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TV’s 60 Longest-Awaited First Kisses From NCIS, Arrow, Abbott Elementary, JAG, X-Files, Big Bang and More Shows
TV Longest Awaited First Kisses
Courtesy of CBS (3), ABC and The CW
When it comes to that first kiss, it’s all about the buildup — and our favorite TV shows certainly love to make us wait for that much-anticipated first smooch.
But which small-screen couple waited the most episodes before they locked lips?
Well, TVLine tackled the arduous math, considering dozens of Will They/Won’t They pairs and tabulating exactly how many episodes it took them to share that first, big kiss. The latest results — recently expanded to a Top 60 (plus a tie) and sorted from shortest to longest wait — are updated with several “firsts” from the past 18 months and the inclusion of a few overlooked oldies-but-goodies (wow, that pivotal JAG peck was hard to pinpoint).
♦ This is a quantitive, not a qualitative, list, based solely on the number of episodes until that First Kiss was shared. Before you bellow, “So-and-so’s smooch deserves to be here!!!,” do the math.
♦ We limited our list to real and meaningful kisses, so you won’t find fleeting one-offs, “undercover” lip-locks or imagined/dream smooches.
♦ In the case of characters who were introduced later in a show’s run, we calculated from the destined duo’s first shared episode.
Note: Though we have expanded the list to Top 60, we nonetheless blow a fond, farewell kiss to the couples who slipped off the chart over the years: “CaptainSwan” (24 episodes), “Deckerstar” (24) and Grey’s docs Alex and Jo (24), plus “Avalance,” “Malec,” Parks and Rec’s Leslie/Ben, “LoVe,” The Nanny and Mr. Sheffield, Game of Thrones‘ Missandei/Grey Worm, Moonlighting‘s Dave/Maddie, and, yes, even Cheers‘ Sam/Diane.
Which couple tops our tally, with a whopping 190 (!) episodes before their first kiss? Scroll through the list below to find out, then hit the comments to let us know which wait was the most torturous for you.
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Image Credit: Paramount+ screenshot -
Keefe and Kelvin, Righteous Gemstones
Image Credit: Max screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 8
Wait Time: 26 episodes
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Chidi and Eleanor, The Good Place
Image Credit: NBC screenshot -
Pam and Jim, The Office
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 22 (Note: Pam also drunkenly kissed Jim in Season 2, Episode 1.)
Wait Time: 28 episodes
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Janine and Gregory, Abbott Elementary
Image Credit: ABC First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 16
Wait Time: 29 episodes
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Kiara and JJ, Outer Banks
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 9
Wait Time: 29 episodes
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Elizabeth and Lucas, When Calls the Heart
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 8, Episode 12 (Note: Chris McNally joined the series as Lucas in Season 6, Episode 2)
Wait Time: 31 episodes
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Ross and Rachel, Friends
Image Credit: Max screenshot First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 7 (Note: Rachel also briefly planted a kiss on Ross at the laundromat in Season 1, Episode 5.)
Wait Time: 31 episodes
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Max and Helen, New Amsterdam
Image Credit: NBC screenshot -
Amy and Jonah, Superstore
Image Credit: NBC screenshot -
Joyce and Hopper, Stranger Things
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 9
Wait Time: 34 episodes
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Sookie and Eric, True Blood
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 10
Wait Time: 34 episodes
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Sydney and Vaughn, Alias
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 13
Wait Time: 35 episodes
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Stiles and Lydia, Teen Wolf
Image Credit: Courtesy of MTV -
Jack and Renee, 24
Image Credit: Fox screenshot -
Lois and Clark, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Image Credit: HBO Max screenshot First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 16
Wait Time: 37 episodes
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Mindy and Danny, The Mindy Project
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 14
Wait Time: 38 episodes
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Spencer and Olivia, All American
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 7
Wait Time: 39 episodes
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Jess and Nick, New Girl
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 15
Wait Time: 39 episodes
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Jason and Mandy, SEAL Team
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 20 (Watch above at the 3:20 mark.)
Wait Time: 40 episodes (Note: Jason became a widower in early Season 2.)
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Root and Shaw, Person of Interest
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 11
Wait Time: 41 episodes (Note: Shaw was introduced in Season 2, Episode 16, which is when she first crossed paths with Root.)
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Annie and Auggie, Covert Affairs
Image Credit: Peacock screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 16 (no video available)
Wait Time: 43 episodes
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Peter and Olivia, Fringe
Image Credit: Fox screenshot First Kiss: Season 2, Episode 22 TV
Wait Time: 43 episodes
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Carson and Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 1
Wait Time: 44 episodes (including Christmas episodes)
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Jake and Amy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Image Credit: Courtesy of Universal Television -
Oliver and Felicity, Arrow
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 1
Wait Time: 45 episodes (Note: Felicity was introduced in Season 1, Episode 3.)
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AJ and Mina, The Resident
Image Credit: Fox screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 1
Wait Time: 47 episodes (Note: AJ was introduced in Season 1, Episode 12.)
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Barry and Iris, The Flash
Image Credit: CW screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 2 (Note: Barry and Iris kissed in Season 1, Episode 15, but Barry’s subsequent and accidental travel backwards in time erased it from the main timeline. Either way, they make the cut!)
Wait Time: 48 episodes
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Fitz and Simmons, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC -
Joey and Pacey, Dawson’s Creek
Image Credit: Columbia TriStar Television First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 17 (Note: Pacey also briefly kissed Joey in Season 1, but she pushed him away.)
Wait Time: 52 episodes
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Nancy and Ace, Nancy Drew
Image Credit: The CW Screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 3
Wait Time: 52 episodes
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Michonne and Rick, The Walking Dead
Image Credit: AMC screenshot First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 10
Wait Time: 52 episodes (Note: Michonne was introduced in Season 2, Episode 13, but didn’t meet Rick until Season 3, Episode 7.)
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Klaus and Cami, The Originals
Image Credit: CW screenshot First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 9
Wait Time: 53 episodes
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Damon and Elena, The Vampire Diaries
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW First Kiss: Season 3, Episode 10 (Note: Elena also kissed Damon while he was asleep in Season 2, Episode 22.)
Wait Time: 54 episodes
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Brienne and Jaime, Game of Thrones
Image Credit: HBO screenshot First Kiss: Season 8, Episode 4 (Note: Brienne was introduced in Season 2, Episode 3, but did not meet Jaime until Season 2, Episode 7.)
Wait Time: 55 episodes
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Halstead and Upton, Chicago P.D.
Image Credit: NBC screenshot First Kiss: Season 8, Episode 3
Wait Time: 70 episodes (Note: Upton was introduced in Season 4, Episode 21.)
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Shawn and Juliet, Psych
Image Credit: USA Network screenshot First Kiss: Season 5, Episode 9 (Watch it above, starting around the 1:50 mark.)
Wait Time: 72 episodes
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Lucy and Tim, The Rookie
Image Credit: Hulu screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 22 (Yes, it was “practice” for going undercover, but…. It got real.)
Wait Time: 76 episodes
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Thomas and Juliet, Magnum P.I.
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 20 (Note: “Miggy” kissed in Season 4, Episode 1, but in an imagining of a scene from Thomas’ book.)
Wait time: 76 episodes
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Dwayne and Whitley, A Different World
Image Credit: Carsey-Werner Productions First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 8 (Note: Though Whitley gave Dwayne a coquettish peck on at least two separate occasions prior, we counted this as the couple’s first kiss because it’s the first one in which they both participated.)
Wait Time: 77 episodes
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Kensi and Deeks, NCIS: Los Angeles
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 24 (Note: “Densi” kissed in Season 3, Episode 22, but as part of an undercover ruse.)
Wait Time: 78 episodes
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Rick and Kate, Castle
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 23 (Note: Their 3×13 kiss was initiated in the name of hiding from a baddie.)
Wait Time: 81 episodes
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Sheldon and Amy, The Big Bang Theory
Image Credit: HBO Max screenshot First Kiss: Season 7, Episode 15 (Note: Amy technically planted a drunken kiss on Sheldon in Season 4, Episode 21, but it was not reciprocated.)
Wait Time: 87 episodes
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Luke and Lorelai, Gilmore Girls
Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television First Kiss: Season 4, Episode 22
Wait Time: 87 episodes
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House and Cuddy, House
Image Credit: Fox screenshot First Kiss: Season 5, Episode 6
Wait Time: 92 episodes
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Buffy and Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Image Credit: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox TV First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 7 (Note: The pair also kissed under a spell in Season 4’s “Something Blue,” and Buffy kissed Spike while pretending to be the BuffyBot in Season 5.)
Wait Time: 93 episodes (Note: Spike was introduced in Season 2, Episode 3.)
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Booth and Brennan, Bones
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 5, Episode 16 (Note: This kiss actually occurred years prior and was shown via flashback, but nonetheless it took 100 episodes for viewers to see it. Also, BnB did kiss in Season 3 under a mistletoe, a bit perfunctorily, so… revisit our rules.)
Wait Time: 100 episodes
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Donna and Harvey, Suits
Image Credit: USA Network First Kiss: Season 7, Episode 10 (Note: The pair also shared a dream kiss in Season 6, Episode 11, and viewers learned via a flashback in Season 4, Episode 16, that Donna and Harvey once had sex in the past.)
Wait Time: 102 episodes
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Nick and Ellie, NCIS
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 18, Episode 16
Wait Time: 108 episodes (Note: Nick was introduced in Season 14.)
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Coulson and May, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Image Credit: ABC screenshot First Kiss: Season 5, Episode 21 (Note: “Philinda” previously appeared to kiss in Season 4, Episode 12, but May turned out to be an LMD.)
Wait Time: 109 episodes
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Mac and Harm, JAG
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 22
Wait Time: 110 episodes (Note: Catherine Bell debuted as Mac in Season 2.)
Clark and Lois, Smallville
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Television screenshot First Kiss: Season 9, Episode 6
Wait Time: 114 episodes (Note: Lois was introduced in Season 4.)
Stefan and Caroline, The Vampire Diaries
Image Credit: CW screenshot First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 14
Wait Time: 125 episodes
Casey and Brett, Chicago Fire
First Kiss: Season 9, Episode 2
Wait Time: 135 episodes (Note: Brett was introduced in Season 3.)
Jane and Lisbon, The Mentalist
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 6, Episode 22
Wait Time: 138 episodes
Scully and Mulder, The X-Files
Image Credit: Fox screenshot First Kiss: Season 7, Episode 4
Wait Time: 143 episodes
Rollins and Carisi, Law & Order: SVU
Image Credit: NBC screenshot First Kiss: Season 22, Episode 16
Wait Time: 145 episodes (Note: Kelli Giddish joined the cast in Season 13, Peter Scanavino became a series regular in early Season 16.)
Josh and Donna, The West Wing
Image Credit: NBC First Kiss: Season 7, Episode 13
Wait Time: 146 episodes
Niles and Daphne, Frasier
Image Credit: NBC screenshot First Kiss: Season 7, Episode 24
Wait Time: 168 episodes
Sara and Gil, CSI
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 8, Episode 7
Wait Time: 171 episodes (Note: Jorja Fox first appeared in the series’ second episode.)
Tony and Ziva, NCIS
Image Credit: CBS screenshot First Kiss: Season 11, Episode 02 (Note: “Tiva” kissed in Season 3, Episode 8, but as part of an undercover ruse.)
Wait Time: 190 episodes (Note: Ziva first appeared in Season 3.)
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And we’re still waiting for Olivia and Elliot. Although they are in different shows now.
Is it just me or these writers really have us out here in these streets waiting a mighty long time for our fav pairings too get it together.
Hmmm…I’m not sure where you’re getting your info from, but Nancy and Ace from Nancy Drew never really kissed. It was a fake reality. They also didn’t kiss in that picture that was posted either. The barometer breaking interrupted them from actually kissing. If they had really kissed, I would have definitely remembered.
Ah yes — been so long, our memory was foggy! Fixed. (Maybe next update…?) –Mgmt.
Thanks for including Hook and Emma from OUAT.
Technically Booth and Brennan kissed on Bones for the first time in Season 3. The Christmas episode, under the mistletoe. It was memorable, but yeah, the 100th episode was more meaningful.
I think Jane and Lisbon are even higher (lower?) on the list than previous entries. That makes me happy. My forever OTP.
I was much more a fan of Klaroline, then Klammie and Steroline. NCIS Tony and Ziva is definately my favorite!
As someone who hopes Elliot and Olivia on L&O SVU kiss at some point…
*stares into the void*
(one day, one day)
Oh I feel it comes truely… the next time Chris is on SVU will be the moment when everything comes out… Lewis, Burton EVERY torture filled thing Olivia has ever endured
Hasn’t it taken 34 episodes for Midge & Lenny to kiss on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? I can’t remember them kissing before the season 4 finale.
Or does it not count because Lenny wasn’t in every episode? Which is fair.
Brett and Casey…I miss them. ❤️🥹
Elliot & Olivia, SVU
Episode: Season 45, episode 22
Wait time: 990 episodes
Haaaaa!!!
No Felicity & Ben, Jordan & Angela, or Buffy & Angel?!! What?? I’d pick Buffy & Angel over her & Spike any day. Also never a fan of Donna & Harvey from Suits. They had no romantic chemistry. I did love Joey & Pacey, though! They had awesome chemistry!! Still love those two!
Buffy & Angel kissed in the 7th episode. This isn’t about who you would pick. It’s about length of time.
No Klaus and Caroline? 5×11, the hundredth episode, pretty big one to overlook!
No Kyle and Isobel from Roswell, NM? That had to be around episode 45? and I was so happy the wait was finally over.
Suits – Donna & Harvey; Frasier – Niles & Daphne; and NCIS – Tony & Ziva are my FAV romantic couples!!!
I knew Jay and Hayley were gonna be on the list. I personally was never a supporter of that relationship and time proved me right.
Also with Emma and Hook its kinda tricky because I found his character to be annoying. If anything I was more excited when it was a possibility of her being pregnant than them kissing.
Rather ageist of you not to include Adama’s and Roslin’s first romantic kiss in Battlestar Galactica. Isn’t four years long enough to be included? If you’re going to include House and
Fringe first kisses, then I would assume it’s not about the age of the series.
FYI, Just re: Mac and Harm from JAG, Mac didn’t appear until S1 E22 (last ep of S1), there were only 15 eps in S2, then 24 in S3, in S4 and 25 in S5 plus the 22 in S6 means the total should have been 111 episodes.
They are still high on the list, but just a couple of spots lower.
Good catch! Easy to forget Mac wasn’t always there. JAG has been adjusted (to 110 episodes), lowered only a couple of spots. –Mgmt.
FYI, re: Spike and Buffy. Spike first appeared in S2 ep3 and was only in 12 eps of S2, 1 ep in S3 and wasn’t a series regular until S4 ep 6 (also appeared in S4 ep3) so the episode count should have been 60 for Spike and Buffy, not 93.
It seems odd to me to count episodes a character is not in for the count (especially when not a series regular) -> one thing if the actor was on the show and a series regular but just not in the episode, but when an actor doesn’t get credit for the episode is another. JMO.
I thought about that and wondered as much for another couple, but it gets tricky as there are others on the list where one is not in every episode after they’ve debuted and would require a complete adjustment of thinking the count. But more importantly, if you are waiting for the couple to kiss, it doesn’t matter if one of the characters is in that episode or not, you still have to wait through that episode for it to happen. The list is assuming most people will watch the series in order and not just skip around to the episodes that feature both characters.
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For me, it’s much more of a question that it’s not like we were waiting for them to kiss from his very first appearance. I can see maybe starting to think about it in Becoming, but that doesn’t lessen the episode count by too much.
I think Erin and Jay’s first kiss was far more satisfying on Chicago PD
I feel like maybe it had to do with Sophia and Jesse dating in real life that helped the characters chemistry. I didn’t feel that same chemistry between Haley and Jay.
I think Chuck and Sarah’s first real kiss on “Chuck” didn’t come until late in Season 2. I wonder how many eps that was.
Season 1 was 13 and they kissed in 2.21 so it would be 34, placing them at around 49/50 (not sure how TVL is deciding the order where the count is the same).
Although that is assuming the “we’re going to die” kiss around 1.09 doesn’t count
Okay. What about daytime? We just had one of the best in Sprina. Spencer and Trina on GH.
Going way back but the wait to see Scarecrow and Mrs. King finally give in to the chemistry would have easily made my top 5. If I remember correctly, they finally kiss in the season finale of season 3.
I was thinking Bones and Castle before I scanned through the article. I completely forgot about The Mentalist.
David Addison and Maddie Hayes!! Bruce and Cybil….Moonlighting!!!!
Not long enough – 22 episodes.
Guess nobody under 50 read this article!!