Us Weekly’s Favorite New TV Couples: From ‘Maxton Hall’ to ‘Bridgerton’

Credit: Prime Video; Netflix

Us Weekly’s Favorite New TV Couples of 2024: From Maxton Hall’s Ruby and James to Bridgerton’s Polin

From Maxton Hall‘s Ruby and James to Bridgerton‘s Colin and Penelope, TV couples have kept Us fed this year. There have been many fictional relationships we wanted to see come to life in 2024, but the best surprises sprouted from the pairings we weren’t expecting to fall in love with this year. Prime Video’s Maxton Hall is a great example. The series quietly premiered in May before blowing up because of the incredible chemistry between the leads: Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten. Maxton Hall introduced Ruby Bell (Herbig-Matten) as a scholarship student at a prestigious university in the U.K. who unwittingly witnessed a secret that put her on the wealthy Beaufort family’s radar. James Beaufort (Hardung) specifically set his sights on Ruby after realizing she knew something that could destroy his family. Their rivalry evolved, however, into an undeniable connection that Ruby and James were determined to make work despite their backgrounds creating constant obstacles for them. The first season ended with James and Ruby hopeful for their future — until a cliffhanger turned things upside down again. Luckily fans — including Us — can rest easy knowing there are more episodes coming our way after Prime Video renewed the series within a week of its release. Bridgerton is another successful series built off romantic love. Season 3 thrust Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) into the spotlight as he began to question whether his friendship with longtime friend Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) was something more. Spoiler alert, it definitely was and now the second half of the series promises to deliver even more sweet moments and sex scenes now that Colin and Penelope are engaged to be married. Keep scrolling for Us‘ favorite new TV ships from 2024:

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Francesca and Michaela (‘Bridgerton’)

Bridgerton fans only had Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela (Masali Baduza) for a few brief seconds during season 3 but they are already anxiously awaiting their season. Their first interaction held even more meeting considering Francesca’s love interest in the When He Was Wicked novel was Michael. 

Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Ruby and James (‘Maxton Hall’)

Sometimes all you need is two actors with insane chemistry, an enemies to lovers story line and a dream. Prime Video’s Maxton Hall had all of that — and more — when it premiered in May. 

Based on Mona Kasten‘s Save You book series, Maxton Hall: The World Between Us followed Ruby, who accidentally witnessed a shocking secret at her private school that subsequently brought millionaire heir James into her life. What started out as an antagonistic relationship between classmates turned into something unexpected as Ruby and James fought for a future together against all the odds.

The six-part German-language TV series quickly found record-breaking success by being the most-watched non-U.S. title during its first week on Prime Video. Maxton Hall was renewed for a second season one week after its debut.  

Credit: Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

Emma and Dex (‘One Day’)

Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by David Nicholls, One Day made Us fall in love with friends Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) whose lives remained intertwined although they went their separate ways. It took years and years for the stars to align for Emma and Dex, and just as swiftly as they got together, their relationship got taken away from Us. 

Despite the heartbreaking ending, the Netflix series left a mark largely because of Mod and Woodall’s commitment to their roles. 

Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix

Penelope and Colin (‘Bridgerton’)

After two seasons of buildup, it was finally time for Colin and Penelope to shine as the newest Bridgerton couple. The pair started out as friends but a season 3 kiss made Colin realize that Penelope was The One. Romance fans were subsequently in for a treat as Colin came to terms with his feelings and fought for Penelope before she got engaged to someone else. 

Their story doesn’t stop there though since Netflix is releasing a second part — which includes more steamy moments — in June. 

Credit: Ed Araquel/The CW

Max and Ellis (‘Wild Cards’)

The police procedural introduced The CW viewers to demoted water-cop Cole Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti) who was offered an opportunity at redemption if he worked with con woman Max Mitchell (Vanessa Morgan) to help solve crimes. The duo didn’t make sense on paper but on screen the sparks were flying as soon as Gianniotti and Morgan appeared in their first scene together.

Ellis and Max’s blossoming romance was rocky at best due to her past — and the secrets she continued to keep from him. But the show appeared to be in it for the long haul with Ellis and Max. Now The CW just needs to renew the Canadian import series for another season.  

Credit: Ed Araquel/CBS

Colter and Billie (‘Tracker’)

Justin Hartley knew what he was doing when he cast his wife, Sofia Pernas, to play his character Colter Shaw’s ex Billie Matalon, who previously tricked him out of a reward.

Tracker, which premiered in February, centered around the survivalist as he traveled the country helping people and law enforcement tackle a variety of mysteries. One of the cases led Colter to reunite with Billie and it didn’t take long before they started working together. 

Colter and Billie’s reunion was full of potential — and chemistry — but they ultimately didn’t reconcile. Their connection was undeniable however and Hartley has since confirmed that fans will see Colter and Billie again during season 2 of the hit CBS series.