TV’s 20 best slow-burn romances

Here's to the small-screen love stories that took their sweet time to flourish

By Saloni Gajjar, Mary Kate Carr, Drew Gillis, Emma Keates, Tim Lowery, Cindy White, William Hughes, Matt Schimkowitz, Jen Lennon | May 22, 2024 | 12:00pm

TV Features Rafael Solano

Clockwise from top left: Kristen Bell and William Jackson Harper in The Good Place, Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis in The Office, Justin Baldoni and Gina Rodriguez in Jane The Virgin, and Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi in Person Of Interest Photo: Colleen Hayes/NBC; BBC; The CW; CBS

Episodic television has delivered some real bangers when it comes to slow-burn romances. From throwbacks like The X-Files and Twin Peaks to more current fare such as Abbott Elementary (which wraps up its third season this week) and Good Omens, TV shows have developed some unforgettable love stories that, consequentially, take their sweet damn time to get their crushes together. With that in mind, our latest AVQ&A asks: What is your favorite slow-burn TV romance? Here are our most swoon-worthy picks, in chronological order.

Janine Teagues and Gregory Eddie, Abbott Elementary

Janine & Gregory - KISS!!! Abbott Elementary Season 2 EP 16

. Like the popular workplace comedies it recalls—The Office, Parks And Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine—Abbott crafts a heartwarming love story with two coworkers as they reckon with their feelings and the complications that come with dating a colleague. Hopefully, this sweet will-they-won’t-they is paving the way for they-absolutely-did, and and patiently wait for their love to bloom. [Saloni Gajjar]

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