet:''' Honey, if we're gonna have this fight, can we not do it in front of the Joint Chiefs? It just scares the hell out of them.
* Parodied on a 1997 episode of ''Series/WheelOfFortune'' where, in the final segment, host Pat Sajak and hostess Vanna White are at a table, respectively reading a newspaper and knitting. They both joke that people often interpret them as a married couple (even though in RealLife, both are happily married to different people), with Pat nodding and bluntly finishing all of Vanna's sentences.
* ''Series/TeenWolf'': Lifelong best friends [[{{HeterosexualLifePartners}} Scott and Stiles]]. They're completely comfortable sharing personal space, banter constantly about anything and everything, have an open dialogue most real couples would envy, casually discuss their sex lives and admit they can't imagine living without each other.
* On ''Series/TheXFiles'', Mulder and Scully are frequently like this. In the beginning, it was bickering over scientific versus paranormal, but after awhile it was just... married couple bickering. They are often mistaken for a married couple by non-recurring characters. And to put this in perspective, Mulder's nickname at the FBI is "Spooky". Scully's? "Mrs. Spooky".
** From "Syzygy":
--->'''Mulder:''' Eh, Scully, if I'm not mistaken, we're gonna be taking a left up here. Eh, there's an intersection up here, you're gonna wanna...Scully! You're gonna, wanna...you just ran a stop sign back there, Scully.\\
'''Scully:''' Shut up, Mulder.\\
'''Mulder:''' Sure, fine, whatever.
** Nowhere does it get more obvious than the season 6 episode "Arcadia", in which they go [[UndercoverAsLovers undercover as a married couple]]. The FridgeBrilliance of that episode is that it wasn't originally an X-File, it was simply a missing-persons case in a creepy neighborhood. Which means out of all the male/female FBI pairs, whoever headed this case felt that ''Mulder and Scully'' would be most believable as a married couple.
** From "Bad Blood": Mulder and Scully are waiting for a meeting and both are very nervous and anxious because Mulder stuck a stake through a teenager's chest, and the Bureau might face a major law suit and obviously he might end up in prison. Scully tries to adjust Mulder's tie and he just angrily pushes her hands away. She then pesters him to keep reminding their supervisor that he was drugged, which he refuses, convinced that he has killed a vampire. When AD Skinner appears, the very first thing Mulder very eagerly says? "I was drugged!"
** The conversation from the end of season eight's "[[Recap/TheXFilesS08E19Alone Alone]]" is a great example too:
--->'''Scully:''' Well, first of all, it was never actually proven that it was a spaceship.\\
'''Mulder:''' It wasn't?\\
'''Scully:''' Well, no, what happened, was that we fell off of something--\\
'''Mulder:''' Something?\\
'''Scully:''' --that rose out of the ice.\\
'''Mulder:''' And what do you think that was?\\
'''Scully:''' Well, I don't know what it was, but we never, we didn't actually ''see'' a spaceship.\\
'''Mulder:''' I can't believe you're saying it wasn't a spaceship.\\
'''Scully:''' No, I mean, it ''could've'' been a spaceship, Mulder.\\
'''Mulder:''' Of course it was a spaceship.\\
'''Scully:''' But we don't ''know'' that it was, you don't have a picture of it or anything.\\
'''Mulder:''' You know it was a spaceship, you saw it.\\
'''Scully:''' No, no, remember, I was unconscious, and when I woke up, there was no spaceship.\\
'''Mulder:''' I saw a spaceship.\\
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' series, Shaun and Rebecca are like this throughout each game they appear in.
* In ''VideoGame/BlackMesa'', when going through the portals in the Lambda Complex, you can find a room with a male scientist, female scientist, and a guard.
-->'''Guard:''' You two argue like an old married couple.\\
'''Male scientist:''' We ''are'' an old married couple!\\
'''Female scientist:''' Who are you calling old!?
* Parodied by Etna in ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories'' when Adell and Rozalin argue.
-->'''Etna:''' Ah, how cute! You two have one of ''[[BelligerentSexualTension those]]'' kind of relationships going...
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'' feature a blacksmith shop run by Wade and Herren, both men. [[TalkerAndDoer One is the perfectionist craftsman, the other is the businessman exasperated by the other's insistence on perfectionism over making money.]] They very obviously argue like an old married couple. WordOfGod confirms [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/9/index/1895300/1#1898481 that they are, indeed, an old married couple.]]
** Finn and Ariane, the temporary companions from the ''Origins'' DLC ''Witch Hunt'', manage to do this very well, despite having next to zero things in common (he is a prudish young human mage who had a very cloistered life in the Circle, she is a badass Elven hunter-warrior) and having only met each other recently.
* ''Videogame/KingdomHearts'':
** Sora and Donald act like this in the Deep Jungle world when bickering over finding Riku or King Mickey, which causes Sora to crash the gummy ship into the world. When Sora regroups with Donald and Goofy in that world, Sora and Donald give each other the silent treatment but are distracted from further bickering through their decision to help Tarzan and Jane stop Clayton from hunting and killing gorillas
** Sora and Riku start up this kind of bickering in Neverland and Hollow Bastion when Riku reveals that he has fallen into darkness. Sora behaves like a wife who was wronged by her husband when he finds out.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment with [[strike:Squall]] [[ThatManIsDead Leon]] and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Aerith]], in which the former ask the later if she’ll be okay by herself ([[RobotWar the whole town was currently in a crisis]]) while he goes out to retrieve something, and her only reply is to [[DeathGlare coldly stare]] at him, [[CrowningMomentOfFunny who decides to shut up and leave]].
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'':
** When you talk to Kasumi on the ''Normandy'', she will mention that Joker and EDI are like an old married couple. [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend EDI claims that]] what they have is [[SpockSpeak "a platonic symbiosis rather than hormonally induced courtship behavior"]].
** The ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC has [[RunningGag frequent]] spats between Liara and Shepard throughout it, especially when Shepard DrivesLikeCrazy and Liara plays the BackseatDriver.
--->'''Liara''': You're enjoying this, aren't you?
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3: [[DownloadableContent Citadel]]'' has Shepard do this with his/her other love interests.[[note]]Exact wording of the love interest's dialogue depends on the character.[[/note]]
-->'''Shepard:''' (''preparing to shoot a door open'') Stand back!\\
'''Love Interest:''' Wait. (''politely knocks on the window and asks'') Could you open the door for us?\\
(''door opens'')\\
'''Love Interest:''' Thank you.\\
'''Volus Skycar Manager:''' Please leave!\\
'''Love Interest:''' (''looks smug'')\\
'''Shepard:''' Well, I could have done that.
* During the ''VideoGame/Portal2'' [[CoOpMultiplayer co-op]] {{speedrun}} [[http://www.twitch.tv/speeddemosarchivesda/b/304536039 at Awesome Games Done Quick 2012]], the other viewers joked that there was this kind of chemistry between romscout and [=ShadowWraith=]. In the [[http://www.twitch.tv/speeddemosarchivesda/b/305374114 bonus]] [[http://www.twitch.tv/speeddemosarchivesda/b/305374119 stream]], Flicky and PJ had a similar dynamic when they played ''The Adventures of Cookie & Cream.''
* Franchise/RatchetAndClank spend a good portion of [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002 the first game of their franchise]] bickering, with Ratchet even denying their friendship at one point.
* If [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsV Soji Murakumo]] is picked as the protagonist of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'', his dynamic with Nine comes off as this. He even states this during the scenario where he gets the Mid-Season Upgrade.
* ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'':
** Asbel and Cheria are like this from time to time in ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'':
---> '''Cheria:''' (to Sophie) Come on!\\
'''Sophie:''' No.\\
'''Asbel:''' What's going on guys?\\
'''Cheria:''' Sophie is too picky about what she wants to eat. Come on!\\
'''Sophie:''' (cowers behind Asbel) No.\\
'''Asbel:''' Don't be like that Cheria. She doesn't have to eat something she doesn't want to.\\
'''Cheria:''' *sigh* You coddle her too much. So what do you want for dinner?\\
'''Asbel:''' Curry sounds good.\\
'''Cheria:''' Mild I take it?\\
'''Asbel:''' Yep.\\
'''Cheria:''' *sigh* You're such a child.\\
\\
'''Cheria:''' Sophie, have you been bathing regularly?\\
'''Sophie:''' (tilts head to the side before shaking her head)\\
'''Cheria:''' (DeathGlare at Asbel) You're supposed to be taking care of her!\\
'''Asbel:''' I '''AM''' taking care of her. But I mean '''COME ON'''! There's only so much one person can do.\\
'''Cheria:''' *sigh* (exasperated) I guess you're right.
** Mary observes this of Rutee and Stahn at their very first meeting in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny''. Not surprisingly, the pair inevitably become the OfficialCouple and their son even becomes the star of the sequel, TOD 2.
** Flynn's joining the party in ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' [=PS3=] gives much more opportunity to learn about his and Yuri's relationship. This trope describes their arguments quite nicely.
** Same thing with the prequel film ''First Strike.'' Flynn squabbles with Yuri about cleaning their room and Yuri's reply is "Yes, ''mom''."
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' has a skit where Jude is scolding Leia about her GenkiGirl personality and how it would make working as a journalist difficult, because she's more concerned about the headline than the article's content and how she used to copy his homework before class, which she won't be able to do anymore... And [[HeroicMime Ludger]] can either say they sound like a mother admonishing her daughter or he can call this trope into play. Picking the latter has Leia deny it gleefully, but pleased, and begins to beat Ludger with her staff.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'': Emil ([[SplitPersonality both regular and "Ratatosk Mode"]]) and Marta after a while start acting like this. There's a particular series of skits (appropriately named "The Fight") where an angry Marta gives Ratatosk Mode Emil the silent treatment, he responds with growing anger and irritation at her refusal to talk to him and the rest of the party (on Regal's advice) stay out of it. Marta and Regular Emil have this notable little "argument":
--> '''Marta:''' "So, Emil. Would you consider yourself stubborn?"
--> '''Emil:''' "Okay. That was random. No, not really."
--> '''Marta:''' "You'll have to admit though, you've had that same weapon equipped for a pretty long time. There's plenty of other weapons. Why don't you try something different for a change?"
--> '''Emil:''' "I guess I like the feel of a weapon I've gotten used to. It's easier to fight with. It's not stubbornness. It's dedication."
--> '''Marta:''' "What if you had a pair of shoes you wore every day, and I said ''"Why not try a different pair and spice up your wardrobe?"''"
--> '''Emil:''' "Yeah but... Why stop wearing whatever shoes make you feel comfortable?"
--> '''Marta:''' "Yep, you're stubborn alright."
--> '''Emil:''' "What's so wrong about being a little stubborn?"
--> '''Marta:''' "Nothing. I was just thinking how tough it will be once we're married. That's all."
* If Soji is picked as the protagonist in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'', his dynamic with Nine comes off as this. He even states this during the prologue of the scenario where he gets the MidSeasonUpgrade.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Unsurprisingly, TeamMom Grammi and TeamDad Gruffi on ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'' are always at each other's throats, arguing over battle plans, complaining about the other not doing their chores, and playing GoodCopBadCop when catching the kids, say, stealing candy or keeping a wild wolf pup as a pet (which Cubbi, at least, has learned to use to his advantage). In "A Gummi's Work Is Never Done," Tummi and Sunni watch them fight from the doorway just like two kids watching their parents fight.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'': Jeff and Sumo, who are best friends have arguments like this several times with it being prominent in" The Break-Up" when Jeff and Sumo terminate their friendship and Jeff acts like he was divorced.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Everyone]] but, well, [[{{UST}} Yumi and Ulrich]] are prone to observing how Yumi and Ulrich argue like this.
* Played with on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' when Stewie (pretending to be a teenager) tells his "date" that they'll be "just like an old married couple!" He says it enthusiastically, but the ensuing CutawayGag shows aged-up versions of the two of them glaring at each other from opposite ends of a table.
** Parodied again when Chris runs away form home and moves in with Herbert the pedophile. While Herbert spends the first ten minutes of his screen time going through his usual schtick of trying to get in Chris' pants (with his usual lack of success) by the end of the episode they've devolved into a sexless pseudo-marriage between a slob and a neat freak.
-->'''Chris:''' [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Well I was only PRETENDING to be]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice lightheaded!]] "Oh, this Kool-Aid tastes funny... ohhh! Ohhhh, ahhhhh" Sound familiar?!
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Fry and Bender in "Calculon 2.0" admit that they bicker around like this a lot but also claim that the only reason why they were not seen like that was because of their favorite soap opera show All My Circuits as they say the shown is what glues their friendship. They go into a spat of this in order to prove their point.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Agent Powers and Agent Trigger who are two federal agents, had an incident of this when they were seen bickering in a closet.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend Despite Billy's protest]] (and the fact that both are in denial), Billy and Mandy's relationship is basically a cynical DeadpanSnarker wife dealing with her idiot husband's exploits. Why else would Mandy ''willingly'' hang out with Billy?
* The couple in ''WesternAnimation/HotStuff'' are a literal old married couple: she's an oblivious woman who calls her husband pet names and he is an impatient old man with a HairTriggerTemper and NoIndoorVoice. Unfortunately, they're both also dumb enough to overload an outlet and leave a cigarette and iron burning.
* The ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "Hearts and Minds" opens with Hawkgirl and Green Lantern arguing in the middle of repairing the Watchtower. The Flash walks by and remarks, "Geez, you two sound like an old married couple." HG and GL are then completely silent (presumably from embarrassment).
* Drakken and Shego from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' spend their time arguing and snarking at each other, especially when Shego makes fun of Drakken's silly plans and repeated failures to take over the world.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "Phineas and Ferb Interrupted", Perry the Platypus and his [[FriendlyEnemy nemesis]] Dr. Doofenshmirtz are fighting over the controls to one of Doof's evil inventions:
-->'''Doofenshmirtz:''' Awww, Perry the Platypus, look at us! We're fighting over the remote like an old married couple! ''[severely]'' It's not cute.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': Stu and Drew's constant bickering is sometimes married couple-like, even though it's actually {{Sibling Rivalry}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Kanan and Hera interact with a strange mixture of comfortable familiarity, friendly banter, a fair amount of somewhat-playful bickering, and some flirtation. It's very strongly implied they're actually together (to the point that they jokingly refer to themselves as the mom and dad of the ship), but not actually confirmed. The more adult prequel novel ''A New Dawn,'' clarifies that, while Hera didn't mind Kanan's flirtation, she prioritizes the war over a romance.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''
** Lars and Sadie are VitriolicBestBuds and Sadie wouldn't mind a RelationshipUpgrade. However, she CannotSpitItOut and he is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. You've never seen two people more {{Tsundere}} for each other. Even ''Steven'' jokes about it: when he suggests starting a gym, not long after Lars was unable to open a jar and they'd recently had one of their trademark arguments, Steven says to Sadie "You could beat up Lars," and to Lars "and you won't starve to death if Sadie divorces you!"
** Amethyst and Pearl also engage in such spats as seen in season one. Its difficult to tell whether they are basically VitriolicBestBuds or a pair of gems showing BelligerentSexualTension because Pearl and Amethyst show signs of both when they bicker. It mostly takes form of Amethyst doing something that annoys and frustrates Pearl while Pearl gets tired of how immature and snarky Amethyst acts. Its exaggerated in season one but downplayed in later seasons after Amethyst's backstory and origins are revealed.
** Peridot and Lapis settle into this when they end up living together in season 3. It's especially notable in "The New Crystal Gems" wherein they get into a lot of childish bickering and Peridot threatens to leave when compared to Pearl.
* ''WesternAnimation/SuperNoobs'':
** Alien agent VitriolicBestBuds Memnock and Zenblock bickered like this, at least for the first half of season one, showing their struggle in being HeterosexualLifePartners. They usually don't take responsibility for their own actions as they blame each other a lot for multiple things, not realizing how immature they are when they act like [[ManChild idiotic man children]]during their bickering. After having their own FeudEpisode, their bickering became almost nonexistent, subverting this trope and replacing it with FriendlyRivalry.
** Kevin and Shope have some moments of this too.
* WordOfGod has described ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''' Beast Boy and Raven like this. [[RelationshipWritingFumble It worked too well]], and led to the two [[FanPreferredCouple gaining a sizeable fanbase online]]. The two eventually became a canonical pairing in the regular DC comics, and ended the pre-New 52 universe together (it didnt carry over into the reboot).
* Shredder and Krang of the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987]] ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' series had moments like these.
* ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'': Larry 3000 and Buck Tuddrussel act like this from the get-go, heck in one episode Larry told him that [[ExiledToTheCouch he's sleeping on the sofa!]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
** Chris and Chef Hatchet's friendship can be best described as similar to that of an old married couple. They even bickered like one for the first part of "Jamaican Me Sweat".
** Katie and Sadie also occasionally bickers like this with it being prominent in "The Sucky Outdoors
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', when Will discovers she can bring inanimate objects to life, her computer and printer react like this.
[[/folder]]

!!Examples

* Doumeki and Watanuki of ''Manga/XxxHOLiC'' behave like this around each other, much to the amusement of Yuuko (and [[YaoiFangirl the readers]]).

-->'''Kristy:''' ''(to Marcus and Yoshi)'' Stop arguing like an old married couple.\\

---> '''Toji:''' Uh oh, look out! The newlyweds are fighting!

* {{Wolverine}} and [[ComicBook/XMen Nightcrawler]] act as a married couple and parents, sometimes for Kitty and Piotr (with Dad!Wolverine being hard when Piotr hurts Kitty or 's wishing that his "daughter" remains on the team)

[[folder:FanWorks]]

-->'''Touji''':''“Oi, oi, what’s this? A quarrel between husband and wife?”''

-->'''Asuka''':''"Shinji! Listen to me, dummkopf!"''\\
'''Shinji''' (surprised):''"What is it, Asuka?"''\\
'''Asuka''':''"Hikari told me about AXL's Game Center! It sounds fun! I want you to take me there, okay?"''\\
'''Shinji''':''"I don't know if..."''\\
'''Asuka''':''"Stop being so hesitant! You're getting on my nerves!"''\\
'''Toji''' (to Shinji):''"Not yet married, and she's already henpecking you..."''
* ''FanFic/EscapeFromTheHokagesHat'': While out on NotADate, Naruto goes on rant to Hinata about how the ramen stand they passed was substandard and not worth their time. Hinata gives him a smile, lightly pats his hand and tells him he is very knowledgeable. Naruto pouts at being humored.
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': As soon as they met [[TheHero Shinji]] and [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] bickered. They were attracted each other, argued constantly, opened up each other and talked about personal issues... and as soon as Shinji moved in the [[HomeBase base]] Asuka started to spend her whole free time in his home, sleeping in his bed, using his shower... and Shinji cooked for her. When he left for a week Asuka stayed the whole time in his home... and that was BEFORE they [[spoiler:got together]] and long before they [[spoiler:got engaged.]]

'''Asuka:''' Toji’s an idiot and Rei’s a liar.\\
'''Shinji:''' Toji’s been hospitalized and you never denied that quote from Rei.\\

'''Shinji:''' I’m not. I just enjoy winding you up, or have you not figured that out by now?

[[folder:Films - Animated]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'' late in the film the fairy knight Roland realizes that [[spoiler: his ex-fiancee the fairy princess Marianne and the seemingly "[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold evil]]" Bog King]] have fallen in love because they start arguing like a couple. He says in a very shocked way "Are you actually having... a ''lover's tiff?''"

[[folder:Films - Live Action]]

-->'''Diaval:''' How could you ''do'' [[BalefulPolymorph that]] to me?
-->'''Maleficent:''' You said anything I need.
-->'''Diaval:''' Yeah, but not a dog! Dogs are nasty and vicious and they eat birds!
-->'''Maleficent:''' Fine. Next time I'll turn you into a mealy worm.
-->'''Diaval:''' I'll ''be'' a mealy worm, gladly!

[Jackson takes the phone and puts it on the receiver]\\

'''Han:''' ''[opens his mouth--]''\\

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' & ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Angel and Spike in ''spades'', especially during Season 5 of Angel. They argue over absolutely everything, but for some reason always hang out. This scene basically sum it up.
--->'''Spike''': "Least I got company, eh? You and me. Together again. Hope and Crosby. Stills and Nash. Chico and the man."
--->'''Angel''': "Yeah, are we done?"
--->'''Spike''': "Never much for small talk, were you? Always too busy trying to perfect that brooding block-of-wood mystique. God, I love that."
--->'''Angel''': "Not as much as I love your nonstop yammering."
--->'''Spike''': "The way you always had to be the big swingy, swaggering around, barkin' orders."
--->'''Angel''': "Never listening ..."
--->'''Spike''': "Always interrupting."
--->'''Angel''': "And your hair, what color do they call that? Radioactive?"
--->'''Spike''': "Never much cared for you, Liam. Even when we were evil."
--->'''Angel''': "Cared for you less."
--->'''Spike''': "Fine."
--->'''Angel''': "Good (silence). There was one thing I liked about you."
--->'''Spike''': "Really?"
--->'''Angel''': "Yeah, I never told anybody this, but ... I liked your poems."
--->'''Spike''': ''(with feeling)'' "''You'' like Barry Manilow."

--> '''Sam:''' You know--while we're talking about ''problems'', you wanna know what ''really'', REALLY bugs me about you?
--> '''Diane:''' Fine!
--> '''Sam:''' The way you eat ''pretzels''! ''({{Beat}})''
--> '''Diane:''' ''Pretzels''!
--> '''Sam:''' Yeah, that's right--''three'' bites! Not ''two'', not ''one'' like the rest of us--but THREE BITES!
--> '''Diane:''' Do you want to know ''what "bugs" me about YOU''?!
--> '''Sam:''' Oh, I'd love to. What?
--> '''Diane:''' THE COLOGNE YOU ALWAYS WEAR IS TOTALLY WITHOUT ''NUANCE''!!!

-->'''Jay:''' Did you see the look on his face?
-->'''Erin:''' Yeah. So?
-->'''Jay:''' So?
-->'''Erin:''' We haven't done anything.
-->'''Jay:''' Don't I know it.
-->'''Erin:''' Would you just spit out whatever fit is that you're trying to spit out?
-->'''Jay:''' Okay. Maybe this last month I don't wanna be the guy you use to get a rise out of your father figure.
-->'''Erin:''' You wish I was using you.
-->'''Jay:''' Oh, I'm serious. You have issues, you need to work them out. Work them out without me.
-->'''Erin:''' I repeat, we haven't done anything. And if you wanna keep it that way--
-->'''Jay:''' Hey, that'd be great.
-->'''Erin:''' ''[annoyed]'' All right, perfect.
-->'''Jay:''' Fantastic.
-->'''Erin:''' You done?
-->'''Jay:''' I was done long before this conversation started.
-->'''Erin:''' Really? Then shut up.
** and then later on...
-->'''Erin:''' Dinner at The Purple Pig? It's got the dump.
-->'''Jay:''' Those things suck.
-->'''Erin:''' I don't think so.
-->'''Jay:''' Besides, you just told me to shut up and that we're done.
-->'''Erin:''' No, you told me we were done. But a girl's gotta eat.
-->'''Jay:''' ''[annoyed]'' Now you're hungry.

-->'''Annie:''' ''[annoyed tone of voice]'' Hi, can I talk to Auggie, please?
-->'''Franka:''' It's for you. I think it's your wife. She sounds rather upset...

--->''(on ropes trying to steal the same famous baseball)''
--->'''Max''': "Read my lips, pretty boy. Get a life, get a job, and stop sticking your nose into mine! ''(pushes him)'' Don't make me kick you ass!"
--->'''Alec''': You know, this whole 'tough chick act' is really unbecoming."I'm gonna bounce you on your ass." "I'm gonna smack your bitch head". It's so unfeminine.
--->''(Max kicks the ball out of his hand and triggers an alarm)''
--->'''Alec''': "Great. Now look what you did."
--->'''Max''': ''(kicks him)'' "God, I hate you!"

*** Creator/JonPertwee and Creator/PatrickTroughton probably liked doing that so much, that every time they met each other at a convention, they would pretend to hate each other and (drumroll please!) bicker like an old married couple.
** The [[Creator/TomBaker Fourth Doctor]] and Romana in the classic series. True for [[TheNthDoctor both of her]], as Romana I's book-smart personality clashed with the Doctor's street-wise nature and Romana II...well...[[RomanceOnTheSet yeah]].

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead "Forest of the Dead"]], one of several arguments between the Doctor and River Song is interrupted by a character remarking that they're "squabbling like an old married couple". [[TimeTravelRomance Unknown to the Doctor, but not to River,]] ''they are'', in fact, married.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E4TheTimeOfAngels "The Time of Angels"]]: The first time Amy Pond met River, she eventually asked if River and the Doctor were married.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens "The Pandorica Opens"]]:

** The like-an-old-married-couple-factor is taken to the next level in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E13TheBigBang "The Big Bang"]]. [[spoiler:When the Doctor saves River from a constant time-loop, he teleports into the TARDIS and saves her life that way]]. The following dialogue occurs:

** And now added onto the list of girls who argue provocatively with the Doctor, [[RoboShip we have the old girl herself]], in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife "The Doctor's Wife"]].

** [[DoctorWhoS13E4TheAndroidInvasion "The Android Invasion"]] gives us Kraal MadScientist Styggron and his colleague Chedaki, who do ''nothing'' but snark and snip at one another throughout the story.

-->'''Chandler:''' Well, if we’re gonna do that, we should come up with some kind of order. Y’know, alphabetically or by genre?
-->'''Monica:''' Hmm, I don’t know. We really have to talk this through.
-->'''Rachel:''' Oh my God! You guys have such problems! I feel so terrible for you!

* In the ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' episode "Happy Birthday, Baby", Lane witnesses one of Rory and Jess's arguments and even says as much. Jess is noticeably pleased.
-->'''Jess:''' Hey.\\

'''Rory:''' What’d you get?\\

'''Jess:''' I can’t help it, I’m addicted.\\
'''Rory:''' Fine, but if I’m going to spend two hours sitting there watching Kate Hudson commit suicide again, then we are ordering Indian food.\\

'''Jess:''' Okay, fine--tonight, Indian food, but tomorrow, ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' and Thai food.\\
'''Lane:''' That’s so cute. You’re like a really sweet old agoraphobic couple.\\

[[folder:Theatre]]

* Kitten and the Emperor in [[IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice If The Emperor Had A Text-To-Speech Device]]. Magnus lampshades it in episode 16:
--> '''Kitten:''' (Wondering wether the Emperor would tell him the history of the universe) "I'm much unsure if he'd actually want to tell me. I mean, if he never told you, why would he tell me?"
--> '''Magnus:''' "Well, he DOES seem to loik you despite being grumpiness incarnate. He relies on you to listen to his boundless complaints and to inform him about, to quote, 'stupid shit'. I'd even say he trusts you. He certainly trust you more than he trusts me or any of his other sons for that matter. Actually, are you sure you're not his wife or something?"
--> '''Kitten:''' "No, of course not, but... Really? You think so??"
--> '''Magnus:''' "Indeed stepmother."
--> '''Kitten:''' "First of all, quiet you!"

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'':
** Jeff and Sumo, who are best friends have arguments like this several times with it being prominent in" The Break-Up" when Jeff and Sumo terminate their friendship and Jeff acts like he was divorced.

-->'''Doofenshmirtz:''' Awww, Perry the Platypus, look at us! We're fighting over the remote like an old married couple! ''(Severely)'' It's not cute.

-->'''David Spade''': Chris was actually jealous of Rob Lowe. He admitted it later. That's probably [[HoYay why I'm not married now]]; my first experience didn't work out.

* Creator/ChrisFarley and Creator/DavidSpade, which was endearing when the friendship didn't border on childish possessiveness. They were undoubtedly best friends, but they could get into some pretty fierce fights, both verbal and physical. On the set of ''Film/TommyBoy'', they would sometimes go for hours without talking to each other, talk to each other through the director, etc. And when Rob Lowe -- who said that they acted like an old married couple -- got thrown into the mix... Well, let's just say that Chris's reaction to their "buddies' bar night" was of epic {{Yandere}}sque proportions. David got so fed up with Chris hounding him on the subject that he threw his Diet Coke on him, to which Chris responded by ''[[DisproportionateRetribution throwing David into a wall and down the stairs]].''

[[quoteright:320:[[Webcomics/RoomiesItsWalkyJoyceAndWalky http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bringbackroomies.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/TheXFiles http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mulder_Scully_TheXFiles_BadBlood_LikeAnOldMarriedCouple2_9803.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Recap/TheXFilesS05E12BadBlood These two FBI agents are really comfortable with each other.]]]]

* [[TheStoic Asher]] and [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Eliza]] in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar''. Respectively sixteen and fourteen.
* The relationship of Christine Taylor and her brother Lee's high school friend Dayton Nickles when she comes back to the Indian reservation when she contracts a terminal illness in Michael Dorris' ''Literature/AYellowRaftInBlueWater''.
* The entirety of [[TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden and Karrin Murphy's]] professional relationship and friendship is rooted in this trope. Jim Butcher once mentioned to a fan that he even thought their eventual hookup was due to this trope, as Harry loved annoying Murphy even in the very first book long before either of them realized they had feelings for each other.

* Creator/GeneSiskel and Creator/RogerEbert.
* Possibly WebVideo/DanIsNotOnFire and ''WebVideo/AmazingPhil''.

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'', because Edgeworth and Phoenix have finally hit that stage. Bobby Fullbright even points out that they're a good illustration of the phrase "close enough to argue". In their brief appearance in court together, they don't so much argue over facts as quibble about interrupting each other:

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E9ForestOfTheDead "Forest of the Dead"]], one of several arguments between the Doctor and River Song is interrupted by a character remarking that they're "squabbling like an old married couple". [[spoiler:Naturally, ''they are'', in fact, married]].

* [[WillSmith Detective Spooner]] and [[HotScientist Doctor Calvin]] in ''Film/IRobot''.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': Stu and Drew often bicker around a lot like an old married couple even though it is clear from early on in the series that they are both brothers and are married to other women.

** [[YoungAvengers Wiccan and Hulkling's]] relationship often smacks more than a little of this. Of course, [[OfficialCouple there is a reason for that...]]

* Unsurprisingly, TeamMom Grammi and TeamDad Gruffi on ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'' were always at each other's throats, arguing over battle plans, complaining about the other not doing their chores, and playing GoodCopBadCop when catching the kids, say, stealing candy or keeping a wild wolf pup as a pet (which Cubbi, at least, has learned to use to his advantage). In "A Gummi's Work Is Never Done," Tummi and Sunni watch them fight from the doorway just like two kids watching their parents fight.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}:

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}: Stu and Drew often bicker around a lot like an old married couple even though it is clear from early on in the series that they are both brothers and are married to other women.

* The couple in ''WesternAnimation/HotStuff'' are a literal old married couple: she's an oblivious woman who calls her husband pet names and he is an impatient old man with a HairTriggerTemper and NoIndoorVoice.