Tony_2Scoops

Ah, amore! When Cupid points his little heart shaped arrows at two unsuspecting mortals their fate is sealed. And there’s not a better place for the grandest of love stories to be told than on soaps, especially DAYS -- putting the “super” in super couples.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day 2013, we decided to take a look back at some of the best romances on DAYS. But this list comes with a twist! We could easily have a rattled off dozens of legendary couples like Tom/Alice, Doug/Julie, Mickey/Maggie, Roman/Marlena, Kimberly/Shane, and so on, but we’ve decided to challenge ourselves and take a look at the Post-Millennium lovebirds who have made a splash in Salem since Y2K.

Granted, the couples on this list wouldn’t have been anything without the super couples of yesteryear, but the Y2K couples all definitely had sparkle of their own. Of the couples listed, the actors had smoldering chemistry, the characters were -- and in most cases still are -- essential to the show’s longevity, and the storylines were perfectly told with the twists and turns we’ve become accustomed to when it comes to grand love stories.

So, cuddle up with some heart-shaped candies, and enjoy our list (in no particular order )!

Bo and Hope

Yes, we know they were together long before 2000. But they sure made the most of the new millennium! Thanks to the rock-solid chemistry between Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso, the writers could take their best shot at this pair. Nothing seemed to break them. What’s a little Billie interference when Bo held a completely hysterical Hope together while she lost her mind saying goodbye to Zach? Do you really expect us to believe that a minor detail like drug addiction and attempted murder are going to make Bo not want to break Hope out of jail? And, unlike some other tenured couples, this pair never felt boring thanks to things like streaking and diaper changing bets. Now, if only we could just figure out where invisi-Bo has been hiding!

Roman and Kate

Roman was a blue-collar dude with cowboy-like swagger. Kate was an uptown girl prone to some seriously sinister scheming. They already shared a grandchild, but said grandchild’s parents – his daughter and her son – hated each other. Nope, Roman and Kate should have been sworn enemies, but slowly and organically a romance budded between these two and we couldn’t help but to cheer them on. Kate brought out Roman’s fiery side, and Roman cooled some of Kate’s blazing bad habits, yet the essences of their characters were never compromised. They complimented each other perfectly. Sadly, most of us will never forget when Kate, in her blood-drenched bridal gown, came staggering out of the kitchen after finding Roman murdered on their wedding day. Even though he was eventually resurrected, their relationship never really bounced back. But even today, when the two of them are together, there’s still a smoldering ember left that reminds them both of the love they once had and a mutual respect because of that.

Shawn and Belle

The story of Shawn and Belle is impressive on many fronts. First, both are legacy kids and that came from legacy couples, which both could have easily made this list. Second, thanks to some brilliant recasts (Martha Madson, Brandon Beemer, and the adorable Alina Foley) this couple seamlessly transitioned from teen angst into a legitimately believable adult storyline. When that plane from Ireland was going down, we all pleaded right along with Claire Bear for Belle and Shawn to make up! Thankfully, they survived the plane crash, stayed hitched, and took off on the Fancy Face IV!

Lucas and Sami

If we’re talking about couples of the new millennium, we can’t not talk about Lumi. This was a couple over 10 years in the making. Considering their track record of misdeeds against each other, it was a surprise that they finally made it through their entire green wedding. But when Lucas stood up to Kate at the wedding reception, we downright cheered. This marriage solidified the two of them as adults and finally graduated them into another class of scheming -- protecting their children and family. While the romance has fizzled, their chemistry found a glorious home in the form of a delightful, honest friendship, which, in our opinion, is unparalleled by any other exes in Salem.

Daniel and Chelsea

Okay, okay, okay! We get it. These two aren’t exactly a couple that initially jumps to mind when someone asks, “Who are the greatest couples in DAYS history.” Their relationship was short-lived in comparison to the others on this list, and it ended with an icky re-write from a power-drunk new head writer. However, it began with the same drama and smoldering chemistry that all good love stories begin with.

In fact, Daniel and Chelsea had something especial brewing which reminded us of legendary couples like Doug and Julie and even Bo and Hope. That is to stay, unlikely love interests with lots of emotional baggage, disapproving families, uphill battles, and so on. She was a recovering brat from a good family. He was a world renowned surgeon with a tragic backstory and oodles of charm. It’s hard to remember that back then he wasn’t a manwhore -- he was simply Victor’s godson, an amazing doctor, and seemingly one of the good guys. It’s no wonder Chelsea fell for him, and he for her and all her spitfire feistiness. She reawakened a passion in him that he thought he had lost when his wife died. He mellowed her out and supported her journey to become a better person. Heck, he even went to a shrink to seek advice on how and if he should proceed with their May/December relationship! It was refreshing and a nice twist on some old soap standards. All and all, it was a romance that was cut too short and left us wondering “what if?” But the one thing we do know is that they burned brightly, even if for only a minute.

*Continue Reading Part 2*