Few storytelling devices are as enduring or all-encompassing as a great love story. While romance is rarely the only element of a TV show, romance in TV is one of the most important aspects of storytelling, and the most epic romances on TV are a swoon-worthy group. The best TV romances tend to feel urgent, but lived-in. Relationships are played out in realistic settings and fantastical ones, but they all find the same resonance with viewers as they celebrate a first kiss, cry over a heartbreak, and yearn for a happy ending that, unfortunately, may sadly never come to pass.
From sweeping period dramas and passionate political thrillers to heartfelt sitcoms and emotional coming-of-age stories, television has delivered countless unforgettable couples over the years. With the unique advantage of letting love grow over the course of seasons, TV romances can take years to finally develop, but they hit all the harder because of their longevity. With emotional depth and difficulties that viewers can relate to, the most romantic TV shows may not always be straight romance, but they incorporate relationships that get viewers’ heart rates up. Regardless of genre, these TV shows prove that romance is an iconic, evolving genre.
15
Scandal
Although Scandal is, at its core, a political thriller that’s more about crisis management than romance, the relationship between Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and President Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant (Tony Goldwyn) is one of the most epic romances in TV history. Their messy, controversial, and often impossible relationship drives the majority of the series’ drama, and the show is better for it. The chemistry between Fitz and Olivia is palpable, steamy, and irresistible. Even when politics and secrets threaten to keep the pair apart, Scandal did an incredible job building the emotional tether between them and making it impossible to ignore.
- Release Date
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2012 – 2018-00-00
- Showrunner
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Shonda Rhimes
14
One Tree Hill
A quintessential teen drama, One Tree Hill aired for 9 seasons between 2003 and 2012, capturing the journey of half-brothers and their friends from their high school years into adulthood. Set in a fictional North Carolina town, the series followed the lives of Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), and love was definitely in the cards for the Scott boys. The series-long relationship between Nathan and Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz) is one of the most iconic teen drama romances of all time, along with Lucas’ iconic love triangle with Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Peyton (Hilarie Burton).
- Release Date
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2003 – 2012-00-00
- Showrunner
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Mark Schwahn
13
The Mindy Project
A series created by the titular Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project marked Kaling’s first TV show after her rise to fame on The Office. A lover of romantic comedy, Kaling crafted a sitcom that revolved around her character, an OBGYN working in New York City, that incorporated classic romance elements along the way. Following Dr. Mindy Lahiri (Kaling) as she worked hard and dated harder, the series saw a slow-burning relationship between Mindy and her grouchy colleague, Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) that provided some incredible, epic moments throughout the show’s 6-season run. Mindy and Danny had an epic romance.
- Release Date
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2012 – 2017-00-00
- Network
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FOX
12
This Is Us
A layered series that explores a single family across decades to see how their defining moments shape their lives, This Is Us is a sweeping, multi-generational story that includes several romances. While the show itself is a family drama, This Is Us’ big relationship boils down to Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore), whose epic love burns bright throughout the entire show. Though the twists and turns of the series show different sides of their characters, their love and their family build a consistently solid foundation for This Is Us’ other stories to rest on all series.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2022-00-00
- Directors
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Ken Olin, Chris Koch, Kevin Hooks, Anne Fletcher, George Tillman Jr., Jessica Yu, Milo Ventimiglia, Rebecca Asher, Catherine Hardwicke, John Fortenberry, Jon Huertas, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Boyd, Uta Briesewitz, Zetna Fuentes, Justin Hartley, Craig Zisk, Helen Hunt, Joanna Kerns, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Mandy Moore, Regina King, Sarah Pia Anderson, Silas Howard
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Milo Ventimiglia
Jack Pearson
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Mandy Moore
Rebecca Pearson
11
Starstruck
An HBO Max series, Starstruck follows Jessie (Rose Matafeo), a Londoner who has a one night stand with a man she doesn’t realize is a famous movie star. While Jessie is attracted to Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel), she doesn’t clock that he’s famous until after she starts to fall for him, and navigating their relationship is a complex minefield she never expected. Sweet and romantic, the series is also a realistic look at the difficulties of navigating a relationship in public. A modern comedy that captures the intensity of falling in love from a millenial perspective, Starstruck is fantastic.
10
Grey’s Anatomy
Despite being an iconic medical drama that’s one of ABC’s longest-running, most enduring shows, Grey’s Anatomy is romantic any way you slice it. Through medical cases and hookups, surgeries and scandals, Grey’s has been one of the most defining shows of the last 20 years. The series’ defining relationship, the tragic, heart-pounding love between Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), is a beautifully romantic, frustrating, sexy, tragic look at love in a high-intensity career. On top of MerDer, other beloved couples have woven their way through the show’s 20+ seasons, leaving some romance for everyone on screen.
- Release Date
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March 27, 2005
- Directors
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Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan
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Ellen Pompeo
Dr. Meredith Grey
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Chandra Wilson
Dr. Miranda Bailey
9
Hart of Dixie
A coming of age story that shows Dr. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) finding her way after discovering her roots aren’t exactly what she thought, Hart of Dixie is one of the most romantic shows of the 2010s. When Zoe moves to the tiny town of Bluebell, Alabama and begins to co-run a medical practice, she gets to know a handful of the town’s residents, but her relationship with Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel) becomes the show’s emotional center. Going from a frustrated flirtation to a deep, mature relationship that moves through genuine difficulties, Hart of Dixie has everything a romance needs.
- Release Date
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2011 – 2015-00-00
- Directors
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Tim Matheson
8
Dawson’s Creek
As the defining coming of age story of the late 90s, Dawson’s Creek is far more than a teen drama or a romance, but the romantic elements of the series still hit over 20 years later. While the dramatic elements of Dawson’s Creek didn’t just evolve around love and relationships, the intensity of the love triangle between Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Joey (Katie Holmes), and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) burned hot enough to fuel six seasons of The WB drama. With a willingness to treat messy young love with a careful touch, Dawson’s Creek is required viewing for romance lovers.
- Release Date
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1998-00-00 – 2003-00-00
- Network
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The WB
- Directors
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Greg Berlanti
7
Heated Rivalry
A new addition to the romance canon, Heated Rivalry debuted in 2025, but has taken the romance TV world by storm. Based on Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers series, the show revolves around the relationship between Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), fictional hockey players going from their rookie years into sports stardom. The romance in the series is palpable, with the intimacy between Shane and Ilya heart-pounding at times, but soft and sweet in others. Continuing in 2027, the series has already positioned itself to become a classic as it cultivates a truly sweeping romance.
- Release Date
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November 28, 2025
- Network
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Crave
- Directors
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Jacob Tierney
Cast
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Connor Storrie
Ilya Rozanov
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Hudson Williams
Shane Hollander
6
Bridgerton
Set in Regency-era London, Bridgerton follows members of the titular family as they navigate society, marriage, and love. Each season focuses on a different central romance, allowing the series to explore multiple relationships throughout. With each season focusing on a different sibling, the show’s upcoming fifth season will tackle a first for the Netflix series as it navigates a queer romance between Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). The show excels at building anticipation, chemistry, and longing before delivering heart-pounding romantic payoffs. With lavish production values and passionate performances, Bridgerton’s love stories feel sweeping, cinematic, and unforgettable.
- Release Date
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2020 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson
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Luke Thompson
Lady Violet Bridgerton
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Ruth Gemmell
Benedict Bridgerton
