A nice, realistic TV kiss is great and all, but nothing compares to a long-awaited TV kiss that’s been set up for dozens of episodes. It’s all about that top-tier emotional payoff.
Here are some couples who had fans yelling at their screens for weeks, months, or even years before finally giving everyone the moment they’d been waiting for.
Nick and Jess — New Girl (Season 2, Episode 15)
Nick and Jess didn’t make viewers wait too long, since their first real kiss happened in Season 2, but every time they missed an opportunity, the fans would scream in disappointment. Their chemistry was unmatched from the moment they appeared on-screen, and Cece caught the vibe early, trying to play a matchmaker for them, so when Nick and Jess finally kissed, it didn’t come out of nowhere. It felt like the show finally stopped teasing everyone.
Rick Castle and Kate Beckett — Castle (Season 3, Episode 13)
Castle and Beckett were another classic case of “just kiss already.” At first, Detective Beckett treated Castle like a very annoying and spoiled ride-along who happened to have good cheekbones. Castle, meanwhile, was clearly enjoying every second of their special partnership. Their first smooch was technically a distraction technique, but come on, Beckett pulled back and then went in for more, telling fans everything they needed to know.
Peralta and Amy — Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 2, Episode 23)
Jake and Amy’s first kiss was one of the most adorable and, for some reason, confusing kisses on this list. When they were undercover, it was “part of the job,” but the filing room scene was harder to explain. For a show built on silly jokes and Captain Holt’s deadpan delivery, the scene was surprisingly intense. Of course, this wouldn’t be Brooklyn 99 if the actors didn’t do something really funny before kissing. Reportedly, Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero ate gross-smelling food before filming to prank one another.
Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons — Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 3, Episode 8)
Fitz and Simmons’s first kiss was a journey and a half. They survived super villains, deadly viruses, alternate worlds, aliens, and being trapped at the bottom of the ocean, but eventually, it was worth it. They started as best friends and lab partners, which made everything more painful because their bond was already so deep. By the time they finally kissed, the whole fanbase was celebrating after three seasons of suffering.
Lucifer and Chloe — Lucifer (Season 2, Episode 11)
Lucifer and Decker are a perfect example of the classic “opposites attract” trope. She was all about solving the crimes, while he was the actual Devil, constantly flirting and causing chaos. Over time, their partnership became genuine. They trusted each other, protected each other, and slowly but surely fell in love with each other. So when Chloe finally kissed him, it felt nicely overdue.
Teresa Lisbon and Patrick Jane — The Mentalist (Season 6, Episode 22)
Jane and Lisbon took their sweet, sweet time to realize their feelings. For six entire seasons, Jane was still mourning his family, making romance the least of his concerns. It took some time, but their relationship had quietly changed, and in season 6, Jane finally confessed his feelings just as Lisbon was about to leave for a new job. She rejected him at first but eventually came back and finally kissed him.
Booth and Brennan — Bones (Season 3, Episode 9)
Booth and Brennan are a special case because we technically got two iconic kisses. The first one was under a mistletoe in Season 3, but the more emotional one came in Season 5. Either way, everyone around them knew something was going on, even if they insisted on acting like it was all professional.
Clark Kent and Lois Lane — Smallville (Season 9, Episode 6)
One of the most iconic TV couples in all of pop culture is Clark and Lois, for sure. And while the comic book readers already knew from the start that these two would become an item, Smallville took its time. Lois wasn’t even around until season 4, and once she did, the sparks started flying. They continued to have almost-kisses for five more seasons until we finally got the big one. After years of secrets, superhero drama, and fake-outs, Clark finally kissed Lois properly.
Scully and Mulder — The X-Files (Season 7, Episode 4)
From the very start of the series, the chemistry between these two super-serious FBI agents was weird but magnetic. Their relationship was built on trust, loyalty, and years of solving the strangest cases in the history of television. It took these two characters 143 episodes before they finally kissed, coinciding with the world entering a new millennium.
Jim and Pam — The Office (Season 2, Episode 1)
Jim and Pam’s relationship was so sweet it almost became painful. They went from laughing at each other’s inside jokes and throwing cute smiles across the room to becoming one of the most wholesome love stories in TV history. It all started with Pam drunkenly kissing Jim at the Dundies, but the kiss everyone really remembers was right after Jim finally confessed his feelings in the season 2 finale. He found Pam in the office, kissed her, and the rest is history.
