43 of the Most Memorable First Kisses on TV

In the pantheon of TV first kisses, the first smooch between this "New Girl" will-they-won't-they pair has to be near the top of the list. After two seasons of slowly growing romantic tension, Nick and Jess refuse to kiss for the entertainment of their friends, but when alone in the apartment, Nick shocks Jess with one very intense kiss that she eagerly reciprocates.

Season 2, episode 15

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" gives us plenty of memorable ships, including the romance between witches Willow and Tara. The couple's relationship is hinted at since season four, but it isn't until the devastating season five episode "The Body" that their tender first kiss is shown on screen.

Season 5, episode 16

From the beginning of "The Vampire Diaries," there's always a spark of something in the bickering, occasionally antagonistic interactions between human teenager Elena and bad-boy vampire Damon. It isn't until midway through season three, however, in a moment of high emotions for both of them that Damon throws caution to the wind and kisses Elena for real.

Season 3, episode 10

When "Dawson's Creek" first starts, it seems obvious that the show is aiming to pair up childhood BFFs Dawson and Joey. Over the first few seasons, though, it becomes clear that there's a noticeable connection brewing between Joey and Pacey instead, as their bickering starts to sound more like flirting. It takes nearly three full seasons, but when Pacey points out the obvious romance of their relationship and finally kisses her, it feels like it was always supposed to be them

Season 3, episode 17

Logan and Veronica don't seem to even like each other very much when they first cross paths on "Veronica Mars." A few investigations and shared vulnerable moments later, though, the attraction between them starts to shine through. When Veronica finally gives Logan a tentative kiss, he responds with a second kiss that proves to all of us that this is, in fact, an "epic" love story in the making.

Season 1, episode 18

We can debate all day long about which of Rory's boyfriends on "Gilmore Girls" is really her best match, but when it comes to first kisses, it's hard to argue with the Rory/Jess pairing. A full season of bickering friendship and high drama all lead up to this moment when Rory, surprised to see Jess returned to town, impulsively kisses him — before running away in a most Gilmore way.

Season 2, episode 22

You think your favorite ship has a slow burn? Try being a fan of "The West Wing" power duo Josh and Donna, whose indelible connection is clear from the very first episode but took nearly seven seasons to admit. Upon getting some unexpectedly fantastic poll results during a presidential campaign, Josh impulsively kisses Donna once in celebration — and then again, with clearly romantic intent this time.

Season 7, episode 13

Of all the many (many) romances on "Glee" throughout the series, the couple with the best first kiss absolutely have to be Kurt and Blaine. Sharing a tender emotional moment, Blaine finally admits that he just wants to spend more time with Kurt. When they finally kiss, it's what fans had been waiting for since that memorable "Teenage Dream" introduction.

Season 2, episode 16

Most of the first season of "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" sees Zoey in a love triangle between work crush Simon and BFF Max. In the super-emotional season finale, Zoey finally realizes that Max has been there all along and plants a kiss on him, only for more complications to make their budding romance a bit of a challenge.

Season 1, episode 12

It's the kiss that everyone has seen, or at least seen a parody of. Bar coworkers Sam and Diane spend the entire first season of "Cheers" bickering, but anyone could see that there's more than one kind of tension between them. In the season finale, yet another argument turns into them getting closer and closer into each other's space before admitting that their arguing is basically foreplay — and promptly locking lips.

Season 1, episode 22

More than a few near-misses precede the "real" first kiss between "Arrow"'s Oliver and Felicity. After their attempt at going on a real first date is thwarted by the arrival of yet another threat, Oliver tries to pull away from Felicity for her own safety — but not before confessing he loves her and giving her a heartbreaking first kiss.

Season 3, episode 1

The sci-fi crime-solving partners of "The X-Files" rings in the new millennium with a relationship milestone. For seven seasons, their relationship is always intense and close, but the show refuses to confirm anything romantic. As they watch the ball drop on a TV on New Year's Eve, Mulder leans over, simply kisses Scully, and then jokes, "The world didn't end." He could have been talking about the turn of the millennium and the Y2K scare, but we all know what he really means.

Season 7, episode 4

Fresh off of multiple heartbreaks, Callie isn't looking for love when perky peds surgeon Arizona introduces herself in the bathroom at Joe's Bar. After giving Callie a sweet pep talk (and alluding to the fact that the beloved pastime of the entire "Grey's Anatomy" hospital is gossip), Arizona surprises Callie by planting a kiss on her, then walking away.

Season 5, episode 14

Throughout season one of the spy comedy "Chuck," it seems like the crush Chuck nurses on his CIA handler, Sarah, is totally unrequited. When the pair find themselves on a rooftop with a bomb seconds from detonating, it turns out Sarah has been hiding some feelings of her own. Believing they have moments to live, Sarah yanks Chuck into a kiss that he absolutely reciprocates . . . which makes things very awkward when no bomb goes off after all.

Season 1, episode 9

It's tough not to love a friends-to-lovers storyline like Jackson and April's on "Grey's Anatomy." Giddy off a moment of confidence, April impulsively kisses her longtime pal Jackson the night before their medical board exams. It's somehow very sweet and very hot all at the same time, which feels just right for them.

Season 8, episode 21

Too often, teen TV shows forgo the realistic awkwardness of first love in favor of high-intensity drama. That's what makes the awkward back-and-forth surrounding Syd and Elena's first kiss on "One Day at a Time" so sweet. After accidentally making Syd think she isn't interested anymore, Elena goes out to the fire escape to admit her feelings for them and pull them into a kiss — even with a police helicopter overhead!

Season 2, episode 5

Over the years, "Outlander" has gained a very steamy reputation, and it all starts with this wedding episode. Although not technically their first chronologically (they do share a brief kiss at their wedding ceremony), the wedding-night kiss and love scene between Jamie and Claire is the first time we really get to see the scorching-hot chemistry between them in action.

Season 1, episode 7

On "Once Upon a Time," Emma has plenty of love interests over the first few seasons. The one that sticks, though, is the bickering dynamic she shares with Captain Hook. Their relationship evolves from enemies to allies and even friends, with a simmering undercurrent of attraction the whole time. When Emma kisses Hook to prove a point during a quest in Neverland, that isn't pixie dust flying around them — just sparks.

Season 3, episode 5

There's nothing quite like "event television" to make the perfect circumstances for an epic first kiss! In the post-Super Bowl episode of "Alias," agents Sydney and Vaughn finally let their feelings out in the open with a passionate and long-awaited kiss amidst the rubble of a destroyed organization's headquarters.

Season 2, Episode 13

Lucy and Wyatt are the high-tension, will-they-won't-they duo of the time-travel drama "Timeless." The attraction between them is obvious — but so are the issues keeping them apart. It makes sense, then, that their first kiss happens not as "them," but while they're undercover on a mission. When they break apart, though, it's very clear that the lines between pretend and real feelings are blurred more than they were expecting.

Season 1, Episode 9

The heart of "Castle" is always the bantering, exasperated sexual tension between crime novelist Rick Castle and police detective Kate Beckett. It's not all that surprising, then, that their first kiss actually happens while on a case. Trying to keep a suspect they're tailing from figuring out what they're up to, Castle pulls Beckett into the classic "fake-out make out." The reasons may be fake, but the feelings the kiss stirs up are very real.

Season 3, episode 13

For the first two seasons of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," the romantic tension slowly develops between colleagues Jake and Amy despite their very different personalities. After a few "fake" kisses while they're undercover on a mission, a major shift in the dynamics at their precinct leads to Jake finally going in for the real first kiss during a conversation with Amy — and it's absolutely worth the turmoil to get there.

Season 2, episode 23

Over the first two seasons of the sci-fi drama "Fringe," Peter and Olivia's connection grows from reluctant allies to a tenuous, tentative romance. When Peter lands in a parallel universe, Olivia goes after him. Her plea for him to come back with her, "because you belong with me," doesn't fix the problems of two universes, but it does lead to a kiss two seasons in the making!

Season 2, episode 22

Comedy confidants Lenny and Midge aren't meant to be more than friends on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," but the electrifying chemistry between them turns out to be too much for them (and us) to ignore. There are a few near-misses in previous seasons, but trapped in a hotel room during a blizzard, the pair have nothing to do but trade loaded glances and conversation before finally giving viewers what they wanted with an achingly romantic kiss and love scene.

Season 4, episode 8

The second season of "Bridgerton" is all about the maddeningly intense attraction between Anthony and Kate. Despite their mutual loathing turned lusting, Anthony still tries to go through with his promise to marry Edwina only for the wedding to be called off when his real feelings become clear. Left alone in the abandoned chapel, Anthony and Kate bid each other a heartbroken farewell, but not before sharing their searing and passionate first (and, they then believe, only) kiss.

Season 2, episode 6