The Fast and the Furious franchise isn’t known for being a romantic movie series. If you’re going to see one of the films, it’s probably for the fast cars, incredible chase scenes, action sequences, and at least one scene filled with scantily-clad women or muscular men.
But in a series with eight movies (nine, if you count Hobbes and Shaw), of course, there have been some relationships. Really, it was Brian’s relationship with Mia that kicked off a lot of things that happened. There’ve been some great relationships in the series and some that haven’t really caught on.
Rejected – Letty & Owen Shaw
Letty and Owen mostly had a business relationship. It’s clear that Letty had no interest in him other than someone to work for. He was someone who gave her a direction when she couldn’t remember anyone or anything from her old life.
However, Owen was attracted to her and while he wasn’t pushy about his feelings, he did insinuate that he’d like them to be closer. It never would have worked, though. Even when working together, Letty found him and his casual indifference to the lives of their coworkers and the people around them repulsive.
Supported – Ramsey & Tej (Or Roman)
While Tej had a cute, kickass girlfriend when he first appeared in 2 Fast 2 Furious, that relationship seemed to end before he returned in Fast Five. While Roman liked to flirt with numerous women, he doesn’t show any sustained interest in any of them. Things change for both of them when the team rescues Ramsey, a beautiful genius. Her bravery and brains attract both of them, not just how pretty she is (though that’s definitely a factor.)
While she bonds with Tej over their shared interest in technology, she’s also flattered by Roman’s attention. However, Ramsey also won’t stand to be a pawn in a game of one-upmanship. She tells them she won’t date either of them until one of them finds out her last name.
Rejected – Neela & DK
Tokyo Drift is a bit of a leap from the rest of the films. It’s the third film in the series, but it takes place between films six and seven. It also features a cast that was mostly limited to that movie, with the exception of Han (in his debut in the series) and a cameo from Dom at the end. That being said, it firmly establishes some of the characters and their relationships.
When Sean first meets Neela, she’s taken. She’s dating Takashi, also known as DK (short for Drift King), the criminal nephew of a Yakuza boss. But it’s immediately clear that Takashi sees her more like a prize than an actual person and that Neela is slightly afraid of him. It’s a big relief when she ends things with him.
Supported – Sean & Neela
The first time we see Sean hitting on a girl, it leads to what must’ve been millions of dollars in property damage and him grinning through a bloody mouth. In other words, he didn’t seem to have a lot of game. In fact, it’s so disastrous that the only way he can escape prison is to move to Japan to live with his father.
But Sean is cute, if awkward, and brave. It’s those qualities that capture Neela’s attention. As previously mentioned, her relationship with DK is not smooth sailing, and Sean treats her with nothing but respect. Add to that, Sean learns to be a great driver and proves to be a loyal friend. The two of them falling in love is inevitable.
Rejected – Mia & Vince
When Mia and Brian first meet, he’s definitely enraptured with her, but she’s not as open with her feelings. She’s beautiful and smart, and her life seems to revolve around her brother and the makeshift family they cobbled together. One of those racers is Vince, who is completely in love with Mia. Mia likes Vince but has no romantic interest in him, and tires of his constant attention.
Mia finally gets her point across fairly cruelly, accepting a date from Brian in front of Vince and suggesting they go to a place that Vince has wanted to take Mia. It leads to much more friction between Brian and Vince that lasts years until everyone puts it all behind them while working together in Brazil.
Supported – Han & Gisele
The romance between Han and Gisele is unexpected but ends up being the sweetest but most tragic love story in the franchise. Gisele’s appeal is obvious. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, but she’s also smart, an amazing fighter, a great racer, and very kind. While Han is handsome, he’s a quiet, observant person who isn’t overt in any way.
They have a lot in common. For instance, both will engage in illegal activities as long as no one gets hurt. They’re both very loyal and would lay down their lives for each other or their “family.” In the end, it’s that love that Gisele has for Han that leads to her sacrificing her life for his. When Han dies a little while later, one of the only things he has on him is Gisele’s picture. It was true love until the end.
Rejected – Brian & Monica Fuentes
After Brian lets Dom go at the end of the first film, he has to leave Mia behind and go on the run. He ends up on the opposite end of the country, in Miami, participating in street races and working for Tej’s garage. After a street race is broken up by law enforcement, he’s nabbed by Monica Fuentes, a woman he noticed at the race, who turns out to be an undercover US Customs agent.
Working together, it’s clear that there is a mutual attraction. Roman comments on it several times, and they spend a lot of time sending flirty and charged looks at one another. But at the end of the day, nothing happens, and that’s for the best.
Supported – Dom & Letty
Dom and Letty are already together at the beginning of the first movie, so we don’t see them falling in love. But they’re solid. It’s clear that they are “Dom and Letty” and that nothing will come between them. They argue, they fight, but nothing will break them apart. At least nothing until Letty seemingly dies in a car accident.
Dom is heartbroken, but he moves on. Yet the first moment he gets word that she may still be alive, he’s determined to find her. Their reunion is fittingly a race, but it ends with her shooting him, as amnesia rendered him a stranger. But he persists in reminding her who she is and who they were. He doesn’t pressure her, but he doesn’t give up either, and eventually, though she can’t remember everything, they make their way back to each other.
Rejected – Dom & Elena
If Letty hadn’t returned from the dead, people would have no issue with Dom sticking with Elena. She wasn’t as exciting a character as Letty was, but she was good for Dom. While they came from very different places – he’s a criminal, she’s a police officer – they have a lot in common. They both believe in family, honesty, and loyalty.
However, Letty did come back. Elena knew that he’d feel guilty about going back to Letty so she took the decision out of his hands, even though she was pregnant with his son. Later, when she and his son are kidnapped, he betrays everyone to save them. Elena is killed as a warning to Dom, and he’s heartbroken. However, he and Letty raise his son together.
Supported – Brian & Mia
Brian falls in love with Mia the moment he sees her. While getting to know her is definitely helpful for his undercover assignment, it’s more than that. She’s sweet, pretty, and smart, and Brian genuinely likes her. Mia genuinely likes him in return and finally allows him to take her out after witnessing Vince being a jerk to him.
They break up when he leaves town to avoid arrest but get back together when they start working together to bring down Letty’s “murderer.” They love each other desperately. And when Mia asks Brian to stop his criminal activities to keep their family safe, he agrees. He may love excitement and danger, but he loves Mia and their family way more, and because of that they get their happily ever after.
