Top 100 Kisses in TV History

#100: Clarke Griffin & Lexa

“The 100” (2014-20)

We all love a couple of star-crossed lovers. In the world of “The 100,” the stakes are higher than most. Clarke and Lexa come from two different warring factions, but it’s not until the peace talks start that sparks really begin to fly. Two leaders, both alike in dignity, their instant chemistry is strengthened by their mutual respect in spite of their different ways of looking at the world. Their first kiss (and our favorite) happens partway through Season Two, on the eve of battle against a common enemy. For a brief moment, the pair stops fighting their feelings and finally allows themselves to live, not just survive.

#99: Magnus Bane & Alec Lightwood

“Shadowhunters” (2016-19)

Magnus Bane has had four-hundred years to work out what he likes, and he isn’t afraid to go after it, but when he first meets Alec Lightwood, there’s plenty to keep them apart. Hiding his true self, Alec is still carrying a torch for his best friend, Jace. Later, there’s the small issue of his upcoming wedding… to a woman. However, just when we thought Malec might never become endgame, the Season One finale gave us the epic first kiss that we’d all been waiting for. Magnus crashed the wedding, but it was ultimately Alec who made the decision to follow his heart.

#98: Judy & Leo

“Boy Meets Girl” (2015-16)

Trans stories are often about the struggle, but if you’re looking for a gentle rom-com instead, then “Boy Meets Girl” might be for you. This BBC2 series stars Rebecca Root as Judy, a nearly forty-year-old trans woman who begins a romance with twenty-six-year-old Leo. The sitcom follows the early days of their relationship, first dates, fallings out, and meeting the family. Elliott Kerrigan’s script was discovered through a BBC talent search to discover positive transgender stories – and this one is very cute. Judy and Leo’s first kiss sets the sweetly comedic tone of the show, and of course, a kiss in the rain is always romantic.

#97: James Maguire & Erin Quinn

“Derry Girls” (2018-22)

He started the series as Michelle’s weird cousin with the funny voice, but it didn’t take long for the wee English fella to become an honorary Derry Girl. Although he’s often the butt of the joke, the gang loves James more than they would care to admit. For some, it goes deeper than others. From early on, we had an inkling that James and Erin might become something more, but it took a while for our girl to catch herself on. We knew the moment he turned up to take her to the prom, still dressed as the Fourth Doctor. But she didn’t see the light until the final season, and then we finally got that kiss.

#96: Dylan McKay & Kelly Taylor

“Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)

The best friend’s girl (or guy) is a teenage trope now firmly enshrined in TV culture, but back before Pacey and Joey or Serena and Nate, there was Dylan and Kelly. Kelly had been crushing on bad boy Dylan for most of her life, but that didn’t stop him from dating her best friend Brenda. With Brenda away in Paris, the summer before senior year, Kelly and Dylan grew closer - and they didn’t fight their feelings for long. The couple’s initial kiss actually happens off-screen, but the first time you see them together still has the power to shock. As does the moment when Brenda finally catches them at it.

#95: Ross & Demelza Poldark

“Poldark” (2015-19)

The love story between Captain Ross Poldark and his kitchen maid, Demelza, got the UK hot under the collar in 2015 - just as it did back in the seventies, when Winston Graham’s novels were first adapted. Despite their difference in age and station, Demelza falls in love with her brooding boss. One night when he’s feeling lonely, she decides to do something about it. Caught unaware and conscious of a sense of wrongdoing, Ross is harsh at first. But Demelza proves difficult to resist. So, maybe they’re a little problematic. But these two have so much chemistry it’s impossible not to enjoy them.

#94: Deacon Claybourne & Rayna Jaymes

“Nashville” (2012-18)

We love a couple with history, and Deacon Claybourne and Rayna Jaymes have decades of it. Once very much in love, “Nashville’s” golden couple were torn apart by Deacon’s substance use. As the series starts, Deacon’s been clean for years, but there seems to be no cure for his devotion to Rayna, who has long moved on without him. Their first kiss of the season takes place on tour, where Deacon has been playing guitar for Rayna’s rival, Juliette Barnes. The romantic tension was building for twelve episodes, and the couple’s long-awaited reunion did not disappoint. It was just a moment in an elevator – but what a moment it was.

#93: Fitzgerald Grant III & Olivia Pope

“Scandal” (2012-18)

This political thriller got off to a scandalous start with a steamy kiss in the very first episode. Written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes, the final scenes of the pilot see Kerry Washington’s famous ‘fixer,’ Olivia Pope, and Fitz, the show’s fictional US president, have their first on-screen smooch in the Oval Office. The reveal of their former affair was a bombshell that left us curious about the characters’ history and eagerly anticipating drama from future episodes. The relationship kept viewers gripped for seven seasons, and the chemistry between the leads continued to sizzle - but it’s still this kiss that we remember best.

#92: Jon Snow & Ygritte

“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)

Of all the romantic couples in Westeros, Jon Snow and Ygritte are our king and queen of chemistry. It doesn’t surprise us that they fell in love in real life. Both “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” have their share of iconic kisses. Gendry and Arya’s was perhaps the most long-awaited. Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s was pretty groundbreaking. However, it’s Jon and Ygritte’s kisses that really stick with us. We remember this particular scene because it feels so bittersweet. It may have been the beginning of the end, but like Ygritte, we hoped that this couple could hang on to their happiness for just a little longer.

#91: Alice Pieszecki & Dana Fairbanks

“The L Word” (2004-09)

Back in the early 2000s, “The L Word” was groundbreaking in its portrayal of lesbian sex and romance. Created by a mostly female team, it revolved around an ensemble cast of gay and bisexual women living in West Hollywood. Alice and Dana started the series as best friends, vowing never to end up in bed together. But, when Dana got engaged, unexpected feelings began to rise to the surface. In the Season One finale, Alice turned up at Dana’s apartment unannounced and confessed her feelings with a kiss. Their relationship might have been short-lived, but this passionate moment is one of the series’ most memorable.

#90: T.J. Detweiler & Ashley Spinelli

“Recess” (1997-2000)

“Recess” was a formative show for many '90s kids, and “The Experiment” is one of its most memorable episodes. The fourth graders of Third Street School are horrified when Butch relates a terrible tale of his older brother’s exploits. In doing so, he gives the gang a glimpse of an unimaginable future, where kissing is the order of the day. An experiment is launched, and T.J. and Spinelli draw the short straws. The kids of the playground gather with baited breath. The friends lock lips, and for a moment, it’s all sunshine and rainbows. But then the moment passes, they return to their senses, and we remember that they’re only 9 years old.

#89: Wade Kinsella & Zoe Hart

“Hart of Dixie” (2011-15)

#88: Jane Eyre & Mr. Rochester

“Jane Eyre” (2006)

#87: Richard Harrow & Julia Sagorsky

“Boardwalk Empire” (2010-14)

#86: Ellie & Dina

“The Last of Us” (2023-)

#85: Connell Waldron & Marianne Sheridan

“Normal People” (2020)

This memorable romantic drama is all about the chemistry between the leads and their tortured emotional journey - so there are plenty of kisses to choose from. We’ve picked one of their happier moments, when, for a short time, both Connell and Marianne are at peace with themselves and feeling secure with each other. They’re at college, they’re back together, and the uneven power dynamics feel like they have finally evened out. There’s no angst, they’re just two best friends, young and in love. It all goes wrong again quite quickly, but we’ll take the joy where we can get it.

#84: Maddie Hayes & David Addison

“Moonlighting” (1985-89)

#83: Mork & Mindy McConnell

“Mork & Mindy” (1978-82)

#82: Ed Hurley & Norma Jennings

“Twin Peaks” (1990-91, 2017)

#81: Margaret Hale & Mr. Thornton

“North & South” (2004)

#80: Kurt Hummel & Blaine Anderson

“Glee” (2009-15)

We loved Finn and Rachel, we shipped Brittany and Santana, but the award for the sweetest kiss in “Glee” has to go to Kurt and Blaine. As the only openly gay kid in school for most of the first season, Kurt had to wait a while for a serious love interest. However, in Season Two, he briefly transferred to Dalton Academy, a private school with a dashing rival Glee Club and a handsome lead singer. Back at McKinley, Kurt was used to being treated like a joke, so he never expected his crush might be returned. It took him, and us, totally by surprise when it was Blaine who fell hard first, and wasn’t afraid to act on his feelings.

#79: Sydney Bristow & Michael Vaughn

“Alias” (2001-06)

#78: Laura Ingalls Wilder & Almanzo Wilder

“Little House on the Prairie” (1974-1983)

#77: Georgia Miller & Joe Singh

“Ginny & Georgia” (2021-)

#76: Jamal Lyon & Kai Givens

“Empire” (2015-20)

#75: Jane Villanueva & Rafael Solano

“Jane the Virgin” (2014-19)

Subtle romance can be nice, but if you’re looking for unrestrained passion, drama, and big romantic gestures, look no further than the world of the telenovela. “Jane the Virgin’s” tongue-in-cheek take on the format provides us with lots of laughs, but also its fair share of kick-your-feet romantic moments. Whether you were team Rafael or committed to Michael, you have to agree that this kiss was pretty special. Jane’s decision here was a difficult one to make, but she came to it all on her own. She was rewarded with this perfect romantic moment - cue the music, the twirling, and the flower petals!

#74: Catherine the Great & Peter III of Russia

“The Great” (2020-23)

#73: Sokka & Yue

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

#72: Eve Polastri & Villanelle

“Killing Eve” (2018-22)

#71: Richard Castle & Kate Beckett

“Castle” (2009-16)

#70: Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe

“Anne of Avonlea” (1987)

Whether you discovered them through L. M. Montgomery’s books or one of the screen adaptations, can we all agree that Anne and Gilbert deserve a place among the most beloved fictional couples? Their evolution from enemies to friends, then from friends to lovers, takes a slightly different route in each version of the tale, but every time we’re gripped. Their first kiss in “Anne with an E” is very sweet. However, we think it’s topped by this memorable scene from the 1987 mini-series “Anne of Avonlea.” Gilbert Blythe might not always have been Anne Shirley’s dream man, but he’s definitely one of ours.

#69: Betty Cooper & Jughead Jones

“Riverdale” (2017-23)

#68: Alina Starkov & General Aleksander Kirigan

“Shadow and Bone” (2021-23)

#67: Jack & Ashi

“Samurai Jack” (2001-04, 2017)

#66: Will Gardner & Alicia Florrick

“The Good Wife” (2009-16)

#65: Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan & Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce

“M*A*S*H” (1972-83)

In the early seasons of “M*A*S*H*,” Major Margaret Houlihan kept herself aloof from the 4077th - when she wasn’t enforcing the rules or sparring with Hawkeye. However, it was clear that the pair had great chemistry and as the series progressed, they became good friends. Though a relationship never materialized, M*A*S*H* didn’t deny their viewers the satisfaction of a passionate kiss or two. The Hawkeye/Houlihan kiss in the grand finale was reportedly one of tv’s costliest, due to the price of placing a commercial just before the big moment. But the most dramatic kiss was their first – the night the bombs brought them together.

#64: Glenn Rhee & Maggie Greene

“The Walking Dead” (2010-22)

#63: Leo Wyatt & Piper Halliwell

“Charmed” (1998-2006)

#62: Dwayne Cleophus Wayne & Whitley Gilbert

“A Different World” (1987-93)

#61: Kevin Arnold & Winnie Cooper

“The Wonder Years” (1988-93)

#60: Edward II & Piers Gaveston

“Edward II” (1970)

In 1970, the BBC broadcast the first gay kiss on British TV – in a televised version of the Christopher Marlowe play “Edward II.” Starring Ian McKellen in the lead role, the production featured a passionate kiss between King Edward and Piers Gaveston, who was portrayed by James Laurenson. The play was also broadcast in the US. Discussing the kiss in 2022, McKellen said: "The BBC wasn't out to shock people or educate people, it was just doing a play that had a big success at the Edinburgh Festival and two seasons in London.[ ]"I think it's the first play ever with a gay hero.”

#59: Fran Fine & Maxwell Sheffield

“The Nanny” (1993-99)

#58: Otis Milburn & Maeve Wiley

“Sex Education” (2019-23)

#57: Lady Jane Grey & Lord Guildford Dudley

“My Lady Jane” (2024)

#56: Sir Pentious & Cherri Bomb

“Hazbin Hotel” (2024-)

#55: Janine Teagues & Gregory Eddie

“Abbott Elementary” (2021-)

We all love a slow-burn and “Abbott Elementary” has the sitcom romance formula off to a fine art. Dozens of little friendship moments, combined with that ever-present romantic tension, eventually led to our faves, Janine and Gregory, locking lips at the end of Season Two. However, despite that smooth move with the lanyard, the couple let the moment pass without keeping the momentum going. Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of their story. In the Season Three finale, Janine finally decides to chase down Mr. Eddie and tell him how she feels. But then there’s a ring at the doorbell… The fourth-wall-breaking kiss that followed is now permanently seared into our memory.

#54: Stede Bonnet & Edward Teach

“Our Flag Means Death” (2022-23)

#53: Lucifer Morningstar & Chloe Decker

“Lucifer” (2016-21)

#52: Josh Lyman & Donna Moss

“The West Wing” (1999-2006)

#51: Alex Karev & Izzie Stevens

“Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)

#50: Fox Mulder & Dana Scully

“The X-Files” (1993-2002, 2016-18)

Mulder and Scully’s will-they-won’t-they tension was part of what made “The X-Files” so watchable, but there’s debate over which episode features their first real kiss. We’re going to guess that the one in “Triangle” doesn’t count. It’s the first time the characters appear to kiss on-screen, but it also takes place in an alternate, 1930s reality where Scully is not really Scully. The “Millenium” kiss may not be as dramatic, but it’s much more real. The partners see in the new year together in a hospital waiting room. As they usher in a new century, they also embark on a new stage of their relationship.

#49: Luz Noceda & Amity Blight

“The Owl House” (2020-23)

#48: Arthur Pendragon & Gwen

“Merlin” (2008-12)

#47: Mary & Bash

“Reign” (2013-17)

#46: Dexter Mayhew & Emma Morley

“One Day” (2024)

#45: Blair Waldorf & Chuck Bass

“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)

It’s strange to think that at the very beginning of this seminal series, Blair and Nate – not Blair & Chuck - were the Upper East Side’s ‘It’ couple. Blair was the preppy queen bee with her sights set on Yale. Chuck was an incurable playboy with a bad reputation that was thoroughly deserved. Somehow, they just made sense. Their six-season-spanning relationship was tumultuous and often toxic. But from the moment Blair took to the stage at Chuck’s club, we knew this was the start of something exciting. Their kiss, in the cab home, was the first of many, but it’s still our favorite.

#44: Mindy Lahiri & Danny Castellano

“The Mindy Project” (2012-17)

#43: Turanga Leela & Philip J. Fry

“Futurama” (1999-2003, 2008-13, 2023-)

#42: Devi Vishwakumar & Paxton Hall-Yoshida

“Never Have I Ever” (2020-23)

#41: Raymond Holt & Kevin Cozner

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-21)

#40: Matthew & Mary Crawley

“Downton Abbey” (2010-15)

When the Titanic went down, Lady Mary Crawley lost her fiancé – but gained a potential suitor in the form of cousin Matthew, her father’s new heir. At first, Mary wasn’t Matthew’s biggest fan. He was a middle-class interloper, unjustly inheriting the estate that should have been hers. She was proud, snobbish and ready to give him hell. However, their chemistry, and Matthew’s kindness, soon began to work in his favour. We could have included more than one kiss in this list – perhaps the clandestine moment witnessed by poor Lavinia, or the scene in the snow the night the couple get engaged. But we’ve gone with the first kiss, because it perfectly sums up their relationship.

#39: Tim Canterbury & Dawn Tinsley

“The Office” (2001-03)

#38: Pacey Witter & Joey Potter

“Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003)

#37: Princess Bubblegum & Marceline the Vampire Queen

“Adventure Time” (2010-18)

#36: Penny Widmore & Desmond Hume

“Lost” (2004-10)

#35: Nick Nelson & Charlie Spring

“Heartstopper” (2022-)

On-screen teen romance has never been more adorable than the love story between Nick and Charlie, the young couple at the heart of Alice Oseman’s “Heartstopper.” In this gentle, coming-of-age tale, Charlie, an openly gay teen, develops a crush on rugby player Nick, who discovers his own bisexuality when he falls for his new best friend. The pair have a poignant, innocent chemistry as they take their first tentative steps towards true love. Their interactions are sweet enough to give you a toothache, and their first kiss is perfection. We love the umbrella kiss, too.

#34: Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy

“Harley Quinn” (2019-)

#33: Clark Kent & Lois Lane

“Smallville” (2001-11)

#32: Phineas Flynn & Isabella Garcia-Shapiro

“Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15, 2025-)

#31: Veronica Mars & Logan Echolls

“Veronica Mars” (2004-07, 2019)

#30: Lucy & Ricky Ricardo

“The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour” (1957-60)

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were the real-life married couple behind the seminal sitcom “I Love Lucy” and the spin-off series that followed. “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” ran for three years, and when it ended, so did the actors’ marriage. In the very last scene of the finale, Lucy and Ricky (AKA Desi) said an emotional goodbye to the audience, as well as to each other. The following day, Lucy filed for divorce. Later, Arnaz said: “It was a kiss that would wrap up 20 years of love and friendship, triumphs and failures, ecstasy and sex, jealousy and regrets, heartbreaks and laughter and tears.”

#29: Mickey Milkovich & Ian Gallagher

“Shameless” (2011-21)

#28: Amy Sosa & Jonah Simms

“Superstore” (2015-21)

#27: Carol Hathaway & Doug Ross

“ER” (1994-2009)

#26: Cory Matthews & Topanga Lawrence

“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)

#25: Daphne Moon & Niles Crane

“Frasier” (1993-2004)

Niles Crane’s infatuation with Daphne was one of “Frasier’s” longest running gags, but it was more than just a joke. We watched their relationship develop across seven seasons full of missed opportunities and comedy mishaps, but there were quieter moments too. We knew that they could be perfect for each other if Niles ever plucked up the courage to tell Daphne how he felt. It wasn’t the best timing, but on the eve of her wedding – to another man – Dr. Crane finally made his move. It was the moment we’d all been waiting for, and it didn’t disappoint.

#24: Ruby & Sapphire

“Steven Universe” (2013-19)

#23: Stiles Stilinski & Lydia Martin

“Teen Wolf” (2011-17)

#22: Carrie Bradshaw & Mr. Big

“Sex and the City” (1998-2004)

#21: Temperance “Bones” Brennan & Seeley Booth

“Bones” (2005-17)

#20: Sheldon Cooper & Amy Farrah Fowler

“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)

We never would have expected “The Big Bang Theory’s” most passionate kiss to come from Sheldon Cooper, of all people, but sometimes the world works in mysterious ways. Despite an IQ of 187, the theoretical physicist was never the most skilled at social interaction, and the opposite sex might as well have been a different species. Then he met Amy. They may not be a typical couple, but it’s clear that they care for each other. Technically, their first kiss took place pretty early on, but for that big romantic moment, we had to hang fire until Season Seven. It was a long wait - but it was worth it.

#19: Joanne & Noah Roklov

“Nobody Wants This” (2024-)

The golden age of the romantic comedy movie may be far behind us, but there have been some great rom-com series released in the last few years. “Nobody Wants This” is one of our favorites. The show stars Kristen Bell as a sex and dating podcaster, who agrees to a date with Adam Brody’s hot rabbi. Despite the obvious chemistry, the pair quickly comes to the conclusion that they’re just too different. But without a first kiss, can they really be so sure? Showrunner Erin Foster told Entertainment Weekly, "I really wanted to just create a moment that gave you those kinds of anticipatory, exciting feelings” - and it totally worked. The build-up to this particular kiss is what makes it so spine-tinglingly romantic.

#18: Catra & Adora

“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” (2018-20)

The original “She-Ra: Princess of Power” was a 1980s spin-off of “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” this time aimed at girls. In 2018, She-Ra found a whole new generation of fans, following a shiny new Netflix reboot. In this version, She-Ra and her childhood friend and sometime enemy, Catra, had some serious will-they-won’t-they vibes - and the viewers were invested. Although they fought on opposing sides, we were all waiting for these two soulmates to get back on the same page. The show was dogged by accusations of queer-baiting, but the Season Five finale made it abundantly clear that they were unfounded. The ladies professed their love, and their passionate kiss was the happy ending we’d all been hoping for.

#17: Claire & Jamie Fraser

“Outlander” (2014-)

“Outlander’s” Season One wedding episode was definitely a moment and cemented the show’s reputation as one of the sexiest period dramas to ever grace our screens. But it wasn’t all about the bodice-ripping - it was also seriously romantic. Claire, our heroine, begins the series as a former WW2 nurse, travelling Scotland with her husband. When she’s thrown back in time, it’s goodbye Frank and hello Jamie Fraiser - a handsome Scottish clansman who’s willing to make her a wife - again. It all sounds very complicated, but despite their unorthodox beginning, the wedding is the start of an epic love story for Claire and Jamie. And that kiss is pretty special, too.

#16: Colin Bridgerton & Penelope Featherington

“Bridgerton” (2020-)

Every season of “Bridgerton” has its own water-cooler kiss moment. For Daphne and Simon, it was their rendezvous in the maze, Anthony and Kate got passionate on the altar, and for Colin and Pen, it was the carriage scene. Penelope Featherington had been pining for the third Bridgerton brother since the very beginning, and we were all waiting for the day she would finally get her man. Their first kiss was sweet, but it was way more satisfying to see our favorite wallflower drive Colin wild with desire. We’ll never hear that Pitbull song the same way again.

#15: Buffy Summers & Angel

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Just like the “Bridgerton” fans, “Buffy” aficionados might find it hard to agree on what constitutes the show’s most iconic kiss. As lesbian relationships were still rarely given airtime back in the nineties, every kiss between Willow and Tara was kind of a big deal. Then, for the Spike fans, there’s that memorable musical episode. But of course, Buffy’s flagship romance has to be between the slayer and her angelic vampire boyfriend. When Buffy and Angel shared their first kiss, she didn’t know his secret - but he didn’t take long to enlighten her. It’s a great moment, encapsulating everything that made the show entertaining - drama, horror, romance, and comedy!

#14: Emma Swan & Captain Hook

“Once Upon a Time” (2011-18)

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a tall, dark, and handsome rogue in black leather is like catnip for the romantasy girlies. (Oh, and bonus points if he has a British accent.) With the dashing Killian Jones, “Once Upon a Time” really understood the assignment. When Hook first raised those slutty little eyebrows at Emma, we knew the Captain Swan ship was soon to set sail. Plus, a pirate captain trading his ship to save your family? That’s true love right there. It may have taken a while for that first kiss to lead to something more, but we were happy to wait and watch the romance unfold.

#13: Nathan Scott & Haley James

“One Tree Hill” (2003-12)

Was “One Tree Hill” the series that first popularized the kissing in the rain trope? The show’s flagship couple, Nathan and Haley, certainly spent a lot of time making out in a downpour - but maybe that’s what kept their romance alive for almost nine seasons. Their first rain-soaked rendezvous was also their first make-up kiss. In the Season One finale, in the aftermath of a big argument, Haley comes home to a penitent Nathan. He’s standing outside her house, preparing himself to catch pneumonia, all for a chance to say sorry and tell her that he loves her. It’s a simple romantic gesture, but it works on Haley. Who are we kidding? It would work on us, too.

#12: Summer Roberts & Seth Cohen

“The O.C.” (2003-07)

Talking of reconciliations in the rain, can we get some love for Seth and Summer and the Season Two “Spider-Man” kiss? Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst’s upside-down kiss from the 2002 “Spider-Man” movie, is probably the most iconic cinematic smooch of this century. So iconic, in fact, that a recreation - like this one in “The O.C.” can become famous in its own right. It may be only a homage, not an original move, but to give Seth his due, it’s a difficult feat to pull off. After all, Spider-Man had superpowers, but Seth was relying on his own ingenuity. It’s very impressive, really.

#11: Ned & Chuck

“Pushing Daisies” (2007-09)

“Pushing Daisies” was a darkly comic, crime-fantasy, comedy fairytale - so basically all the genres. It still managed to have a lot of heart. Lee Pace starred as Ned, a pie-maker with the gift of life and death. If you’re dead and he touches you, you come back to life. But if he touches you again, you’re dead forever. The problems arise when Ned reanimates someone he would really like to touch - for example, his childhood sweetheart, Chuck (played by Anna Friel). After our hero misadvisedly brings his beloved back from the dead, he can’t help but fall in love all over again. All is not lost, however. When it comes to kissing, they just have to get creative.

#10: James T. Kirk & Nyota Uhura

“Star Trek: The Original Series” (1966-69)

In this memorable “Star Trek” episode, William Shatner’s Kirk and Nichelle Nichols’ Uhura are compelled to kiss via psychokinesis. It was the first scripted kiss between a Black woman and a white man ever broadcast on US television. However, as the time drew near for the kiss to air, the network began to get cold feet. First, it was suggested that Spock could kiss Uhura in Kirk's place - until William Shatner insisted otherwise. Then, after the kiss was filmed, NBC decided they wanted a second take, where the couple's lips didn't actually touch. Nichols and Shatner did everything they could to sabotage the alternative take, and thanks to their efforts, it was the real kiss that eventually made it to the screen.

#9: Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable

“Kim Possible” (2002-07)

There’s nothing more wholesome than a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers couple in a show made for kids. Kim and Ron have been best friends since they were toddlers, and they’ve always had each other’s backs. Although they’re total opposites, they make the perfect team, whether they’re saving the world or just hanging out after school. She’s the action heroine, he’s the sidekick, but they’re both cool with that. His laid-back persona balances out her type A tendencies. Throughout the show, there were little moments here and there that gave us a clue to their future romantic status, but it wasn’t until the Season Three finale that our faves made it official. The kiss at the prom is the cutest.

#8: Elena Gilbert & Damon Salvatore

“The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)

Sorry, Stefan fans, but however much we love him, it was always going to be a Damon and Elena moment that scored a spot on this list. The fan-favorite couple took a long time to get together, but long-awaited kisses are the best, especially when they’ve been teased a few times. It wasn’t until midway through season three that Damon made a serious move, throwing caution (and loyalty to his brother) to the wind. Then it was Elena’s turn to make a choice. By this point, it was pretty obvious to the audience where her heart would lead her. But that didn’t make that motel kiss any less exciting.

#7: David Rose & Patrick Brewer

“Schitt’s Creek” (2015-20)

It didn’t take long for “Schitt's Creek” viewers to invest in the budding relationship between David and Patrick. Soon enough, they were everyone’s favorite couple. David was a spoiled rich kid who had always gone for the wrong kind of guys, but taking a chance on Patrick made him look at the world in a whole new way. When we first meet Patrick, he’s kind, but still discovering his sexuality. His love for David makes him brave enough to explore and live his life to the full. Their first kiss - for Patrick, his first ever, with a man - is sensitively handled and beautifully written and acted.

#6: Fleabag & the Hot Priest

“Fleabag” (2016-19)

Adapted by Phoebe Waller-Bridge from her own one-woman play, “Fleabag” was a favorite with both audiences and critics. It was funny, emotional, and went to some very dark places. However, when the show comes up in conversation, there’s one thing in particular that everybody wants to talk about - and that’s the hot priest. Andrew Scott’s unconventional and unnamed cleric first appears in Season Two. There’s immediate chemistry, and Fleabag is already obsessed. They become friends, start hanging out, eventually fall in love, and then the priest calls the whole thing off. But not before they’ve shared a very sexy kiss in the confession box.

#5: Leslie Knope & Ben Wyatt

“Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)

The Leslie and Ben love story was a huge part of the “Parks and Rec” appeal, but Adam Scott’s character didn’t actually join the cast until the end of Season Two. Along with Rob Lowe’s Chris, he came to do some budget checks, immediately butting heads with Leslie and her master plan. However, the pair soon found plenty to love and respect about each other. Sitcom romances always play second fiddle to the gags. So, we get lots of slow-burn, friends to lovers plotlines. Still, delayed gratification isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when you end up with a kiss like this one.

#4: Luke Danes & Lorelai Gilmore

“Gilmore Girls” (2000-06)

Rory Gilmore had her fair share of kisses - and the standout is probably the moment with Jess at Sookie’s wedding. However, there was one kiss we were waiting on for a very long time, and it didn’t involve Lorelai junior. In addition to the mother/daughter dynamic, the relationship between Luke and Lorelai was a real cornerstone of “Gilmore Girls.” Their easy camaraderie and warm-hearted banter were always a pleasure to witness. As their friendship deepened into something more romantic, we only grew more invested. Luke and Lorelai’s wonderfully awkward first kiss took place during the Season Four finale, 86 episodes after we first watched them flirt in the diner. At least they got there in the end.

#3: Sam Malone & Diane Chambers

“Cheers” (1982-93)

“Cheers” fans either loved or loathed Sam and Diane, but either way, they were a fascinating couple. Ted Danson’s Sam was a baseball player turned bar owner. Shelley Long’s Diane was a college grad turned cocktail waitress. Across the years, they fought and broke up, kissed and made up, but their most memorable moment has to be their very first, passionate kiss. In the build-up to the Season One finale, the writers ramped up the romantic tension. When the bartender’s brother came to town and began pursuing Diane, everyone’s feelings finally burst into the open. The resulting fiery kiss was one of the show’s most talked-about scenes, and with good reason.

#2: Ross Geller & Rachel Green

“Friends” (1994-2004)

Monica and Chandler were couple goals, Phoebe and Joey made us laugh the most, but when it comes to the best kiss in “Friends?” Ross and Rachel have it in the bag. This was the peak of the Ross and Rachel romance. He’d been pining for her throughout season one (and also the entirety of his teenage years), but never been brave enough to mention it. She’d discovered that she liked him too - just in time for him to meet someone else. This was a simpler time - before the pros and cons list, “we were on a break,” the Vegas wedding, and the accidental pregnancy. It was just a kiss in a coffee shop, but wow, that chemistry.

#1: Jessica Day & Nick Miller

“New Girl” (2011-18)

Sometimes a great TV kiss is all about context - a long build-up to a big scene, involving an iconic couple that are sure to stand the test of time. But sometimes, it’s just a very good kiss. Nick Miller and Jessica Day aren’t as well-known as many of the fictional couples on this list, but despite their relative obscurity, people remember this moment. Because it was just that hot. Earlier in the episode, the gang had been egging the pair on, encouraging them to kiss as part of a game. Nick resisted the peer pressure because when he kissed his roommate for the first time, he wanted it to be something special. I think we can all agree, he was right to wait.

What’s your favorite TV kiss of all time? Let us know in the comments!