TV Romance
15 Best Yearners of 2025, Ranked
From Saxon Ratliff to Conrad Fisher, 2025 has been the year of the yearner.
What is a yearner, you ask? Well, Merriam-Webster defines a yearner (or one who yearns) as anyone who longs “persistently, wistfully, or sadly.” However, here at Swooon, we like to think of a yearner as someone whose need for someone else is so intense that it’s all-consuming, even if their affections are unrequited — think Laurie’s emotional “It’s no use, Jo” monologue from Little Women or Jess’ iconic “Why did you drop out of Yale?” speech from Gilmore Girls.
Whether it’s an ex, a situationship, or even your brother’s fiancée whom you broke up with four years ago at prom, all the best characters have someone to long for. Now that we’re over halfway through the year, we’ve rounded up a full list of characters who have provided TV watchers with the best yearning of the year (so far) and ranked them from least yearnful to yearning royalty.
Scroll to find out who made our list, and comment below with your pick for the best yearner of the year!
15. Tristan, Doctor Odyssey
From the very beginning of the gone-too-soon ABC dramedy, Tristan (Sean Teale) was unabashedly lovestruck over Avery (Phillipa Soo) and made that fact known again and again and again, even when she had a situationship going with Max (Joshua Jackson). His abundant displays of affection paid off on occasion; after he, Avery, and Max had a threesome and a pregnancy scare, she engaged in a solo physical relationship with him for a while — although he was expected to put away his puppy eyes and deep feelings for it. In the end, though, he wasn’t the guy for her, leaving Tristan to yearn forevermore as Doctor Odyssey drifts into the sea of one-season wonders. –Amanda Bell
14. Violet, Chicago Fire
Poor Violet (Hanako Greensmith)! Not only was there some serious yearning going on — even though she was seeing someone else — when her ex, Carver (Jake Lockett), was in rehab (in the photo above, she’s struggling with what to write in a letter to him) and after, but there’s likely more in the future. Their relationship has been complicated from the start. Sure, it started off casual, but while she was thinking he was in love with his lieutenant, Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), he was falling in love with her. Then he returned to Chicago with a new love interest, but even when that fizzled, the two didn’t get back together. And now, while they seemed to be taking a step in that direction in the Season 13 finale, he’s planning on leaving Chicago for Denver in an effort to maintain his sobriety. — Meredith Jacobs
13. Alistair, North of North
Netflix‘s sweet rom-com series may have gotten off to an awkward start with the introduction of scientist Alistair (Jay Ryan), who is accidentally kissed by his daughter Siaja (Anna Lambe) amid a quarter-life crisis. While that exchange can be blamed on Siaja’s mom, Neevee (Maika Harper), who never told one about the other after Alistair left the small northern village known as Ice Cove. Despite Neevee’s lies to Alistair, the yearning never stopped for him, and it was clear to see as he crossed paths with Neevee more and more as the season unfolded. Eventually, they gave in to their passion, but ended Season 1 on a disappointing note as Alistair revealed plans to stay in Ice Cove, specifically for his daughter and granddaughter, and not Neevee. Perhaps we’re in for a role reversal in Season 2 with Neevee as the yearner? It’s an idea we’re certainly open to. — Meaghan Darwish
12. Jessica, Too Much
The whole premise of Lena Dunham’s series is kicked off by Jessica’s (Megan Stalter) pining. She misses her ex (Michael Zegen) so much that she decides to literally put an ocean between them. Even while she’s seeing a hot indie musician (Will Sharpe) in London, she can’t stop herself from thinking about her past relationship constantly. Jess is still so wrapped up in her ex that she films sad and scathing videos addressed to his new fiancée. (She doesn’t send them, of course. She keeps them to herself.) Though this type of yearning is less romantic and more unhealthy, Jess is certainly up there with the most memorable yearners of 2025. — Morgan Pryor
11. Irving, Severance
After their workplace romantic connection in Season 1, Severance‘s Irving (John Turturro) and Burt (Christopher Walken) bonded once more in their outie forms during Season 2. While Burt was in a committed relationship with his husband, Irving’s longing and yearning for him put Burt’s husband on edge, and proved to viewers that in the case of Lumon’s severed employees, love could transcend the procedure that separates your consciousness between work and life outside the office. After outie Irving was picked up by Burt at his apartment, he was instructed to take a train and never return, for fear of punishment by the mysterious Lumon. While Irving ultimately complied, it was the exchange between him and Burt at the train station that will live on in our minds. Burt’s decision to warn Irving of danger was a sign enough of his feelings, but when Irving pushed for a final embrace, he was refused, and it left him yearning for the love he still had yet to fully experience. — Meaghan Darwish
10. Anton , Adults
Anton (Owen Thiele) wasn’t a loud yearner like some of the others on this list, but yearn he did. Over the course of the season, he becomes close with his roommate Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), who also happens to be his bestie Issa’s (Amita Rao) boyfriend. Toward the end, it becomes blatantly obvious that Anton is pining after Paul Baker, especially once they get married. (It’s a long story, but they technically just did it to get the Canadian Paul Baker a green card.) But Paul Baker is still with Isa, so in those final moments of Episode 8, we got some big-time longing after they kissed. — Morgan Pryor
9. Mirren, We Were Liars
Poor, sweet Mirren (Esther McGregor) spent all of We Were Liars Season 1 longing to find a boyfriend with whom she could experience all of her firsts. Once she finally found a guy who truly saw her for the quirky artist she was, their relationship was cut short. In the end, Mirren didn’t simply yearn for her summer love — she yearned for the life she never got to live. Cue the tissues! — Rebecca Perlmutter
8. Kai, Ransom Canyon
Kai didn’t have the biggest role in Ransom Canyon’s first season, but we know a new prince of yearning when we see one. Kai (Justin Johnson Cortez) is a reformed bad boy and now working as a police officer. His first (and likely only) love is Ellie (Marianly Tejada), who was with him before he got his life together. From the moments they share in the first season, it’s abundantly clear Kai is still in love with Ellie. When Ellie tells Kai that she’s marrying Yancy (Jack Schumacher), you can see the heartbreak on Kai’s face in the most subtle of expressions. “He doesn’t have a good heart, El,” Kai says, which makes Ellie bring up Kai’s shady past. (At least Kai never had a secret wife!) We love a second chance romance, and as much as we swoon over Yancy, don’t count Kai out. He’ll go to war for Ellie without question, whereas you know Yancy will hesitate. — Avery Thompson
7. Frank, Daredevil: Born Again
When it comes to the world of Daredevil: Born Again, fans have their opinions on ships, but not all have seemed to endure the way that Kastle has following Frank Castle’s (Jon Bernthal) reunion with Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). After their strong bond had been teased over seasons of Daredevil and The Punisher, Born Again revived the romantic tension as vigilante Frank showed up to support Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in his role as the titular hero, after a phone call from Karen. When she pulled up in her car, Frank’s yearning stare was enhanced by Matt’s reaction, which hinted at his observation of what later turned out to be Frank and Karen’s heartbeats. Although Frank didn’t join Matt and Karen on the next leg of their pursuit to stop Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), he did bid Karen adieu with a “stay safe” sentiment, his longing look left to haunt us until they possibly reunite again. — Meaghan Darwish
6. Saxon, The White Lotus
The second Saxon Ratliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger) gazed longingly over his shoulder during The White Lotus Season 3, the world knew that yearning was back and bigger than ever. If we’re talking unrequited love, no one does it better than the oldest Ratliff child, who fell head over heels for Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). While it’s up for interpretation whether Saxon knew about Chelsea’s fate or not, the protein shake fiend’s face was written with regret as he left the resort, wanting what he couldn’t have in more ways than one. — Rebecca Perlmutter
5. Benny, Overcompensating
At some points during Overcompensating, it seems like Benny (Benito Skinner) will yearn for any man with a pulse. However, once his sights are set on British student Miles (Rish Shah), there is only one object of his repressed fantasies. After all, if you’re daydreaming so hard that you imagine Charli XCX creating a chant for her full audience to out you, you’re definitely a yearner for the ages. — Rebecca Perlmutter
4. Justin, Forever
The yearner in Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) feels like a mirror. As most of us can relate to, Justin isn’t always the best at revealing how he’s truly feeling. Cooper Jr. captures that quintessential teenage longing and trepidation when it comes to his love for Keisha (Lovie Simone) so perfectly in Forever’s first season. First love is all-consuming, and it can also be scary to feel so much all at once. Justin doesn’t have to yearn for long, but the yearning resurfaces when he and Keisha break up at the end of the season. That last glance at Keisha? Heartbreaking. — Avery Thompson
3. Max, Ginny & Georgia
Max Baker (Sara Waisglass), you are destined for such great things beyond Westbury. Our girl Max loves hard, whether it’s romantically or platonically. Season 3 of Ginny & Georgia is an emotional roller coaster for Max, as she deals with lingering feelings for Sophie (Humberly Gonzalez) as they work on Mousse, worrying about Marcus (Felix Mallard), and facing the fact that your best friends are pulling away from you for no reason. Waisglass is a pro at emoting so much, and she could teach a MasterClass in yearning. When she gazes longingly at Sophie, getting lost in the yearning so much she forgets her line, or when Ginny tells her they “grew apart,” Max took high school yearning to a new level. Get behind us, Max. We’ll defend you! — Avery Thompson
2. Theo, The Buccaneers
There are few yearners this year (or any year) that hold a candle to Theo (Guy Remmers). In Season 2, he’s stuck in a tragic situation: He falls for Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag), but he’s trapped in a loveless marriage with Nan (Kristine Frøseth). What’s more, Lizzy doesn’t want to be a Duke’s side piece, so she decides to end things and marry Hector (Jacob Ifan) instead. Luckily, she puts a stop to it after hearing Theo’s romantic “you deserve a whole love” speech.
Over the course of the season, there’s so much pain and longing on Theo’s part that we actually cheered when he decided to give up his title and be in a real relationship with Lizzy. But the finale hints that Theo’s yearning days might not be over yet… — Morgan Pryor
1. Conrad, The Summer I Turned Pretty
Regardless of whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, there’s no denying that The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s top yearner is Mr. Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney). Belly’s (Lola Tung) longtime crush and one-time love has delivered yearning looks left and right since the series debuted. The catch? Many of those longing glances have been delivered without Belly even realizing it. While Season 3 made way for a more open Conrad, he’s always been a reserved character whose internalized feelings have manifested in actions. Still, Season 3 has allowed Briney to deliver a world-class performance in yearning, whether it was a charged flashback moment with Belly, those glances at the peach stand and Michaels, the surfing injury, or a devastating declaration and plea for Belly to ditch his brother Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and be with him on a moonlit beach. Conrad has been in his yearning era, and we’re absolutely here for it! — Meaghan Darwish
