TV’s Best Slow-Burn Romances: TVLine Readers’ Picks for 20 Other Couples Worth Waiting For

Kimberly Roots

28 June 2024 at 1:00 pm·2-min read

TV’s Best Slow-Burn Romances: TVLine Readers’ Picks for 20 Other Couples Worth Waiting For

If TVLine readers love one thing, it’s watching their favorite characters slowly fall for each other. And if TVLine readers love two things, it’s watching their favorite characters slowly fall for each other… and then telling us what we missed on our own list of TV’s best slow-burn romances.

When we published our picks for TV’s 30 most satisfying, leisurely paced love stories, you had thoughts. Our comments section was filled with “How could you leave out?!” messages regarding couples from a wide variety of series over a number of decades. Some, admittedly, were in contention the first time around. Others were more obscure (though no less valid!). And a whole lot of comments called for the inclusion of Law & Order: SVU‘s Benson and Stabler, which — while we sympathize! — we can’t include because they’re not actually a couple, guys.

More from TVLine

Now that that’s sorted: Below are a sampling of the couples that you want added to the list of TV’s best slow-burn romances. Sci-fi series, comedies, period dramas, shows past and current — they’re all represented. Scroll down to see if your favorite made the cut this time, then hit the comments!

JAMIE AND EDDIE, BLUE BLOODS

WOODY AND JORDAN, CROSSING JORDAN

MATTHEW AND MARY, DOWNTON ABBEY

DOUG AND CAROL, ER

JOHN AND AERYN, FARSCAPE

PETER AND OLIVIA, FRINGE

MAXWELL AND #99, GET SMART

OWEN AND TEDDY, GREY’S ANATOMY

TONY AND JEANNIE, I DREAM OF JEANNIE

HARDISON AND PARKER, LEVERAGE

JOEY AND MELISSA, MELISSA & JOEY

ACE AND NANCY, NANCY DREW

JJ AND KIARA, OUTER BANKS

SHAWN AND JULIET, PSYCH

REMINGTON AND LAURA, REMINGTON STEELE

CLARK AND LOIS, SMALLVILLE

CAMERON AND COURTNEY, STARGIRL

STREET AND CHRIS, S.W.A.T.

JACK AND MEL, VIRGIN RIVER

JOSH AND DONNA, THE WEST WING

Best of TVLine

Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter

Manchester Evening News
Coronation Street's Carla Connor to be blackmailed by newcomer amid fans' hopes for romance
The character, played by Alison King, will be caught out by Betsy Swain in upcoming ITV soap scenes
News Shopper
Call the Midwife favourite confirms their future on the show amid sudden exit
Star of BBC’s Call the Midwife Helen George has confirmed whether she’ll be appearing in series 14 following her exit in series 13.
The Independent
Coronation Street favourite ‘to return’ for Gail Platt’s exit storyline
Returning character left ITV soap in 2005
HuffPost
15 Times Celebs Made Interviewers Upset, Uncomfortable, Or Left Them In Tears
When Ellen told Hugh Grant, "I think that you're fantastic and funny and smart and all those things," he replied, "I wish I thought that about you."
PA Media: UK News
Farage’s Reform UK calls for election watchdog to investigate undercover sting
Reform claimed Channel 4 used an actor as a plant in its undercover expose of Nigel Farage’s election campaign, a claim the broadcaster has denied.
The Telegraph
Reform UK makes official complaint against Channel 4 over ‘electoral interference’
Reform UK has made an official complaint against Channel 4 amid a row over footage of one of the party’s canvassers.
Manchester Evening News
Coronation Street's Claire Sweeney stuns without Scouse accent as fans say 'very sexy'
The actress, who hails from Liverpool, is currently seen playing Cassie Plummer in the ITV soap
Digital Spy
Why is Casualty not on tonight, and when will it be back?
Casualty fans will have a bit of a wait before the next episode, as the show is going on a break for the next two weeks.
Good Housekeeping
'NCIS' Star Wilmer Valderrama Got Surprisingly Candid About His Future on the Show
Ahead of filming 'NCIS' season 22, actor Wilmer Valderrama voiced his thoughts about how his character Nick Torres could eventually be killed off on the show.
Digital Spy
Emmerdale star Emma Atkins backs Cain and Moira's future
Emmerdale actor Emma Atkins has stated her belief that Cain and Moira Dingle will make it through the rough patch in their marriage.
Digital Spy
Coronation Street star explains why Kit betrays Bernie
Coronation Street's Kit Green actor Jacob Roberts has explained why his character will betray his mother Bernie Winter in upcoming scenes.
BANG Showbiz
Russell T Davies: Casting busy Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who was a 'risk'
Russell T. Davies has admitted casting Ncuti Gatwa in 'Doctor Who' was a "risk" because of his busy schedule and commitments to 'Sex Education'.
The Daily Beast
Comic and Actor Martin Mull Dies at 80 After ‘Long Illness’: Family
Comedian and actor Martin Mull, known for his roles in the television shows Fernwood 2 Night, Roseanne, and Veep, died Thursday, his daughter announced in a social media post. He was 80.“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,” Maggie Mull wrote on Instagram Friday. “He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials. He would find that joke funny. He was n
OK! Magazine
Death in Paradise's new spin-off show - 'That's a wrap' as cast film final scenes in Australia
Filming has come to a close on Return to Paradise, the Australian spin-off of Death in Paradise which was announced after Ralf Little's shock exit from original series
Digital Spy
Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane shares reason he was "let go" from show
Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane has shared why he was “let go” from the show, remarking that he now understands why.
The Daily Beast
Eddie Murphy Calls Out David Spade for ‘Racist’ SNL Joke
Eddie Murphy not only had his feelings “hurt” by a 1995 Saturday Night Live joke that may have caused him to stay away from the show for 35 years. Now, he says, the fact that the joke made it to air was in itself “racist.”“Back in the old days, [the press] used to be relentless on me, and a lot of it was racist stuff,” he said in a new episode of The New York Times podcast The Interview. But none hurt him more than a joke David Spade told on an SNL episode that aired in 1995.During his “Hollywoo
Digital Spy
Coronation Street star reveals DS Swain's daughter drama
Coronation Street star Vicky Myers has spoken about the drama ahead for DS Lisa Swain and her daughter Betsy.
Hello!
First look at upcoming All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special
Filming preparations in a Yorkshire village for Channel 5 and PBS series All Things Great And Small have fans excited for the return of Nicholas Ralph and Rachel Shenton
The Independent
Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane says he was ‘probably fired’ from series
‘I wasn’t the same guy they had hired,’ actor said of famous departure from series
Digital Spy
Chicago Med loses major cast member for season 10
Chicago Med loses major cast member for season 10 as Dominic Rains is leaving.