The 18 Best TV Kisses of 2025, Ranked
This has been a standout year for TV romance. We saw Belly (Lola Tung) finally choose Conrad (Christopher Briney) in The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s final season. A few months later, Maxton Hall — The World Between Us upped the angst for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James (Damian Hardung) in Season 2. And to cap things off, Heated Rivalry has graced us with a delicious slow burn between hockey players Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie). (We could go on, but we won’t keep you here all day.)
Romance and kisses go hand in hand, of course, so the year has also given us some memorable onscreen smooches. The Swooon team consists entirely of romance connoisseurs, so not only have we witnessed pretty much every TV kiss worth mentioning in 2025, but we’re also qualified to rank them.
Beyond the obvious chemistry that needs to be there, there are a lot of small details that go into making a lip-lock truly swooonworthy. So, we’ve done our analysis and broken down all of the best TV kisses of 2025 below.
Which TV kiss was your favorite? Do you agree with our order? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
18. Edward & Ellen in House of Guinness
Forbidden kisses just hit differently. House of Guinness’ Edward (Louis Partridge) and Ellen (Niamh McCormack) become allies and star-crossed lovers, with the former serving as the wealthy leader of his family’s brewery and the latter a working-class rebel. That’s what makes their first kiss so hot in Episode 5, when their tension comes to a head. The setup was perfect: They have to be quiet during their late-night rendezvous because Ellen snuck Edward into her bedroom at the boarding house. It’s a business meeting at first, but Ellen calls Edward out: He didn’t need to talk to her specifically to find out what he needs to know. Once they both admit that they’ve been thinking about each other’s often, the execution of their kiss is stellar, too. It starts out tentative and exploratory, but picks up in only a few heartbeats. Their first kiss turns into their first time, which gives them bonus points in my book. In for a penny, in for a pound. — Morgan Pryor
17. Staten & Quinn, Ransom Canyon
Staten (Josh Duhamel) and Quinn’s (Minka Kelly) kiss during a tornado was everything. Once they got themselves to safety in the basement, the heat of the moment gave way to an ultimate night of passion, and it was QUITE steamy! — Alyssa Norwin
16. Joe & Georgia, Ginny & Georgia
Joe (Raymond Ablack) and Georgia’s (Brianne Howey) Season 3 kiss that stemmed from a moment of passion after he punched Gil (Aaron Ashmore), her abusive ex-husband, was a long time coming. It seems like the whole show has been leading up to this moment, and the kiss definitely delivered. — Alyssa Norwin
15. Tony & Ziva, NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) didn’t get the chance to be hot and steamy on NCIS, but that all changed with their spinoff — and the Episode 3 flashbacks that showed how they came back together after their reunion (even though they didn’t last that time). It was a long time coming and definitely worth the wait. It’s easy to see why they can’t resist each other, even as they know all the reasons they shouldn’t go there. —Meredith Jacobs
14. Mare & Ned, The Paper
When the Toledo Truth Teller‘s new Editor in Chief, Ned (Domhnall Gleeson), meets writer Mare (Chelsea Frei), they don’t exactly get off on the right foot after a collision in their office building’s lobby. But it becomes apparent quite quickly that these like-minded reporters want to do something worthwhile with the local paper they’re peddling, despite the uphill battle that accompanies bringing it back from the metaphorical dead. That compatibility work-wise extended to romantic tension deliciously paid off in the season finale as Ned and Mare shared a swoony kiss after their award wins at the Ohio Journalism Awards. –Meaghan Darwish
13. Cadence & Gat, We Were Liars
In high school, we all dreamed of having a time-stopping, star-falling, Hozier-set kiss. In We Were Liars, Shubham Maheshwari and Emily Alyn Lind delivered on just that with Gat and Cadence’s first kiss. Not only was this moment straight out of the book, which we always love to see, it happened at the end of an Earth-shattering love confession. The chemistry? Immaculate. The eye contact? On point. Oh, and knowing the season’s devastatingly shocking ending only made the scene more powerful. —Rebecca Perlmutter
12. Dina & Ellie, The Last of Us
There’s nothing like the apocalypse to put your relationships into perspective. When Ellie (Bella Ramsey) set out on a mission to avenge her adoptive father figure, Joel (Pedro Pascal), she was joined by her best friend and crush, Dina (Isabela Merced). When the pair runs into trouble in Seattle, crossing paths with a horde of infected underground, Ellie throws her arm in the path of a bite, protecting Dina. Initially, Dina doesn’t understand why Ellie would make such a deadly decision and believes she’d have to kill her. When Ellie finally reveals that she’s immune to the infected, Dina watches her intently all night, waiting to make sure she won’t change. Once Ellie’s immunity is confirmed in Dina’s eyes, she rushes in for an intense kiss, pushing their relationship from just friends to something more. – Meaghan Darwish
11. Paul Baker & Anton, Adults
When it comes to FX‘s freshman comedy Adults, it was clear from the beginning that the friend group made up of Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Issa (Amita Rao), and Anton (Owen Thiele) was utterly enchanted by their newest addition, Paul Baker (Jack Innanen). While Paul Baker may have been welcomed into the group as Issa’s boyfriend, he clearly caught a vibe with Anton, and when he faced potential deportation back to Canada, he was offered the opportunity to marry one of the friends so he could stay. Paul Baker chose Anton, and peer pressure led to a fated kiss that revealed a deeper attraction between the pair. Needless to say, we’re eager to see what kind of romance is possibly in store when Anton and Paul Baker’s story picks back up in Season 2. – Meaghan Darwish
10. Siaja & Kuuk, North of North
When Siaja (Anna Lambe) has a near-death experience at the start of the series, she decides to break up with her unobservant husband and start fresh, immediately striking up a strong vibe with out-of-towner, Kuuk (Braeden Clarke). Their banter kept this romantic comedy series moving as Siaja faced various ups and downs as a young mother reconciling the reveal that her father never knew about her existence until a recent and awkward first encounter. But when Siaja began actively seeking out romance, it became clear that there was only one option, and the bold kiss she shared with Kuuk (set to the swoony tune of Gracie Abrams‘ “Close to You”) is keeping us hopeful that the arrival of his on-again-off-again girlfriend won’t steer them too far off the path to happiness. –Meaghan Darwish
9. Margo & Sophie, The Hunting Wives
After two and a half episodes of build-up and increased sexual tension, Margo (Malin Akerman) and Sophie (Brittany Snow) finally had their first kiss in Episode 3 of The Hunting Wives. The way they looked into each other’s eyes before leaning in? The chemistry was off the charts! Sure, the fact that it happened during a drunken game of spin the bottle with high school seniors is less than romantic, but all of that seemed to be blocked out as the ladies locked lips. — Alyssa Norwin
8. Ruby & James in Maxton Hall
Maxton Hall’s Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James’ (Damian Hardung) happy kisses are my favorite ones. Most of their smooches come about in moments of desperation or after loads of turmoil. Don’t get me wrong — those are great, and the actors have certainly got those down pat over the past two seasons. But their remarkably angst-free first date in Season 2 gave us what’s arguably their best kiss yet. Without any major issues or conflicts hanging over their heads, Ruby and James wrapped up their private dinner — in a stunning chateau that provided the perfect backdrop — by colliding from across the table. Zero hesitation in the follow through. The moment builds until Ruby and James are going at it, pressed against the wall of the chateau. Even though they’re rudely interrupted by a waiter, it doesn’t detract from how steamy their makeout session just was. No notes! — Morgan Pryor
7. Liam & Cora, Providence Falls
Is the lake kiss the new rain kiss? In the second episode of Providence Falls, Cora (Katie Stevens) took a tumble into the water, and Liam (Lachlan Quarmby) didn’t hesitate to jump in after her. He emerged from the lake with Cora in his arms — Ryan Atwood taught men well — and made sure she was okay. Despite his attempts to keep her at arms length, once Liam looked at Cora in that moment, it was game over for the angels. They shared a passionate and downright epic kiss that made our hearts melt. A truly top-tier kiss. — Avery Thompson
6. Henry & Julia, Outlander: Blood of My Blood
This was a tough choice with two incredible couples and plenty of romantic moments to pick from. Outlander: Blood of My Blood was bountiful with options in terms of top-tier kisses. Ultimately, we have to give the honor to Julia (Hermione Corfield) and Henry (Jeremy Irvine), who spent much of Season 1 attempting to find their way back to one another after falling through time at the standing stones of Craigh Na Dun. When Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) parents finally cross paths in Castle Leoch, their kiss is filled with so much emotion, it’s hard to deny its power. Sorry, Brian (Jamie Roy) and Ellen (Harriet Slater). –Meaghan Darwish
5. Lizzy & Theo, The Buccaneers
This wasn’t Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag) and Theo’s (Guy Remmers) first kiss in Episode 4 of Season 2, but it’s by far the most cinematic. After a breathless secret moment with Theo (and her fiancé just steps away), Lizzy realized she wasn’t ready to bury her feelings. She showed up at Tintagel and ran right up to Theo for a kiss, engagements and marriages be damned. Lizzy and Theo took the passion plunge together, and a whole world opened up for them. Nothing hits like forbidden love. — Avery Thompson
4. Tim & Lucy, The Rookie
It’s the cliché, exes get close when one patches up the other (bonus: his shirt has to come off for it), leading to a hookup, and it doesn’t disappoint. The chemistry between Chenford was never the issue — it’s why, going into Season 8, they’re still broken up, though Tim’s (Eric Winter) trying to move their relationship forward, if Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) could just stay awake after working the night shift for a conversation — and this scene is the one that kicks off the reminder as the two are unable to stay away from one another at various points in Season 7. —Meredith Jacobs
3. Justin & Keisha, Forever
The hottest makeout session ever to happen on public transit. After his basketball game, Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha (Lovie Simone) took the LA Metro together in Forever‘s first season. What starts as just sharing headphones turns into several sexy kisses. Keisha straddles Justin, and they give in to all the tension that’s been simmering between them. As the world zooms around them, these two are completely in each other’s orbit. Oh, and the use of Kehlani’s “Gangsta” took this kissing scene to a new galaxy. Iconic is an understatement. — Avery Thompson
2. Shane & Ilya in Heated Rivalry
Rival hockey players Ilya (Connor Storrie) and Shane’s (Hudson Williams) secret hookups lead to quite a few memorable kisses in Heated Rivalry. Over the course of their years-long relationship, Shane and Ilya don’t just offer us desperate kisses borne out of pent-up desire, like the one on Episode 1’s Vegas rooftop. They also have a handful of quieter ones that indicate deeper feelings going unsaid between them, and those are just as powerful. Is there anyone who doesn’t remember their stairwell kiss after they go all the way for the first time? Shane and Ilya have shared countless kisses since — honorable mention to Episode 4’s tuna melt scene kiss — but Episode 2’s in the stairwell was something else. The banter, Shane’s hoodie, Ilya’s slow lean in before going back in for seconds, Shane’s closed eyes afterward… Need I say more? It was so intimate I felt like I was intruding. Kudos to you both, Mr. Storrie and Mr. Williams. You set the bar for TV kisses this year. — Morgan Pryor
1. Belly & Conrad, The Summer I Turned Pretty
When it comes to our top kiss of the year, we have just three words: Belly, Conrad, Car. It would have been enough if Belly and Conrad simply kissed on the streets of Paris during the series finale, but Christopher Briney and Lola Tung take the meaning of the word “chemistry” to a whole different level when they start making out to Taylor Swift’s “Dress” in the back seat of the taxi on the way back to her apartment. Trust us, the way that Conrad cradles Belly’s hair so she doesn’t knock her head on the window has lived rent-free in our minds all year. Yet another major win for Team Bonrad. —Rebecca Perlmutter
