When the build-up is good, a TV show can drag out a beloved ship getting together for seasons if they do it right. Whether or not audiences are okay with waiting that long for resolution is a totally different story. However, it's important to that viewers do expect a payoff when they're left waiting for a while for their favorite characters to kiss for the first time.
Catching the best timing is hard, but the writers of these shows decided that the long wait was going to be worth it, and made their fans wait for a long time. Most audiences would probably agree all of these kisses were more than worth the agony of the wait.
Booth And Bones — Bones
This was a couple with a long long wait for their kiss, despite the fans knowing it would eventually happen, the writers dragged it out as long as they could, even though the fans were in for a surprise. They later found out that Booth and Brennan had kissed during their very first case together.
But their first on-screen kiss together happened in season 3, episode 9 of one of the best friends-to-lovers love story.
AJ And Mina — The Resident
Perhaps this The Resident couple doesn't feature on every popular long-awaited kiss list but they definitely should. Their chemistry was amazing from the very first moment they appeared together on screen. AJ was in awe of Mina and eventually became her mentor, which acted as an obstacle for them getting together even though they cared for each other.
It originally didn't seem obvious whether the writers would get them together or not, but when AJ weathered a snow blizzard because Mina needed him, it became all but inevitable. Even though they both treasured their friendship and didn't want to change that, they finally kissed at Nic and Conrad's wedding and fans would agree it was more than worth it. Sadly, Mina left in season 5, in one of the worst character exits on tv, and this couple is no longer together.
Luke And Lorelai — Gilmore Girls
Probably one of the most anticipated kisses in history goes to Luke and Lorelai on slowest and best of slow burns, the audience sees Lorelai and Luke both date and almost marry other people, all the while knowing they belong together.
But this was what made the journey so special and the destination so worth it. When Luke and Lorelai finally kiss it's nothing short of amazing, and somehow they managed to keep them both perfectly in character with the "Will you just stay still?" quote. Even though their storyline after was lacking at times, everyone would agree the kiss was not.
Castle And Beckett — Castle
Castle did the build-up to the kiss so well it wasn't much of a question of whether it would happen, but more when. After Castle confessed his love to Kate in a fight in season 4 - a fact she was already subconsciously aware of - the tension between them grew even higher.
It was the kind of tension that could only culminate in a ionate dramatic kiss, and fans were not disappointed. The before mentioned tension, the rain outside, Beckett's inner struggle, and the beautifully written original soundtrack resulted in a beautiful kiss scene worth all the wait.
Ziva And Tony — NCIS
Of all the couples on the list, this one has probably the longest waiting time, and even when they do kiss, it's as a goodbye. Fans of NCIS spent almost ten years waiting for them to get together, and what they got instead was a goodbye kiss and a heartbreaking scene that still brings many viewers to tears.
This was a love story that might not have had a happy ending, but it captured the hearts of many fans all over the world. It's safe to say they might have felt disappointed that they waited so long for a goodbye kiss, even though Tony and Ziva did turn out to be connected more seriously - they had a child together.
Scully And Mulder — The X-Files
It's funny how the couples with the most chemistry seem to have the tamest first kisses. That's the case for Scully and Mulder on The X-Files, who share their epic first kiss while entering not only the new year but also the new Millenium.
After dancing around for six seasons, these two finally kiss after watching the ball drop on television, and it's a kiss that feels so natural and so right some fans believe it wasn't even their first, but they've been secretly together for the entire season 6. Though some fans believe the kiss was too tame, it felt perfect to begin their relationship.
Jane And Lisbon — The Mentalist
The will-they or won't-they game was especially strong in The Mentalist, as Jane and Lisbon skirted around their feelings for a while. This made sense for this particular couple though, because Jane needed to first avenge his family and make peace with it before he was ready to move on with Theresa. It never would have worked between them if he went into their relationship with ghosts of his past.
On a rare occurrence, Jane confesses his feelings before they share the kiss, as Jane interrupts a flight to tell her how he feels. The kiss comes later, while Jane is detained at the airport, and Lisbon asks if he meant what he said, he proves it to her with a tender across-the-desk kiss, while tilting up her chin. The kiss was a long time coming, but it was perfect, very them, and was well worth the wait.
Donna And Harvey — Suits
This was a long wait for all the fans of the coupling on Suits, and the kiss that mattered brought with it some consequences as well. They were a great team since the beginning, and seemingly platonic soulmates, but fans always knew there was something more.
Theirs was one of those spontaneous kisses where Donna just had to know if Harvey felt the same way. It leaves Harvey completely stunned, but also makes him realize that Donna is the one he wants, even though he can't quite accept it yet.
Lucifer And Chloe — Lucifer
There was always an obvious spark between this snarky detective and the devil. They made a great team of investigators and it soon became obvious that Lucifer's feelings were more than just attraction for Chloe. There was however an ocean of problems separating them from getting together.
Even here, the kiss comes kind of unexpected, because Lucifer is just listing reasons why she deserves better than him. As an obvious form of disagreement, Chloe kisses him and for a brief moment, they forget about all the problems and just exist together. After a long wait for Lucifer fans, this was a soft, meaningful kiss, showcasing the peace that she brings to his life.
Damon And Elena — The Vampire Diaries
This The Vampire Diaries couple had a few first kisses. Damon kissed Katherine, thinking she was Elena and then Elena kissed Damon when he was dying. But the first kiss that counts is the one from season 3. They had incredible build-up since the very first episode, and the tension between them was tangible in so many scenes. But when Elena and Damon spend the entire summer searching for Stefan, Damon's self-control slips.
He's constantly feeling guilty for the feelings he has towards his brother's girl. So while this scene is a culmination of the build-up, it isn't as ionate as fans expected it to be. That epic kiss came later on in season 3, episode 19. But this kiss was a soft tribute to the pent-up feelings they've both been struggling with and something to hold fans over until they finally got together.