History Main / BetaCouple

Because having multiple couples is convenient for writing musical numbers in contrasting styles, adapted musicals often develop characters absent or barely present in the source material into Beta Couples. Musicals traditionally assign the Alpha Couple better singing voices than the Beta Couple, who get more opportunities to dance (especially if they're the juvenile type) and/or crack jokes.

* Takenaga and Noi from ''Manga/TheWallflower'' are the lovey-dovey couple with legitimate romantic moments, contrasting the irremediably ObliviousToLove Sunako and Kyohei being stuck in neverending WillTheyOrWontThey.

* In ''The Sanctuary Telepath'' the POV character, Janine's relationship with James serves as the beta for her brother's tragic love story with Helen. They're not officially together and the nature of the dynamic is somehow a mystery even to them, but despite this (or maybe because of this) they have undoubtedly fewer problems and are very close. Janine even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this.

* ''Fanfic/StoneStreak': The primary couple are 3-years married BattleCouple Marinette and Juleka Stone. The three beta couples each contrast in being different stages of relationships compared to the Stones.

* Gyltha and Mansur are this in the ''Literature/MistressOfTheArtOfDeath'' novels.

* ''Series/HappyEndings'''s Brad and Jane were this to every other couple in the show. While they had conflicts, their marriage was portrayed as healthy and loving.

* ''Nikki'': In Season 1, Nikki and Dwight set up her coworker and "[[VitriolicBestBuds friend]]" Mary with his boss Jupiter, and they are in a committed relationship from then on. The two are a SlapSlapKiss couple compared to their HappilyMarried friends, but they are more mature and don't suffer the same amount of pitfalls brought on by trying to dodge adult responsibilities.

%%** Harper and Zeke have developed an adorable relationship.

* ''Series/TheWhiteQueen'': Anne Neville and [[UsefulNotes/RichardIII Richard of Gloucester]] get far less screen time than leads Elizabeth Woodville and UsefulNotes/EdwardIV, but they go from kids in PuppyLove to a CorruptTheCutie RulingCouple.

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/44178163/chapters/111090244 Stone Streak]]'': The primary couple are 3-years married BattleCouple Marinette and Juleka Stone. The three beta couples each contrast in being different stages of relationships compared to the Stones.

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': It's [[RelationshipReveal unveiled]] in the Season 1 finale that Louis de Pointe du Lac and Armand are lovers in 2022, and according to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1DNtxOO0DI&t=39s the extended Season 2 trailer,]] they've been a couple for 77 years.

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': It's unveiled in [[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E7TheThingLayStill the Season 1 finale]] that Louis de Pointe du Lac and Armand are lovers in 2022, and they've been a couple since at least 1973.

* In ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'', Mordecai's constant relationship drama with both Margaret and C.J. is frequently contrasted by Rigby and Eileen's happy and healthy relationship. It's lampshaded in ''Alone at the Altar'', where Rigby reveals he's been hiding the fact that they've been dating from Mordecai (and the audience) for months because they didn't want to shove their happiness down his throat.

* Pete and Debbie to OfficialCouple Ben and Alison in ''Film/KnockedUp''. In this case, the Beta Couple mirrors the Alpha couple's dynamic but exaggerated to the point where it's nearly {{inverted|Trope}}. Alison is a [[WomenAreWiser smart, driven, competent career woman]] and much of Ben's ([[TheUnfairSex a lazy stoner]]) arc is learning to take responsibility and become worthy of her. By contrast, Pete is more relaxed and laid-back than Debbie, but not to the point of being lazy or irresponsible, and Debbie is neurotic and controlling and her arc is about learning to relax and love Pete for himself instead of trying to "fix" him.