The relationships between characters on television shows play a huge part in what draws audiences to watch. Whether it be romantic, platonic, or familial relationships, watching dynamics between characters grow and develop throughout a series can carry a show and cause a lot of discussion within fandoms.
The friendship trio is a common occurrence in film and television and can take many forms. The group can exist of entirely platonic friends, a couple and their joint friends, and even relatives. Whilst the dynamic between friendship trios often changes throughout a show's run, at the end of the day, it is their collective friendship that continues to hold them together.
8 The Unholy Trinity Carried The Show (Glee)
Starting the show as the popular mean girls, Quinn Fabray, Santana Lopez, and Brittany S. Pierce became extremely beloved characters on Glee, both individually and as a unit. Known as the Unholy Trinity, the three cheerleaders were inseparable pack animals that owned the school and seemed untouchable.
However, as they grew in popularity and developed more people, the Glee unit became more well-rounded characters. As teens are wont to do, they fought and argued throughout high school, but as they grew older and moved on in the world, they always reunited on good terms and remained close.
7 Buffy, Xander, And Willow Were A Team To The End (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Scooby Gang changed frequently, season by season, but the friendship between Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, and Xander Harris remained constant throughout all seven seasons. When Buffy moved to Sunnydale, Xander and Willow welcomed her into their group with open arms and quickly began assisting her in her duties as the slayer.
Whilst they found themselves in life-or-death situations and had many arguments about safety, responsibilities, and the supernatural, the trio always knew that they were the most powerful as a unit.
6 The BAU Ladies Were The Heart Of The Team (Criminal Minds)
The Behavioural Analysis Unit of the FBI changed a lot throughout the fifteen seasons of Criminal Minds, with many beloved friendships developing. One trio of friends that grew from early on, until the end of the show, was that between Penelope Garcia, Jennifer Jareau, and Emily Prentiss.
For a lot of the run, the trio were the only women in the department and bonded through their shared experiences. The three of them could often be seen planning shopping trips, dance classes, meals together, and 'girls' nights', showing how close they were outside of their jobs.
5 Cory Brought Topanga And Shawn Together (Boy Meets World)
Topanga Lawrence and Shawn Hunter were very different people, especially at the start of the beloved comedy Boy Meets World. However, they shared the friendship of protagonist Cory Matthews and were brought together through him.
Over the show's seven-year run, the characters grew up together and supported each other through adolescence, high school, and college. The trio went through a lot individually and together, from absent parents to marriage struggles to abuse, but could always rely on each other to have their backs.
4 iCarly Was At Its Best With Carly, Sam, And Freddie (iCarly)
Recently, the popular family comedy iCarly, which aired from 2007 to 2012, has been rebooted for a slightly older audience. Whilst it has been well received, the most noticeable thing missing is the trio dynamic between Carly, Freddie, and the now absent Sam. Carly, Freddie, and Sam were friends from the beginning of the show until the end.
Despite navigating complicated feelings within the group, arguments, and creative control of their web show, the group always found a way to make it through and keep their friendship intact.
3 Cleo, Emma, And Rikki Went Through A Lot Together (H2O: Just Add Water)
Australian children's show H2O: Just Add Water was an extremely popular series in the early 2000s that followed three girls who developed the ability to turn into mermaids in the water. The initial group of Cleo, Emma, and Rikki were not necessarily the best of friends before their transformation but bonded as a group due to their shared experiences.
Their identities as mermaids put them in many difficult, dangerous situations, for example being captured to be experimented on, but the trio could always rely on each other to use their abilities and work as a team to stay as safe as possible.
2 Rachel, Monica, And Phoebe Were Their Own Close Trio (Friends)
Popular and iconic 90s sitcom Friends is known for its main six-person friend group. However, the three men and the three women have beloved friendships together outside of the larger group. Rachel Greene, Monica Geller, and Phoebe Buffay have a very typically feminine friendship dynamic as they love talking about relationships, their careers, clothing, and celebrities.
Rachel and Monica have been friends since high school and as such have a lot of history behind them which can lead to arguments. Phoebe attempts to remain neutral and is often the one that resolves fights and the glue that holds the trio together.
1 SpongeBob, Patrick, And Squidward Were Unlikely Friends (SpongeBob SquarePants)
SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward don't seem like they would click as friends on paper, and for a long time, they don't. Whilst Spongebob and Patrick are an inseparable duo, Squidward is often annoyed by their antics and sees himself as just an acquaintance, being their neighbor and SpongeBob's work colleague.
However, Squidward is often caught off guard by the realization that he does care for SpongeBob and Patrick. They may argue for most of their time on screen, but the three characters balance each other out perfectly.