From Crocket and Tubbs in “Miami Vice” to Starsky and Hutch in “Starsky & Hutch” or even Cagney and Lacey in “Cagney and Lacey” detective tv shows over the decades have gone through many different pairings, personalities and temperaments among the characters who might not always see eye to eye when they first start working together; but in no time, they bond and develop a sense of camaraderie with each other and sometimes they fall in love along the way too! (Or we hope that they get together at the very least) And isn’t the saying – “two heads are better than one” so very true? Instead of going all the way back to the crime shows of old, I thought about highlighting some of the pairings over the past few decades, including current ones as well, but not in any particular order of ranking or favorites really, just a list of two characters who found themselves in a partnership like no other, making for exciting and enjoyable television!
Also a quick note – I realize that there are many, many, many more pairings that could have been added to this list – but if I went with alllll of them then it would have taken a really long time to finish! This is simply a condensed version!
#1 Temperance Brennan & Seeley Booth, “Bones” (2005 – 2017) by Anjali
12 seasons, almost 250 episodes and a pairing for the history books! “Bones” (Fox) was adapted from the Kathy Reichs’ novels by Hart Hanson, starring Emily Deschanel as world renowned forensic anthropologist Temperance “Bones” Brennan and David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seeley Booth. The two characters couldn’t have been more different from each other – whether in personality or temperament or even how they approached working together on solving murders with only skeletal remains (most of the time!) She, a woman of science and he, a man of faith, it was a “skeptic + believer” dynamic which over the seasons, we got to see how the two of them formed a deeply trusting partnership which would later on blossom into romance! Eventually Booth and Bones would go on to have a family of their own! They’ve been through pretty much everything together – be it serial killers, getting buried alive, going on the run from the authorities, losing loved ones bringing them closer, alternate parallel realities, and so so much more!
#2 Sherlock Holmes & John Watson, “BBC’s Sherlock” (2010 – 2017) by Anjali
It perhaps goes without saying, that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are the greatest detective duo of all time, having been adapted in every single form of media that’s possible – tv shows, movies, video games, comics, anime, radio and even fanfiction! One such depiction of this famous pairing is Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s portrayal in BBC’s adaptation, which took the Victorian-era setting and gave us a modernized version of not just the characters, but the well-known mysteries with their own unique twists and turns! The heart of the show lies in the relationship between the consulting detective and former army doctor who start off as roommates before becoming partners and then best friends (of course, the fans hoped for more even!) and all of this was because of the chemistry between the two leads – you couldn’t help but root for them in every way possible! And after four seasons, the hope for more “Johnlock” still prevails in fandom, there are always more stories to be told, more mysteries to be solved and more
#3 Fox Mulder & Dana Scully, “The X-Files” (1993 – 2002, 2016 – 2018) by Elena
To this day, Mulder and Scully have remained one of television’s iconic duo’s with a partnership that spanned decades and left a lasting legacy for viewers. The X-Files continues to garner interest even after over thirty years since it premiered in September 1993. What makes this relationship between the believer and the skeptic so enigmatic? Their push and pull dynamic, their intelligence and empathy that they lend to cases they investigate, their witty banter, and underlying all of this, their undying commitment and devotion to one another. The onscreen chemistry between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny lended heavily to the captivating connection between the FBI agents.
Dana Scully is initially brought on to debunk the X Files, a department run by psychologist Fox Mulder, as his pursuit of the truth around extraterrestrial existence puts him on a watchlist of influential men in the government. Yet, Scully quickly learns there is more to her Oxford-educated partner than meets the eye. On their first case, he opens up about his sister who was abducted as a child and how that led him to the X Files. Over the span of 11 seasons and 2 feature films, we unlock a dynamic that is still yet to be matched by any two characters on television.
#4 Neal Caffrey & Peter Burke, “White Collar” (2009 – 2014) by Anjali
Con-man, artist, forger, smooth talker, suave and fashionable Neal Caffrey may have been the star of “White Collar” (USA) but it was his partnership with FBI Agent Peter Burke – the only one to catch him more than once – that was really the driving force of the show. The two of them worked together from day one when Neal helped Peter capture the ever-elusive “Dutchman” forger and throughout all of the six seasons, they had their fair share of trust issues and betrayals and heartbreak even, but at the end of the day, they had each other’s backs when it mattered. Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay played off of their respective character’s comedic timing to such perfection and created such a deep connection that you really would forget for a while that one of them was a criminal and the other, his handler. There were lessons to be learned for both men from the other, a bond that was forged over time did have its ups and downs, but there was respect and trust between Peter and Neal. Though the series finale seemed to suggest that they were living different lives once Neal finally got his well-earned freedom in Paris, there is a revival in the works, which means there’s still more to come for this dynamic duo!
#5 Richard Castle & Kate Beckett, “Castle” (2009 – 2016) by Anjali
Best-selling author meets NYPD Detective and sparks fly? Yes, but also not quite? Richard Castle and Kate Beckett’s relationship began at first with a flirtatious, seemingly unlikely partnership that slowly turned into friendship and then eventually love; they definitely had their moments of yearning and different love interests that could never quite hold a candle over the seasons to the “one” they might not even have been actively aware of. Still, that didn’t stop “Caskett” (one of the best ship names if you ask me!) from a “fake-out kiss” and a “trapped together with an almost confession just before they thought this might be the end” and so many other tropes which we loved to see – that season 4 finale cliffhanger especially! (be still my shipper heart!) The build up to them actually getting to be with each other was definitely worth the wait. And it was nice to also get a chance to see how the two of them navigated their professional relationship even after they got married – once Beckett became NYPD Captain and Castle took on his PI role, the partnership between them didn’t fade away into the background, they were going to be each other’s person always.
#6 Elliott Stabler & Olivia Benson, “Law & Order: SVU” (1999 – 2011) by Anjali
Listen, I’ll be the first one to admit that I haven’t seen anything related to Law & Order, in all of its various iterations and some of the shows that have been ongoing for 20+ seasons, but that hasn’t stopped me from knowing about “Bensler” and the fact of the two of them being the literal definition of a “slow burn” pairing! They’ve been talked about for so many years now, by fans everywhere that one can’t help trying to look into what exactly their relationship is and what it needs to be or what it could be. Still, their romantic tension aside and almost kisses that didn’t quite come to fruition, Benson and Stabler have a legendary partnership that lasted for twelve seasons and even when he returned in season 22(!!!) they were able to pick up from where they’d left off, which is a true testament to Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni’s dedication to their character’s and the respect that they have for their fan-base.
And not to mention, their chemistry is off the charts! I mean, take it from someone who knows absolutely nothing about anything but still can see the trust and care that they have for the other, you can’t help but root for them; one just hopes that there’s a first kiss somewhere in the near future!
#7 Lucifer Morningstar & Chloe Decker, “Lucifer” (2016 – 2021) by Mariasol
Chloe and Lucifer are a duo that might seem like the common one in a procedural, a consultant helping a detective to solve crimes, but it has a twist, since he is the Devil himself, who left Hell to enjoy the life of humans in Los Angeles. Furthermore, as the series develops, their relationship, as well as the story itself, transforms and becomes more complex as they go from being simple co-workers to friendship and then to a romantic relationship, but not before going through various tests. First, the detective battles Lucifer, as he realizes that when he is close to her, he becomes mortal, in addition to the fact that she is completely immune to the persuasive powers he has with other people. Later, Chloe discovers Lucifer’s secret, but it’s also revealed that she was literally created by God as a blessing to her parents, which makes her cautious of her divine origin, just like Lucifer, and that makes them question whether their feelings are free or caused by some divine predestination.
#8 Daniel Pierce & Kate Moretti, “Perception” (2012 – 2015) by Anjali
I have a soft spot for this show and this pairing! “Perception” (TNT) ran for three seasons, starring Eric McCormack as the eccentric neuropsychiatrist Daniel Pierce and Rachael Leigh Cook’s Special Agent Kate Moretti, who used to be a student of his before she joined the FBI. Their shared history and friendship was one of the defining factor’s of their working relationship and Kate was one of the few people that Daniel trusted; his paranoid schizophrenia would manifest in hallucinations – mostly in the form of Natalie Vincent, an imaginary friend and adviser – but also would help him see clues in the investigations he worked with Kate on that others would miss. Eric and Rachael’s chemistry was easy-going and one could sense that from the beginning of the series – or even before as we find out later – Kate had a crush on Daniel, but the first season did seem to suggest that it wasn’t completely a one-sided thing at all; still despite things never getting romantic between the two of them, these two feel like a very underrated pairing and I’d love to have seen more of their story if we had gotten even one more season!
#9 Patrick Jane & Teresa Lisbon from “The Mentalist” (2008 – 2015) by Mariasol
From the first moment we see them interacting, we can realize that their personalities are very different, but they still respect each other’s work and support each other most of the time, but they also confront each other when necessary, to stand up for what they consider right, especially Lisbon with Jane, when she realizes he’s crossing the line. Throughout the story, we can see how their relationship develops little by little as they go from being colleagues to close friends, because they are the ones the other trusts the most and they complement each other. Over time they manage to understand and know each other deeply, which ultimately leads them to begin a romantic relationship.
#10 Eliza Scarlet & William “Duke” Wellington, Miss Scarlet and the Duke (2020 – Present) by Eve
One of my recent favorite crime-duos is Eliza Scarlet and William Wellington also known as ‘The Duke’. Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) plays the headstrong Miss Scarlet and The Duke is played by Scottish actor Stuart Martin (Rebel Moon). When her father dies, Eliza Scarlet finds herself facing a difficult choice. As an unmarried woman, she faces poverty without a husband to provide for her. She decides to take on the challenge of running her late father’s detective agency, which would be unthinkable for a respectable Victorian lady. Fortunately, she finds an unlikely partner in the unconventional and somewhat stern Detective Inspector William Wellington of Scotland Yard, known as “The Duke”, and the pair begin to tackle the crimes and mysteries of London together. At the beginning William finds Eliza’s involvement in his policework intrusive and annoying. However, as the series progresses, he starts to see her qualities and lean on her more and more for new insights into cases. Eliza and William have known each other since their teenage years as Eliza’s father functioned as a mentor for William and took him under his wings. The history that they have between them creates great chemistry and banter between the two. The show leans heavily on the will-they-wont-they tension between two characters but hardly acts on it until the end of season 4.
#11 Cole Ellis & Max Mitchell, “Wild Cards” (2024 – Present) by Cristina
Max Mitchell and Cole Ellis from Wild Cards on The CW are the ultimate odd-couple detective duo and a slow-burn romantic pairing that keeps fans hooked. Max, a clever con woman with a knack for disguises and schemes, is the perfect yin to Cole’s by-the-book, no-nonsense detective yang. Together, they create a dynamic partnership, blending Max’s charm and outside-the-box thinking with Cole’s relentless determination and grounded approach to solving crimes. Their chemistry is undeniable, with banter that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, and moments of vulnerability that hint at a deeper connection. Despite their clashing personalities – and the betrayal that left their relationship on shaky ground at the end of season 1 – they find themselves drawn back together, forced to rely on each other to crack cases and take on high stakes missions. As they navigate their strained partnership and their own personal struggles, Max and Cole prove that together, they’re not only an unstoppable force in the field, but also a perfect match – whether they’re ready to admit it or not.
#12 Morgan Guillory & Adam Karadec, “High Potential” (2024 – Present) by Cristina
Morgan Guillory and Adam Karadec from “High Potential” on ABC are a dynamic and engaging crime-solving duo who bring out the best in each other. Morgan’s unconventional thinking, sharp wit, and knack for seeing details others overlook, perfectly complement Karadec’s methodical approach, rule following nature and experience as a seasoned detective. Their unlikely partnership thrives on their differences, with Karadec grounding Morgan’s boundless energy while she pushes him to think outside the box. Add their growing mutual respect and humor-filled banter, and you have a team that’s not only highly effective but also incredibly fun to watch.
#13 Elsbeth Tascioni & Kaya Blanke, “Elsbeth” (2024 – Present) by Anjali
One thing I have to say, I love it when tv shows focus on female friendships; not that there always hasn’t been a lot of that over the years and across all genre’s, but it’s still always a delight to watch! And on “Elsbeth” (CBS) right from the very beginning, when Elsbeth showed up to a crime scene with a statue of liberty headband and met Kaya for the first time, I knew that their relationship was going to be one of the highlights of the series for me! Elsbeth and Kaya end up partnering together while solving “howcatchem” mysteries, and their personalities aligning with each other across the two seasons show how they go from being coworkers to friends to even being temporary roommates! A good friendship can be the basis of a good partnership and it definitely rings true for these two.
#14 Will Trent & Angie Polaski, “Will Trent” (2023 – Present) by Cristina
Will Trent and Angie Polaski from “Will Trent” on ABC sure make an undeniably effective crime solving duo, thanks to their contrasting yet complementary approaches to solving cases. Will’s meticulous nature, sharp intuition and ability to see connections others miss are perfectly balanced by Angie’s street smarts, bold confidence and deep understanding of the human psyche. Their shared history and complex relationship add layers of emotional depth to their partnership, making them not just colleagues, but two people whose personal struggles and resilience fuel their determination to seek justice. Together, they form a dynamic team that’s as compelling as the cases they tackle.
#15 Liv Moore & Clive Babineaux, “iZombie” (2015 – 2019) by Mariasol
We could say that this is an unusual duo for this type of series, since between them there is only a work relationship that transforms into a very good friendship, but does not become something romantic. They work well together and they manage to get along, although at the beginning, their work may have some obstacles because Clive does not know Liv’s secret, which also results in some funny situations. After some time, Clive learns the truth, which does not prevent him from continuing to work alongside Liv or continue their friendship.
BONUS: Mabel Mora, Charles-Haden Savage & Oliver Putnam, “Only Murders in the Building” (2021 – Present)
Okay, so I know that this technically is a trio of crime-solving character’s, but can you really have an article without these three? I mean, the cast itself would be reason enough to include them, however – “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) is a really outstanding, amazing, breakout show that has had audiences hooked for four seasons (and counting) now! And it’s because of the absolutely wonderful chemistry that Selena Gomez has with Martin Short and Steve Martin; the way that they play off of each other, their banter, the one-liners and humor that they each imbibe in not just their respective characters, but in the relationships that they form with each other over the seasons too – it makes for really great comedy! On paper you wouldn’t know if this combination would work, perhaps it would or wouldn’t with another cast, but with these three, there’s nothing quite like it! Living in the Arconia in New York City, this unlikely trio find themselves embarking on solving a murder mystery while simultaneously recording a podcast about their sleuthing – which over time not only gets more and more meta, in the latest fourth season, they even decide to make a movie about Charles, Mabel & Oliver’s lives, because there’s nothing quite like getting your life story up on the silver screen is there?
