All TV shows have them, couples that should have been. However, "Parks & Rec" could have gone a million different ways if the show had different couples than the ones written into it. As humorous as some of these appear, give them serious consideration! I really would 'ship any single one of these throughout the show. Think about how the show would have played out differently if these couples were together! The following list contains the couples that really should have been.
1. Ron Swanson & Lucy
Lucy clearly found Ron to be a real man. She did think that Tom was "cool and smart", but Ron was a macho man who got her hot and bothered. Did anyone say #daddyissues much? Lucy comments on how "Ron believes similar things as her dad does" and is very intrigued by how much they are similar and have very strong convictions. Tom would have lost it, but Ron would have had to confront the new age generation of technology-obsessed young adults with traditional views from their strongly convicted parents. It would have been a clash of the generations and Ron's lust for strong women and his fear of technology.
2. Donna Meagle & Chris Traeger
Donna is a diva, Chris is a diva, MATCH. Donna knows what's up with fashion, people, and fine men. Chris is all about health and exercise and meeting people. Donna has always been on the Traeger "Hit That" Train, and Chris thinks she's "amazing" and is somewhat terrified of her all at the same time. A wild and dangerous combination, Chronna would be a fire couple that would rule the city of Pawnee fo sho. Fashion, health, and strong personalities would have sent Town Hall into a tailspin.
3. Jean-Ralphio & Ann Perkins (in her crazy phase)
Instead of dating Tom, Ann should have been seeing Jean-Ralphio. Yes, he is psychotic, but he really does try and have a good time and help his friends, except Tom. He is really into women and spoiling them which Ann would've loved. Ann needed a crazy outlet to get out her boy craze and her boy phases in her 30s. Oh Ann. Your Chris may not have come if you got too wrapped up in Jean-Ralphio... This may not have ended well for Ann, but then again, Jean-Ralphio is so insane that Ann's sensibility would have come through eventually.
4. Joan Callamezzo & Tom Haverford
Joan is an attention call girl, and Tom is in need of performing. Both of these characters have their issues but love to feed off their excessiveness in everything. While Joan ends up drunk and tries to sleep with Tom AND Ben simultaneously, Tom is frightened and understandably so. However, I think the two should have at least had a fling for Tom to have the business and media connections and for Joan to have a play toy who will give her everything she needs: compliments, fashion advice, and a lack of deep conversation and thought.
5. Shauna Malwae-Tweep & Ben Wyatt
Shauna is fragile, Ben is nerdy... How could they work as a couple? Well, Ben isn't pushy and wouldn't hurt Shauna maliciously. But, Shauna is a man hopper and really is focused on the attention she gets from various attractive men. While she may be more focused on "Tweeping Up Appearances," Ben would give her a logical thought process to cease her rash emotional decisions. Shauna would force Ben to be more spontaneous and more social than he otherwise would be.
6. Leslie Knope & Mark Brendanawicz
Yes we all know they hooked up like FIVE YEARS AGO when he reappeared in the show, but think about it: Leslie is passionate and inspires Mark, and Mark keeps her level and does good work without needing attention. He "wished more people in the Pawnee government were like Leslie "because he would have stayed in the public sector instead of taking the buyout he was offered. Yes, Leslie and Ben are goals and great together, but a Knopedanawicz team would have been hot and ensured Leslie was a more fun adult after hours.
7. Bobby Newport & Mona Lisa Saperstein
Mona Lisa is allll about the "MWUNNNEYY PWLEASEEEE." Bobby has it, doesn't know what's going on, and is just there to have fun. He is carefree and innocent in most regards, and Mona Lisa is careless and reckless. They are made for each other and to feed the other's needs and wants. Both of them are superficial and a bit not there all the time. I think this would have tied up loose ends and really brought a humorous ending 2 dramatic and comedic relief-providing characters.
While the show's outcome would be radically different, these couples have serious validity to them. But a little imagination never killed anybody. These people would mix in dangerous and good ways, but the issue really is where the show would have gone after the couples came into existence.