Dewey-Gale Relationship

The relationship of Scream deuteragonist, Gale Weathers and tritagonist Dewey Riley is the most explored romantic relationship in the entire franchise, occurring through each of the first five films.

It is an on-off liaison that serves as the heart of the franchise. In real-life, both actors were also married and divorced.

Overview
It began in the original Scream (1996 film) through a casual romantic interest and sexual tension. While Gale is mostly interested in using Dewey for opportunism, she genuinely grows fond of him by the film's end.

In the sequel, Scream 2 (1997 film), it is re-addressed through tension and conflict, due to Gale's exploitation of the Woodsboro Murders in a book (as well as her comments towards Dewey's professionalism in it). before they make up amid Randy Meeks' murder. They become a couple at the end of the film, after Gale mistakes Dewey for having died.

Scream 3 (2000 film) reveals they are tension-filled exes, due to being too different, though they stayed together for some time amid Dewey's recovery. However, during the events of the film, their romantic liaison strengthens even further, as Dewey saves Gale's life. He proposes to her at the end of the film.

The fourth film, set in 2011, reveals they are a married couple of ten years, indicating that they got married in 2001. They have marriage tension through Dewey's career as Sheriff and Gale's next opportunity to thrive as a journalist again, though they work it out, as Dewey declares, "No more going rogue".

Prior to the fifth film, sometime in the 2010s decade, they separated due to Gale's New York career aspirations that Dewey could not handle due to substance abuse issues as a result of unresolved trauma. It is implied to have been around two years before the events of the film. The fifth film, prior to Dewey's death, shows he is still in love with her. While Gale also appears to share the same feelings, albeit somewhat muted in comparison as she has been career-busy.