2022 In Review: The Most Dynamic 'Ships From White Lotus, Heartstopper, Abbott Elementary, NCIS And More

The edges of our seats endured some extra wear and tear this year, thanks to a handful of relentlessly dramatic TV couples.

From the horny halls of Abbott Elementary to the sensual shires (?) of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, these on-screen pairs refused to let us rest until they squeezed every ounce of emotion out of us. And some of them aren't even official couples!

As with any year-end list, this collection of couples is a spoiler minefield, so proceed with caution if you aren't caught up on any of the following shows: Abbott Elementary, All American, Bridgerton, Euphoria, Fire Country, Ghosts, Good Trouble, Heartstopper, Law & Order: SVU, Legacies, Loot, Lord of the Rings, NCIS, NCIS: Hawai'i, The Resident, The Rookie, Severance, The Sex Lives of College Girls or The White Lotus.

Read on to see which couples kept us in their clutches all year, then drop a comment with your own additions to our list. Which pairs did you obsess over in 2022?

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your new Jim and Pam. These two adorkable educators have been circling each other in an exquisitely excruciating slow burn all year long, with Janine first saddled with loser boyfriend Tariq and Gregory now busy with girlfriend Amber. But we all know these two are perfect for each other — and they seem to know it, too, judging by that steamy grind session on the hookah bar's dance floor. We want them to get together, don't get us wrong... but we're kind of enjoying the wait. (Don't make us wait too long, though!)

It's not that we wanted Jordan and Simone's long-distance relationship to go belly-up, but their breakup did pave the way for Jordan and Layla — longtime friends who understand each other on a profound level — to explore their deeper feelings for one another. And though we hope that 'Jordayla' eventually goes public in the All American world, watching them navigate how to keep their relationship to themselves for now has been its own romantic treat.

In Season 2 of Netflix's period piece, the viscount and his would-be sister-in-law fell in love/hate at first sight but of course did their damnedest to keep their distance. Propriety and familial obligations and so on. Of course, trying to resist their attraction only made it greater. So we were allowed to sit back and savor episode after episode of fervent foreplay, well aware that the Bickersons were as likely to leave themselves (and us!) unsatisfied as the queen was to allow a basic wig anywhere near her royal head.

We'd never pair these two up — she's a thoughtful playwright; he's a laid-back drug dealer — but maybe that's why they made such an adorable couple. (They certainly added a welcome hint of light romance to an often dark and intense show.) The opposites-attract vibe between these two was unmistakable, and they found cute ways to connect, like their shared love of the movie Stand By Me. We'll have to see if their relationship can survive Fez's bloody arrest... but we're still rooting for them.

'Ships aren't always about the 20somethings! Because listen to us when we say that Bode's parents are #goals. Very flirty, sometimes fiery and every bit equals, these marrieds are the very definition of "for better, for worse."

Who says you have to stop living after you die? Isaac's relationship with British soldier Nigel proved that it's never too late to be your authentic self, even in the afterlife. And in Season 2, Isaac took tentative steps toward finding true happiness and love, eventually sharing his first kiss with Nigel in the Christmas episode.

Although the exes weren't together in stars Maia Mitchell and Beau Mirchoff's final episode of the Freeform series, the promise of what the future might hold for the pair had us swooning. After getting on a plane to D.C., Callie was greeted by the sight of her ex-boyfriend Jamie, who also happened to be on his way to starting a new job in D.C.! Whether it was fate or a crazy coincidence, there was something incredibly romantic about the idea that Callie and Jamie are always pulled toward each other.

It wasn't until the final Season 1 episode of Netflix's Emmy-winning teen romance that the "rugby lad" and his "gay nerd" bestie at last confirmed what we'd known for ages — that they had become boyfriends. But it was absolutely worth the wait, as the budding couple melted us over and over on their journey, with the warmth of their play dates, with the tenderness of their first kiss, with the elation of their post-pseudo-breakup reunion, with the... Um, should we go on? Because we could. Seriously.

Amanda Rollins was shot and nearly died in the procedural's Season 24 premiere, kicking off a tumultuous, yet ultimately blissful, era for the Special Victims Unit detective and her long-simmering love, Assistant District Attorney Dominic "Sonny" Carisi. Once Rollins recovered, she realized some life-changing moves were in order... which led to her courthouse wedding to Carisi in Episode 8. Bonus: Though the occasion was bittersweet — the nuptials marked Kelli Giddish's departure from the show — at least Rollisi fans got to watch their faves have a sweet happily ever after.

Who could have predicted that underneath Jed's alpha exterior lurked the heart of a true romantic? Not us! Then again, we never expected to see ancient deities touch down in Mystic Falls either, so this entire love story between werewolf Jed and demigod Ben was a surprise to us — a wonderful, rewarding surprise. Jed's personal journey of coming to terms with his sexuality was handled honestly and thoughtfully, as were his complicated feelings for Ben. After helping one another face their respective childhood traumas, we know that these two have a long, loving future together, even if we won't get to see it unfold. (Damn you, Nexstar!)

Maya Rudolph's bumbling billionaire and Nat Faxon's fumbling father couldn't have been more different, but as Paula Abdul once said: "Forever Your Girl." (No, wait! "Opposites Attract"! That's the one.) Despite the fact that Molly is Arthur's boss, we couldn't get enough of their flirty fun and honest, emotional connection. Fingers crossed that they can cement that bond come Season 2.

On some level, we knew this was doomed from the start. Galadriel? Elven royalty. Halbrand? Some random guy who may or may not be Sauron. But they had chemistry and a unique bond as two lost souls who had somehow found each other and could see the other like no one else. We were rooting for them and in turn, were left utterly devastated when Halbrand revealed himself as the evil Galadriel had dedicated her life to eradicating.

Well, this workplace coupling came outta nowhere last spring. But as Agent Knight herself contended, "With all the bad that's happened this year, why deny the good?" And make no mistake, the badass special agent and brilliant doctor are good — nay, great! — together, racing past any "Will They/Won't They" phase to instead enjoy delightful and barely stealthy sparks in the office hallways.

If we had said two years ago that the foremost romantic relationship on any NCIS series would involve two female feds... well, Gibbs would have given us a head-slap. And yet here we are, in the midst of a season that has wonderfully explored the ever-evolving, very grown-up relationship between NCIS agent Lucy and G-woman Kate. Most notably, any hiccup for this OTP has never been blown out of proportion for drama's sake, but instead served to enrich and embolden the deep love they share.

Sure, sure, these two aren't an official couple yet... but it sure seems like they're going to be, right? While Billie has pined for Conrad since the final episodes of Season 5, watching Conrad realize in Season 6 that he reciprocates her feelings has been the most delicious of slow burns. And for our money, their kiss in the Dec. 6 fall finale, though lovely, wasn't this duo's most romantic moment: It was their not-entirely-above-board (but highly sexy!) slow dance at Kit and Bell's wedding, which only illuminated the doctors' growing chemistry. (Sorry, Cade.)

If you thought #Chenford would never get to share that dance they missed out on at Angela's wedding, lo and behold they have been doing a hella tango all year long. Thanks to "Dim" and "Juicy," the twosome finally got to stoke the spark between them, to a point that Lucy took back Chris' playbook and accepted a bona fide dinner date invite from Tim. We can't wait to see what comes next.

The most unlikely TV couple of the year was also the most quietly devastating, as screen veterans John Turturro and Christopher Walken teamed up to play a pair of meek corporate drones who sparked a forbidden office romance. They never got much hotter or heavier than a fleeting hand touch — what a touch, though! — but their pent-up longing was powerful enough to bathe a thousand cubicles in buzzing fluorescent light.

The unthinkable happened in Season 2 of the HBO Max comedy: Bela, who looked at college as a smorgasbord of casual hookups, decided to give monogamy a try with Eric. Even though it felt like they were bumping bones with their lanky bodies, the sex was great, they marveled. Plus, Bela got crazy jealous of Eric's party date, so clearly the attraction was more than just physical, leading Bela to realize she wanted to be exclusive. But sadly, the endearing romance was soon cut short when Bela cheated on Eric to further her comedy writing career.

Aubrey Plaza and Will Sharpe's characters checked into the titular resort with a seemingly rock-solid relationship, rooted in common interests and a mutual awareness of society's impending doom. But after Ethan and Harper spent a night apart — a night that, for Ethan, involved partying with escorts — the couple's trust and communication broke down in dizzying, fascinating fashion, and even the home audience was left without real answers about who cheated on whom. Hey, it's like Daphne said: A little mystery? Kinda sexy.