Image Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC/AP ImagesTonight, Beckett and Castle lock lips on Castle (ABC, 10 p.m. ET). EW’s spoiler maven Sandra Gonzalez, who will post an exclusive interview with the episode’s writers after it airs over on our Inside TV blog, just explained to me what she meant when she recently teased that the kiss wasn’t even the best part of the episode. When she finished describing her two favorite moments from the hour, she was collapsed in her chair, physically spent after experiencing the kind of emotional afterglow that those of us who truly love TV know all too well. Because those same people know how will-they-or-won’t-they couples tend to work on TV– and because we can clearly see Beckett looking at someone out of the corner of her eye in the sneak peek of the kiss — we’re prepared for this NOT to be the start of a beautiful romance.
But it still needs to do two things to be satisfying to viewers: 1)Look hot, and 2) Reveal something new about a character or the depth of his or her feelings in a surprising way. When I think of eagerly-awaited first kisses, the first one that comes to my mind is Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) on Bones. They had to kiss under mistletoe at Christmas in season 3 so “puckish” Caroline would orchestrate Brennan’s Christmas with her incarcerated father. Who could forget the way she grabbed his lapel with both hands, and how he stumbled when it was over? (And this wasn’t even the supersteamy version, which has been viewed nearly 2 million times in a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube.) Totally satisfying. The second kiss I thought of: Will (Josh Charles) and Alicia (Julianna Margulies) on season 1 of The Good Wife. Hot? Yes. And if you want to talk surprising: How about her breaking away and running to her car, then stopping before she got in, turning around, and coming back into the building? If you’re a fan of that show, your heart rate just increased reading that.
What prime-time kiss were you (or are you) most eagerly awaiting? And was it satisfying?
Brenda & Dylan
Buffy & Spike
Since you’re talking Buffy…
Mal and Inara and we never did get to see it..sad face.
But we did finally get Simon and Kaylee!!!
Inara kind of kissed Mal in Our Mrs. Reynolds. Never got the real deal, though.
FIREFLY was the BEST show ever. So many possibilities never got to be explored because the show was cut short before it even had a chance to really get going. Ending FIREFLY was the worst thing to ever happen to television.
Yep… Mal and Inara.
Frasier and Niles… because you just knew they were really a gay couple.
Jim & Pam
YES. But that led to a whole season of…depression..so..yeah..
Jim and Pam!
agree with Jim and Pam but also going further back I was dying for Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) to kiss Claire Danes’ character on “My So-Called Life”. I wanted it to be a kiss HE initiated with her and I was giddy when it happened!
ahhh that was so beautiful and heartfelt. loved it!
also, Jack and Kate on Lost–the moment of tension, the whole this-island-is-driving-me-nuts desperation, the passion… <3
and Booth and Brennan, of course, were amazing. their actual first kiss, the one from the flashback, was pretty damn hot too!
YES! Jim and Pam!
Josh and Donna on the West Wing. Their back and forth was just so good that it seemed crazy, yet I guess realistic, that they wouldn’t kiss until the last season.
Totally agree! Gosh, I miss that show…
That’s true. I thought that I would die of old age before those two would ever get together.
I’m down for that one, too.
That was the first one I thought of. I miss that show too!!
Yes! I agreee
that scene brings tears to my eyes every time i watch it!
“Victory is mine! Victory is mine. Great day in the morning, People, Victory is mine…. I drink from the keg of glory, Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.”
“It’s going to be an unbearable day.”
I am so among my people here!! I just watched that episode today and then wanted a beer and a bagel. Weird!! I think the last season about made me tear my hair out with anticipation. Then the kiss and all was forgiven.
BECKETT AND CASTLE!!! I’ve been waiting for this one since the first ep aired so I’m uber excited…even knowing that it’s not the start of a budding romance (for now) I’m still boiling over waiting for it. I have to agree that Booth and Brennan was another one I was holding out for (and YES, the youtube behind the scenes kiss made me so much more warm and tingly). Also Lois and Clark on Smallville. I was fairly certain it was inevitable because, hello, they’re ‘Lois and Clark’ but it was great to actually see it happen!
Felicity and Ben, for sure!
Yes, I totally agree! I waited all first season for them to get together, despite how much I loved Noel.
Yes, I totally agree! I waited all first season for them to be together, despite how much I loved Noel. It was satisfying because the viewer knew how long Felicity had pined for Ben.
I’m such a loser and still think about how Noel and Ben are pretty much even in my mind. I could have never chosen one over the other!
YES!!! My favorite show of all time. I heart Ben.
Lorelai and Luke – four years in the making.
I too loved the Bones/Booth kiss but now that the show is so deadly dull and I don’t watch any longer – even that kiss feels tainted.
Ah, yes, Luke and Lorelai. From their first kiss to their engagement, it was so perfect. Despite the fact that Rory had turned into such an insufferable brat (and I hated Logan) I continued to watch because of Luke and Lorelai. And then they RUINED it by giving him a daughter/having her in a chemistry free marriage with Christopher. Still, at least they kissed again in the finale.
Exactly my thoughts…we were robbed of a proper ending…of a whole frickin two seasons!
Agree, agree, agree!! I couldn’t wait for Luke and Lorelei to kiss, and I teared up when they kissed again at the end of the finale! Hated the daughter storyline – ruined it for them!!
Me three on Luke and Lorelai. And I agree with Tracy — I came to hate Rory, but I hung with the show until the bitter end to see Luke and Lorelai get back together. I still feel kinda cheated that we didn’t get to enjoy them together, raising their own child(ren).
Me four. Still waiting for a Gilmore Girls reunion to give us a proper Luke and Lorelai ending.
@kimi same! In my mind they got married and had kids and Rory and Jess ended up together.
not rory and jess but dean it can only be dean
I recently just DVR’d the finale from season 4 and episode 5.03 where Luke and Lorelai first kissed at the Inn and where they finally went on an official date for that exact reason!
i did the same DVRing. it was totally worth it too.
Oh, I watched those episodes! So adorable. And kim, no, it’s Rory and Jess. Dean turned out to be a jerk.
Best moments ever were their first kiss and that last kiss at the end of the series. And no, Rory and Logan. Jess and Dean were both jerks.
DEFINITELY Luke and Lorelai
And of course Luke and Lorelai lived happy ever after, married and raising their twins. Twins, you ask? Remember Lorelai’s dream from season 2 (I think it was s. 2) where she told Luke she dreamed they had twins…he talked to her stomach, etc.
Five words regarding Luke and Lorelia:
Would you just stand still?
Best TV moment EVER.
Great choices!
Scully and Mulder.
Bingo!
I’m one of the few people who actually loved the series finale, and part of that might be because there was a fantastic Scully/Mulder kiss at the beginning.
I also have to go with Olivia and Peter from Fringe, who have become almost a “Next Scully and Mulder” for me.
Yes, indeed. Mulder and Ccully. Then maybe Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Either “Lois & Clark” or “Smallville”)
Totally! The kiss at the end of season eight was pathetic. Series finale kiss MUCH better!
I was just a kid when that show came on and I remember I was obsessed with that show. It was probably the first ‘grown up’ show I watched. I couldn’t wait for Mulder and Scully to kiss!
Also, Ross and Rachel (ditto the reasoning. I was a kid. It was very romantic to me at the time, although now I really don’t think I would care).
And in the soap world, Lucky and Liz on General Hospital back when they were teens. I had such a crush on Jonathan Jackson and just melted when he finally kissed ‘Liz.’
@Ivy — Aw, Lucky and Liz! Just remembering back to that is making me smile, I loved those two so much back in the day!
Ross and Rachel. I remember screaming out loud when they finally locked lips. No other couple had that effect.
Ahh that kiss outside of Central Perk when it was raining!! I get chills every time I see that episode.
Hands down.
Totally agree! Both Ross and Rachel’s first kiss in Central Perk and second kiss after Rachel watched the prom video were perfect, romantic and memorable. No fake outs or 1 time only kisses. Friends did it right!
And then the second kiss after the flashback video… <3
I’m such an old-timer: Scarecrow & Mrs. King. Loved that show back in middle school/high school.
Haha I am kinda with you. Mine is probably Remington Steele and Laura Holt. Lol
Yes, I immediately thought of Remington and Laura too, although they had no problem with kissing it was all about the follow through with them.
^This, so much this. I was OBSESSED with Scarecrow and Mrs. King.
This was my immediate thought too -Scarecrow and Mrs. King and then Remington Steele, but I wasn’t sure anyone else would remember those shows. Glad I’m not the only “old-timer” on here!
Ross and Rachel!
Agreed!! Out of all of the kisses I have seen on TV that is the only one that sticks in my mind!
Chris Lorenzo and Rita Lee Lance -Silk Stalkings (Holla!)
Lois and Clark (New Adventures of Superman)
Good call on Silk Stalkings!
yes!
Totally agree about Rita and Chris! I waited for them to get together for years and I was so happy when they finally did. But then they went and ruined everything they killed off Chris. It’s been years but I am still so furious about how that ended.
Wow … Silk Stalkings! That was a great flirtation/romance to watch. I was so bummed when Chris died … just after they finally got together.
Sookie and Eric on True Blood
Testify!! When Eric finally kissed Sookie (for real) last season when he thought he would meet the true death, I didn’t think I was ever going to recover.
1. Buffy & Spike
2. Jim & Pam
3. Luke & Lorelai
4. Pacey & Joey
Yes to Pacey & Joey and Luke & Lorelai!
yes, yes..Y-E-S!
Pacey and Joey..#1!!
Agree all epic kisses. Pacey & Joey are my favs. Never a Buffy & Spike fan but I did enjoy that one.
Replace #3 with Eric and Sookie and that’s my ultimate list. Jim and Pam ftw though. I almost cried when that happened.
Luke and Lorelai for sure.
Logan and Veronica on Veronica Mars also had me squealing at the TV. I so desperately wanted them to go there, and didn’t in a million years think it would happen.
I think Logan and Veronica would be my #5 followed by Eric and Sookie as #6.
ahhh! yes! whenever I see that episode of veronica mars I watch that scene over and over
Me too, Chelsea!
Best screen kiss ever!!!!! I’ve watched it so many times and it is perfect!
Yes to Logan and Veronica! That scene on the balcony after he rescued her is one of my all-time favorites. I could watch it over and over again and never get tired of it.
Mine too! It’s my favorite scene from the whole series.
Absolutely. Best and most satisfying “waiting for two characters to kiss” kiss!!
LOVE the Veronica and Logan first kiss.
Absolute favorite scene though? When he smashes the windshield of the cop car to get thrown in jail. His fist curling as he steps into the cell? *shivers*
I have to go with Luke and Lorelai as my most anticipated/rewarding first kiss though!
def Veronica and Logan…and it was so worth it
Logan and Veronica is a great choice! I was just happy it didn’t take three seasons to happen!
Chuck and Sarah!
Completely agree – Chuck and Sarah!!
Chuck and Sara for sure!
Agree! That took long enough haha
Definitely agree! Chuck & Sarah!