20 Slow-Burn TV Couples That Were 100% Worth The Wait

Worth the drama and the wait, without a doubt.

Some of the best couples on TV have been the ones you've had to wait for.

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There's nothing quite like that will-they-or-won't-they tension to get you HOOKED on a show and a ship.

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Here are some of the very best.

1. Scully and Mulder from The X-Files

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The burn on this was so slow that you didn't even know if you wanted them to be together? Like on one hand, duh, but on the other, their platonic relationship was also so, so good.

2. Alison and Emily from Pretty Little Liars

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Emily and Alison don't start off on the best foot. They're friends, but Ali is caught up in her manipulative ways and doesn't match Emily's feelings for her immediately. As time passes, the two realize why their connection is so strong and that it's definitely more than friendly.

3. Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries

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Slow-burn that's also enemies to lovers? This relationship gave viewers the most. Elena was with Damon's brother, Stefan, first, but she starts seeing the good in Damon. Fans had to wait nearly five seasons to see this one happen.

4. Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt from Parks and Recreation

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Co-workers can become your friends, but you never expect them to also become your soulmate. We get to watch the evolution between these two, and the payoff was totally worth it.

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5. Jane and Rafael from Jane the Virgin

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Jane and Rafael end up in each other's lives by chance, but timing is everything. Throughout the show, Rafael shows he isn't always the best dude and doesn't do right by Jane, but he grows through his love for her, and she matures to meet him at a place where their love could really flourish.

6. Emma Swan and Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time

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It wasn't love at first sight for these two, but as time passed you just knew they were meant for each other. A kiss changed everything, and they lived happily ever after-ish.

7. Stiles and Lydia from Teen Wolf

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Seeing the unrequited love pan out is always a win for shippers, and it was clear from the beginning Stiles had a thing for Lydia. Once they came into the same circles, they became an unlikely duo that ended up being many fans' OTP.

8. Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak from Arrow

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Oliver and Felicity threw fans for a loop with a near-miss on their undeniable chemistry. Patience paid off when the tech genius and the bad-boy-gone-good officially got together.

9. Fran and Maxwell on The Nanny

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From the moment Fran stepped foot in that mansion, you could tell Maxwell was taken with her. He had some complicated feelings to work through as a widow/workaholic, but over time, Fran made him see why he wanted to make time for all the things he was once happy to miss. Fans wanted this relationship to happen so bad that showrunners were instructed to bring them together or face cancellation.

10. Jake and Amy from Brooklyn Nine-NIne

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Amy was super uptight, and Jake was way laid-back, so you knew the two would be perfect balancing each other out. Other relationships came and go, but their banter always felt like more than banter, and before we knew it, the show let us indulge in their relationship and happy life together.

11. Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek

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We all knew Joey wasn't meant for Dawson, but it wasn't like Pacey was always the obvious choice. Once their spark was shown, it couldn't be ignored. Through major ups and downs, fans were rooting for this couple.

12. Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls

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Luke is always there for Lorelai, and their chemistry is undeniable from the jump. TIming wasn't always on these two's side, but when they got it right, it was perfect.

13. Sam and Diane from Cheers

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Sam and Diane gave us everything, just to throw it away. Years of flirty tension bring us an amazing couple, but Diane's decision at the end is a gut-punch to fans of this couple.

14. Amy and Jonah from Superstore

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You can tell Jonah's smitten from the moment he interacts with Amy, but she sees him as just a coworker. After a while, coworkers became friends and friends became more, but their relationship wasn't without its complications that made you wonder if they'd make it to the end.

15. Brittany and Santana from Glee

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Brittany and Santana start as friends just messing around and experimenting. Through those interactions, they realize they mean more to each other. Having to cope with their understanding of their sexualities and other people's thoughts on it isn't easy, but this is a couple who loves and supports each other through it all.

16. Charles and Liza from Younger

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Charles and Liza had chemistry from the beginning, but she was too caught up in figuring herself out. His feelings grew and he made a move, but other people in both their lives had different plans for them. Even when they find themselves on the same page, they still second guess it before going all in, taking fans on a real roller coaster of emotions with them.

17. Max and Helen from New Amsterdam

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Max and Helen go from not being huge fans of each other to forming a deep connection when he's diagnosed with cancer. Their friendship is beautiful, but it's clear there's so much more there too. They've had trouble getting the timing right, but their relationship is the heart and soul of New Amsterdam without a doubt.

18. Niles and Daphne from Frasier

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Daphne completely charmed Niles with her cool demeanor and willingness to be totally, unapologetically herself. The only problem? She seemed to be oblivious to it, no matter how obvious Niles gets. When she does realize she has feelings for him too, it's at as inopportune a time as any, but their love can no longer be denied.

19. Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter from Hannibal

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Will is torn between his desire to bring Hannibal to justice and the way he's compelled by him. It shows how obsession can spawn something more, and while it's not healthy on any level, it is. We didn't get to see this couple fully recognized, but everyone who knew, knew.

20. Jane and Lisbon from The Mentalist

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Jane and Lisbon give us some of the best of the slow burn. They start out as partners who are looking to get different things out of their professional lives. But they start to see each other's side and become friends. It looks like it'll end there, but their relationship develops in a way that has you rooting for them, even when it seems totally unlikely the pairing would make it.

Who's your favorite TV slow-burn couple?