10. Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor
Similar to Han Solo and Princess Leah, these two love birds really have no respect for each other at all in the early parts of their relationship. Jyn has been on the run since she was a child, defying any organized groups including the Rebellion. Cassian had a rough childhood as well, but as a child soldier for the Rebellion, losing his father in battle early on.
Cassian doesn’t believe Jyn has a firm grasp on the desperate situation in which the galaxy finds itself, viewing her as arrogant and spoiled. Jyn, while loyal to her family, still expresses conflicted feelings when it comes to her father Galen. Knowing that Jyn’s father is responsible for Imperial weapons manufacturing, including the “Planet Killer,” Cassian is even more reluctant to trust Jyn.
But inevitably, the two opposites are paired together in their mission to obtain plans for the creation and destruction of the Death Star. During this time, the two rebels build a strong bond, as any two people would facing life, death and other hair-greyingly stressful situations together. But this arrangement is soured by Cassian being under orders to kill Jyn’s father upon completing the mission. In the end, Cassian spares Galen’s life and a mortally wounded Galen dies in Jyn’s arms on the planet Eadu.
Jyn and Cassian succeed in their mission of transmitting the Death Star plans to the rebels and tearfully end up dying together in the wake of the Death Star’s full-power activation. Jyn and Cassian’s rivalry is unique in that it’s between two people who are on the same side but not of the same mind, their relationship depicting the more raw and unexpected aspects of the war against the Empire.