Top 20 Most Long-Awaited TV Kisses
#20: Joey Potter & Pacey Witter “Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003)
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Though technically they share a brief peck early on in Season 1, these two wouldn’t discover their true feelings for each other until the third season. These two start out as enemies with Dawson really being the only thing connecting them. But over time, they become confidants, then friends, and then something more. Without even realizing it, they become each other’s soulmates. And in a moment where Pacey can’t hold his feelings in anymore, he kisses Joey, changing their relationship forever. It might have only taken most of the way through Season 3 for these two to finally lock lips, but if you watched this relationship build through Seasons 2 and 3, it felt like a lifetime.
#19: Nick Miller & Jessica Day “New Girl” (2011-18)
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Similar to Joey and Pacey, if we’re talking straight episode count, this one doesn’t take too long at all to manifest. We got this first kiss halfway through the second season. But also like Joey and Pacey, the tension between these two was so palpable that it felt like forever for this to finally happen. The chemistry between them was so intense in fact, that Jake Johnson and Zooey Deschanel were told not to touch during filming. Cece saw it from the very beginning. She tries to hook up Nick and Jess very early on, but the show made us wait in anticipation.
#18: Richard Castle & Kate Beckett “Castle” (2009-16)
This is another one we saw coming from the very beginning. No matter how much animosity Beckett has for Castle in the beginning, these two have an obvious chemistry. Castle is always out to win Beckett’s heart, but in Season 1, Beckett is all business. She’s not at all responsive to his romantic attempts, and even tries to have Castle removed as her partner. But in Season 2, their relationship begins to soften, and we could see mutual feelings begin to blossom. Then, finally in Season 3, Castle and Beckett finally share their first kiss. It may have just been part of a plan to help their friends. But let’s be honest, we all knew it was something more.
#17: Leo Fitz & Jemma Simmons “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2013-20)
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These two literally travel through space and time losing each other and finding each other again and again. They obviously have chemistry from the very beginning. They’ve been partners ever since the academy. But as the show goes on, it becomes more and more clear that there’s something deeper between them than friendship. We watched as their feelings blossom through insurmountable obstacles. They defeat deadly viruses, battle inhumans, and even survive at the bottom of the ocean all together. Their first kiss comes in a moment of desperation where they just can’t hold in their feelings anymore.
#16: Tony DiNozzo & Ziva David “NCIS” (2003-)
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The previous entries on this list may have felt like they took a long wait, but this one was a slow, slow burn. These two don’t even meet until Season 3 when Ziva first joins the team. It takes them until Season 11 to finally lock lips for real, but their first mission together involves them pretending to be a married couple. Even the actors knew right from then that their characters were in a love story. And the fans were right there with them. We all waited eight long seasons for them to finally come together, and it was a goodbye kiss. It took another long wait to see them reunited.
#15: Dwayne Wayne & Whitley Gilbert-Wayne “A Different World” (1987-93)
Towards the beginning of “A Different World,” the idea of romance isn’t really on Dwayne or Whitley’s mind – but it certainly was on the audience’s! As the show went on, the chemistry between the two was undeniable. Dwayne might not have been the type of guy Whitley would usually go for – he didn’t have the rich guy look, he wasn’t on the finance or business track – but he was the only guy who cared to get to know her, and that’s what really matters. Plus, both of these characters dated and loved other people before coming together – they knew themselves and knew what they wanted, which made them perfect for each other… and made this kiss worth the wait.
#14: Damon Salvatore & Elena Gilbert “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
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As soon as Elena quite literally ran into Damon in the second episode of the series, “Vampire Diaries” fans were hooked. Their love triangle with Stefan dragged on, and while there were small nuggets here and there – such as Elena chastely pecking Damon as he lay dying – the two didn’t officially kiss until Season 3. At the time, Damon and Elena were working to get Stefan back from Klaus, and Stefan and Elena were still together. Though Damon still considered Elena his “brother’s girl” – hello, patriarchy – he kissed her, knowing she would go back to Stefan in the end. It still took another season for these two to get together, but we appreciate the kiss in the meantime.
#13: Lucifer Morningstar & Chloe Decker “Lucifer” (2016-21)
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These two start off with that classic opposites-attract, buddy-cop type of relationship. Chloe is pretty straight-laced and by the book, and Lucifer is… well… Lucifer. Similar to Castle and Beckett’s relationship, Lucifer clearly likes Chloe from early on, but Chloe remains skeptical of his intentions. Though he’s straight up with her about who he really is, Chloe, naturally, doesn’t believe him. But slowly, their trust grows, and they become real partners and true friends. Eventually, just when Lucifer is ready to give up hope that Chloe would ever see him as anything more, she flips the script and plants one on him. This one might have only taken halfway through Season 2 to happen, but we were all longing for this one since they first met.
#12: Teresa Lisbon & Patrick Jane “The Mentalist” (2008-15)
What’s with these partner duos? They just can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. At least not for too long… but definitely long enough. Out of seven long seasons of this show, these two don’t give in to their romantic tension until the finale of Season 6. At the start of the show, Jane is still recovering from the death of his wife. So it seemed unlikely that anything romantic would materialize between the two partners. Yet, over time, the attraction between them becomes more and more obvious. In a Ross-and-Rachel type move, Jane finally admits his feelings for Libson just as she’s about to leave to take a new job. She initially rejects him, but comes back and kisses him.
#11: Seeley Booth & Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan “Bones” (2005-17)
Yet another partner teamup relationship to add to the list. It’s obvious from the beginning that these two would eventually get together. Even their co-workers think there’s something going on between them. One of them, Sweets, even writes a book about their relationship. Yet we still had to wait through five seasons and a hundred episodes of sexual tension, over protectiveness, and even jealousy between them before seeing Booth and Bones finally kiss. After reminiscing on their first case together to help Sweets with his book, Booth finally builds up the courage to tell Bones how he feels. It’s a bittersweet moment since Bones is not ready to reciprocate, but we all knew this was only the beginning.
#10: Gilbert Blythe & Anne Shirley-Cuthbert “Anne with an E” (2017-19)
Ahh young love. It may have taken until the series finale of this short-lived show for them to kiss, but it was well worth the wait. Gilbert clearly likes Anne from the very first time they meet. On the first day of school, Gilbert saves Anne from a kid that’s harassing her, and asks if she had any dragons that needed slaying, implying that he wants to be her prince charming. After that, Gilbert relentlessly tries to get Anne’s attention which proves elusive. But eventually the two become friends and fall in love. Their first kiss may have been a long wait, but it was like a fairytale.
#9: Brienne of Tarth & Jaime Lannister “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
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Let’s just ignore everything that happens in the last few episodes of “Game of Thrones,” and only remember the good times – like when these two FINALLY locked lips. Jaime and Brienne didn’t start off on the best of terms – honestly, there probably aren’t worse terms two people could start on. But throughout the show, their respect for each other grew – Jaime trusted Brienne enough to tell her the true story behind the Mad King’s death, and Brienne’s honor inspired Jaime to be the knight he always longed to be. Season 8 definitely lacks high points, but the scene where Jaime knights Brienne is one of the best in the show’s history – and their long-awaited kiss was pretty great too.
#8: Stiles Stilinski & Lydia Martin “Teen Wolf” (2011-17)
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This one was not just a slow burn for us, but for Stiles as well. Stiles has harbored an unrequited love for Lydia since the third grade. Lydia, on the other hand, hasn’t even seemed to notice he was alive. That is until things start getting all mystical and magical in their lives. Over time, Lydia starts to see just how deeply Stiles cares about her. And she starts to care back. When Stiles is suffering from an intense panic attack, Lydia kisses him as a way to calm him down. At the time it may have been little more than a distraction. But later on, even Lydia admits that that was the moment everything changed between them.
#7: Donna Paulsen & Harvey Specter “Suits” (2011-19)
When it comes to workplace romance, these two might take the cake for the longest wait time. Fans waited seven seasons for these two to finally take the plunge – although they would have to wait a whole other season for them to actually get together. But even though it took forever for them to get there romantically, these two always had each other’s backs. Actor Gabriel Macht even called the pair “each other’s other half.” He’s right: whether it was working a case or being there for each other emotionally – like when Harvey’s dad died – these two were basically in a relationship already, just minus the physical part. And boy, are we glad they added the physical part.
#6: Luke Danes & Lorelai Gilmore “Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)
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Quick banter and obscure pop culture references a happy couple make! Fans knew from the START that Luke and Lorelai had something special. They’re the epitome of opposites attract – he’s surly, she’s perky. She’s a caffeine addict, he runs a diner that sells coffee – it’s the perfect match. But the showrunners dragged this obviously perfect couple out for four long seasons before fans got that much-anticipated first kiss. In typical “Gilmore Girls” fashion, the buildup to the moment is hilarious and witty – Lorelai’s attempts to figure out if Luke is serious towards her are a hoot – and the culminating moment is absolute perfection.
#5: Clark Kent & Lois Lane “Smallville” (2001-11)
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There have been many iterations of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, but these two might win the award for the most screen time without a smooch. Lois didn’t make it onto the show until Season 4, but when she did, the chemistry she had with Clark was undeniable. Of course, the showrunners made fans wait until Season 9 for that chemistry to finally come to fruition – all the while making Clark navigate his superhero life without letting Lois in on his secret. These two had smaller kisses before – but whether it was Clark masquerading as Green Arrow or a run-in with Red Kryptonite, something always made those kisses feel a little less official than this one – which is why it’s perfect.
#4: Dana Scully & Fox Mulder “The X-Files” (1993-2002; 2016-18)
Talk about making us wait for it. Scully and Mulder may as well have invented the idea of the slow romantic burn. Ever since the beginning, the tension – both positive and negative – between these two could cut a knife. It may have had something to do with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny’s reported less than friendly relationship while filming, which could have had a hand in creating sparks on camera – but don’t worry, the two are good friends now. Tension aside, after 143 episodes, our favorite alien-hunting, crime-fighting duo finally locked lips – and at the turn of the century no less. Fitting!
#3: Josh Lyman & Donna Moss “The West Wing” (1999-2006)
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Of course the polls could be the only thing to heighten the tension and finally push these two lovebirds over the hump. It’s hard to imagine “The West Wing” without Josh and Donna – but the relationship almost never existed. Janel Moloney was only hired for one scene in the first episode – the scene where she brings Josh coffee. Apparently, the chemistry between the two actors was so off the charts, producers hired her on as a regular. Seven seasons and much political banter later, the two finally kissed in the wake of a campaign victory. Ah, the romance of politics!
#2: Niles Crane & Daphne Moon “Frasier” (1993-2004)
From the first time Niles laid eyes on Daphne, he was smitten … but he was married at the time, so – yeah – couldn’t really do anything about it. But even after Niles’s marriage ended, it took a long time for this relationship to come to fruition. The list of “almosts” for these two is too long to count – from the pair’s explosive tango at the ball, to the Seattle heat wave fiasco, to Niles losing his nerve time and time again. But all the near misses made it all that more satisfying when the two finally did the deed – kissed, that is.
#1: Elliot Stabler & Olivia Benson “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1999-)
We know, we know – this one hasn’t TECHNICALLY happened ... yet! But doesn’t that mean it IS the most long-awaited kiss in television history? And we mean LONG. Stabler and Benson have everything going for them – professional respect, an emotional connection, and physical chemistry through the roof. Look: if you’re willing to die for someone, that’s a pretty good measure of how much you care about them. Christopher Meloni may have left the Special Victims Unit in 2011, but there’s a spin-off coming with Meloni on board … so we’re not writing anything off just yet!
