TV's 20 best slow-burn romances

Norma (Peggy Lipton) and Ed (Everett McGill) were never supposed to happen. They couldn’t. The laws of Twin Peaks dictate Norma and Ed must sacrifice their happiness for the good of the town. He must care for his wife, Nadine (Wendy Robie), because he shot her eye out, a decision that dooms Norma to a marriage with Hank (Chris Mulkey). Twenty-five years later, as the universe of Twin Peaks folds in on itself, Nadine finally shovels herself out of the shit and gives Ed the all-clear to live his authentic life. After selling her Double R franchise, Norma, too, was finally ready. They were both free of the negativity in their lives and with Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” playing on the soundtrack, the show gives its fans what they’ve craved. In a season full of despair, David Lynch and Mark Frost rewarded their most patient characters with their happiest ending. [Matt Schimkowitz]

Sorry to everyone else on this list, but Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are the greatest slow-burn couple in television history. Their burn was so deliciously low and slow that even after they finally kissed (in the seventh season! That’s a glacial pace!), it wasn’t totally clear if and when they got together. Eventually, there was a convoluted pregnancy storyline that somehow both confirmed the relationship and made it even more opaque. But the pair’s perpetual “It’s Complicated” status is part of what made the show a success even as the lore began to fall apart.

Mulder and Scully’s deep, unshakable bond encompasses but is deeper than romance. They’re soulmates, inextricably bound together in a genuine life partnership that transcends all other relationships in their lives, equally dedicated to each other and their all-consuming but often fruitless mission. That’s the stuff of legends right there. The X-Files creator Chris Carter’s longtime resistance to the partners’ romance (and later, his cruelty in arbitrarily breaking them up and getting them back together in the movie and revival) somehow made the slow burn all the more delicious, keeping fans invested with passionate declarations and loaded touches and longing looks, much of it thanks to Duchovny and Anderson’s insane chemistry. [Mary Kate Carr]

This is a rare TV romance in which true love’s progress was impeded, at different points, by the deaths of both of its members. The love story between John Chrichton (Ben Browder), an Earthman trapped in space, and Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), who was raised by fascists but is trying to be better, is the longest-running story arc of Farscape’s four-seasons-and-a-miniseries run.

The attraction is obvious from day one, as Black expertly portrays Aeryn’s disgust at her desire for this backward, idealistic, frequently obnoxious alien. But the love part has a lot of trauma to fight its way through, as Aeryn and John both spend huge parts of the show daring the other to say “I love you” first—only to have some kind of sci-fi tragedy (brain-hijacking, alien conquerors, and, yes, literal, actual death) inevitably get in the way each time. When it lands, though, Crichton and Aeryn become one of genre TV’s great power couples, a pair of badasses happy to point a gun at the head of the universe if it keeps the things that they love safe. [William Hughes]

Relationships came and went on Gilmore Girls, but Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) was always and forever. From the moment he appeared onscreen, he had crackling chemistry with Lorelai (Lauren Graham). Her cheerful, non-stop chatterbox somehow just worked with Luke’s lovable curmudgeon, especially because in the early seasons he mostly made his devotion known through actions, not words. (Building Lorelai the Chuppah for her wedding to another man? Swoon.) He was the only man who showed up for the Gilmore girls every time, always there when they needed him, always a supportive friend and pseudo-father figure to Rory (Alexis Bledel).

The years of banter consummated in a perfect kiss at the end of the fourth season, and it was so obvious this couple was meant for the long run that the writers had to throw an utterly random wrench into the situation (in the form of Luke’s controversial long-lost daughter) just to break them up in the sixth season. It takes a while for them to finally get back together (at the end of the seventh season) and even longer for them to finally get married (years later, in the Netflix A Year In The Life revival), and enough of this series’ time is spent with them apart that this counts as a true slow burn. But when it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, and that was pretty clear from the first episode. [Mary Kate Carr]

“Dawn was a ray of sunshine in my life, and it meant a lot. But, if I’m really being honest, I never really thought it would have a happy ending.” So explains Tim (Martin Freeman, fantastic here) in a talking-head confessional as his former coworker/longtime crush Dawn (Lucy Davis) drives away and, presumably, out of his life in the closing minutes of The Office. Philosophically, the mockumentary always avoided happy endings. (Tim’s “She said no, by the way” admission, after he confessed his feelings for her—off mic, a brilliant aesthetic choice—in season two, was absolutely gutting.) This makes Dawn’s appearance in the background—and the duo’s subsequent first kiss—after that fade-out of her leaving Slough all the more off-brand and surprising. All these years later, it still makes me well up. [Tim Lowery]

To state the obvious, one half of this legendary Grey’s Anatomy couple is dead while the other isn’t a series regular anymore. So yes, their romance is a dagger to the heart because of how it ends, but Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) still gifted us with 11 seasons of a giddy love story. Their rollercoaster ride begins with a hookup, but the early, blissful relationship is doomed when his wife shows up. They’re on and off for quite a while after that, with every longing look, emotional elevator exchange, and an attempt at friendship twisting that dagger more each time. But “MerDer” could never just be pals. They were destined to be extraordinary. [Saloni Gajjar]

Ken Cosgrove couldn’t write a short story sadder than Peggy’s (Elisabeth Moss) romantic life. Her most successful ones ended in a stabbing, and she already gave up a child for copywriting. Which is all to say: Peggy and Stan (Jay R. Ferguson) getting together never felt like a forgone conclusion—though it should have. Stan’s first episode ends with him and Peggy stripping naked so Peggy can call his bluff. Their contentious relationship gave way to mutual respect, admiration, and attraction, but always in the background. It just didn’t seem like the show was heading there. But when it happens, it’s so obvious in retrospect. Sticking out among the sad sendoffs in “Person To Person,” Peggy and Stan’s rom-com conclusion was a warm, gooey center and a welcome surprise for Mad Men fans. [Matt Schimkowitz]

Let’s get into some classic #enemiestolovers type stuff for a second: The flirtation between initially malevolent hacker Root (Amy Acker, in her best TV role ever) and former government assassin Sameen Shaw (Sarah Shahi) starts mid-torture, with Shaw tased and zip-tied to a chair while Root threatens her with a burning-hot clothes iron. (Shahi and Acker are igniting a years-long ’ship here pretty much just with their eyes, pinging off the energy their co-star is putting down.)

What follows is a very slow, surprisingly charming courtship between two people who are, by most metrics, sociopaths, gradually turning from sexually charged banter to something more genuine as the seasons of Jonathan Nolan’s deceptively excellent techno-thriller progress. Although most of the more emotionally open moments between these two crazy killers happen in dreams or computer simulations, the show makes it clear that the connection is real, a little light of kindness in a world in constant danger of being crushed by the machines. [William Hughes]

From the moment Leslie told Ben, “You may hold my fate in your hands like a small bird, but I still think you’re an ass,” it was obvious they were perfect for each other. Still, it took the duo a full season to finally admit it to themselves after the former came in hot with her disdain for the latter when Ben was introduced as a numbers guy trying to cut back her beloved department. Even after they kissed for the first time (and what a great kiss it was), Ben and Leslie had to keep their relationship secret under the threat of losing their jobs. When they finally got together for real, it was clear that—no matter what happened—we were witnessing the journey of one of the greatest sitcom couples of all time. In their own words, “I love you and I like you.” [Emma Keates]

What started as an off-the-cuff joke with an actor who wasn’t even supposed to be on the show turned into Glee’s best couple. When Brittany (Heather Morris) blurted out in the middle of season one that if sex meant dating, she and Santana (Naya Rivera) would be dating, the other kids at McKinley High side-eyed them and moved on. But even early on, it was a safe bet that Brittany and Santana were probably soulmates. What was less sure was whether Santana would be able to accept herself enough to act on it. Of course, this is a six-season, high-school TV show, so there were breakups for a lot of characters, especially as some of the kids went off to college in New York. But these two were a convincing end game, even if they did, confusingly, walk down the aisle to Outkast’s “Hey Ya.” [Drew Gillis]

With Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel), it was less of a will-they-won’t-they and more of a when-will-they. Over seven seasons, the couple got together, broke up, got back together, and broke up again so many times that it should have been tiresome. But every time they called it quits, it felt more like self-sabotage than a genuine “Actually we’re not romantically compatible” issue. And the chemistry between Johnson and Deschanel, coupled with how their characters were meant to be together, made it easy to root for them. Even while they were busy trying to convince themselves that their very clearly written-in-the-stars romance was doomed, viewers were always certain they would end up together. And they did, and it was great. [Jen Lennon]

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the love story between Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) begins, but Jake once traced it back to the time he won a bet and made her go on the worst date ever with him as a form of hazing—or, as he would later refer to the stunt, “the night you flirted with me for 20 seconds and I became obsessed with you forever.” For two seasons we hung onto every little hint of feelings between them, waiting for something to happen—from Jake admitting he was hoping for “romantic styles” to Amy’s double hair tuck (her tell when she liked someone). After proving that neither of them could sustain a relationship with anyone else, they made it official in the season-two finale “Johnny And Dora.” Somewhere in the middle of an undercover assignment where they had to pretend to be a fake couple, they became a real one. [Cindy White]

Dedicated scientists and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Leopold Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) worked side by side in various labs for 10 years without ever exploring their deeper feelings for each other. It took a near-death experience at the bottom of the ocean for Fitz to finally confess his love, romantically offering to sacrifice himself by giving her the last breath of oxygen. They survived the ordeal, but that was only the beginning of their struggles to be together. There were so many obstacles thrown in their path throughout the show’s seven seasons—including separation by space, time, and even death—it became a running joke that the two of them were cursed by the universe. Yet in the end, they ultimately managed to overcome everything to get to the happy ending they deserved. [Cindy White]

I’ve always been Team Rafael (Justin Baldoni), so watching Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and his relationship develop, devolve, flourish, flounder, and finally succeed throughout Jane The Virgin is a pretty spectacular experience. Sorry to the Michael fans but Raf was always endgame. They just needed to take their sweet, sweet time to grow as individual people before becoming a proper couple. After a brief meet cute, their paths crossed when she gets accidentally artificially inseminated with his child. (If that’s not a weirdo sign from the universe, what is?) They deal with some insane hurdles, including a face-changing villain who kidnaps their child. But JTV uses its soap opera-level theatrics to dig into why, against all odds, Jane and Raf are perfect for each other. [Saloni Gajjar]

Not even literal Hell could keep Lucifer (Tom Ellis) and Chloe Decker (Lauren German) apart, and this Lucifer fan thanks her lucky stars every day for that. The procedural sounds ridiculous on paper: The Devil has forsaken torturing the dead, lives in L.A. to run a nightclub, and assists the cops because he has the power to make people confess their desires. The only human he can’t read is Chloe. In turn, she’s drawn to his bashful and annoying personality. Lucifer reveals over time they were destined for love, but it doesn’t happen quickly or easily. For the first few seasons, Chloe doesn’t know who Lucifer is, even if he repeatedly tells her. Can’t blame a girl for not believing him, right? And once she finds out, she doesn’t run for the hills. While solving murders and running from supernatural beings, they form an unshakable connection that no one—not even God or other angels/demons—can challenge. [Saloni Gajjar]

Has any couple been more slow-burn than the one that waited a thousand eternities to finally spend one last one together? Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Eleanor (Kristen Bell) started their afterlives as fake soulmates hand-picked to torture each other. Any therapist worth their salt would tell you that that’s not exactly a great way to start a relationship. Still, no matter what any of the actual demons from Hell unleashed upon them, those crazy kids continued to find their way back to one another over and over and over again—literally. At one point, it’s revealed that demon architect Michael wiped their memories and forced them to start fresh more than 800 times.

That’s why it’s so devastating when they finally manage to get together one last time sans the threat of a reboot, and Chidi still has to sacrifice their relationship for the good of the group (and the world). It all works out in the end, but not without giving us one of the most emotionally devastating series finales in recent memory. Nothing could have been more fitting for the two saviors of the human race. [Emma Keates]

There are slow burns and then there’s longing that lasts for literal millenia. The angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and the demon Crowley (David Tennant) met at the beginning of time and haven’t been able to stay away from each other since. Throughout the eons, they keep finding excuses to meet up because in truth they have more in common with each other than they do with their own factions. While the forces of Heaven and Hell wage their eternal war, these two spend their days on Earth acquiring a taste for simple pleasures like food, music, books, and vintage cars. They’re so attached to the world (and, secretly, to each other) that they’re willing to defy their leadership to prevent armageddon. As of the end of season two, only Crowley has openly declared his desire to run away together. Aziraphlale wasn’t ready for it at the time, but the show’s not over yet, so this slow burn still simmers on. [Cindy White]

I’m aware that Normal People’s romance is different from most of the choices on this list. This is no 20-minute sitcom with a guaranteed happy ending or a sci-fi drama wherein the couple battles cosmic forces beyond their control. Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne’s (Daisy Edgar-Jones) trajectory is rooted in reality to the extent that it feels like a stab to the heart. Their journey from secretly hooking up in high school to rekindling a friendship in college to gradually falling in love (while living in different places) is so moving, thanks in large part to the chemistry between the two stars. Normal People’s romance has everything—sex, tears, sincerity, tragedy, longing, laughs. It’s all utterly human, which makes their relatable slow-burn, which takes place over several years, feel special. Despondent, sure, but special nevertheless. [Saloni Gajjar]

The heart of Abbott Elementary has always been the romance between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James William). Like the popular workplace comedies it recalls—The Office, Parks And Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine—Abbott crafts a heartwarming love story with two coworkers as they reckon with their feelings and the complications that come with dating a colleague. Hopefully, this sweet will-they-won’t-they is paving the way for they-absolutely-did, and we don’t have to torture ourselves and patiently wait for their love to bloom. [Saloni Gajjar]

Severance is a strange, high-concept show, and it’s the humanity of its expertly drawn characters that keep the drama from completely flying away into the ether. Leads Mark (Adam Scott) and Helly (Britt Lower) sort of have a flirtation, sure, but the real romance of the series is between Irving (John Turturro) and Burt (Christopher Walken). What keeps the coals burning is the fact that, despite an immediate attraction, they don’t know each other from Adam outside of their severed workplace. The first (and still to date only) season of the show ends on a bitter cliffhanger as Irving realizes that Burt has a wife and family on the outside. Of course, that’s not game over; it’s just a roadblock, and hopefully, this keeps burning when we get season two in… 2027? [Drew Gillis]