TV's Best First Kisses
1. greys-anatomy-maggie-jackson-first-kiss
Grey's Anatomy's Jackson and Maggie
Polarizing as this coupling is, you'd be hard-pressed to argue that their first kiss wasn't a firestarter. After revealing that thoughts of Maggie had prompted him to dump his new girlfriend, Jackson put on his sexiest voice, asked her out and inched closer... closer... till their lips sealed the deal.
(Watch it here at 39:30.)
2. the-walking-dead-glenn-maggie-first-kiss
The Walking Dead's Glenn and Maggie
Theirs was the rare first kiss that was equal parts sexy, sweet and funny. First Maggie teased Glenn about the condoms she'd caught him with, then she admitted that sure, she'd have sex with him, took off their hats and gave him a sneak preview that was so tender, it launched a thousand 'shippers.
(Watch it here.)
3. friends-ross-rachel-first-kiss
Friends' Ross and Rachel
There was no shortage of iconic Ross/Rachel moments throughout Friends' decade-long run, including a first kiss that was years in the making. (Well, not counting what happened at the laundromat, of course.) Even after a fight with Rachel, when he suggested that her romantic feelings were too little, too late, Ross returned to Central Perk to kiss and make up — literally!
(Watch it here.)
4. gilmore-girls-luke-lorelai-first-kiss
Gilmore Girls' Luke and Lorelai
The Dragonfly Inn's trial-run weekend was disastrous in a lot of ways — except for the sweet porch kiss that Luke and Lorelai finally shared after four frustrating seasons. Never have the words, "Will you just stand still?" been so romantic, and never have Kirk's night terrors been so poorly timed.
(Watch it here.)
5. glee-kurt-blaine-first-kiss
Glee's Kurt and Blaine
There's a lot to love about this long-awaited smooch: Blaine admitting that Kurt moves him. The tenderness with which he kisses Kurt for the first time. And, of course, Kurt's playful reply when Blaine suggests they should practice their Warblers song. ("I thought we were!") But our favorite detail is Kurt's flexed right hand, which so adorably reveals the character's shock and glee (heh) at being kissed by his crush.
(Watch it here.)
6. the-office-jim-pam-first-kiss
The Office's Jim and Pam
Jim Halpert took the biggest gamble of all on Casino Night by revealing his feelings for Pam at last. No, his confession didn't go as planned, and Pam's reaction ultimately prompted a third season full of heartache for the pair. But we'll always have their swoon-worthy first kiss, which Jim lovingly laid on Pam in the darkened Scranton office.
(Watch it here.)
7. the-mindy-project-mindy-danny-first-kiss
The Mindy Project's Mindy and Danny
Two seasons of flirty office banter came to a head at about 30,000 feet, as Mindy's macho co-worker Danny confessed his feelings by wrapping her up in a knee-weakening smooch during a turbulent plane ride. It was so hot, we're surprised oxygen masks didn't drop from the ceiling.
(Watch it here at 20:45.)
8. all-my-children-bianca-maggie-first-kiss
All My Children's Bianca and Maggie
Sure, it would take these ladies a bit more time, and a lot more emotional processing, to become daytime's first lesbian supercouple. But when Binks' impromptu counseling session morphed into the first kiss with her future honey, BAM! We were hooked.
(Watch it here.)
9. cheers-sam-diane-first-kiss
Cheers' Sam and Diane
It took Diane dating Sam's brother to push this love-hate pairing to its feisty first smooch, which took place in the middle of a no-holds-barred backroom argument. While some of the language hasn't aged well, the heated lead-up —"Are you as turned on as I am?" "More." — remains a classic.
(Watch it here at 8:35.)
10. mash-houlihan-pierce-first-kiss
M*A*S*H's Houlihan and Pierce
Margaret had just gotten a letter from her husband... but it was meant for his mistress. Hawkeye was nursing a bum leg. They'd both had liberal amounts of alcohol. And when the North Koreans started dropping bombs and the habitual antagonists huddled together for safety? Well, they didn't call her "Hot Lips" for nothing.
(Watch it here at 23:10.)
11. moonlighting-maddie-dave-first-kiss
Moonlighting's Maddie and Dave
The private eyes' first real kiss took place in Season 2 as Dave, falsely accused of murder, was about to go on the lam. He smelled bad. She mocked him. And the romantic moment itself was immediately followed by a very on-brand bickering session about whether or not the smooch had actually happened. (They eventually agreed that it hadn't; we're so grateful for the archival evidence that proves it did.)
(Watch it here.)
12. outlander-claire-jamie-first-kiss
Outlander's Claire and Jamie
Unlike many of the couples on our list, Jamie and Claire's first kiss didn't come after an extended period of mutual longing: She was an endangered Sassenach, he was a penniless virgin, and their union came about because a clan bigwig deemed it expedient. But the possibility that bloomed the moment their lips touched? It was, to quote Jamie, as if we stepped outside on a cloudy day, and suddenly the sun came out.
(Watch it here.)
13. parks-and-rec-leslie-ben-first-kiss
Parks and Recreation's Leslie and Ben
Despite Chris Traeger's rule that bosses and subordinates couldn't date, Ben and Leslie did litrilly the best/worst thing when they gave into their attraction after a road trip to Indianapolis. "Uh-oh," Leslie said when they were done. "Treat yo' self!" we cried from our couch. (Yes, we know that episode came a season later. JUST LET US HAVE THIS, OK?)
(Watch it here.)
14. the-x-files-mulder-scully-first-kiss
The X-Files' Mulder and Scully
Forget that New Year's Eve nonsense in Season 7. And while you're at it, disregard the Season 11 tomfoolery that negates a lot of what happened in this scene. Instead, focus on the sheer joy on new mom Scully's face, the way new pop Mulder gazed at little William and the fact that longtime 'shippers finally got some payoff for their obsession. "The truth we both know," indeed.
(Watch it here.)
15. bones-brennan-booth-first-kiss
Bones' Brennan and Booth
Forget the mistletoe moment in Season 3. During the Fox drama's 100th episode, we learned that Temperance and Seeley had drunkenly, briefly and hawt-ly hooked up soon after meeting each other. "I feel like this is going somewhere," he murmured before their big moment. Booth, if you only knew...
(Watch it here at 29:00.)
16. boy-meets-world-cory-topanga-first-kiss
Boy Meets World's Cory and Topanga
Topanga has always called the shots in her relationship with Cory, a
precedent she set back in Boy Meets World's first season by pinning
her future husband against a locker and giving him a first kiss he'd
never forget (no matter how much that trifling she-devil Lauren wanted
him to).
(Watch it here.)
17. gossip-girl-chuck-blair-first-kiss
Gossip Girl's Chuck and Blair
Five seasons before they swapped vows in Central Park, Chuck Bass and
Blair Waldorf swapped spit (and other fluids) in the back of a limo,
launching one of The CW's most timeless 'ships. The big moment was so unforgettable, in fact, that we're willing to forgive the show for
underscoring it with a Sum 41 song.
(Watch it here.)
18. the-vampire-diaries-damon-elena-first-kiss
The Vampire Diaries' Damon and Elena
Two years of romantic tension reached a boil in The Vampire Diaries'
second season finale when Damon and Elena finally confessed their
feelings for one another, sealing those declarations with their
long-awaited first kiss. Sure, Elena was still technically dating Stefan, and Damon was only half-conscious at the time as he slowly succumbed to a near-fatal werewolf bite, but let's focus on the big picture here.
(Watch it here.)
19. true-blood-sookie-eric-first-kiss
True Blood's Sookie and Eric
True Blood's "waiting sucks" tagline applied perfectly to how we felt
about the three long seasons it took Sookie and Eric to finally give
into their vampire-on-fairy urges. In fact, the couple's aggressive
makeout in the backroom of Fangtasia ranks among the HBO drama's all-time hottest moments. (And remember: This show was, like, 90 percent sex scenes.)
(Watch it here.)
20. chuck-sarah-chuck-first-kiss
Chuck's Chuck and Sarah
Fearing that a bomb was about to detonate and end both of their lives, Sarah took Chuck by surprise and kissed him. The shock factor didn't throw Charles Carmichael off his game, though: He pulled her in tight and made their first (and potentially only) kiss count. Thankfully, there'd be many more, including the one that definitely brought Sarah's memories back.
(Watch it here.)
21. new-girl-nick-jess-first-kiss
New Girl's Nick and Jess
Nick jumped out on a ledge just to avoid telling Jess how he envisioned their first kiss. Suffice it to say, he took her by surprise when he showed her exactly what he had in mind just hours later. Their passionate embrace lasted all of 12 seconds (yes, we counted!) — and it singlehandedly changed the DNA of the show.
(Watch it here.)
22. the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-amy-first-kiss
The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon and Amy
Yes, Amy had drunkenly kissed Sheldon back in Season 4. But the couple's first real kiss came aboard a train to Wine Country in Season 7. Even better, it was Sheldon who initiated it — and he liked it! It came as a total shock to Sheldon, Amy and the studio audience.
(Watch it here.)
23. alias-sydney-vaughn-first-kiss
Alias' Sydney and Vaughn
The ABC drama's post-Super Bowl episode began with a lingerie-clad Sydney fighting bad guys on a flying aircraft. But it was the way the episode ended, with Syd and Vaughn finally coming together amidst the ashes of SD-6, that had 'shippers flying high.
(Watch it here.)
24. buffy-the-vampire-slayer-buffy-spike-first-kiss
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Buffy and Spike
Yes, the pair had some sorta kisses before they locked lips in "Once More, With Feeling," but let's be honest: Their musical smooch is the one that matters. Buffy just wanted something to make her feel, and boy, did she get it.
(Watch it here.)
25. dawsons-creek-jack-ethan-first-kiss
Dawson's Creek's Jack and Ethan
In 2000, the teen drama delivered the first "passionate" kiss between two men on primetime television when Jack laid it all on the line. Ethan may not have reciprocated Jack's feelings, but the moment remains an unforgettable cultural touchstone.
(Watch it here.)
26. the-oc-ryan-taylor-first-kiss
The O.C.'s Ryan and Taylor
AKA The Kiss We Didn't Know We — and Ryan — Needed. The smooch was just a ruse to help Taylor fool her husband's divorce lawyer. But in planting one on a surprised Taylor, Ryan ended up finding some much needed happiness, and the couple's opposites-attract romance restored our interest in the show. Plus, the nose tap is adorable!
(Watch it here.)
27. veronica-mars-veronica-logan-first-kiss
Veronica Mars' Veronica and Logan
The former friends-turned-enemies turned up the heat when Veronica gave Logan a peck on the cheek to thank him for saving her. But he wasn't content with an innocent kiss and spun Veronica back around as the two fully locked lips. The kiss was so unexpected and passionate, it left both characters stunned and speechless.
(Watch it here.)
28. first-kiss-supergirl-alex-maggie
Supergirl's Maggie and Alex
After having a mixed reaction to the sudden kiss that a newly out Alex planted on her, Maggie eventually realized, "Life is too short" and "We should kiss the girls that we want to kiss." And kiss Alex, she did.
(Watch it here.)
29. first-kiss-once-upon-a-time-emma-hook
Once Upon a Time's Emma and Hook
Having saved David's life in Neverland, the good pirate deserved some gratitude. "That's what the 'thank you' was for," Emma smiled. After all, she said of the kiss he sought, "You couldn't handle it" — and based on Hook's reaction after being pulled into a liplock, it was clear Emma was right!
(Watch it here.)
30. first-kiss-i-dream-of-jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie's Jeannie and Tony
Mere minutes into the NBC series' pilot, the beautiful genie that Anthony Nelson uncorked on a remote beach greeted her new master with a kiss that quickly cemented the astronaut's smitten status. Tony perhaps put it best: "I must have gone further into orbit than I thought!"
(Watch it here.)
31. first-kiss-days-of-our-lives-patch-kayla
Days of Our Lives' Patch and Kayla
Despite warning after warning and dangerous escapade after escapade, Kayla realized she couldn't stay away from the town's enigmatic, one-eyed antihero. "So, you just tell me what I'm supposed to do!" she asked. The answer, apparently: Meet his lips with hers, in a kiss that was so juicy, it lasted into and beyond the commercial break! Sweetness, indeed.
(Watch it here.)
32. first-kiss-castle-rick-kate
Castle's Rick and Kate
Did Rick pull Kate into this sudden clinch in order to ward off a ne'er-do-well? Yep. Did Kate in turn play along? Yep. Do those facts diffuse at all the heat of their unarguably and mutually enjoyable mash session? Nope.
(Watch it here.)
33. first-kiss-arrow-oliver-felicity
Arrow's Oliver and Felicity
How do you make amends for busting up Olicity's first date with the arrival of a shoulder-fired missile? By later interrupting Felicity's "Don't Give Me Maybes" lament with the sweetest, cupped-face kiss — and for good measure, have Oliver then say, "Don't ask me to say I don't love you."
(Watch it here.)