The Best First Kiss Moments on TV

These two nerds had my heart from the moment they first laid eyes on each other, so I couldn't not include them. Leslie and Ben’s first kiss comes after a long time spent denying their mutual attraction, due to a strict mandate against inter-office romantic relationships. The mantra they later develop for each other, “I love you and I like you,” is apparent even in this first locking of lips.

Lyla Garrity, Tim Riggins, can't lose. When Lyla’s boyfriend Jason Street is in the hospital with a devastating injury, she becomes frustrated that Street’s best friend, bad boy Tim Riggins, won’t work up the courage to visit him. Overcome with anger at Tim, and at the entire heartbreaking situation, she eventually allows Tim to comfort her in the only way he knows how. Lyla and Tim's relationship was messy and began from a place of selfish helplessness, but their chemistry in this scene is undeniably electric. Lyla and Riggins forever.

After seven seasons of waiting, Mulder and Scully shippers finally got the smooch-ola they’d been waiting for, and it was well worth the wait. This is the tender first smackaroo of people who have cared for each other and respected each other as equals long before exploring their romantic potential.

I’m not counting Jamie and Claire’s chaste first kiss at the altar. To my mind, that wasn’t their true first kiss. No, the real unbridling of their passion comes during their sweet, intimate wedding night, when Jamie gives Claire a kiss to show that although he's a virgin, he's no monk.

Listen, a plane wouldn’t be my first choice for a passionate kiss. I do not feel remotely sexy on planes, but my congratulations to people who do. Thankfully for television, Mindy and Danny Castellano make mile-high makeouts look great. After an emotional trip to L.A. during which Mindy helps Danny confront some of his feelings about his father, Danny finally makes his affection for Mindy explicit by pulling her into a loving embrace, right by the airplane bathrooms.

White Josh (WhiJo, to his friends) and Darryl share a first kiss that’s chaste, but oh-so-meaningful. Recently divorced Darryl Whitefeather invites some younger acquaintances over to watch sports, and is desperate to entertain them, even calling an escort line to make sure his new young friends see him as a peer. When WhiJo, who Darryl vaguely knows from the gym, stays to help Darryl clean up, Darryl is shocked to get a meaningful goodnight kiss from him. Thus launched the sweetest representation of bisexuality on TV. I can't find a clip of their first lip-lock, so enjoy this beautiful anthem from Darryl instead.

Logan and Veronica might be the ultimate enemies-turned-lovers couple, and this moment in the first season really cemented that the two had a meaningful future together. Veronica's tentativeness, Logan's decision to pull her back in and show that he returns the feelings—this kiss is legendary.

With her relationship to longtime boyfriend Nate on the rocks, straight-laced Blair lets her wild side show during a raucous night at Chuck's burlesque club. The result is one of the most so-wrong-it's-right first kisses in all of Gossip Girl, as Chuck finds himself seriously falling for someone for the first time, and Blair finds herself flouting expectations in a way she hardly ever allows.

These two. After seasons of having each other’s backs through the apocalypse and all the devastation that comes with it, in the relative domesticity of Alexandria, we see them kiss for the first time. Their obvious respect and admiration for each other is what makes this first kiss so heartwarming—and when the threat of death by zombie is always at your door, it adds an extra urgency to any make-out.

Listen, Jess is not on the top of my list as far as Rory’s boyfriends go. But I remember watching this scene as a young ‘un, my own first kiss still far in the future, and swooning for Jess Mariano.

This first kiss between Carmen and perennial player Shane might seem insignificant—just the start of a casual hookup—but it launched one of the most emotional, memorable relationships in all of The L Word's six season.

Throughout their long work history, Booth and Bones’ respect, admiration, and affection for each other was enviable. They long denied their feelings for each other, but everyone—including those of us at home—knew a first kiss was inevitable. When it came, it was just as adorably awkward as we expected.

Clarke and Lexa deserved a happily ever after that they didn’t get. But we’ll always remember this sweet first kiss, in which the two powerful leaders allow their vulnerable sides to show.

After watching Jess and Nick develop an intense friendship and deny their feelings for each other for nearly two seasons, this first kiss was worth the wait. During the drinking game True American Nick and Jess are challenged to kiss (by everyone including Jess' then-boyfriend). But Nick refuses, saying 'not like this.' Later that night, he reveals his true feelings by sweeping her in for a big ol' smackeroo that's anything but playful. Nick might be a sloppy curmudgeon, but you wouldn't know it from this scene.

The first kiss between Pam and Jim is a bittersweet but beautiful one, exchanged after Jim reveals his love for her for the first time. Since Pam is still engaged to Roy, her and Jim's kiss is fraught and a little sad. Still, considering we’d just watched the two deny their love for each other for two whole seasons, it was electrifying to watch this episode while it aired for the first time and see them finally make some strides towards becoming the couple we always knew they could be. This was the moment that truly started it all.

15 of the Best First Kiss Moments on TV

The first kiss between your OTP is always one to remember, and these kisses are simply the best of the best.